New Heaven and New Earth

Isaiah 66:22-24.

²² For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

²³ And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord.

²⁴ And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

We do have some descriptions in God’s Word as to what the new heaven and the new earth will look like, but I really don’t think we have any  concept of what they will be like. I think it will be wonderful, beyond any concept of man.  A place ruled by perfect good, where Satan has no influence, is hard for us to imagine.

God says this new heaven and new earth will be eternal, and so will His people, the Israelites and their seed remain.

Verse 23 would seem to suggest worship on sabbaths, or rest days on the new earth.

All nations will continue in the new earth, the people will have natural bodies and carry on the original program God planned for man–multiplying and replenishing the earth forever.

There seems to be, here, two classes of  mankind:  Natural men–subjects of the Kingdom; and resurrected men–rulers of the Kingdom.

The natural men will be people who continue to live from the tribulation time into the Millennium and then  into the new earth period–and their descendants. They will be the saints of Rev. 20: 7-10; and they will multiply forever.

Resurrected mankind will be those who have been redeemed from all generations, from Adam to the Millennium, and who will have part in the first resurrection. They will be the kings and priests or rulers of natural men on the earth.

All flesh (natural men) on the earth will be permitted to look into eternal hell, at certain openings, and see the punishment of rebels forever as a perpetual warning against sin and transgression. The carcasses here are the bodies of men in eternal hell which will never be destroyed–bodies that will have been resurrected  to immortality or deathlessness so that they may be punished for deeds done in the body before death. These eternal bodies in hell are considered dead carcasses because of being without the life of God given to the resurrected saints.

And so we have come to the end of this amazing book.  It’s been nearly three years since I started, never realizing how long it would be.  I have been personally blessed and encouraged by this study, and I hope you have to.  Even if you haven’t been with me from the very first, I hope you are impressed with the scope and incredible grandeur we’ve seen in Isaiah; and that it will encourage you to dig into the study of the scripture yourself.  I make no claim to perfection in my work.  I have done the best I can with the resources I have, but you need to study out some things for yourselves, and I hope you will.

Return to His Holy Mountain

Note:  I have been out of commission since Thursday of last week. My back has been acting up again, and I’ve spent about 80% of my time in bed.  Things are considerably better today.  I apologize for leaving you hanging at this point in our journey through Isaiah.  I plan to finish the chapter, and the book, tomorrow–but sometimes God leads differently than what I plan. In any event we will finish Isaiah before the week is out, and I’m thinking about digging into the Gospel of John next. Again, waiting for God’s clear leading. 

 

Isaiah 66:20-21. 20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters,and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites , saith the LORD.

Again, God speak of the Gentiles helping to gather Israel from all lands back to the Promised Land where they will become an eternal nation  under their Messiah.  They will be taken to Israel in a huge number of different ways, all familiar to the people of the time this book was written.  The actuality may be more modern vehicles, but we don’t need to make an interpretation there because the simple meaning is clear:  All Jews from every land will go back to Jerusalem, and the Gentiles nations will assist them in that return.  The mention of the clean vessel shows that all the Israelites who are brought into Millennial glory will have been purged from  their old sins and brought to walk in the ways of the Lord,  and accordingly He will take of them for “priests and for Levites.”

The Fame and Glory of God

Isaiah 66: 18-19.

¹⁸ For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see My glory.

¹⁹ And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.

This last part of Isaiah is devoted to the Millennium (vv. 18-21) and the new heavens and the new earth (vv. 22-24).

First, God speaks of gathering all nations to see His glory, of setting up a sign among them by sending Jewish missionaries to those who have not heard of His fame, or seen His glory. He speaks of the nations bringing the Israelites back to Jerusalem.

The sign or standard will be placed in Israel as a rallying place for all the Gentiles as well as Israelites.

Those that escape refers to the Jews that escaped the terrible tribulation judgments and the efforts of the Gentiles to exterminate them during the last days. These Jews will be sent as Missionaries during the Millennium. They will go to all nations and declare the fame and glory of God.

The Sword of the Lord

Isaiah 66:15-17.

¹⁵ For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.

¹⁶ For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

¹⁷ They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.

Of course, no human conception of the Second Coming of Jesus can do justice to the reality. We don’t know all the details. Yesterday, in v. 14, we saw that the hand of the Lord will be known toward His servants, but His indignation (righteous anger) will be felt by His enemies. This is no light thing. That verse refers to the battle of Armageddon when God will defend and deliver Jerusalem and destroy Israel’s enemies.

Then, v. 15 for today amplifies the picture. Jesus will come in flaming fire (Ezek. 38:1-21). His chariots will be the same as those which came for Elijah (II Kings 2:11) and appeared to protect Elijah. Angels will accompany Christ to earth, and while some of the armies of heaven will ride horses (Rev. 19:14), others will use chariots (Zech. 6:1-8).

The Lord will contend with man not only by fire, but by the sword. He will destroy multitudes at Armageddon (Joel 3:12). All the vast armies of the nations under Antichrist at Armegeddon, except a sixth part, will be destroyed (Ezek. 39:2). They are called many here, and multitudes, multitudes in Joel 3:14.

Verse 17 returns to the subject of Israel’s sins. God refers in particular to idolatry in the gardens with their asherah, or totem-pole, a type of the idol called a tree here. Such centers of idolatry were in the midst of wooded places or sacred groves and high places. The idea here is that, in the future fulfillment of this, people will seek to be sanctified and ceremonially purified through swine and mouse sacrifices to idols–things which are both unclean and forbidden to be used as food or sacrifice (Lev. 11:7, 41-42).

The Hand of the Lord

Isaiah 66:14.
And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward His servants, and His indignation toward His enemies.

God promises such beauty during the Millennial reign of Messiah. Those who love Him and trust Him will flourish and grow.

The hearts of God’s people will be comforted and filled with joy; their spiritual strength will be renewed; the bones that were dried up with sorrow become fat and flourishing and like a garden of herbs, whose springs fail not; see Proverbs 17:22.

Bones dried up with sorrow? How does much weeping actually cause the bones to be dry? Bone is living tissue, and constant weeping will affect all the body systems. Deep sorrow, deep depression, is not only a condition of the mind and emotions. It affects the entire body. weakening even the bones. God’s promise is that the bones of those who love Him will be restored like a dried up garden is restored when water is plenteous.

Those who love Him will flourish and be blessed; those who hate Him will feel the sharp edge of His wrath.

Peace Like a River

Isaiah 66: 12-13.

¹² For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

¹³ As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

I grew up partly in Minnesota, where the Mississippi River flows from the northern part of the state all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. For the most part, it is a peaceful river, so this picture is very clear to me. There is something comforting and satisfying about a gently flowing, life-giving river.

I am a mother and a grandmother, so I know about giving comfort to a child. Nurturing that child, playing with the child on my lap, holding the child on my hip as I go about my day; being up in the night for a fussing, teething baby or a sick child who needs care. This is the picture God paints for Jerusalem and all who gather there to worship Him in the Millennial Kingdom.

Restoration of Jerusalem

Isaiah 66:10-11.

¹⁰ Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

¹¹ That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.

God calls for all who love Jerusalem to rejoice with her because of her deliverance from Antichrist and full restoration under the Messiah. All nations will benefit from and take part in the restoration of Jerusalem, and in return, they will be nourished and satisfied from the spiritual abundance that will flow from Jerusalem under the reign of Messiah, as well as her physical abundance.

It is a very tender picture, really. Jerusalem is seen as a mother whose baby is satisfied and replete from the nourishment she provides. The difference, after Jesus defeats Antichrist, is going to be so incredible. Evil will no longer rule, and everything will be changed.

Deliverance Will Come

Isaiah 66: 7-9.

⁷ Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

⁸ Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

⁹ Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

We’re starting in the middle of v. 8 today, where two more questions are asked: “Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion (Israel)travailed, she brought forth her children. “

These questions point to the effect and issue of the travail of the nation. These two questions demand a positive answer, whereas the two preceding ones were asked so as to produce negative answers. Now it is asked, “shall a land be born in one day?” Another translation renders it “shall a land be travailed with for but one day? Shall a nation be brought forth at once?” The positive response, given immediately, is “For as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children,” First the birth pangs and then the birth, directly opposite from the earlier circumstances.

The immediate outcome of the great Tribulation will be the issue of God’s earthly people as a nation in peace and joy and righteousness under the mighty hand of its Messiah Deliverer. This nation is not the same as the Man Child in verse 7.

In view of the certainty that His people will be delivered from their time of unprecedented trouble, and that speedily (verse 9), the Lord calls upon all who delight in Him and His purposes, all those who love His earthly people, to rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her.

Birth of Jesus

Isaiah 66: 7-9.

⁷ Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

⁸ Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

⁹ Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

Note: This was to have been Monday’s (yesterday’s) post, but after I wrote it, I just wasn’t comfortable with it. So I checked a third source, and scrubbed what I had written. When my two most frequently-used sources disagree, more study is necessary. I’m much happier with this second edition

In the previous post including v. 6, we learned that God would bring recompense to those who stood against Him. It would be not only Jews, but Gentiles as well, who would come under this recompense.

In view of this punishment. v.7 mentions the future time of Jacob’s (Israel’s) trouble and the fact of the Incarnation of Christ: “Before she travailed (before the great Tribulation which the nation is yet to experience at the hands of the Antichrist) she brought forth: before her pain, she was delivered of a man child.” This experience of the nation is contrary to conditions of natural birth. The order is reversed, and this draws forth the surprised questions, “Who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such a thing?”

There is apparently a connection with Rev. 12:1-6. The woman (nation–Israel) is there spoken of as having brought forth a “man child.” Some regard this as the godly remnant among the Jews in the coming day, but it makes a lot more sense that it refers to Jesus. The Roman power, energized by Satan, fulfilled what is said in Rev. 12:4, “and stood before the woman which was about to be delivered, that when she was delivered he might devour her child.” Herod would have accomplished this had he been able to, but the Man Child was to be “caught up to God and His Throne.” This could scarcely be said of the remnant, who are to enjoy the Millennial reign.

. The birth, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ have already taken place. The Tribulation is yet future. This explains the inversion of the natural order of the circumstances of birth as mentioned in this Isaiah passage.

For the sake of length, we will wait until tomorrow to look at vv. 8-9.

Hypocrisy Recompenced

Isaiah 66:5-6.

Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My Name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

⁶ A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to His enemies.

God addresses the faithful, encouraging them not to lose hope or faith. They had been scorned and cast out by the hypocrites that God rebuked in v. 4. Those hypocrites, even in their evil ways, said “Let the Lord be glorified,” using their outward obedience to God be an excuse to persecute real believers.

God promises true believers that He will appear, and they will be joyful. The hypocrites, however, will receive their just reward. They would be ashamed.

An excuse for refusing to attend church, or even for not coming to Christ, is often that hypocrites go to church. They look all nice and proper in church, but they live out evil. Why, say the unsaved, should we believe in a God Who tolerates hypocrisy?

He will not always abide the sin of hypocrisy. And I’ve never forgotten what some wise soul pointed out to me many years ago: If a hypocrite comes between you and God, the hypocrites is closer to God than you are!