Isaiah 58-66: God promises Judah blessings if she will change from a hypocritical form of worship which neglected the needs of others, to a heart-related form of worship that impacts their relationships with others in view of the Messianic Servants provision (58; cf. 52:13-53:12). After Isaiah explained that God did not answer Judahs prayers because of her sins of injustice, he confessed their sins and their consequences on their behalf, announcing that God would deliver them from sins power in their lives (59). During the future reign of the Servant Messiah Israel (Judah) will become prominent among the nations as Gentiles are drawn to her and serve her because of the blessings ushered in by the Anointed Messiah (60-61). Jerusalem (Zion) will be rebuilt and restored to glory under the Messiahs reign (62). After Isaiah describes the future return of the Messiah to defeat His enemies, he reviews Gods past goodness and His discipline of His people for their sins (63:1-14). Then the prophet prays to God for mercy toward the remnant after the Babylonian captivity who felt hopeless amongst the ruins of Jerusalem (63:15-64:12). Although the Israelites prayed for God to deliver them, the Lord responds by saying He will judge the ungodly, but rescue the genuinely godly people among His people (65:1-16). In the midst of judgment, God offers hope to His people by describing a glorious future for sinful humanity by creating a new heavens and a new earth which begins during the 1000-year reign of the Messiah-God (65:17a; Rev. 20:4-6) and will culminate in the eternal state (2 Peter 3:10-13; Rev. 21-22). The Millennium (1000-year reign of Jesus on earth) will be so great that people wont even remember former conditions on earth (65:17b). This period of time will include: 1. The New Jerusalem which will be a place of rejoicing, not mourning (65:18-19; cf. Rev 21:4). 2. Believers with mortal bodies (those who are saved from physical death during the Tribulation - Matt. 24:13, 22 - and their offspring) will live much longer in the Millennial Kingdom (65:20, 22b). When a man dies at 100 years of age, he will be considered just a child. People may live to be a 1000 years old like people before the Flood lived close to that age (Genesis 5). 3. After the terrible tribulation and Armageddon, much rebuilding will need to be done so Tribulation believers and their offspring in the Millennial Kingdom will build buildings and plant crops and reproduce physically (65:22-23). A renewed earth will more than adequately provide for the population. 4. Believers in the Millennial Kingdom will enjoy perfect communication with God who will answer them before they even call on Him (65:24). 5. Man will be at peace with the animal kingdom (65:25). The harmful effects of the Fall will be removed. Imagine having a tame lion in your house?! Animals will be vegetarians. Even snakes will be harmless to people. In the midst of this section of hope, Isaiah refers to God’s judgment of those who will oppress the Jewish remnant following the Babylonian exile and of those who focused on ritualism rather than an authentic relationship with God (66:1-6). In contrast to the pain and oppression Jerusalem had experienced and would yet experience, the future of Jerusalem and its inhabitant was very promising as Isaiah compares Israel’s rebirth as a nation when the Messiah returns to that of a woman giving birth without pain (66:7-13) . When God’s servants witness this they will rejoice, but those who rebel against the Messiah at His return to earth will be judged by Him (66:14-17; cf. Rev. 13:11-18; 14:14-18; 19:11-21). The Lord knows the “works and thoughts” of the rebels and will gather them together to display His “glory” to them by sending evangelists to them (perhaps the 144,000 Jewish missionaries in Rev. 7:1-8; 14:1-5; 15:1-4) to proclaim His glorious gospel (66:18-19). Converted Gentiles will escort these Jews (“brethren”) back to Jerusalem as a thank offering to the Lord and the Lord will take some of them and appoint them as leaders in His worship (66:20-21). Just as certain as God would create “the new heavens and the new earth” so He would preserve the nation of Israel so that “all flesh” (Jewish and Gentile believers) could worship Him in the New Jerusalem (66:22-23; Zechariah 14:16). These worshippers would be able to view the corpses of those the Lord Jesus had judged as a reminder of His great grace toward believers and His holy judgment toward those who choose not to believe (66:24). Application: 1. God is both holy and loving and He is coming back one day. Where we spend eternity is determined by our response to His message of hope in this life. Trust in Jesus alone for His free gift of eternal life so you can enjoy the unspeakable blessings He has in store for you both now and in eternity (John 5:24). 2. Knowing what God has in store for believers in the Millennial Kingdom should motivate us to pray for it to come (Matt. 6:10), and to seek and live for it each day (Matt. 6:33).
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 20:16:59 +0000
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