Jesus Christ will return to judge the nations and welcome the redeemed.

This is the last of seven lessons in the Book of Isaiah. This lesson is one of looking back to see what happened, and looking forward to see what will happen. It begins with a prophecy about the mission and ministry of Jesus and His earthly life, and it concludes with a prophecy about the establishment of new heavens and a new earth after Christ comes again. As the Scriptures for this lesson reveal, Christ’s coming again will be a welcomed event by those who have trusted in Him as Savior and Lord, but for those who have refused to repent, it will be a time of divine judgement. The new heavens and earth will be for all who are redeemed from sin by Christ.

Golden Text: 2 Peter 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Question: do you think about this promise often? What do you imagine life will be like in the new world God will make?

COMING OF THE MESSIAH

A. Good News Declared

Isa 61:1  The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;

…….This verse and the next were also read by Jesus himself early in His public ministry.

Isa 61:2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

…….What a comfort it is to trust in the promises of the Lord, knowing that He has already come to satisfy those who hunger and thirst after Him. The next verses are truly encouraging for all who are saved.

Isa 61:3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Isa 61:4  And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.

…….This verse was already fulfilled in part when the Jews were restored to the land of Judah after captivity. On the other hand, the complete prophecy refers to God’s spiritual restoration of those who’s lives have been devastated by sin.

Isa 61:5  And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.

Isa 61:6  But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

…….Question: what do people in your daily environment think of you?

Isa 61:7  For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

…….For those who ever wonder “why” things happen at times, think on this verse. “For your shame”, or because of the circumstances in life that make you feel ashamed, you will be rewarded because you have not continued in those ways. God not only restores the sinner but also rewards them who diligently seek after Him (Hebrews 11:6).

B. Inheritance Promised

Isa 61:8  For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

…….This could well be a warning for those who try to please God while continuing to serve sin. In the Old Testament, bringing an offering to the temple for an exchange of sin was tradition. This was a prophecy that the Lord would make a covenant (promise) with those who desired a true relationship with Him.

Isa 61:9  And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.

…….Not only would the servant of the Lord be blessed but others would know their children as blessed because of their relationship with the Lord.

INVITATION ACCEPTED OR REJECTED?

A. Accept the Messiah

Isa 62:10  Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

…….This is a call for all who look forward to the coming of Christ, to make preparations. Get rid of the hindrances, gather all the stones, make the way easier to walk without distraction and lift up a standard. Make a determination that I will not allow sin to set me back any longer. How do we stop falling to the things/setbacks/hindrances in our lives? Get them out of the way! Don’t try to wait until He is already here to get right, it will then be too late.

Isa 62:11  Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

…….This was prophecy of the coming of Jesus. He came with his reward “salvation”, and also came with the work that it would take for the reward to come into fruition, “his sacrifice”.

Isa 62:12  And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

…….For those who receive salvation will be called holy, redeemed of the Lord and sought out! For those without Christ there will always be a feeling of forsaken, but for those in Christ, a knowing of help, rescued and cherished.

B. The Lord Found and Rejected

Isa 65:1  I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.

…….This is the great promise to the Gentiles who accept salvation not by a sense of inheritance, but by believing the Gospel and putting their trust in Jesus Christ.

The following is about Israel who has continuously rejected the Lord. This prophecy can also relate to those who have found the Lord for a season, but chose to follow after sin.

Isa 65:2  I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

Isa 65:3  A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

Isa 65:4  Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

Isa 65:5  Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.

Isa 65:6  Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,

Isa 65:7  Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

Isa 65:11  But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.

Isa 65:12  Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

……. Hebrews 10:30  For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

Heb 10:31  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

This is why it is important to be ready and willing to tell other about Christ. Salvation not only brings peace to our lives, but also brings a burden for those who do not experience His divine and glorious work.

EVERLASTING JOY FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

A. Joyful in a New Creation

Isa 65:17  For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

…….What a day that will be when none of our sins will any longer be remembered!!!

Isa 65:18  But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Isa 65:19  And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

…….We all know how it feels to live in rejoicing, but just imagine how it’s gonna feel to live in the Lord’s rejoicing!

Isa 65:21  And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

Isa 65:22  They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Isa 65:23  They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

…….Many Christians believe that verses 21-23 are an explanation of the Millennium (the 1000 years reign of Christ). Every believer can relate to salvation being compared to this joy and spiritual prosperity after being rescued from sin, but even salvation on this side of heaven will never compare to the new life in heaven when every believer is made perfect!

B. Communion With God and Peace

Isa 65:24  And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

…….There will be no more worrying, no more misunderstanding, no more confusion! Everything will be brought to light and all asking will be eliminated by understanding! Oh what Joy!

Isa 65:25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

…….Just imagine that day when nothing but peace will be present! The lion who was made for devouring and complete dominance will then be laying in total peace!

Love, joy and peace are listed first as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22. As believers in Christ, our everlasting future with Christ and God in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit will be characterized by joy, because we will experience the love and peace of God to an extent beyond our present imagination. When we have read everything in the Bible revealed about our future life and the everlasting kingdom of God and Christ (Revelation 11:15), and in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1), the reality will exceed all we know about it. Let us rejoice always for the joy and peace we have in Christ now, and for the greater joy and peace yet to come.