ISAIAH 66: 18-24
GOD GLORIFIED
The last section of the Book describes the conditions that will exist after the restoration of earth and God’s people. The mission of Zion has always been to declare the glory of God to all the inhabitants of the earth. During the millennia the glories of God’s salvation will become evident. The nations of the world will make their way to Zion to behold the glory of YAHWEH. There they will witness a sign that will so impact the survivors of judgment that they will return home declaring God’s glory.
The book closes with a solemn warning for those who ignore God and continue in their sin, (especially the sin of observing religion without devotion). God is sovereign over life and in His time He will punish sin and accomplish His purpose concerning His faithful people. The hope of God and heaven shines bright against the dark backdrop of judgment and Hell.
I. THE GLORY OF GOD, 18-21.
II. THE ENDURING EXISTENCE, 22-23.
III. THE HORROR OF HELL, 24.
The depths of the abominable fallenness of man’s religion leads God to displaying His glory as the One True God in verse 18. "For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.
When the Messiah returns, His rule will be over all nations (Zech. 14:3; Rev. 19:17-18) and because of that rule the world will see His glory. The remnant of believing Israelites will travel as missionaries to other parts of the world, to tell Gentiles about God’s glory. People outside Israel will turn to God and worship Him.
The Hebrew word glory -kabod- means "weight" or "heavy." People give weight to God by acknowledging His importance and by honoring Him in the way they live their lives (24:15; 1 Chr. 16:29; Ps. 96:8; Mal. 2:2). God created people and is recreating people so that they could bring glory to Him by their character, words, and actions (Isa. 43:7). Though the heavens reveal the glory of God (Ps. 19:2; Num. 14:22; Isa. 60:22) the greatest glory He receives is in the final transformation of His people when they are conformed to His image.
Verse 19 predicts a miraculous sign that will convince the world of the Messiah’s authenticity. "I will set a sign among them and will send survivors from them to the nations: Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands that have neither heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they will declare My glory among the nations.
God will send His people (the jews) who survivor the tribulation to gather the nations to see His sign. The sign is not explained (7:14; 53:13). Joel 3:3; Zach. 14:16; Rev. 15:4.
The nations and peoples mentioned are only the most exotic lands on the outer edges of the world of which people were aware. These include Tarshish, probably a shipping port in southwestern Spain (23:1, 6, 10, 14; 60:9; Ps. 72:10; Ezek. 27:12; Jonah). Put or Libya in northern Africa, Lud or Lydia in western Asia Minor, Tubal in northeastern Asia Minor (Ezek. 27:13; 39:1), Java or out lying Greek territories (Joel 3:6), and distant islands. The glory of God will be declared through out the world.
Verse 20 again describes the great gathering that will take place in the kingdom age. "Then they shall bring all your brethren from all the nations as a grain offering to the Lord, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem," says the Lord, "just as the sons of Israel bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord.
The mission to proclaim the Messiah’s glory to the world will bring the Jews back to the Holy Land. These and other peoples will be converted and will travel to Jerusalem to worship in the temple (2:2; Zech. 8:23). They will be brought as a precious offering to God. The return of God’s purified people and other believers will be a priceless gift or offering to God.
The Christian mission has gone full circle. The gentiles bring the Jews back to right belief in their God and these Jews declare His glory to the gentiles.
Verse 21 completes the thought of what God can do with pure lives. "I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites," says the Lord.
Some of them will even be selected as priests and Levites, thus showing that all the nations will in fact be blessed through Israel (Gen. 12:3). It would be a shocking thought to its original audience as it is against the law. Gentile believers will not be exclude from any of the blessings of God.
II. THE ENDURING EXISTENCE, 22-23.
The last paragraph of Isaiah is a word of assurance concerning the permanent and abiding nature of the new community of God. Verse 22, "For just as the new heavens and the new earth which I make will endure before Me," declares the Lord, "So your offspring and your name will endure.
The note of Messianic rejoicing is sounded again. The decedents of Israel will be as enduring as the new heavens and the new earth referred to in 65:17. Not only will the old earth and heavens be done away with in eternity so will the stain of sin and its consequences, including death, be destroyed. The new heavens and new earth and their inhabitants will stand forever as an enduring testimony to the truth of God’s promises.
God is sovereign over history, over the nations and over the future.
Verse 23 states these glorious eternal promises are given to all mankind who bow down before God. "And it shall be from new moon to new moon and from sabbath to sabbath, all mankind will come to bow down before Me," says the Lord.
[Month by month, Sabbath by Sabbath indicate continuous worship.] All mankind (people from all nations) will come before the Lord and worship Him. As now, worship begins or is initiated as we bow our life down before the Lord. If worship is not a moving experience in your life, try fully surrendering your life as a living sacrifice to God (Rom. 12:1-2). This purposeful meaningful worship is the goal for which mankind was created in Adam and Eve and for those recreated in Christ Jesus.
It would be wonderful if Isaiah had stopped right there. But one more verse is added that is not so joyful or even pleasant. I love to talk about the mercy, love, and grace of God. I’m thrilled with the coming of Christ and the glories of heaven, but that is not all there is, there is also...
III. THE HORROR OF HELL, 24.
Tragically, while there is celebration in the kingdom, there will be horrible suffering outside, for those who reject the King will be left to the consequences of their own will. So with verse 24 the book of Isaiah closes with a warning for those who rebel against the Lord God. "Then they will go forth and look on the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm will not die and their fire will not be quenched; and they will be an abhorrence to all mankind."
Hell is not a topic that is pleasant to speak about, but one must because Jesus gave more teachings on hell than He did on heaven. Why? He knew its horrible reality. So God the Father inspired the prophet, Isaiah to end his message not just with the hope of the coming kingdom-and the glories of a new heaven, but with a warning about the reality of eternal damnation.
Hell. Many people don’t believe in it. The rationalist says; "I can’t believe that a God who is supposed to be love would actually send people to hell." Intellectually, people have a hard time accepting it. In fact, they spend much of their time building a case to deny it. And yet the Lord states very clearly that it is a place to be reckoned with, that it is reality.
Read Mark 9:43-48
Every one of us is in one of two categories. Those who worship Him in spirit and in truth or those who rebel against Him. Those who say, "Thy will be done, Lord" or those who say, "My will be done. With my feet, I walk where I want. With my hands, I’ll touch what I want. With my eyes I’ll see things from my perspective. I’ll do it my way." God doesn’t send people to Hell. But if they are determined to do their own will, He will allow them to go there. God won’t force a man to do His will. He will let man have His own way - but it will invariably, without exception, lead him to hell.
That is why Jesus said, Read Mt. 18:8-9.
If you want to walk and touch and see the way you want, He’ll say, "Ok, do your will. I won’t force My way upon you." And you will begin the long, wide descent into hell itself. [Jon Courson, Appl. Com. OT Vol. 2, 471]
[Jesus cared enough about you and me to tell us the truth about hell. We need to listen to what He says. If you’re not a believer, this needs to be the day you begin to follow Jesus. If you’re a believer, this needs to be the day of new compassion for those around you headed for hell. If you’re only a nominal believer, this needs to be the day you reconsider. Jesus died for you and it’s time to start living for Him in the light of heaven and eternity, in the light of hell and its horrible reality. Ibid, 474]
CONCLUSION
This awesome way in which the majestic Book of Isaiah concludes points to the need for unrepentant people to turn to the Lord, the only God, the Holy One of Israel. The times have changed, but God has not. Is it not then necessary that we too heed His warning so that we do not come under His judgment? (1:19-20).
God’s plan is to work through a faithful remnant of His people to bring salvation to the world. Some will believe His word and follow its principles. Other deny it, but all consciously or unconsciously have taken sides. As Jesus said, "He who is not for Me is against Me" ( ).
Do we believe the word and expect God to create a new heaven and a new earth and a new society for us? Or do our actions of ignoring God as we go about our daily routine tell Him we think it is a pipe dream? Are you one who will believe it only if you see it? That will be too late. God has spelled out clearly the horrid punishment those who ignore Him will face. Do you want to endure such punishment? Then trust God and His promises. Submit yourself and your life into His wonder working hands and He will make you ready for His new heaven and new earth and new society
Each person needs a vision of the end the final goal of life. God has given us a vision through Isaiah of a people who trust Him, are obedient to Him, who hope in Him, become righteous through Him, and walk in His justice. I pray the vision of God’s new people will capture our heart and mind.
