The Book Of Isaiah. Day 189, All Nations And Languages

In the book of Isaiah the Lord has predicted the fall of the northern and southern kingdoms along with captivity in foreign lands. But He has also promised a return to the land. In addition to that, He has promised a King to sit on the throne at Jerusalem forever---a forever in which no Jewish or Christian believers will ever fear being invaded again or taken captive again. That is the time period which we are talking about today. 

When Jerusalem is built up and protected on every side, and when no enemy will ever come against that city, all the Lord's people will rejoice. "When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord will be made known to His servants, but His fury will be shown to His foes." (Isaiah 66:14) The Lord will reward His servants and punish His enemies. This theme is repeated time and time again throughout the Scriptures.

In the era popularly known as "the end times", the Lord will judge all wickedness and banish it from the earth forever. "See, the Lord is coming with fire, and His chariots are like a whirlwind; He will bring down His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For with fire and with His sword the Lord will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the Lord." (Isaiah 66:15-16)

"All people" doesn't mean that every person will be rebuked by Him and judged. It means that He will judge people from every nation and language. This is made clear by our next verse. "'Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things---they will meet their end together with the one they follow,' declares the Lord." (Isaiah 66:17) 

This is a description of the type of idolatry that went on prior to and during the Bible era and for quite sometime after that. Gentile nations did these things and so did the Jewish people who fell into idolatry. Pagan idols would be set up in gardens and groves. People would conduct all sorts of immoral and disgusting rituals there, including the drinking of blood, the eating of unclean things, engaging in all manner of sexual immorality, and even (in some cultures) performing human sacrifices. In verse 17 the Lord is announcing His intention to judge all idolatry.

The type of idolatry that existed in Isaiah's day doesn't occur as much in our day but it has simply been replaced by other forms of idolatry. An idol is anything or anyone that takes the place of God. It involves rejecting Him in favor of serving the things the flesh desires instead of serving what the Holy Spirit desires. As the Scriptures say: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." (Galatians 6:7-8)

As we conclude today's passage we get another glimpse of the final judgment to come, in which the Lord will call wicked idolaters from every nation and language to appear before His throne to have their deeds examined, judged, and sentenced. "'And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come and gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see My glory.'" (Isiah 66:18)

The Lord's glory includes judgment. If He did not judge evil, He would not be righteous. If He were not righteous, how would He deserve any glory? Everyone who has rejected Him and denied His name will behold the glory of the Lord and will have to admit that He exists and that He extended His offer of salvation to every nation and tongue. They will have to admit they turned away His offer time and time again, preferring darkness to light. They will have to account for how they have hated Him and for how they have hated and persecuted those who love Him. 

In the end times the Lord will put down the largest and most heinous rebellion against Himself and against His people that has ever been undertaken. He will come with awesome fire and blazing glory, at which time every knee will bow. (Philippians 2:10-11) Those who have placed their trust in Him will bow in reverence and thanksgiving. Those who have rejected Him will bow because they cannot help it. This does not mean the wicked are saved by His appearing but that they will be unable to keep from falling to their knees when faced with the truth. They will fall to their knees in fear and trembling, but thanks be to God that those of us who have made Him our Lord will be overwhelmed not by fear and trembling but by joy that the kingdom of our Lord has come.