The Book Of Isaiah. Day 184, The Lord Must Be First In Our Hearts

We are beginning the final chapter of the book of Isaiah today. We have been looking at the future eras of time known as the millennium and the eternal kingdom. In those times, worship will be turned back to the One who deserves it. The focus will be on Him.

In Christianity we often talk about how we have a "relationship, not a religion".  A religion can contain all sorts of things, such as legalism (trying to obtain salvation by works), or even idolatry, for a person whose hopes are based on a religious organization or practice can often be swayed into some other organization or practice since living by rules instead of a relationship is not satisfying to the soul. As our chapter opens we find the Lord pointing people back to the relationship rather than a religion.

"This is what the Lord says: 'Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house you will build for Me? Where will My resting place be? Has not My hand made all these things, and so they came into being?' says the Lord." (Isaiah 66:1-2) Everything that has been created was created by Him. There is no temple or altar we could make for Him without using things that He created.

This doesn't necessarily mean it's wrong to honor the Lord in these ways. In fact, He commended King David for desiring to build a temple to honor Him. This is because David's heart was in the right place. But sometimes we can get our hearts in the wrong place by placing our focus on what we are doing rather than on what God has done and will do. An example of this would be if we get so caught up in doing church work that we are leaving the Lord out. We can actually burn out our energies and get into negative thinking by being so busy that we don't have time to sit in the stillness with God and enjoy our relationship with Him. 

Good works have their place but they cannot take the place of God. He must be first in our lives. If we take the time to commune with Him first thing in the morning, everything we do for Him that day will be a joy. We will feel energized instead of burned out. We will have the sweet fellowship of His presence with us all day long instead of crowding Him out of our minds by concentrating on our to-do list.

The eternal kingdom will be about relationship, not religion. We will be focused on the Lord, who will be first in our minds and hearts at all times. There will be no danger of ever drifting into just going through the motions. We will behold Christ face to face, which is why the eternal kingdom will have no temple (or church). This was revealed to the Apostle John who said, when he beheld Jerusalem where Christ's throne will be: "I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." (Revelation 21:11)

The Book Of Isaiah. Day 183, New Heavens And A New Earth, Part Three

In yesterday's study we found Isaiah depicting a future in which humans will be at peace with each other and with the animal kingdom. He also foresaw the animal kingdom being at peace with each other. This is how it was at the beginning of creation in the Garden of Eden and this is how it will be when creation is remade---when a "new heavens and a new earth" are produced by the Lord.

A better way to think of the new heavens and new earth might be to think of them as "recreated" or "restored". They will be swept clean of all sin and of the curse of sin, which can be compared to a form of pollution that corrupted everyone and everything. After Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord, the earth brought forth thorns and briers that had to be fought in order to grow crops. Humans had to deal with things like devouring insects, blight, and drought to produce food from the earth. Disease and death began to strike humans and animals alike. Humans began to prey on animals and animals began to prey on each other. 

This will not be the case when the Lord restores the creation. There will be no sin and therefore no curse, as the Apostle John stated when he beheld the new heavens and the new earth: "No longer will there be any curse." (Revelation 22:3a) John was given a vision of the world returned to an Eden-like state with pure flowing waters and trees that bear fruit all twelve months of the year. Conditions will be perfect for sustaining eternal life and the Lord Jesus Christ will dwell on the earth, reigning from His throne at Jerusalem, forever and ever. That is when, "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4) 

This is when Isaiah's prediction from yesterday's text will fully and completely come true: "The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox." (Isaiah 65:25a) It appears from Isaiah's words, and also from what the Apostle John envisioned, that all animals and humans will be vegetarian. 

The Apostle Paul foresaw the eternal era in which the earth, the animals, and human beings would be set free from the curse that came into the world due to sin. Looking toward to that glorious forever-day, he said, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the One who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God." (Romans 8:18-21)

It is clear that the "children of God" and the "creation" are being spoken of as two separate things in the verses above. The creation is waiting for the day when believing humans dwell on earth in immortal bodies like Christ's. The creation is waiting for the day when the world is cleansed of the pollution of sin. The creation is waiting for the day when disease and death and decay no longer exist. The creatures of the earth wait for this day because they, like humans, will be set free from disease and death and decay.

Does this mean that there will be animals during the eternal kingdom of Christ? I don't see why not! The Lord included animals in the first creation and I see no reason to think He will not include them in the recreation. As an animal lover I also hope that He will restore our beloved pets to us. Again, I see to reason to believe He cannot (for He can do all things) or that He will not, because even Solomon (the wisest man to ever walk the earth except for the Lord Jesus Christ), said he did not know whether animals had souls. (Ecclesiastes 3:21) As far as that goes, I am not sure that possessing a soul would be required for the Lord to bring our pets back to life. I believe He could bring them back in bodies that never die.

The Bible doesn't tell us everything we want to know about the eternal kingdom of our Lord. When the Apostle Paul was given a vision of the glory to come, he didn't even attempt to describe it in human words. No words can describe it! The human mind is not capable of picturing such glory, so Paul simply said that no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and no human mind has ever conceived the things God has prepared for us. (1 Corinthians 2:9) 

The Book Of Isaiah. Day 182, New Heavens And A New Earth, Part Two

As we begin our portion of Scripture today, Isaiah appears to switch his focus from the eternal kingdom to the millennial kingdom: the time period between the return of Christ and the final judgment. According to the book of Revelation, Christ will return and reign for 1,000 years, during which time Satan will be placed under lock and key. Satan will not be able to tempt mankind during these 1,000 years. 

During this era there will be a reinstatement of longer lifespans for humans, and it's important to keep in mind that these are humans who are still inhabiting mortal bodies at the return of Christ. If these events and these timelines seem confusing, they will be mostly cleared up when we arrive at the book of Revelation, although I must point out that some Christian scholars believe that some of these passages are meant to be taken more symbolically than literally, which is another subject we will discuss when we study the last days. 

As we begin our study today we focus on the city of Jerusalem, which will be the capitol city of the world during the reign of Christ. The Lord says of that city: "Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed." (Isaiah 65:20) You will recall that early in the Old Testament there were people who lived hundreds of years. This appears to recur during the millennium, likely because the tempter is in prison and the "pollution" of the environment (caused by sin) is less prevalent. 

"They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of My people; My chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them." (Isaiah 65:21-23) The references to "My people" and "My chosen ones" remind us that the Lord's message in the book of Isaiah is primarily to the nation of Israel. While it's true that there are passages in the book of Isaiah that reference the Redeemer (the Redeemer of all people), the majority of the book of Isaiah deals with the sins of the people of Isaiah's time and with their coming defeat and captivity. It also deals with the eventual return to the land and the far off future reestablishment of Israel as a sovereign nation in the world. Time and again we've found the Lord promising to restore the people to the land and to restore the land itself. With this in mind, it's natural for Isaiah to talk about what their conditions will be like during the millennial kingdom age.

The Israelites will behold the King of kings during the millennium, as He sits on the throne of David at Jerusalem. This will instill in them a reverence for the Lord like never before. In Revelation we learn that after the 1,000 years are over, Satan will be released for a time, and there will be some people from all nations who will forsake the Lord and fall into sin, but during the 1,000 years the people will look to the Lord and He will answer them. In Isaiah's day there were a lot of unanswered prayers because a majority of the people's hearts were far from the Lord, but during the millennium it appears that the majority of the people's hearts will reverence the Lord, for there won't be any unfulfilled needs. "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24)

Humans will be at peace with each other during the millennial kingdom. They will be at peace with the animal kingdom and the animals will be at peace with each other. "The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent's food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain, says the Lord." (Isaiah 65:25) It will be like the Garden of Eden. It will be a time of peace and prosperity. It will be an era in which all creatures will behold the face of the Creator. And yet many will turn against Him after the 1,000 years are over. Just as Adam and Eve sinned against the Lord in the Garden of Eden although they had everything they needed, so also will some of the people of earth sin against the Lord although they have everything they needed.

But that time is still far away in Isaiah's day. It may still be far away in our day, for all we know. So we will pause between Chapter 65 and Chapter 66 to discuss some things about the Eden-like state of earth and talk more tomorrow about the millennial kingdom and the eternal kingdom. We will talk about how the entire creation will be affected positively during those ages.

The Book Of Isaiah. Day 181, New Heavens And A New Earth, Part One

A number of times in the book of Isaiah we have found the Lord promising to restore Isaiah's people to their land and to make the land fruitful again. In the remainder of Chapter 65 we find Him promising to restore the entire creation. This will happen after the millennial reign of Christ and the final judgment---at the time when eternity begins and Christ reigns forever over the earth and is the beloved King of all who have made Him their Savior.

"See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in My people; the sound of weeping and of crying in it will be heard no more." (Isaiah 65:17-19) 

The Apostle Peter makes reference to the new heavens and new earth in 2 Peter 3:13, stating that the Lord will keep the promise we just read about above. The Apostle John actually saw the new heavens and the new earth in the visions the Lord gave him in Revelation. Near the end of the book of Revelation we find John describing an earth restored to an Eden-like state. 

When Christ reigns over the earth, He will reign from Jerusalem, which will be the capitol city of the world during His eternal kingdom. Never again will the sound of weeping and crying be heard in that city. Indeed, weeping and crying will never be heard again anywhere, for the Lord will: "Wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:4) This promise is spoken not only to the believing Jews but to people of all nations who are believers. Death itself will die! We will inhabit immortal bodies like Christ's.

Not only will the human race be set free of the curse of sin: troubles and trials and sickness and death. But the animal kingdom and the entire creation will be set free. Just as all creatures lived in harmony with each other in the Garden of Eden, so also will they lived in harmony with each other on the restored and recreated earth. Join us in our next study section when we will go into this subject in more detail.

The Book Of Isaiah. Day 180, Past Troubles Forgotten

In today's text the Lord contrasts the fate of His faithful ones with the fate of those who have rejected Him. Although this message was spoken to Isaiah's people, it is as applicable to all of us today as it was to the people of Isaiah's day, for it is spoken to those who have knowledge of God and have chosen to turn Him away. 

"But as for you who forsake the Lord and forget My holy mountain, who spread a table for Fortune and fill bowls of wine mixed for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will fall in the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in My sight and chose what displeases Me." (Isaiah 65:11-12) The references to "Fortune" and "Destiny" are references to idolatry. He is speaking to those who forgot His "holy mountain" (who are not worshiping Him at Jerusalem) and who have chosen to worship other gods.

These words are spoken specifically to the Israelites of Isaiah's day but the message is the same throughout the ages: we can choose to worship God and reap the blessings promised to His children or we can choose to reject Him and reap the consequences of our sin. It's not as if Isaiah's people didn't know about the Lord; they deliberately chose to reject Him. In our day most people of the developed world have heard about the Lord; anyone who has heard about Him but who rejects Him is making a deliberate choice. 

"Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: 'My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.'" (Isaiah 65:13) God promises to provide for those who have made Him their Lord. Earlier in the Old Testament, before He took the Israelites into the Promised Land, He spoke about all the blessings that would be theirs if they remained faithful to Him. In this same way, He speaks a promise to us today in regard to His Son, saying that He will provide all of our needs according to His riches in Christ. (Philippians 4:19) He speaks this promise to those who are "in Christ"---who have accepted Him as Lord. 

The Lord continues comparing the righteous with the wicked, saying to the wicked: "My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts, but you will cry out from anguish of heart and wail in brokenness of spirit." (Isaiah 65:14) We were created for a relationship with our Creator. When we reject Him, we can never be whole in spirit. There is nothing else that can satisfy our souls. 

"You will leave your name for My chosen ones to use in their curses; the Sovereign Lord will put you to death, but to His servants He will give another name." (Isaiah 65:15) A person's reputation endures after they have left the earth. If they lived a godly life, their name can be used as an example of faith. We find many of these examples on the pages of the Bible. If they lived a wicked life, their name can be used as a "curse"---as an example of the judgment a person can bring upon himself by evil deeds. Their name can become synonymous with shame. 

But those who place their trust in the name of the Lord will be provided for. Those who place their trust in the name of the Lord will be an example of godliness. Those who place their trust in the name of the Lord will have His provision in our mortal lives and will have eternal life with Him after life in our mortal bodies is over. "Whoever invokes a blessing in the land will do so by the name of the one true God; whoever takes an oath in the land will swear by the one true God. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from My eyes." (Isaiah 65:16)

The Book Of Isaiah. Day 179, A Remnant Spared

I am finally back to the Bible study after all the computer issues and delays in receiving the new laptop due to the winter storm. I'm sorry it took so long.

We are still in Chapter 65. We ended the last session with the Lord speaking about the judgment that would fall on those who forsook Him in favor of idols. But not everyone forsook Him for idols. Just as there has likely never been a time when every single descendant of Abraham loved the Lord, there has never been a time when every single descendant of Abraham forsook the Lord. Time and again in the Bible we find the Lord speaking of a "remnant" in regard to those who remain faithful to Him.

In today's passage the Lord compares this remnant to a vineyard in which there are still some fruitful vines among those that have become unfruitful. He compares the remnant to grapes that are still good for something. "This is what the Lord says: 'As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes and people say, 'Do not destroy it, there is still a blessing in it,' so will I do on behalf of My servants; I will not destroy them all.'" (Isaiah 65:8)

As we have discussed before, during Isaiah's lifetime the northern kingdom of Israel fell to the nation of Assyria. This happened because the vast majority of people in the northern kingdom had become idolaters. It took an additional 130 years for the people of the southern kingdom of Judah to reach that level of idolatry, but when it did it fell to the nation of Babylon. But the Lord did not allow these people to cease being a separate and distinct group of people on the earth. He preserved a remnant of them in spite of their captivity in foreign lands. He preserved the royal line of David. He allowed many to return to the land of their forefathers.

He says: "I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah those who will possess My mountains; My chosen people will inherit them, and there will My servants live. Sharon will become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds, for My people who seek Me." (Isaiah 65:9-10)

The two locations mentioned above were two of the most fertile areas in the kingdom of Judah. The Lord is promising to make the land and its people flourish again. Though defeat and captivity may look like the end to them, it is not. The Lord will keep His promise to restore them to the land. The Lord will keep His promise to preserve them as a people. The Lord will keep His promise to bring forth the King of kings from the royal line of David.

New Laptop On Its Way

Thank you for your patience during my problems with the old laptop that keeps crashing. 

My husband and I selected a new one and ordered it. It's supposed to arrive on Tuesday if this snowy weather doesn't delay it.