What does Isaiah 66:20 teach about the inclusivity of God's kingdom? Where We Are in Isaiah 66 Isaiah’s final chapter pictures the Lord ushering in His ultimate reign, judging the proud and gathering worshipers who tremble at His word. Verse 20 sits in a section (vv. 18-23) describing the worldwide mission that follows God’s decisive intervention. Key Verse (Isaiah 66:20) “And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD—on horses and chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels—to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring a grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.” Immediate Observations • “All your brothers” — the dispersed of Israel. • “From all the nations” — a global scope. • “They will bring” — Gentile peoples actively participate. • Multiple modes of transport — energetic, eager movement. • Destination: “My holy mountain Jerusalem” — a literal place of worship. • Comparison to “a grain offering” — the arriving people are presented as holy to God. Inclusivity Highlighted in the Verse • God envisions worshipers streaming in from every corner of the earth; His kingdom is not provincial but worldwide. • Gentiles are not mere spectators; they help deliver God’s people and, by implication (v. 21), join in priestly service. • The phrase “as a gift to the LORD” dignifies every person arriving—no hierarchy, no second-class citizens. • Worship in Jerusalem becomes a unifying act, dissolving ethnic barriers around a shared devotion to the Lord. A Literal Gathering with Global Participation • The regathering of Israel is physical and geographic (“to My holy mountain Jerusalem”). • Gentile assistance fulfills earlier promises that nations would serve Israel’s restoration (Isaiah 49:22; 60:9-11). • This cooperation foreshadows the millennial kingdom in which Messiah rules from Jerusalem and all peoples come to worship (Zechariah 14:16). • Inclusivity does not erase Israel’s distinct role but amplifies it, making room for all nations to rejoice in covenant blessings (Romans 11:17-18, 25-27). Harmony with Other Scriptures • Genesis 12:3 — “all the families of the earth will be blessed.” • Isaiah 2:2-3 — “all nations shall stream to it.” • Isaiah 56:6-8 — foreigners joined to the Lord are welcomed on His altar. • Zechariah 8:22-23 — many peoples seek the Lord in Jerusalem. • John 10:16 — “other sheep… they will become one flock.” • Acts 15:14-17 — Gentile inclusion fulfills Amos 9:11-12. • Ephesians 2:13-19 — Gentiles and Jews made “one new man.” • Revelation 5:9-10; 21:24 — redeemed from “every tribe and tongue” worship before God’s throne and enter the New Jerusalem. Takeaway Truths • God’s kingdom welcomes people from every nation without diminishing His covenant with Israel. • Inclusivity is inseparable from holiness; the nations are brought “in a clean vessel.” • The Lord Himself orchestrates the movement—His plan is unstoppable, global, and gracious. • Today, the church tastes this reality as the gospel gathers diverse believers into one body, anticipating the day all nations converge on the Messiah’s throne. |
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