1“I revealed Myself to those who did not look for Me; to those who were not seeking Me, I allowed access to Myself. To a nation that did not call on My name I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’. 2All day long I have opened My arms to an obstinate people that go their own evil ways, pursuing their own imaginations - 3A people who continually provoke Me to anger to My very face; offering sacrifices in gardens, and burning incense upon altars of brick; 4Who lurk among the graves and monuments, who eat swine's flesh, and their pots contain broth of abominable (forbidden) meats - 5People who say, ‘Stand back, do not come too close. or you may defile me; for I am holier than you.’ Such people are like smoke in My nose, an acrid smelling fire that burns all day. 6Look, the deeds of men are written out before Me; I will not keep silent, but will repay them in full, 7For both their sins and those of their ancestors”, says the LORD, “Because they have defied Me by burning incense upon the mountains, and blaspheming Me upon the hills; I will measure full repayment for their former deeds into their lap.” 8This is what the LORD says: “Just as some good grapes are still found in the cluster of bad grapes, and people say, ‘Do not destroy it; for a few good grapes are still in it’; so will I do for My servants' sakes; and I will not destroy them all. 9And I will save some of the descendants of Jacob, and out of Judah, who will possess My mountains: the people I choose shall inherit My mountains, and My servants shall live there. 10The plain of Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down and there shall be rest for My people that have sought Me. 11But as for you who forsake the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who prepare a feast to honor the god of Fate, and a drink offering of mixed wine to Destiny, 12I will now ‘destine’ you to the sword, and you shall all fall before the slaughter; because when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen; but instead you did evil before My very eyes, and deliberately chose what displeases Me. 13Therefore, thus says the LORD God: ‘Behold, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; My servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; My servants shall rejoice, but you shall be ashamed; 14My servants shall sing for the joy of their hearts, but you shall cry for the sorrow of your heart, and shall wail because of your anguish. 15Your name shall remain for My chosen ones to use as a curse; for the LORD God shall put you to death, but to His servants the LORD shall give another name.’ 16Whoever invokes a blessing in the land shall do so by the one true God, and those who take an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth, because the troubles of the past will be forgotten, and hidden from My eyes. 17For I will create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come to mind. 18But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create; for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight, and a source of joy for its people. 19And I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in My people; and the sound of weeping shall never more be heard in her. 20There shall never again be an infant in it who only lives a few days, nor an old man that does not live out his years; for those who shall die at a hundred years old shall be considered a mere child; but sinners that fail to reach the age of a hundred years shall be considered accursed. 21My people shall build houses, and live in them; they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22No longer shall they build houses, and others live in them; nor shall they plant, and someone else eats the produce. For the days of My people shall be like the days of a tree; and My elect shall long enjoy the results of their efforts. 23They shall not labor in vain, nor bear children destined for trouble; for they will be the people blessed by the LORD, and their progeny with them. 24And before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent's food. No one shall either hurt nor destroy on My holy mountain.’ says the LORD.” [Following is a summary of Chapter 66 taken from “The Prophecies of Isaiah”, by Dr. Joseph A. Alexander (1809-1860), Princeton University] “This chapter winds up the prophetic discourse by expressly predicting the change of dispensations, and describing the difference between the two. The major differences between the old and the new dispensations are summarized here: 1 - God will no longer dwell in temples made with hands, v.1. 2 - Instead, He shall live within every sincere and humble heart, v. 2. 3 - The ancient sacrifices, even though divinely instituted, will now be as hateful as pagan rites, v. 3. (This is partly because it is an affront, in view of Christ’s perfect and once-for-all final sacrifice for all sins.) 4 - Those who still cling to the ritual of abolished sacrifices will be fearfully but righteously requited (punished), v. 4. 5 - The true and faithful of Israel, who were cast out by these deluded sinners, shall soon be glorified; and the carnal of Israel shall be fearfully rewarded (punished), vv. 5, 6. 6 - The ancient Zion can already be seen travailing through its transition to a new and glorious dispensation, vs. 7-9. 7 - They who mourned for her seeming desolation will now rejoice in her prosperity and honor, vv. 10-14. 8 - At the same time the carnal Israel shall be destroyed, as apostates and idolaters, vv. 14-17. 9 - God knows their evil plans and deeds; and the place they once occupied shall now be filled by the elect from all nations, v. 18. 10 - A remnant of the ancient Israel shall be sent out among the gentiles to gather these elect, v. 19. 11 - These elect shall come from every quarter and by every method of conveyance, v. 20. 12 - Some of these chosen people shall have priestly honors bestowed upon them, v. 21. 13 - This new dispensation is not to be temporary, as was the previous one, but shall last forever, v. 22. 14 - While spiritual Israel is thus restored from all nations, its apostate counterpart shall be consumed by a lingering decay in full view of an astonished world, vv. 23, 24.”
Glossary • World History Overview • Deep Purple Registry Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition |
    |