Isaiah 66 Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition

Bible > RFP > Isaiah 66

◄ Isaiah 66 ►

Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition

[Isaiah 66 Notes]

[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.

1Thus says the LORD: “The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build for Me? And where will My resting place be? 2For all those things My Own hand has made, and so they came into being”, says the LORD; “But to this man will I look with favor and have regard for: he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who reverences My word. 3He that kills an ox is now as bad as if he killed a man; he that sacrifices a lamb is now as bad as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that brings a grain offering is now as bad as if he offered swine's blood; he that burns incense is now as bad as if he worshipped an idol. Indeed, they (who persist in the now abolished sacrificial rituals) have chosen their own ways; they delight in detestable things. 4I will also choose their punishments, and will bring upon them what they feared, because when I called, none responded; when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did evil before My eyes, and chose things that displease Me.”

5Hear the word of the LORD, you that tremble at His word: “Your own people who hated you, and threw you out for being loyal to My name, and mockingly said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified; that we may see your joy’, they shall yet be ashamed.” 6Do you hear that noise from the city, a terrible noise from the Temple? It is the voice of the LORD, Who is repaying His enemies with what they deserve.

7Even before she went into labor, she gave birth; before her pain began, she delivered a son. 8Who has ever heard of or seen such a thing? Shall the earth bring forth a nation in one day? Or shall a nation be born in a moment? For no sooner was Zion in labor and she gave birth to her children. 9”Shall I bring it to the time of delivery, and not bring it forth?” says the LORD. “Shall I shut the womb and not deliver it?” says your God.

10Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you that love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you that mourn over her, 11That you may nurse, and be satisfied with her comforting breasts; and may drink deeply, and be delighted with her overflowing glory.

12For thus says the LORD: “Behold, I will extend peace and prosperity to her like a river, like a flowing stream; then shall you be nursed, you shall be carried in her arms, and be dandled upon her knees. 13As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you, and you shall be comforted over Jerusalem.” 14And when you see this, your heart shall rejoice, and you shall flourish like the grass; and His servants shall know the hand and blessing of the LORD, but His indignation shall be directed toward His enemies.” 15For, behold, the LORD is coming with fire, and His chariots are like a whirlwind, to bring punishment with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. 16For by fire and by His sword will the LORD execute judgment upon the earth; and many shall be slain by the LORD. 17“They who ‘sanctify’ and ‘purify’ themselves behind an idol in the middle of their sacred gardens, eating the meat of swine, rats, and other abominable things, shall meet their end together”, says the LORD.

18“For I see what they do and know their thoughts; but the time shall come when I will gather all people of all nations and languages; and they shall come, and see My glory. 19And I will set a (miraculous) sign among them, and I will send those who escape to the nations: to Tarshish; Pul; Lud, skillful archers; Tubal; Javan; and to distant islands, to those who have never heard My fame, nor seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. 20And they shall bring the remnant of your people, riding on horses, in chariots and litters, and upon mules, and other swift beasts, out of all nations to My holy mountain, Jerusalem, for an offering unto the LORD, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings in ceremonially clean vessels into the Temple of the LORD. 21And I will also select some of them to be priests and Levites”, says the LORD.

22”For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me”, says the LORD, “so shall your name and your descendants endure.

23”And it shall come to pass that, from new moon to new moon, and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind shall come to worship before Me”, says the LORD. 24”And they shall go out, and look at the dead bodies of those that have transgressed against Me; for the worms that consume them shall never die, nor the fire that burns them ever go out; and they shall be viewed with utter horror by all.”