Isaiah 66

CHAPTER 66THEME: The Creator, Ruler, Redeemer, Judge, Regenerator, and Rewarder; the Lord decides the destiny of both the saved and the lostToday our prayer is, “Thy kingdom come …” (Mat_6:10). In Isaiah 66 the Kingdom has come.

Isaiah 66:1

THE CREATOR, RULER, REDEEMER, JUDGE, REGENERATOR, AND REWARDER"The earth is my footstool"this little earth on which you and I live is not very important. It is only a footstool for God! “Where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?” Any temple down here on this earth could not contain Him. Solomon recognized that. In his prayer of dedication for the first temple, he said, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1Ki_8:27). Therefore, the eternal character of the Kingdom seems to me to be the very presence of God. You won’t need a temple there. I think that the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21) will be a place to which the people on earth will come to worship and visit. Listen to the God of creation, the God who is high and holy and lifted up:

Isaiah 66:2

The God who created this vast universe, who is above it and beyond it, condescends to dwell with the humble and contrite of heart. Oh, what condescension on the part of God! In that day the meek shall inherit the earth; in fact, they will inherit all things.

Isaiah 66:3

Apparently the sacrificial system will be dispensed with after the Millennium. To offer an ox without spiritual comprehension is the same as murder. Everything in eternity must point to Christor that which was once commanded becomes sin.

Isaiah 66:5

God will make the distinction between the true and the falsethat which is real and that which is not. Christ said to let the wheat and tares grow together, that He would separate them. Now that time has come. The Pharisee who was meticulous in his religious practice is to be cast out. The publican who stood afar off and repented will be received.

Isaiah 66:6

God will finally deal with the enemies of Israelthey are His enemies also.

Isaiah 66:7

The Great Tribulation will be a time of travail. Israel will go through the Great Tribulation after Christ is born in Bethlehem"before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child" who is Christ Jesus. This is a remarkable verse.

Isaiah 66:9

God will make sure that all He has promised is accomplished. The 144,000 Jews who are sealed at the beginning of the Great Tribulation will come through itnot just 143,999, but everyone of them will be there. How wonderful! Now he can say:

Isaiah 66:10

What a time of blessing it will be.

Isaiah 66:18

THE LORD DECIDES THE DESTINY OF BOTH THE SAVED AND THE LOSTAll nations must appear before Him. The Lord Jesus mentioned this in Mat_25:31-32. “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.” At that time a great company of Gentiles are going to be saved as well as many from Israel. The nations are going to come and worship in Jerusalem.

Isaiah 66:22

God’s purposes and promises for Israel are as eternal as the new heavens and the new earth.

Isaiah 66:23

The redeemed of all ages will worship God throughout eternity. That will be the most engaging and important business of eternity.

Isaiah 66:24

In other words, “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked” (Isa_57:21). That is going to be their condition throughout eternityno peace, no rest, no contentment, no God. The Book of Isaiah closes with this third warning that there is no peace for the wicked. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Mat_11:15).