1. Coming of the Messiah (Isaiah 61:1-9) 

2. Invitation Accepted or Rejected? (Isaiah 62:10-12; 65:1-12) 

3. Everlasting Joy for God’s People (Isaiah 65:17-25) 

Central Truth: Jesus Christ will return to judge the nations and welcome the redeemed. 

Focus: Study the future God has prepared for His people and expectantly wait for it. 

Evangelism Emphasis: Jesus Christ will return to judge the nations and welcome the redeemed. 

Text: “We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2 Peter 3:13). 

INTRODUCTION 

In the chapters we study in this lesson, Isaiah presents the Messiah in a variety of roles. First, He is seen as the Redeemer. Through His finished work of redemption, salvation is available to all who believe. Being that He is the Lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the world, He bore our sins in His body as He died on the cross. Not only is He the Lamb of God, but He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah who will come back to earth; not as the suffering Servant, but as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He will come in power, glory, and judgment (see Jude 14-15). 

The Messiah is also seen as the Rewarder of those who faithfully follow Him. A careful review of His dealings with the seven churches in the Book of Revelation shows Him promising to reward the overcomers. He is capable of keeping every promise He has ever made. In His role of Rewarder, He will make a distinction between the sheep and the goats, the good and the bad, and will reward all according to their works. I want to be in the group that has His favor; I want to worship and serve Him, and be involved in Kingdom work—forever. 

Then the Messiah is seen as the Prince of Peace. Before His death and resurrection, Jesus promised His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you” (John 14:27). Every believer is promised that peace. When He sets up His millennial kingdom, Jesus will bring peace to the earth in a measure it has not experienced since the Garden of Eden. He will reign in peace and righteousness, producing blessing and prosperity. 

1. COMING OF THE MESSIAH 

A. The Anointed Message (Isaiah 61:1-3) 

1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. 

The Lord allowed Isaiah to look down the corridor of time and see the coming of the Messiah. At His first coming, Christ came to bring good news to the poor, who made up the larger number of those who followed Him. He presented a joyful message to those who bore the oppression of poverty. He also had a message of healing for the broken in heart. What a powerful medicine the Gospel is! Furthermore, the Messiah came to bring deliverance to those who were held under the captivity of sin and facing the wrath of God. These wonderful works were accomplished by the preaching of the Gospel under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. 

When Jesus quoted this passage in Luke 4:18-19, He stopped in the middle of Isaiah 61:2, where the focus turns to His second coming. His message for the Second Advent is vengeance and comfort. One facet of His return will be to take vengeance on unbelievers who have been enemies of the Church—principally upon Satan and his cohorts. But there is another side to His second coming. He will bring comfort to “all who mourn in Israel” (v. 3 NLT). He will bestow a crown of beauty for ashes, turn their sighing into singing, musing into music, sadness into gladness, and all tears into triumphs. 

—Describe the trades offered by the Lord (v. 3). 

B. The Priesthood of Believers (Isaiah 61:4-7) 

6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. 

The mourners of verse 3 will become the repair experts of verse 4. John Calvin observed, “When the inhabitants of any city, scattered in all directions, have been absent for a very long time, there can be no hope of rebuilding it.” But this will not be the case during the millennial reign of Christ. During that period, Israel will rebuild the ruined cities and the people will watch them rise again. Such will be their prosperity that foreigners will come in to tend their flocks and cultivate their fields (v. 5). As the various tribes came to the aid of the Levitical priests, so the nations will serve the Lord’s people during this period. 

The Lord promised His people that one day they “shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation” (Ex. 19:6). All God’s people would become priests and ministers, and each would have direct access to the Lord. Now, believers are encouraged to “come boldly unto the throne of grace” with no human intermediary (Heb. 4:16). There God’s people will “obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Isaiah said, “Instead of shame and dishonor, you will enjoy a double share of honor . . . and everlasting joy will be yours” (v. 7 NLT). 

I Am One of Them 

It is a bad world, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life. They have found a joy and wisdom which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. . . . These people are the Christians, and I am one of them.—Saint Cyprian 

C. An Everlasting Covenant (Isaiah 61:8-9) 

God loves to see His children living right and doing His will in this world. He wants us to follow Jesus’ admonition, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). If we will embrace the divine offer of salvation, the Lord says He will enter into an everlasting covenant with us (Isa. 61:8). He will be our God who befriends and defends us. 

On the other hand, the Lord abhors wrongdoing. Anything gotten by some wrong means, even if it is acquired for the purpose of offering a sacrifice, is displeasing in His sight. But He is pleased if we will follow Him and perform good works for good ends. We will come to love the truth, and the Lord will reward us for our faithfulness. 

If obeying Him causes us to suffer at the hands of evil, He will bring us to joy and fulfillment. The apostle Paul understood this when he wrote, “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). 

Verse 9 of the text says the followers of Christ will be recognized as such “among the nations . . . in the midst of the peoples” (ESV). They will be recognized as a people who are blessed by God and in whom God’s grace dwells. 

—What does God “love,” and what does He “hate” (v. 8)? 

2. INVITATION ACCEPTED OR REJECTED? 

A. The Redeemer (Isaiah 62:10-12) 

10 Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. 11 Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. 

To cast this passage in a prophetic light, it pictures the Messiah as already on His way to the Holy City. The call is to prepare the way for His coming, to open wide the gates of the city that there may be unobstructed entrance. People are called upon to clear all the stones from the highway, thus providing a smooth path, and to raise a banner that all may see the Messiah is to be enthroned in Jerusalem (v. 10). 

When the Messiah arrives, the Gospel is to go out to the ends of the earth. He comes as the Redeemer to reward Israel with His blessings; the day of their salvation has come (v. 11). The troubles they have faced continuously are over. Jesus Christ will make it evident that He is the righteous Judge of the world. The day is coming when believers whose service has been acceptable to the Lord will be rewarded for those things done in the name of the Lord (see 1 Cor. 3:10-15). 

What a change in status Jerusalem and the nation of Israel will enjoy when the Messiah comes! Instead of a place no one sought after, this place shall be called “Sought out” (Isa. 62:12). Jerusalem will be known as a city no longer forsaken. The nations of the world will recognize her inhabitants as “The holy people” and “The redeemed of the Lord.” 

All believers fall into this category of the holy and redeemed. Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and should be used to glorify God (see 1 Cor. 6:19-20). 

Responding to the Redeemer 

God made us, redeems us, provides for us. The natural, honest, healthy, logical response to that is praise to God. When we praise, we are functioning at the center; we are in touch with the basic, core reality of our being.—Eugene Peterson 

B. Obstinate People (Isaiah 65:1-7) 

1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 

The Lord extended His love to Israel in so many ways, but they rejected His pleas. In the face of that rejection, the Lord called out to a people who had not sought Him, and offered the joy of salvation to them. The apostle Paul said Isaiah was bold enough to point out the evils of His people, and His turning to the Gentiles (see Rom. 10:20-21). 

Isaiah points out the many ways Israel defied the Lord. They insulted God to His face by worshiping in pagan gardens (65:3), consulting with the dead while sitting among the graves (v. 4), eating food that was contrary to divine law, among other things. The extent to which they acted outside the will of God is astonishing. The Lord said “these people” were “a stench” and “an acrid smell” to Him (v. 5 NLT). He would call them into judgment and pay them back for their idolatrous worship and arrogant attitude (vv. 6-7). 

This passage begins with a picture of God calling out to His people, pleading with them to follow Him. He is still reaching out to lost people with an earnest appeal to hear His voice and respond to His call. Salvation awaits those who will heed His call and believe on His Son. “What must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) is still a valid question, and the answer is the same as it was given by the apostle Paul: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (v. 31). 

—How is God pictured in verses 1 and 2, and why is this important? 

C. The Chosen People (Isaiah 65:8-12) 

11 But ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. 12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. 

The judgment to come was pronounced on the entire nation, but the faithful will be spared. The Lord used the vine and its grapes to illustrate His point. If the vine keeper finds any life or sap in the vine, he will not cut it off completely. If some grapes in a cluster are good, he does not throw away the entire cluster. The message is that among the Israelites some are good, while others are bad. Some are genuine, but others are pretenders. The Lord will deal with each accordingly. The day is coming when He will separate the true and the false forever. 

This word picture is intended to show that a remnant of the Jewish people will return to Jerusalem and the surrounding area. They are chosen of God, individuals who will walk in His favor, and who will inherit the land the Lord gave to their fathers long ago. Upon their return, they will cultivate the land and watch it flourish so they can provide the nourishment their flocks need. “The plain of Sharon” and “the valley of Achor” were two of the most fertile areas of Judea, producing rich pastures wherein the sheep could graze (v. 10 NLT). 

The Lord had a message for those who walked in disobedience. In the great day of judgment, they will be reminded of how they forsook the Lord and neglected His house (v. 11). They worshiped the gods of Fate and Destiny (NLT) in the hope that they could assure them a successful future. They even offered food and drink offerings to these false gods. The Lord said because of their wayward living and insistence on following a sinful lifestyle, they would die by the sword (v. 12). 

—According to verse 12, what brings divine judgment on people? 

3. EVERLASTING JOY FOR GOD’S PEOPLE 

A. The New Heavens and New Earth (Isaiah 65:17-19) 

17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 

In the Book of Revelation, John saw something similar to the prophecy given to Isaiah: “I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea” (21:1). The creative power of God will once again come to bear upon the earth, re-creating both heaven and earth in a more righteous and glorious fashion. This reflection in John’s vision of what Isaiah had prophesied hundreds of years before gives us both Old and New Testament proofs of what lies ahead. 

In Isaiah 65:17, “create” is from the Hebrew word bara. It can refer to the act of renovating something already existent into a totally new condition. This new creation of Jerusalem will be so wonderful that the old city of the past will not be remembered. 

The new Jerusalem will be a city of rejoicing. There is little wonder the people who inhabit that righteous city will rejoice because of the redemption that has brought them there. Jerusalem will be alive—teeming with the sound of rejoicing from the saints who have come to populate her streets. Singing will be heard from every street and avenue. Laughter will be her music. 

Three times in verses 17 and 18, God says, “I create.” This reminds us the primary focus of Jerusalem’s residents will be on the Creator, not on His new creation. They will rejoice in the blessings while praising the One who blesses. 

The joy of that city, however, will not simply be a joy of her inhabitants. God will rejoice with His people as well. In a powerful fellowship, His children will be a joy to the Lord as He is a joy to them. His delight will be in the people He has redeemed, and the redeemed of the Lord will delight in Him. 

—What “former things will not . . . come to mind” (v. 17 NIV), and why not? 

Anticipating Christ’s Return 

The atmosphere of the believing church should be like that of parents whose son at the war front will be home any day. Every time the doorbell or telephone rings, they think it may be him coming home. That was the atmosphere in the early church. The thought of Christ’s coming should be before us like the returning of a son.—Donald Grey Barnhouse, Let Me Illustrate 

B.  The Days of God’s People (Isaiah 65:20-22) 

21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 

All of life will be transformed in God’s new creation. Life spans will be extended; longevity will be restored. Those who walk uprightly before the Lord will live to a ripe old age. Never again will babies die when they are just a few days old. Never again will people die before they have lived a full life. Those who live to be one hundred years old will be regarded as mere children. Anyone who does not live to be a hundred will be considered as under a curse (v. 20). 

During this era, people will reap the benefits of their labor. The houses they build, they will occupy. Others will not take their homes from them. They will enjoy the fruits of their fields; others will not steal their produce (v. 21). 

The prophet says the days of God’s faithful people will be “as the days of a tree” (v. 22); that is to say, they should endure as long as the trees planted by them. Their lives will be healthy, hearty, and long-lasting. The psalmist wrote: “Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age” (92:13-14). 

—Why will long and healthy lives be the norm in this era? 

C. A World at Peace (Isaiah 65:23-25) 

The righteous will not labor in vain; they and their children will be blessed by the Lord. Nothing is more devastating to a parent than the loss of a child; families will be spared this grief during this blessed period. The blessing that rested on the parents will also be extended to the children. The Lord said, “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever” (Isa. 59:21 NIV). 

What a beautiful revelation we have in 65:24: The Lord knows what we are going to ask before we utter the words. He will respond before we petition Him, and hear while we are still speaking. The prophet Daniel said while he was still speaking, the angel Gabriel shared with him the future God has in store for the world (see Dan. 9:20-24). Jesus said the Father knows our needs before we ask (Matt. 6:8). 

During the reign of Christ on the earth, animosity and hostility will be removed, and the wildest animals will live together in peace, not devouring one another. “The Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6) will bring perfect peace. The knowledge of the Lord will fill the earth. Those who embrace this knowledge will live for God and obey Him (see 6:9). During this time, even the serpent will harm no one; harmony and safety will prevail. 

THE FUTURE UNVEILED 

In chapters 61-65, Isaiah writes about a time coming on this earth that will be better than anything that has been seen since the Garden of Eden. For the righteous, a glorious period is coming; for the unrighteous, divine punishment is lurking. After a period of unparalleled peace, engineered by Christ himself, Satan and his forces will be unleashed on the earth to make war against the Savior. They will be summarily defeated and confined to unending suffering. Unbelievers will stand before the Great White Throne Judgment and face their final destiny. This will be followed by the creating of a new heaven and a new earth, where believers will enter into an eternal state with the Lord.   

Daily Devotions: 

M.  Reign of David’s Greater Son (2 Samuel 7:12-17) 

T.     Messiah Declared (Psalm 2:1-12) 

W.  Coming of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:9-14) 

T.  The Beginning of Jesus’ Ministry (Luke 4:16-21) 

F.  Prepare for That Day (2 Peter 3:8-14) 

S.  New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-7)