Years ago in Book about “Revival” I recall reading a Sermon using Isaiah 64:1 as its Text. These words comprise a prayer to God: “Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence.”
As in: “Lord, we need Thee. Please come and help us. Only Thy Presence could ever meet the needs (right the wrongs) in this old sinful world. Thou art our Salvation.”
In our Text today … the verb “wouldest rend” is spelled “qara” in Hebrew, meaning “to tear in pieces.” It can also mean “to make (something) wide or large.” Or “to split asunder!”
The verb “come down” is self-explanatory. “Yarad” means “to descend.” (God did descend one Day, literally, at the Incarnation! Jesus is God “come down” to us!)
Come to think of it, God did “rend the heavens” once as well! When Jesus was baptized! “And straightway coming up out of the water, he (Jesus) saw the heavens opened (the Greek verb schizo, our word “schism,” meaning ‘to tear open’), and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him.”
Wow!
This is Revival, no doubt!
But our verse today, Isaiah 64:1, does NOT directly point to either of the two Jesus Events just described, not precisely. It looks yet further ahead to the Second Coming of Jesus to earth!
I mean “Revelation 19:11” ahead …
John there wrote: “And I saw heaven opened (like a door), and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him (JESUS) was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.”
Jesus, returning to defeat the anti-Christ and the hordes of ungodly people who worship him! Jew haters, every single one!
And then literally, the Old Testament teaches us … when Jesus’ Feet touch earth … “And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives SHALL CLEAVE in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south.” Zechariah 14:4
Yes, the earth will be rearranged when Jesus comes again!
Truthfully … “the mountains will flow at His Presence!” Just like our Text insinuates, promises.
And mark this … when Jesus comes again … TRUE (WORLD-WIDE, GENUINE) REVIVAL WILL HAVE ARRIVED!
Isaiah’s prayer of long ago will have been answered.
Amen.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
I more and more see why godly people long for that Return, for that Revelation of our dear Lord. And why the Bible closes (Revelation 22:20 with this prayer: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
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