Isaiah chapter 66 has become quite an interesting Text to me, loaded with prophetic information, far beyond my expectations!
I think I see yet another place (in today’s Text) where Paul has perhaps quoted Isaiah, or at least alluded to the Prophet’s words.
A whole Paragraph today, our Bible Study Lesson:
“15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. 18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.” Isaiah 66:15-18
The Lord (Jesus) … coming again, the Second Time. (His First Coming via the Virgin Birth obviously does NOT fulfill these predictions.) “15 For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.”
Now the Apostle Paul, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 … “The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.”
Sound alike, these two? They sure do to me!
Then Isaiah 66:17 graphically depicts some of the sins (egregious in God’s Eyes) a host of heathen, lost, rebellious, Jew-haters will be committing in those coming, dark days. (Even though some of them might racially be Jews!) “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.”
Here the eating of unclean food symbolizes (I suspect) numerous and abominable acts that have (finally) exhausted God’s Patience. Judgment has come. And as I said in the Lesson title, “Armageddon!”
No doubt “idolatry” in all its lewd forms, provoking God one last time.
All of them “shall be consumed together.” The rare Hebrew verb used here is “suph,” meaning “to be brought to an end!”
But Preacher Bagwell, what makes you so sure this is Armageddon? The last verse of our Text proves it, conclusively. “For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I (the Lord) WILL GATHER ALL NATIONS AND TONGUES; and they shall come, and see my glory.” Isaiah 66:18 … but also read Revelation 16:14-16 for a description of the same event.
Wow!
They shall “see God’s Glory,” His Wrath included! (God’s Glory is often defined as “the Sum Total of all His Attributes,” which would include His Holy Anger, Judgment, hatred of sin.
What a writer, Isaiah.
What a Preacher, too.
These verses today … every bit as informative and uplifting as anything John wrote from Patmos hundreds of years later!
Amen.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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