Especially a time when the Lord graces Israel, the Kingdom of Heaven (another Bible name for the Millennium) will also bring God’s Goodness down upon all the earth in veritable “showers of blessings!” (Alluding to Ezekiel 34:26 … “And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.”)
My Bible Text this morning is Isaiah 25:7-8, precious Scripture indeed. The last clause of that two-verse Span speaks of Israel specifically … “And the rebuke of his people (Israel) shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.” The Jew will be no longer hated, God having effectively removed world-wide disgrace, shame, reproach, rebuke!” Instead of anti-Semitism, the world will be saturated with pro-Semitism! (I may have just coined a word!)
Yes, the “remnant” of Jews surviving the Tribulation, entering the Millennium, will be a saved group of Jews!
But my main interest today concerns the remaining parts of Isaiah 25:7-8, not just that last Line.
Beginning here: “And he (God) will destroy in this mountain the face of the COVERING cast over all people, and the VAIL that is spread over all nations.” God will remove a “dark blanket” that has been enshrouding mankind since Adam and Eve sinned in Eden! A “covering” or “veil” that has weighed heavily on humanity, likely because of our sin! (As in: “The wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23a) I believe the Prophet Isaiah means that dark cloud is death itself!
God cancelling death?
The Lord lifting that universal curse?
As in Romans 5:12 … “Wherefore, as by one man (Adam) sin entered into the world, and DEATH by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”
Death somehow overcome?
Keep reading: “He will SWALLOW UP death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.” Isaiah 25:8
(The Apostle Paul quotes this in 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 … “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is SWALLOWED UP in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
Because Jesus lives!
God Almighty (initially in the Millennium, perpetually in eternity future) will “swallowed up” something! (Isaiah 25:8, remember!) No more death! This powerful Hebrew verb is also translated “to destroy” nine times in the King James Version of the Bible! And it is “devour” three more times!
Death will be gone!
And what does death cause, how does it affect the living, the survivors? Sorrow, tears, heartache! So God will also … “wipe away tears from off all faces.” (Again, Isaiah 25:8!) Eternal comfort!
It really does appear that “death” will be extremely rare on this earth during Jesus’ Reign! But in New Jerusalem, in the new heavens and earth … no death ever!
Conquered for all time (if time even exists)!
HOW did God to this, absolve death?
Through the shed Blood of His only Begotten Son on Calvary! And Jesus’ subsequent Resurrection!
Because Jesus lives … we shall live also, those of us believing in His Name! (John 14:19 promises so! There Jesus plainly says: “Because I live, ye shall live also.”)
Yes, Jesus has now the very “keys” of death! (Revelation 1:18)
No wonder the Bible talks so much about “eternal life!”
Tomorrow I will take a trip to a cemetery. My 48 year old son has died. He will be entombed there … death has claimed over him a temporary victory. But, Oh … Jesus is coming again! Joel’s pained body will be raised incorruptible! Literally and gloriously … he will be given a body like that of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Yes, Jesus … “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” … always keeps His Word! (Quoting Philippians 3:21, again King James Version)
Tearfully I say … HALLELUJAH!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Even so … come Lord Jesus.
.