As Previously Mentioned, The Holy City Will Be the
Capital of The World,
The Center of God's Kingdom on Earth.
The entire
world will look to Jerusalem because it will be the seat of government, the
city where God's very throne and power will govern the earth. Therefore, a
magnificent description is given of the city, a description that staggers the
mind (see Re. 21:9–23 The New Jerusalem):
The Holy City Will
Be the Capital of The World,
The Center of The Lord's
Kingdom on Earth
14 The sons of anti-Semites will come and bow before you! They will kiss
your feet! They will call Jerusalem "The City of the Lord" and "The
Glorious Mountain of the Holy One of Israel."
15 Though once despised and hated and rebuffed by all, you will be beautiful
forever, a joy for all the generations of the world, for I will make you so. 16
Powerful kings and mighty nations shall provide you with the choicest of
their goods to satisfy your every need, and you will know at last and really
understand that I, the Lord, am your Savior and Redeemer, the Mighty One of
Israel. 17 I will exchange your brass for gold, your iron for
silver, your wood for brass, your stones for iron. Peace and righteousness
shall be your taskmasters! 18 Violence will disappear out of your
land—all war will end. Your walls will be "Salvation" and your gates "Praise."
19 No longer will you need the sun or moon to give you light, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light, and he will be your glory. 20 Your sun shall never set; the moon shall not go down—for the Lord will be your everlasting light; your days of mourning all will end. 21 All your people will be good. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with my own hands; this will bring me glory. 22 The smallest family shall multiply into a clan; the tiny group shall be a mighty nation. I, the Lord, will bring it all to pass when it is time.[1] (Isaiah 60:14b–22)
A.
In Contrast to Jerusalem's History, The
City Will Be the Pride and Joy of The Entire World (V. 15).
Through the
centuries, Jerusalem has been maligned, hated, attacked, and destroyed time and
again. People have hated the Jews, so much so that they have sworn continued
hostility toward both the people and the nation. Various individuals or groups
would not even travel through the nation or its capital. Moreover, each time
Jerusalem was destroyed and her people exiled by invading armies, a significant
number of Jewish exiles would not return even when given the opportunity. From
the beginning of its history, Jerusalem has been despised and forsaken by the
vast majority of people on earth. However, the day is coming when the Lord
Himself will establish the city as the spectacular capital of the world. On
that day, Jerusalem will be the most prized possession of all the citizens of
the earth.
B.
The City's Maintenance—Its Upkeep,
Provision, Support—Will Come from The Nations of The World (V. 16a).
All the nations
will sustain the city as if it were a nursing child. They will love, nourish,
and take care of the city for two reasons: the light and glory of the Lord's
presence will dwell there (Vv. 1–4) and because it is the seat of the world's
government and economy.
C.
The City's Ruler Will Be the Lord Himself
(V. 16).
Note the
significance of this fact: all people will know that the Lord is their Savior, Redeemer, and the Mighty One of Jacob. All will know
that Jesus Christ brought God's kingdom to earth, that He eliminated the
darkness of sin and death that had held the world captive since the beginning
of human history.
D.
The Beauty and Wealth of The New
Jerusalem Will Be Absolutely Breathtaking.
The city will be
built from the most stunning and valuable materials available. No corners will
be cut in order to save money (V. 17a).
E.
The Government of The New Jerusalem Will
Bring Peace and Righteousness to The Earth.
At long last, peace and justice will flood the earth and satisfy the soul's craving for freedom from wickedness and violence. There will be no more lawlessness—no wars, conflicts, terrorist acts, murders, assaults, abuse, or oppression. Neither will there be divisiveness between people, not even within families. It is nearly impossible to conceive a world filled with peace and righteousness. Nevertheless, because Christ in perfection will govern the earth in perfection, a spirit of peace will rule over all.
F.
Society Will Have No Criminals (V. 18).
News commentators will
no longer report on violence, lawless behavior, or destruction, for nowhere in
the world will there be any evil taking place.
G.
The City's Defenses Will Be Salvation and
Praise (V. 18b).
That day, lust for
power and wealth will no longer fill people's hearts. Instead, the joy of the Lord—freedom
in Christ—will flood their hearts. As a result, there will be no conflict or
war and no attempt to overthrow governments to seize power. There will be no
need for military power or defenses. Instead, salvation and praise will fill
the Holy City and spread throughout the worldwide kingdom of God, providing
assurance of safety for all.
H.
The City's Source of Light Will No Longer
Be the Brightness of The Sun or The Moon, But Rather the Splendor and
Brilliance of God's Glory (V. 19).
This thought
astonishes our finite minds. Moreover, it is impossible to envision such glory
emanating from any being. Nevertheless, the blazing glory of the Lord's
holiness and Person, brighter than the sun or moon, will provide all the light
the city of Jerusalem needs.
I.
The City's Perfection and Joy Will Spread
Across the Face of The World (V. 20).
Of course, this
will be due to the presence of the Lord Himself, for He alone can bring
completion and fulfillment to all the world's citizens. There will be no more
sorrow or mourning, no more suffering, pain, or death on earth. Imagine such a
world! Life in the Lord's kingdom will be utopia, perfection.
J.
The Citizens of The New Jerusalem Will Be
the Righteous, And They Will Inherit the Promised Land Forever.
Who are the righteous? They are the people planted and looked after by the Lord (vv. 21–22). Note why He chose His people: to glorify His name and power. Through His work on earth, the Lord has demonstrated the splendor of His glory and the mighty power of His arm. This is clearly seen in His choice and care for Israel, as well as in the survival and growth of Israel's population in the face of the world's hostility.
The Citizens of God's Kingdom Will Be the Righteous.
The righteous alone will inherit the promised land. All the wonders and joys described in this Scripture will be given only to those who truly trust the Lord and obey His commandments. In addition to these, God gives many other wonderful promises to the righteous:
V "Therefore, whosoever heareth these
sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built
his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the
winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon
a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And
the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that
house, and it fell: and great was the fall of it" (Mt. 7:24–27).
V "Then shall the righteous shine forth as
the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear"
(Mt. 13:43).
V "Jesus answered and said unto him, if a
man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will
come unto him, and make our abode with him" (Jn. 14:23).
V "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall
abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his
love" (Jn. 15:10).
V "But whoso looketh into the perfect law
of liberty, and continueth therein,
he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be
blessed in his deed" (Js.
1:25).
V "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the
tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city" (Re. 22:14).
V "Now, therefore, if ye will obey my
voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto
me above all people: for all the earth is
mine" (Ex. 19:5).
V "O that there was such a heart in them,
that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be
well with them, and with their children forever!" (De. 5:29).
V "He withdraweth not his eyes from the
righteous: but with kings are they on
the throne; yea, he doth establish them forever, and they [seated] are exalted"
(Jb. 36:7).
V "The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry" (Ps. 34:15).
V "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the
righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread" (Ps. 37:25).
V "The righteous shall flourish like the
palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon" (Ps. 92:12).
V "Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings" (Is. 3:10).[2]
21 "All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever,
for I will plant them there
with My own hands in order to bring Myself glory."[3]
The righteous
alone will inherit the promised land. All the wonders and joys described in
this Scripture will be given only to those who truly trust the Lord and obey
His commandments.
Here, Isaiah, the prophet, touches the root of the matter. Pain and sorrow are the fruit of sin. Once sin disappears, sorrow goes with it. It is the foundation of all the glory and all the happiness of the redeemed in their Lord's final kingdom, that they are cleansed from all defilement of sin, and "are as the angels" "For when the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage. In this respect they will be like the angels in heaven" (Mark 12:25).[4]
Prayer:
Father God, we long for and look forward to the day we will go home to heaven to
be with you. We recognize that day is sooner than we think, but not yet soon
enough. While waiting for your final call to bring us home, may we please honor
you with our lives. May we honor you with our thoughts, behavior, and
motivations for all we do. Lord, we do not want to be disqualified from your blessings
here and now, nor do we want to miss out on the rewards you desire to bestow
upon us when we finally arrive home in heaven. Our true family is those we
spend time with now, praying, studying your Word, and singing worship to you,
our true Father in heaven. Even our biological family is not guaranteed to
enter the heavenly home you want to give them, for they must make you their personal
Lord and Savior. We believers can only lead and show them you and your love.
They must still choose to make you their personal Lord and Savior. Father God,
help us model you to all those willing to hear us of the love, graciousness,
and mercy we have experienced and recognize that we cannot live without. We are
the righteous you speak of. May we honor you with the honor of being called a
saint.
Thank you,
Father God, for all you have done, are currently doing, and will do in the
future in our lives, preparing us for that day we finally go home to be with
you. We bless your Holy name, Father God.
Amen
The Righteous Alone Will Inherit the Promised Land.
All the Wonders and Joys Described in This Scripture Will Be Given Only to Those Who Truly Trust the Lord and Obey His Commandments.
[1] Taylor, Kenneth Nathaniel. 1997. The Living Bible,
Paraphrased. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House.
[2] Leadership Ministries Worldwide. 2005. Isaiah: Chapters 36–66. Vol. II. The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible. Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.
[3] Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New
Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] Tyndale House Publishers. 2015. Holy Bible: New
Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
No comments:
Post a Comment