Isaiah 62

God has a special message to the remnant in this chapter. He says to Isaiah that He will not keep silent or quiet for the sake of Zion and Jerusalem which is the heavenly abode of the remnant when Christ comes a second time (v. 1a-b). It is an established fact that righteousness will inherit the new earth “until her [remnant of Zion and Jerusalem] righteousness [now in perfection of their new resurrected bodies] goes forth like brightness and her salvation like a torch that is burning” (v. 1c-d). The nations and kings of the unfallen worlds “will see your righteousness” and “your glory” (v. 2a-b). They “will be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord will designate” (v. 2c-d). In their new perfection they will be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord and a royal diadem in the hand of God (v. 3). Then Isaiah used the key words indicating to us that the whole context is definitely eschatological: “It will no longer be said to you: ‘Forsaken’” (v. 4a). Preterists apply the detail of the chapter to the land of Israel in the days of Isaiah and when they come to verse 4, they say it is metaphorical and that Isaiah is just overexcited. He makes it by words bigger than it really is. In essence, they do not want people to accept Isaiah seriously. They want to rationalize Isaiah’s words away as poetical creativity or emotions. When God says “no longer” it means eternity and eternity is a reality not an imagination or dream. With the new earth created after the Millennium and after Hell the new earth will be called: “My delight is in her” (v. 4c). The earth will be called “Married” meaning the remnant is now inhabiting the new earth. The “Lord delights in you and your earth will be married” (v. 4f). The remnant girls will be married by the sons of the remnant and “as a bridegroom rejoices over the bride so your God will rejoice over you” (v. 5). Four words were used to describe hell on earth and heaven on earth: Azubah or forsaken; Shemamah or desolate; Hephzibah or My delight is in her; Beulah or Married. Two of them negative (hellish conditions on earth) and two positive (heavenly conditions on earth). On the walls of the heavenly Jerusalem God will appoint watchmen but instead of silently spying the night or day for enemies, there are no enemies and “all day and all night they will never keep silent” (v. 6b). The remnant use to remind God not to take rest for Himself in history (v. 6c). It is interesting that while Jewish scribes were working in the Library at Niniveh, fifty years later than this writing of Isaiah, they conflated Mosaic ideas of a worldwide flood and ship of Noah with the heathen gods of Assyria and concocted the cuneiform story that the flood came because the gods in heaven couldn’t sleep because the humans on earth were too noisy. In history and now, in all generations the remnant “give Him no rest until He establishes and makes [the new] Jerusalem a praise of the [newly created] earth” (v. 7a-b). On the new earth the Lord has sworn that the grain and new wine will never be given to enemies and foreigners (v. 8a-c). The Lord sworn this “by His strong arm” because at the Hell before the new creation of the new earth, He will exterminate all evil (v. 8a). The gatherers will eat and drink and praise the Lord in the court of His sanctuary in heaven (v. 9a-b). Then Isaiah moves the panel to the scene at the Second coming of Christ, before the millennium, the Hell event and the creation of the new earth. The remnant is taken up to heaven after resurrection and this scene will take place: “Go through, go through the gates; clear the way for the people [the remnant saved]” (v. 10a-b). “Build up, build up the highway, remove the stones, lift up a standard over the people” (v. 10c-d). This is the triumphant entry of the saints in the new heavenly Zion. Isaiah then moved one panel before the Second Coming event, to the Latter Rain event and says “behold the Lord has proclaimed to the end of the earth” (v. 11a) and His message is an Advent message “Say to the daughter of Zion [the remnant] ‘Behold, your salvation comes’” (v. 11b). This salvation is the Second Coming of Christ for Isaiah continues in the words of Jesus in Revelation 22:12: “Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him” (v. 11c). The unfallen worlds will call the remnant “the Holy people, the redeemed of the Lord and you will be called ‘sought out, a city not forsaken’” (v. 12a-c). Our world history is observed in detail by the unfallen worlds.

Dear God

The whole universe is watching with anticipation of what God will do in us and the rest of the remnant. We plead that you will bring salvation established in our lives to be part of the Holy people. In Jesus name, Amen.

Koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Visiting Professor, Department of Liberal Arts Education, Kyungpook National University, Sangju Campus, South Korea, Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia