Pictorial Bible Exegesis of Isaiah 51
and the Resurrection
According to Isaiah 51, the
Resurrection will have the remnant “lift up your eyes to the sky” and the trip
to heaven will have the faithful resurrected ones “then look to the earth
beneath” (Isaiah 51:6a-b). The “earth will wear out like a garment” as the
Remnant is taken by angels to heaven, “and the inhabitants will die in like
manner” which is clear that the remnant is no longer on earth and part of these
evil remainder inhabitants on earth (Isaiah 51:6e). It is “My salvation shall
be forever” so that it is no longer in history. It is not the Babylonian or
Assyrian Exile restoration here. It is forever and eternity started and
Resurrection is passed and the Remnant as Zion moved to the heavenly New
Jerusalem. In the third panel the Lord speaks directly to the faithful wheat in
the Remnant, the good harvest, “you who know righteousness a people in whose
heart is My law” (Isaiah 51:7a-b) which is Paul’s theology in Romans and other
letters and also Jeremiah promise cited by Paul in the New Testament. Righteous
people, in God’s terms, have the Law of God in their hearts. It is the gospel
of the Old Testament and Paul in the New Testament is exactly the same. Even
afflicted the remnant of history should not be afraid since “moth will eat them
like a garment” [the evil and afflicting ones] (Isaiah 51:8a). It is again
eschatological for “My righteousness shall be forever” (Isaiah 51:8c). It is
not just romantically or metaphorically in the mind or psychology of Isaiah. It
is God speaking and reality. Preterists wish to apply everything to Isaiah and
his times and cancel or tone down the promises of God from “forever” to “longer
duration in present time”. It is to rewrite Isaiah. (Source: K. van Wyk, Van Wyk
Christ’s Actions in History Prophetically 183)