Isaiah 35

Isaiah is deep into the Book of the Lord (34:16) which is full of End Time scenarios in clear chronological panels. He ended chapter 34 with the start of eternity after the extermination of evil at the Hell event at the end of the 1000 years “from generation to generation they [righteous] shall dwell in it” [in heaven]. This earth will see a recreation of nature (35:1). The wilderness of the millennium and its animals of desolation will undergo a miraculous change at the end of the millennium since the “wilderness and desert will be glad” (v. 1). The currently dry Arabah will rejoice and blossom (v. 1b). Isaiah then added a comparison that it will be like a circuit[Egyptian loanword pesher-t meaning circuit, using an /r/ for an /l/ as is custom in Egyptian]. Conditions will revolve or turn around, what was dry desert will become a blooming and colorful one. That is the circuit in mind here. The quality of the blossoming will be in the superlatives (v. 2a). There will be rejoicing and shouts of joy (v. 2b). What was known in Isaiah’s day as the glory of Lebanon and the majesty of the Carmel will be combined or fused in a glory far more imaginable: “they [emphasized] will see the glory of the Lord” (v. 2e). The Targum identified this glory as the “house of Israel” but that is not textually legitimate to say. This is at the start of eternity. In verse 3 Isaiah moves back to the panel of the Time of Trouble and this worldliness of which we also have a part right now: “encourage the exhausted [tired of the delay of the Lord] and strengthen the feeble (v. 3); say to the anxious of heart [the Endtime people who will suffer from heart attacks as Jesus pointed out] (v. 4a); “take courage and fear not” (v. 4b which is words Jesus often used for His disciples). The messages for these End-time remnant living in a world of chaos are twofold: “behold your God,” and “vengeance will come” (v. 4c). The two should be separated by a 1000 years since the recreation of humans is when He comes at the Second Coming before the 1000 years and they behold Him on the clouds of heaven. What shall also come at the Second Coming with Him is a “reward of God” of Resurrection for the faithful or recreation of their bodies to ultimate perfection (v. 4d). “He [emphasized] He will come and will save you” (v. 4e). This is at the Second Coming according to Daniel 12:1. Then (oz), when He came, at the Second Coming the recreational powers of the Messiah gets into action and the Resurrection takes place according to Daniel 12:1. This results in the eyes of the blind to see (v. 5a); the ears of the deaf to hear (v. 5b); the lame to leap like a deer (v. 6a); the tongue of the dumb to shout for joy (v. 6b). These are all actions of recreation of humans at the Second Coming event. The Targum faced the problem that New Testament passages identified Jesus as doing just this and to avoid a Christological application, they pendulum the meaning to the opposite by saying “deaf to the hearing of the law” and “blind not to see the exiles returning”. In the next phrase, Isaiah moved to the panel after the 1000 years or millennium. He says that nature will be recreated also, “water in the wilderness” (v. 6c); and streams in the Arabah (v. 6d); the dry land will become like a pool (v. 7a); springs of water in the thirsty land (v. 7b); resting places where the jackals use to stay (v. 7c); grass, reeds and rushes (v. 7d) meaning that everything is colorfully green. Then Isaiah says there will be a highway, a roadway (v. 8a). The name of this road will be “highway of Holiness” (v. 8b). The Targum saw it as a literal road and if people are instructed they will not go astray. On this road certain people will not be there: unclean (v. 8c); fools will not wander it (v. 8d); no dangerous lion will be there (v. 9a); a vicious beast will not [Phoenician negative particle] be there (v. 9b); these [vicious animals] will not be found there (v. 9c). The Targum interpreted these animals as “kings” and “ruler”. The so-called byzantine Greek translation translated it with “evil wild animal”. The Assyrian word paraṣu meant “breaking, tearing” and it would be better to translate it as “tearing living creatures” (carnivores) in balance with a lion. On the other hand, on that road of Holiness some will be there: “it is for him who walks a way [of the relationship with the Lord]” (v. 8d); the redeemed will walk (v. 9d). If one has a relationship with God one is saved and the saved or redeemed will walk there on the Highway of Holiness. Then Isaiah moved in his description to the end of the millennium when the Hell extermination of evil is completed and eternity started: “and the ransomed of the Lord shall return” (v. 10a). Return from what or to what? It is from sin to perfection. “And come with joyful shouting to Zion” (v. 10b). After the Second Coming there will be an entry into the heavenly Zion. Of course if they are walking on the Highway of Holiness after the Hell event, they will come to heavenly Zion also (v. 10b). The reason we say it is when eternity started already since the words are used “with everlasting joy” (v. 10c). Eternity has finally started never to end again. Joy will be upon their heads (v. 10c). They will find gladness and joy (v. 10d). Sorrow and sighing that is part of this worldliness, “will flee away” (v. 10e).

Dear God

The Highway of Holiness is for all those who desire to walk with You. Also us, o Lord, desire from the inmost of our hearts to walk that Highway with You. Amen.

Koot van Wyk, (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Kyungpook National University, Department of Liberal Education, Sangju, South Korea; conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia