Isa 66:23 | KingComments | STEP | Isaiah ends his prophecy with a striking contrast. The people of Israel will continue to exist in offspring and name, as sure as the new heavens and the new earth, because they are inextricably connected with Christ ( ). Because of His presence in their midst all that lives will come to worship Him every new moon and every sabbath ( ; cf. ). “All mankind” are the survivors of all the nations that have gone up against Jerusalem. The contrast between what they come to do and what they will see is great. When the nations come to worship God, they will see an everlasting reminder of the terrible nature and consequences of rebellion against God ( ). The bodies of the enemies of Israel will be brought to a valley east of the Dead Sea, “the valley of Hamon-gog” ( ). It will be a monument as a warning for the enemies of God. The picture of fire used here is taken from the valley of Hinnom, just outside of Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus refers three times to this valley, where the garbage from Jerusalem was burned, to warn for the eternal fate of every unrepentant ( ). He thus gives it an application that goes beyond the thousand years realm of peace and makes it a picture of hell, “the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” ( ). Nevertheless, despite this warning sight, a spirit of dissatisfaction over the just and benevolent government of the Lord Jesus will take hold of the nations. As a result, at the end of a thousand years, the nations will rebel against Him when, under the permission of God, satan is released from his prison to mislead them ( ). No purely natural circumstances, however peaceful and blessed they may be, can give new life to a human heart. This new life, together with absolute adherence to Christ, must always be based on faith in the value of His atoning blood.

‏ Isaiah 66:23

Worship and Horror

Isaiah ends his prophecy with a striking contrast. The people of Israel will continue to exist in offspring and name, as sure as the new heavens and the new earth, because they are inextricably connected with Christ (Isa 66:22). Because of His presence in their midst all that lives will come to worship Him every new moon and every sabbath (Isa 66:23; cf. Zec 14:16). “All mankind” are the survivors of all the nations that have gone up against Jerusalem.

The contrast between what they come to do and what they will see is great. When the nations come to worship God, they will see an everlasting reminder of the terrible nature and consequences of rebellion against God (Isa 66:24). The bodies of the enemies of Israel will be brought to a valley east of the Dead Sea, “the valley of Hamon-gog” (Eze 39:11). It will be a monument as a warning for the enemies of God.

The picture of fire used here is taken from the valley of Hinnom, just outside of Jerusalem. The Lord Jesus refers three times to this valley, where the garbage from Jerusalem was burned, to warn for the eternal fate of every unrepentant (Mk 9:43-47). He thus gives it an application that goes beyond the thousand years realm of peace and makes it a picture of hell, “the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death” (Rev 21:8).

Nevertheless, despite this warning sight, a spirit of dissatisfaction over the just and benevolent government of the Lord Jesus will take hold of the nations. As a result, at the end of a thousand years, the nations will rebel against Him when, under the permission of God, satan is released from his prison to mislead them (Rev 20:7-8).

No purely natural circumstances, however peaceful and blessed they may be, can give new life to a human heart. This new life, together with absolute adherence to Christ, must always be based on faith in the value of His atoning blood.