Isa 66:5 | KingComments | STEP | In the LORD turns again to the minority consisting of those who tremble at His word out of reverence and awe. They live in deep awe of every word of Scripture. This should also characterize us. This minority proclaims the gospel of the kingdom to the people of Israel, but they will reject the message, yes, they will get an aversion to the messengers of the gospel. In addition, after about three and a half years, a man will rise up with wonders and signs who will be accepted by the people as their king and their christ ( ). He is called the antichrist by Scripture. Together with the leader of the restored Roman Empire or the united states of Europe, he will unleash a terrible persecution against the believing remnant. Many will perish in the process. Finally, the antichrist will set up an abomination of destruction in the temple in Jerusalem, causing the faithful to flee and leave Jerusalem ( ). The persecution will be terrible. What makes the persecution extra tough is that the persecutors are not only the nations, but also the antichrist, the false king of Israel and the mass of the unbelieving and apostate people of Israel. The LORD promises the believing remnant that He will deal with their brethren who have hated and persecuted them, increasing the abomination of their sins. They have ventured with mocking unbelief to abuse the name of the LORD and to challenge Him to show His glory. These apostates regard any hope in God as pure deception. The LORD has decided to put them to shame. The city and the temple are in ruins – caused by the king of the North – but there will come a time when there will be noise in the city again and a voice will be heard in the temple, “the voice of the LORD who is rendering recompense to His enemies” ( ). These are not only the enemies in the Jewish people, but also the nations and peoples conspiring against the LORD and against His Anointed ( ). When the LORD was as the Lamb on earth, He did not open His mouth ( ), but now it is different (cf. ).

‏ Isaiah 66:5

Mockers Will Be Put to Shame

In Isa 66:5 the LORD turns again to the minority consisting of those who tremble at His word out of reverence and awe. They live in deep awe of every word of Scripture. This should also characterize us.

This minority proclaims the gospel of the kingdom to the people of Israel, but they will reject the message, yes, they will get an aversion to the messengers of the gospel. In addition, after about three and a half years, a man will rise up with wonders and signs who will be accepted by the people as their king and their christ (Jn 5:43). He is called the antichrist by Scripture. Together with the leader of the restored Roman Empire or the united states of Europe, he will unleash a terrible persecution against the believing remnant. Many will perish in the process.

Finally, the antichrist will set up an abomination of destruction in the temple in Jerusalem, causing the faithful to flee and leave Jerusalem (Mt 24:15-27). The persecution will be terrible. What makes the persecution extra tough is that the persecutors are not only the nations, but also the antichrist, the false king of Israel and the mass of the unbelieving and apostate people of Israel.

The LORD promises the believing remnant that He will deal with their brethren who have hated and persecuted them, increasing the abomination of their sins. They have ventured with mocking unbelief to abuse the name of the LORD and to challenge Him to show His glory. These apostates regard any hope in God as pure deception.

The LORD has decided to put them to shame. The city and the temple are in ruins – caused by the king of the North – but there will come a time when there will be noise in the city again and a voice will be heard in the temple, “the voice of the LORD who is rendering recompense to His enemies” (Isa 66:6). These are not only the enemies in the Jewish people, but also the nations and peoples conspiring against the LORD and against His Anointed (Psa 2:1-2). When the LORD was as the Lamb on earth, He did not open His mouth (Isa 53:7), but now it is different (cf. Rev 19:15).