ISAIAH CHAPTERS 56–66
The final section challenges the returned exiles to maintain justice. The section promises that from the rebuilt Jerusalem God’s glory will spread throughout the world. It is a future glory for God's people.
ISAIAH 56: REWARDS FOR OBEDIENCE TO GOD
v.1 The time of the Lord is always very close for each one of us. Knowing we only have one short life, we need to remember that the only lasting things will be those we have done for Jesus Christ.
v.2 God wants us to live an honest life. A man who does this is blessed by God.
"Sabbath" is a covenant God set up with the nation of Israel. The Gentile church was not required to keep it, yet it would do us all good to have one day of rest each week for our health.
v.7 God wanted those who weren't Jews but followed after Him to have access to Him at the Temple.
ISAIAH 57: FALSE LEADERS REBUKED
v.1 This verse may be a description of what will happen at the Rapture of the Church.
v.3 Addressing those who have been involved in pagan religions. These people were to be joined to God as in a husband-wife relationship. Their adultery is that they don't devote themselves totally to the Lord.
v.5 In their worship of Baal, the people would offer their children as sacrifices to him.
v.13 The Lord contrasts the difference between trusting in Him and in a false god.
v.15-19 Even though they had forsaken God, He still promises His restoration.
v.20-21 There is constant turmoil for the man who has set His heart against God.
ISAIAH 58: HYPOCRITICAL RELIGION
v.1-2 The contrast was that outwardly they sought the Lord, but inwardly they still worshipped their idols.
v.3-5 They weren't fasting to seek God but to prove a point. Their fast was outward, not inward.
ISAIAH 59: SINS
v.1-2 Answers to prayer are hindered by our sin. Our sin separates us from the Lord.
ISAIAH 60: THE DELIVERER OUT OF ZION
v.1-13 Glorious events will come to Israel when the Messiah comes. The Jews had difficulty in recognizing Jesus because of the suffering in His life.
ISAIAH 61: CHRIST'S TWO ADVENTS IN ONE VIEW
The "day of vengeance" still has yet to take place during the Great Tribulation. The "wrath" is not for the Church. The tribulation the Christian goes through is from Satan and a part of living in this world. The wrath that the non-Christian will go through is from God.
v.6 The word "minister" means "servant."
ISAIAH 62: DIVINE UNREST UNTIL ISRAEL RESTORED
v.1 God will not rest until Israel is restored.
v.5 God relates to Israel as in a marital relationship. In the New Testament Christ and the Church are described this way as well (Ephesians 5:22-33).
ISAIAH 63: DAY OF VENGEANCE
v.1-4 The Lord will be spreading the fierceness of His anger upon the earth, according to Revelation 14:10, 19:11-16.
v.4-6 God's coming judgment upon the earth.
ISAIAH 64: THE REMNANT'S PRAYER
v.1-4 Prayer requesting that God manifest Himself as He had in the past.
ISAIAH 65: ANSWER OF JEHOVAH TO REMNANT OF ISRAEL
v.1-5 God declares how He stretched out His hands to the Gentiles.
v.8-9 God will bring a faithful remnant, His elect, back to the land. This follows along with God's promise to never forsake them.
v.17 To "create" here means "to create something out of nothing."
ISAIAH 66: BLESSINGS OF THE COMING UNIVERSAL KINGDOM
v.1 We can give nothing to God that does not already belong to Him anyway. God does not require a place built by man to dwell in, for He dwells in the heavens.
v.22-23 In the new heaven and earth all will be in harmony with the Lord. Those who did not accept Him will have another destiny.
v.24 God's wrath or judgment is eternal. Before the great white throne judgment of God, Hades will give up their dead. This verse speaks of the second death. Gehenna, the place of eternal punishment, was originally meant for Satan and his angels, but those who follow him in this life will be placed there also, according to Mark 9:44, 46.
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