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3) Isaiah's Gospel regarding Earth's Destiny
The future of this earth, as revealed by the prophet Isaiah in chapters 1-11 was examined. As many Christian groups now accept the second coming of the Messiah to the earth, it is necessary to closely look at what the prophets prophesy about the future destiny of the earth. The prevailing view of many Christians is of the destruction of this planet after the return of the Messiah. This article will continue the examination of what Isaiah reveals about the earth’s destiny.
Chapters 1-11 of Isaiah were summed up in Isaiah 11:9, “the earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the waters cover the sea.” It is a vision of a peaceful earth ruled by a righteous king following war and calamity. Other chapters in Isaiah build upon this vision.
The prophecy of Isaiah abounds with the hope and promise of peace for this earth. The wonders and magnificence of Yahweh’s creation are destined for far greater things than complete annihilation.
Isaiah states in Isaiah 49:8, “In a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee (Israel), and give thee for a covenant of the people (i.e. all nations), to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.” In simple terms, the nation of Israel has been established as a sign to the nations. Yahweh has made a covenant or promise that will be kept. Those ‘desolate heritages’ refer us back to the homeland of the Jewish nation that lay desolate for almost two thousand years. It has been partly brought back to fruitfulness, but in no way does the land of Israel resemble the vision that was portrayed in the earlier chapters of Isaiah. Isaiah is constantly drawing our attention back to the land of Israel and the covenant (promise) ‘to establish the earth.’
The promise is of the transformation of the ‘desolate heritages’ as depicted in Isaiah 35. “The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of Yahweh, and the excellency of our God.” This chapter also speaks of the ‘vengeance’ with which the ‘fearful of heart’ will be saved (verse 4) and the subsequent peace that will be established in the once desolate land.
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