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Virtual Bible Study Notes ISAIAH 65 NOTES HILLDALE BAPTIST CHURCH Virtual Bible Study Notes FOR THE LESSON ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2020 (Phone Call Class 11/27/20) ISAIAH 65 NOTES* (based on NASB) “God Restores” Isaiah 65:17-25 (BACKGROUND TEXT: Isaiah 61:1—66:24) INTRODUCTION: • The writings of the prophet Isaiah are about 2700 years old. However, they are amazing for several reasons. They represent information about ancient history that would not be known in any other way. The writings also present beautiful messages of Hebrew poetry which reflect masterful thought and intelligence in ancient times. Also, they present prophecies of the Lord Jesus Christ that came true in miraculous ways. We even have some archeological corroboration of the authenticity of the writings of the Isaiah the prophet. • One great confirmation of the authentic writings of Isaiah is in the Dead Sea Scrolls. One of the greatest and most valuable finds among the Dead Sea Scroll discoveries was a nearly intact scroll of the full book of Isaiah. It is now called the “Great Isaiah Scroll” and is housed in Shrine of the Book on the facility of the Israel Museum. The scroll is a composite of seventeen parchments and is 24 feet long, with 54 columns of text on it. It is by far the oldest copy of Isaiah in existence, about 1000 years older than the oldest Hebrew manuscripts we have. • Another amazing confirmation of Isaiah the prophet has recently surfaced. Archeologist and Author Eilat Mazar made an excavation in Jerusalem in 2009 and recovered 34 clay seals, small clay disks that were seals such as used on possessions. One of these seals had the Hebrew word Yesha’yah inscribed on it, which is the Hebrew name for Isaiah. The word following was broken off the seal, but the first three letters were NVY, which are the first three letters of the word Navih, or “prophet.” It cannot be proven, but Mazar believes that this seal which dates to about 800 BC, perhaps once read, “Belonging to Isaiah the prophet.” • Perhaps the most amazing mark of authenticity is fulfilled prophecy. As we have discussed in past lessons, Isaiah made many prophecies of future events, but he made a remarkable number of detailed prophecies about Jesus Christ alone. By one count, he made as many as 14 accurate and precise prophecies about Jesus. There can be no question that these prophecies were written down long before they were fulfilled, because we know that the events of Jesus’ life and death really occurred in history, and we know that the writing of Isaiah existed many years before the time of Jesus. The Great Isaiah scroll which dates to 100 and 150 BC is proof of this, and it is still in existence today! God has confirmed to us the miraculous nature of His Word. • General Outline of Isaiah: o Rebuke of Judah and Promise of Immanuel (1–12) o Judgment on the Nations (13–39) o God’s Greatness (40–48) o God’s Gift of Peace (49-66) • In previous lessons we studied the first major part of Isaiah, chapters 1 through 39 about God’s judgment directed against the nations of the world and prophecies of Messiah’s birth. In the second major part, chapters 40 through 66, we are studying about Messiah’s death and his later victory, and the great comfort received by all God’s people. • In today’s lesson we learn that God will make a new world in the end of time, where all of nature will be harmonized, and God’s people will be blessed always. Preceding passages in the background text: Isaiah 61 – A proclamation of the year of the Lord’s favor fulfilled by the Messiah. Isaiah 62 – Mount Zion will be awarded with great glory and blessing among people. Isaiah 63 – God returns from his vengeance on evil and the people rejoice in victory. Isaiah 64 – The people yearn for God to come down and make restoration. Isaiah 65:1-16 – Those who continue to reject God will suffer, but God will save His chosen. A PLACE OF JOY: (Isaiah 65:17-20) Verse 17: • For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind – Taken in context of the entire Bible, this prophecy refers to the end of time. We find similar words in Revelation 21, verses 1, 4, and 5. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth… the first things have passed away… And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new…” Many of those who believe in the premillennial reign of Christ interpret this entire passage as applying to the Millennium and beyond. Verse 18: • But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing, And her people for gladness. – The Lord confirms that His creation will be such that we will take delight and be thrilled with his creation forever. Jerusalem, herself, will be the city that God has decreed for His people to come home to and live in joy forever. Verse 19: • I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people; And there will no longer be heard in her, The voice of weeping and the sound of crying. – God Himself will take delight in Jerusalem and in her people. He will eliminate all sorrow and sadness. Again, these words are echoed in Revelation 21, verse 4: “…there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain…” Verse 20: • No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days – In the New Jerusalem, it seems there will be a return to the longevity of life as experienced after the creation of the world in Genesis, such as the generations of Adam who lived hundreds of years. • For the youth will die at the age of one hundred, And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred, Will be thought accursed. – A continuation of an expression of the longevity of life. The fact that there is aging and death at all indicates that this does not apply to the eternal state of heavenly glory, but rather, perhaps, to the Millennium, as described in Revelation 20:1-10, for which there is much mystery. A PLACE OF PROSPERITY: (Isaiah 65:21-23) Verse 21: • They will build houses and inhabit them; They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit – The times are recognized as exceedingly prosperous when the people are able to build and live in their houses and plant and harvest their vineyards and crops, especially around Jerusalem and Judea. This will be the blessings of end times, again, apparently referring to the Millennium. Verse 22: • They will not build and another inhabit, They will not plant and another eat – So often in the history of Israel, when the people would build homes and plant their crops, they would be invaded and the conquering people would take over or consume their homes and fields. On many occasions, people would dread the thought that if they build or plant, they may not enjoy the fruit of their labor. • For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands. – This verse again speaks to the longevity of life. Some of the trees in the Middle East, though far fewer than those in the Americas, grow to be very old. Today the trees of the olive grove on the Mount of Olives east of Jerusalem are over 2000 years old. The same trees were in existence in the time of Jesus. The prophet also says that people will live so long, that the possessions they make, which would normally last for generations, will wear out before one lifetime is over. Verse 23: • They will not labor in vain, Or bear children for calamity – The people will not work hard and toil only to see their work meaningless because of famine, war, or captivity, but they will enjoy the fruit of their labor. When they bear children, they will be healthy and live, and they will enjoy times of peace and joy. • For they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD, And their descendants with them. – We find the reason for the great blessings that God will bring. The people of this time are God’s chosen who are touched by the strong hand of God’s blessing, and their descendants will also be blessed as a result of it. A PLACE OF PEACE: (Isaiah 65:24-25) Verse 24: • It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear – An amazing statement of answered prayer. Fellowship with God will be so close that even before someone prays, or while he or she is still speaking, God will bring the answer. Verse 25: • The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent's food. – In the new heaven and new earth God creates, He will cause all nature to become peaceful and beautiful so that even the carnivorous animals will eat plants, and all the animals will be tame and gentle. These same words are echoed in Isaiah 11:6-9.
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