Isaiah 66)
1 Thus says the Lord, (quoted in Acts 7:49. Cp. 1 Kings 8:27. 2 Chron. 6:18) “The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool: where is this house that you all (i.e. the future builders) build to Me? and where is the place of My rest? (i.e. rest in satisfaction. The Temple was for sacrifice and atonement [2 Chron. 2:6], not for dwelling. Cp. Acts 7:48. Wake up! Emotions of our Father. He is putting you in your place)
2 For all those things has My hand made, and all those things have been, [is] the Lord's oracle: but to this man will I look, even to him that is wretched (or, lowly. See Prov. 6:11) and of a contrite spirit, and cares anxiously for My word. (humble yourself)
3 He that kills an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog's neck; he that offeres a gift (or, meal offering), as if he offered swine's blood (very polluted! Unclean! He doesn't want it! See Deut. 14:8. Lev.11:7); he that makes a memorial of frankincense (see Lev.2:2), as if he blessed an idol.
Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations. (Oh, but it looks so religious! Like "Easter". They chose traditions of men and won't accept God's way)
4 I also will choose their [strong] delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; (i.e. nightmares)
because when I called, none did answer;
when I spoke, they did not hear: but they have done the evil before My eyes, (like follow spurious teachings and the spurious messiah, anti-Christ, who is Satan)
and chose that in which I delighted not.
5 Hear the word of the Lord, all you that tremble at His word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake, said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified:’ but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
6 A voice of noise from the city (cp. Zech. 12:3-6; 14:3), a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that renders recompense to His enemies. (cp. 65:6)
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth (this is the birth of the new nation. These are the "birth pangs" [or "sorrows"] of Matt. 24:8. In Rev. 12:1,2 we have one part of the type in the person of Messiah. Here is the other part of the type); before her pain came, she was delivered of a male. (as in Rev.12:5)
8 And who has heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at a stroke? (i.e the righteous nation of 26:2. Referred to in v.7. Matt. 21:43) for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her sons.
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?” says the Lord: “shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb?” says your God.
10 “Rejoice you all with Jerusalem (the promises of 1:27; 2:1-5, are now at length to be fulfilled), and be glad with her, all you all that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you all that mourn for her: (as for one lost, or dead. See 3:26)
11 That you all may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that you all may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12 For thus says the Lord, Behold, I will extend property to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like a flowing stream: then shall you all suck (the promises of 49:22 and 60:4 are again renewed), you all shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
13 As a an whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you all shall be comforted in Jerusalem. (not in the Church. Cp. 1:1)
14 And as soon as you all see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward His servants, and His indignation toward His enemies.
15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. (see Heb. 12:29)
16 For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh (fig., put for all mankind): and the slain of the Lord shall be many.
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind the asherah in the midst (cp. 1:29; 40:5, and 65:3), eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse (forbidden, unclean. See Lev. 11:29. See 1 Sam. 6:4,5,11,18), shall be consumed together, says the Lord.
18 For I know their works and their devices: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues (cp. Joel 3:2. Zeph. 3:8);
and they shall come, and see My glory.
19 And I will set a sign among them (see 7:11), and I will send (as missionaries) those that escape of them to the nations (i.e. the remnant of saved Israel), to Tarshish (put for the far west), Pul, and Lud (= Phut...Lud, put for African peoples. They are mentioned together, as serving in the Egyptian armies [Ezek. 30:5]), that draw the bow, to Tubal (= the Scythian tribes), and Javan (put for the Greeks settled in Asia Minor), to the maritime countries afar off (see 11:11), that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the nations.
20 And they shall bring (not into the Church, but back to the Holy Land) all your brethren for a gift offering to the Lord out of all nations
upon horses,
and in chariots, and in litters,
and upon mules,
and upon carriages (= carriages, as required by the Structure. "Swift beasts" is Heb. kirkãroth, from kãrar, to move in a circle; hence, may mean [like English car] any vehicle on wheels. It is never used of animals. There is nothing to suggest "swaying furnaces", as suggested by some, to mean "locomotives"), to My set apart mountain Jerusalem,” says Yehovah, “according as the sons of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. (see Lev. 2, &c.)
21 And I will also take of them (i.e. Israel) for priests and for Levites,” (see Deut. 17:9. See also Ezek. 43:19; 44:10,13,15. Thus completing the fulfillment of Ex.19:6) says Yahaveh.
22 “For as the new heaven age and the new earth age (see 65:17), which I will make, shall remain before Me, [is] the Lord's oracle, so shall your seed and your name remain.
23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another (see the law concerning them, Num.10:10; 28:11-15. Cp. Ps.81:3,4), shall all flesh come to worship before Me (implying centralized worship, as in Ex. 20:3,5. Deut. 26:3,5. Cp. 1:12), [is] the Lord's oracle.
24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against Me: for their worm shall not die, (quoted in Mark 9:44. Referred to by our Lord to Gehenna, of which the fires in the valley of Hinnom were an illustration. Heb. tôlâ‘, the maggot bred from putrid substances. See Ex. 16:20. Deut. 28:39. Job 25:6 [second word]. Ps. 22:6. Isa. 14:11 [second word]; 41:14; here; and Jonah 4:7, which are all occurrences of tôlâ‘ in O.T. In the synagogue use, v.23 is repeated after v.24, so that the Book may end with comfort. Cp. end of Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Malachi) neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh.” (the Heb. occurs only here)