V. Isaiah—Star Witness on Inspiration’s Witness Stand

ISAIAH—portrays the glories of the new heavens and the new earth to come. But first he pictures the preceding general judgments. The testimony of these prophetic witnesses has a strikingly similar pattern, climaxing with the Second Advent and the concurrent literal resurrection of the righteous. Here is Isaiah’s characteristic portrayal of the dread scenes of desolation, when the Lord returns in judgment: “Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof” (Isaiah 24:1).CFF1 138.6

Then follows a succession of vivid descriptions: The earth is to be utterly emptied and despoiled—devoured with a curse—broken down and desolated—the inhabitants gathered together as prisoners in the pit—but visited again after many days (Isaiah 24). Then comes the time when “he [the Lord] will swallow up death in victory,” and all tears will be wiped away. That is when the saints, who have waited for their Lord, are saved (Isaiah 25).CFF1 138.7

He sets forth a fervid expectation of resurrection-when “thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise,” and “the earth shall cast out the dead” (Isaiah 26:19). There is also allusion to the coming of the Lord to punish earth’s inhabitants for their iniquity. And at that time “the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain” (Isaiah 26:21).CFF1 139.1

Thus the “indignation of the Lord” upon all nations is disclosed, and they are “utterly destroyed” (Isaiah 34:2)—because it is “the day of the Lord’s vengeance” (Isaiah 34:8). Then the “streams” and the “land” are turned into “burning pitch,” and the “dust thereof into brimstone,” as vast destruction reigns (Isaiah 34:9). The tremendous physical upheavals of the last days are portrayed, but always with hope:CFF1 139.2

“Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished” (Isaiah 51:6; cf. 2 Peter 3:7-13; Revelation 21:1).CFF1 139.3

While there is warning that “darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people,” there is assurance that this will be followed by the coming of the glory of the Lord (Isaiah 60:1, 2). And there is radiant promise of a “new heavens and a new earth,” to supersede the present sin-and-deathpocked earth: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17; cf. Revelation 21; 22).CFF1 139.4

But the Lord’s coming in awesome fiery judgment is again portrayed:CFF1 139.5

“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. For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many” (Isaiah 66:15, 16).CFF1 139.6

Then Isaiah’s portrayals end with the glorious assurance to the redeemed: “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain” (Isaiah 66:22).CFF1 140.1

But Isaiah, the gospel prophet, likewise gives a tremendous portrayal of Christ’s first advent, when the Redeemer should come to Zion (Isaiah 59:20). Isaiah tells graphically of the mission of Christ’s first advent, beginning with His birth (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6), then His role as Suffering Servant, and on to His glorious triumph. (Micah even names his birthplace—Micah 5:2.) Tremendous is the detail of Isaiah’s inspired portrayal of the anguish of the Redeemer’s last hours, as “his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52:14), as He gave His “back to the smiters,” and His “cheeks to them that plucked off the hair,” and hid not His face from “shame and spitting” (Isaiah 50:6).CFF1 140.2

Christ’s sufferings and death are all disclosed in Isaiah 53: “Despised and rejected”—“a man of sorrows”—bearing our Briefs—carrying our sorrows—taking the iniquities of us all—“smitten of God, and afflicted”—“wounded for our transgressions”—” bruised for our iniquities”—“brought as a lamb to the slaughter”—“taken from prison and from judgment”—cut off out of the land of the living”—making His grave with the rich—and His soul made an offering for sin—“numbered with the transgressors”—justifying many—and making intercession for the ransomed transgressors. It is the incomparable prophetic portrayal of the atonement on Calvary.CFF1 140.3