The future glories of Jerusalem 66:7-14The mood now reverts back to hope (cf. Isaiah 65:17-25). In contrast to all the bereavement and deprivation that Jerusalem had experienced and would yet experience (cf. Isaiah 26:16-18; Isaiah 37:3; Isaiah 51:18-20), the ultimate future of the city and its inhabitants remained bright. read more
Such a reverse order of things seems incredible. Nevertheless, Israel would come (back) into existence quickly and painlessly. This would be a supernatural work of God. It will happen at Messiah’s second advent. He will recreate Israel as a nation after Antichrist and the combined Gentile nations of the world have sought to destroy her (cf. Daniel 11:40-45; Revelation 12). However, the whole rebirth of Israel from the Exile to the Millennium may have been in the prophet’s vision. Similarly, he... read more
1. Where, etc.] RV ’what manner of house.. what place shall be my rest.’ The v. is a strong rebuke of such as, without a really religious spirit, idly trusted in the inviolability of Zion, and the protection they thought the sanctuary would afford. A like fault is rebuked in Jeremiah 7:1-16. This passage is quoted by St. Stephen (Acts 7:49-50). 2. Those things] i.e. the universe. All.. have been] RV ’so all these things came to be.’3. They who offer the due sacrifices, yet without a proper... read more
(8) Shall the earth be made . . .—Better, Shall a land be made to travail. The usually slow processes of national development are contrasted with the supernatural rapidity of the birth and growth of the new Israel. read more
The Genesis of Delusions Isaiah 66:4 They will think it is the devil, but I am behind it all; they will ascribe it to some peculiar condition of the brain, and they will endeavour to trace that condition to indigestion, to the wrong food, to a mistake in choices and fancies; they will never suspect that I am in it. We are not worshippers of a limited Sovereign; the universe is not split up into sections, God presiding over, it may be, the larger section, and the devil presiding over the... read more
CHAPTER XXVA LAST INTERCESSION AND THE JUDGMENTIsaiah 63:7 through Isaiah 66:1-24WE might well have thought, that with the section we have been considering the prophecy of Israel’s Redemption had reached its summit and its end. The glory of Zion in sight, the full programme of prophecy owned, the arrival of the Divine Saviour hailed in the urgency of His feeling for His people, in the sufficiency of His might to save them, -what more, we ask, can the prophecy have to give us? Why does it not... read more
CHAPTER 66 The Finale: The Two Classes and the Prophecy of Isaiah in a Retrospect 1. The apostates and their wicked worship (Isaiah 66:1-4 ) 2. The remnant suffering and encouraged (Isaiah 66:5 ) 3. The sudden manifestation of the Lord (Isaiah 66:6 ) 4. The nation’s rebirth (Isaiah 66:7-9 ) 5. Jerusalem’s supremacy and glory (Isaiah 66:10-14 ) 6. The warning of judgment (Isaiah 66:15-18 ) 7. The regathering after judgment (Isaiah 66:19-21 ) 8. The blessings for the... read more
66:8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one {i} day? [or] shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.(i) This will pass the capacity of man to see such a multitude that will come up at once, meaning under the preaching of the gospel of which they who came out of Babylon were a sign. read more
MEETING OF THE AGES We are drawing to the end of the present, and the opening of the Millennial age. The prophet’s eye rests on the time when Israel is back in her land, the majority still unconverted to Christ and worshiping in a restored temple. There is a faithful remnant waiting for Him, though enduring the persecution of the false christ. This persecution may often be felt at the hands of their own brethren after the flesh. These facts must be assumed in the interpretation of these... read more
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Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 66:8
8. earth—rather, to suit the parallelism, "is a country (put for the people in it) brought forth in one day?" [LOWTH]. In English Version it means, The earth brings forth its productions gradually, not in one day ( :-). at once—In this case, contrary to the usual growth of the nations by degrees, Israel starts into maturity at once. for—rather, "is a nation born at once, that Zion has, so soon as she travailed, brought forth?" [MAURER]. read more