The Coming Kingdom of God

INTRODUCTION: In this chapter (Isaiah 65), God has identified the righteous Gentiles (Isaiah 65:1), the rebellious Israelites (Isaiah 65:2-7), and the righteous remnant of Israel (Isaiah 65:8-10). Isaiah then looks to the time when a division will be made between the righteous and the wicked (Malachi 3:18; Malachi 4:1-3) and a time will come when God’s people will live in peace. This is the time of the thousand-year reign of Christ.

1. THE DIVISION (Isaiah 65:11-16)
1. Gods Judgment on the Rebellious (Isaiah 65:11-12)
1. They forsook the Lord (Isaiah 65:11)
2. They forgot Gods holy mountain (Isaiah 65:11)
3. They failed to answer Gods call (Isaiah 65:12)
4. They chose evil against the will of God (Isaiah 65:12)
2. Gods Fivefold Division Between the Righteous and the Rebellious (Isaiah 65:13-16)
1. The righteous will eat while the rebellious will go hungry (Isaiah 65:13)
2. The righteous will drink while the rebellious go thirsty (Isaiah 65:13)
3. The righteous will rejoice while the rebellious are ashamed (Isaiah 65:13)
4. The righteous will sing while the rebellious cry (Isaiah 65:14)
1. Songs of joy (Psalm 66:4; Psalm 137:1-4; Isaiah 24:14; Isaiah 51:11; Isaiah 52:8-9; Jeremiah 31:7; James 5:13)
2. Cries of sorrow (Matthew 22:13)
5. The righteous will be blessed and the rebellious shall be cursed (Isaiah 65:15-16)
1. The rebellious (Isaiah 65:15)
1. He will leave his name as a curse; compare Benedict Arnold or Adolf Hitler or Jezebel.
2. His name shall not be used by Gods people
3. He will be slain by God
2. The righteous (Isaiah 65:16)
1. He will bless himself in the God of truth
2. He will swear by the God of truth
3. He will forget his former troubles
2. THE CREATION (Isaiah 65:17-18)
1. A New Heavens and a New Earth (Isaiah 65:17)
1. In context, this refers to the time of the thousand year reign of Christ (see below). However, this same wording is used in the New Testament to refer to the new heavens and earth that will be created after the kingdom age at the beginning of eternity (2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 21:1).
2. At this time the curse will be minimized and the former things (troubles and sorrows) will not be remembered.
2. A New Earthly Jerusalem (Isaiah 65:18)
1. We should rejoice in this promise
2. God will create Jerusalem a rejoicing
3. God will create her people a joy
3. THE BLESSING (Isaiah 65:19-25) a Fivefold Blessing in the Kingdom Age
1. The Joy of the Lord (Isaiah 65:19)
1. God will rejoice in Jerusalem and in His people (Isaiah 62:4-5)
2. The voice of weeping will not be heard (Revelation 7:17; compare Revelation 21:4 which refers to the time after the final judgment)
2. The Fullness of Days (Isaiah 65:20)
1. No more infant of days (Isaiah 65:20)
2. No more unfulfilled old men (Isaiah 65:20)
3. No more thought of 100 years as old (Isaiah 65:20)
3. The Fruit of our Labors (Isaiah 65:21-23)
1. Men will enjoy the fruit of their labors (Isaiah 65:21)
2. Men will not leave their work for others (Isaiah 65:22)
3. Men will not labor in vain for trouble (Isaiah 65:23)
4. The Rapid Answer to Prayers (Isaiah 65:24)
1. God will answer before they call
2. God will hear while they are speaking
5. The Peace in all Nature (Isaiah 65:25)
1. The wolf and lamb shall feed together
2. The lion will eat straw like a cow
3. Dust will be the serpents meat
1. This is the original curse of the serpent (Genesis 3:14).
2. This shows that the world will be wonderful but that the curse is not fully removed as of yet. Only after the devil is thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10) will the curse be fully removed (Revelation 22:3).
4. They will not hurt in all Gods holy mountain

CONCLUSION:

2 Peter 3:10-14 – application of the coming kingdom of God to our lives today.

• Live in holy conversation and godliness (2 Peter 3:11)
• Look for the new heavens and earth (2 Peter 3:12)
• Be diligent to be found without spot or blemish (2 Peter 3:14)