Isaiah 35 is one of if not my #1 favorite chapter in this great book of Bible prophecy. That probably has something to do with the fact that the Lord blessed me with its truth and prophetic significance as I was reading through my Bible not long after I had gotten serious about studying and preaching God's word.
The chapter gives us a glimpse at some of the blessings of the kingdom that Jesus Christ will establish when He returns to this earth in a future day. Read through these 10 verses, then we'll note 4 of the blessings of the millennial kingdom.
Isaiah 35:1-10 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
1. A NEW GEOGRAPHY
The chapter says that the deserts will blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The parched ground will become a pool and the thirsty land springs of water. Lebanon (inland mountains, forests), Carmel (hills, seacoast), and Sharon (plains, seacoast) will become even more glorious and excellent.
I don't know about you, but I've often been amazed at the glory and beauty and grandeur of God's creation – on this earth that is under a curse! On this earth that Romans 8 says groans and travails in pain waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I can't imagine how beautiful and how perfect this place will be when that curse is lifted and creation is restored to Eden-like conditions.
Ezekiel 36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
2. A NEW BODY
Weak hands will be strengthened; feeble knees confirmed; blind eyes opened; deaf ears unstopped; lame legs made to leap; the tongue of the dumb made to sing. Again, the Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), but what a day that will be when we exchange this vile body for one made like to the glorious resurrection body of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20-21)! What a day that will be when this corruptible puts on incorruption and this mortal puts on immortality (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)!
In Christ's millennial kingdom, we'll have no need for walking canes, reading glasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs, hospital beds, medicine cabinets, vitamin supplements, or doctor's offices. We'll have been made whole by the Great Physician.
3. A WAY OF HOLINESS
As Christians, there are 3 great enemies with whom we do battle on a daily basis: the world, the flesh, and the devil. According to Isaiah 35, all 3 will be eliminated and excluded from Christ's millennial kingdom.
Verse 9 says no lion (1 Peter 5:8) shall be there. Revelation 20 says that Satan will be bound for the duration of the 1,000 years. Praise the Lord! Then verse 8 speaks of a way of holiness, and it says the unclean shall not pass over it (the world). But in addition to that, the wayfaring men (you and me), though fools, SHALL NOT ERR THEREIN.
Today, I am a child of God. My soul is saved, but my flesh is not. No matter how hard I try, I constantly err (Romans 7:18-23). But when Jesus Christ returns my son-ship will be made manifest (Romans 8:19; 1 John 3:1-2) and I will receive the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body (Romans 8:23; Ephesians 1:13-14). Jesus Christ will deliver me from the body of this death (Romans 7:24-25) and walking on the way of holiness in Christ's millennial kingdom I couldn't sin if I tried!
4. EVERLASTING JOY
Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
The wonders of the kingdom that Jesus Christ will return and establish: a new geography, a new body, a way of holiness, everlasting joy, world-wide peace – and more! But Isaiah 35:9-10 says it's only for the ransomed and redeemed. The glories of this kingdom are reserved only for those who have submitted to the righteousness of Jesus Christ and been saved from sin by His marvelous grace.
If you're part of that company, then REJOICE (1 Peter 1:3-6) and busy yourself in the service of THE KING (Revelation 19:11-16).
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