King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Saturday, August 01, 2026
Chapters: Isaiah 63-66
Lesson: Isaiah: New Heaven And Earth
Hello My Friend,
Many assume that the Old Testament has little bearing on us today, as though its judgments were spoken only to Israel and have no relevance beyond that nation. While it is true that God does have certain things He will contend with Israel over, it is not true that it does not have any baring on us today. Through Isaiah, we have been learning about the prophecies concerning Christ, notably the foretelling of His crucifixion. As we come to the end of the reading of Isaiah, we get a glimpse of what will unfold when He returns. If anyone imagines that His second coming will resemble His first, they are mistaken. This time He is coming with a vengeance.
[Isaiah 63:1-5 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. 2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? 3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. 4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. 5 And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me.]
[Bozrah; fold, the sheep of the fold;] Bozrah, was a town in Edom, within the territory of Jobab, the son of Zerah, one of the early kings of that nation. When our LORD came the first time, He came as a lamb: meek, lowly, and willing to be led to the slaughter for the salvation of His people. But when He returns, He will not come in meekness. He will come as a lion, holy and majestic in power, and ready to strike down His enemies and the enemies of His people, [Revelation 14:19-20 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.]
The Messiah is portrayed as returning in triumph from the conquest of His enemies, Edom, serving as a symbolic type of all who oppose God. He is seen traveling not as one exhausted from battle, but moving in the greatness of His strength, fully prepared to subdue every resisting power. He declares that He has trodden the wine-press of the wrath of God, and that He has done so alone. No human ally assisted Him; by His own sovereign might He crushed His adversaries, simply by speaking the Word of God, [Revelation 19:11-13 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.]
Even though we are saved by grace, we remain sinners in need of continual mercy. The sad reality is that many believers grow content in their sin, using their salvation as a cloak for sin. Such living brings deep grief, for it is Christ who bears the weight of every burden that accompanies our disobedience. Consider the immeasurable load He carried long before the cross, and the weight He still bears for His wandering children. Yet He still remembers the promise He made to redeem them, and remains faithful to that promise. Through Isaiah, we are reminded again of the endless mercies of God toward His people.
[Isaiah 63:7-10 I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses. 8 For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. ]
Do you realize that every affliction we face is an affliction Christ shares with us? We are never abandoned to walk this life alone; our Saviour is with us in every step. Yet it grieves Him when we add weight to that burden by choosing to live in sin. As Isaiah continues, he recalls how Israel constantly turned on Him.
[Isaiah 63:10-12,14 But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them. 11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses, and his people, saying, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea with the shepherd of his flock? where is he that put his holy Spirit within him? 12 That led them by the right hand of Moses with his glorious arm, dividing the water before them, to make himself an everlasting name? 14 As a beast goeth down into the valley, the Spirit of the LORD caused him to rest: so didst thou lead thy people, to make thyself a glorious name.]
We all can give a tremendous thanks to Jesus that He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us, and that He saves our souls by grace. Our salvation does not rest on our works, nor does it crumble when we stumble. His faithfulness remains steadfast, and His mercy meets us even in our weakness, [Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;]
God, is no respecter of persons; He deals with sin and rebellion in the same manner with all people. Those who choose Him are received as one of His own, yet those who choose to deny Him He will deny. Isaiah, goes on to reflect on this, wondering why God even allowed them to stray.
[Isaiah 63:16-19 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting. 17 O LORD, why hast thou made us to err from thy ways, and hardened our heart from thy fear? Return for thy servants’ sake, the tribes of thine inheritance. 18 The people of thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down thy sanctuary. 19 We are thine: thou never barest rule over them; they were not called by thy name.]
In other words, Abraham, died having never seen the promise that he would become the father of a multitude fulfilled. Jacob, died without witnessing the arrival of Shiloh, the One who is Christ Himself. Yet both men died in faith, trusting the promises of God though they never saw them with their own eyes and never heard the name of Jesus in their earthly lifetime. Because they believed God and rested in His Word, they too were received by Him, [Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth]
Think about it, every time a church goes rogue and begins to not only condone, but practice sin, they are tearing down the very sanctuaries that people come to worship God in. And yet, it is all done under their own freewill. God, will never force Himself upon anyone and if they choose to distort His name, He will surely let them give into their delusions. Why? It is just as Jesus said, [Matthew 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.]
After hearing the solemn declarations of judgment and mercy, Isaiah himself begins to pray, asking God to show compassion to those who have strayed from His ways. The prophet’s plea reminds us that God’s heart is moved by intercession, and His mercies reach even those who have wandered far.
[Isaiah 64:1-4 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, 2 As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! 3 When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence. 4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.]
There are some familiar word written here, [I Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.] God is no respecter of persons, He deals with sin and rebellion the same way with all people, but if they choose Him, He will accept them as one of His and purge sin out of them one way or another.
[Isaiah 64:6-9 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. 7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities. 8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. 9 Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.]
The longer I walk with Christ, the more I discover that even on my best days I fall short. With every step, I understand more deeply why our own righteousness is as filthy rags. When placed beside the righteousness of Christ, nothing we produce, even at our most faithful, comes close. This is why salvation can never rest on our own righteousness. It is wholly grounded in His. We stand accepted before God not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done. As Isaiah continues, God, reveals how many seek Him, few will find Him, but He does give all that opportunity.
[Isaiah 65:1-3,5 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.]
This is in regards of the Jews, who were well acquainted with the promises of the Messiah, yet could not bring themselves to accept that Jesus is the Messiah. It also speaks to the Gentiles, those who sought Him even before His passion and were ready to receive the salvation He offered. The truth is plain: not every Jew will be saved, and not everyone who calls themselves a Christian will be saved.
[Isaiah 65:8-10 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.]
The only reason Christ has not yet returned is because God is still gathering the faithful remnant, those few who will truly hear His call and receive His Son. Through Isaiah, God, reminds us that only those who answer His invitation and embrace Jesus as their Saviour will rejoice in that day.
[Isaiah 65:11-13 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. 12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed:]
We who are the children of the living God have grown far too comfortable treating sin as though it were normal. Yes, we are saved by grace, and nothing can alter that glorious truth. Yet God still calls us to obedience to spare us from the needless suffering that sin brings into our lives. Even so, we hold to a blessed hope: though we struggle with sin now, the day is coming when we will never battle it again. Through Isaiah, God, gives us a foreshadowing of that future, those days when His people will dwell in perfect righteousness, untouched by temptation, unburdened by failure, and fully restored in holiness.
[Isaiah 65:17-20,24-25 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.]
This is a foreshadowing of the new earth, an age in which life will flourish in ways we cannot imagine. Children will grow and mature into full, ripe years, and sin will not even enter their mind. Righteousness, will be the atmosphere of that world. Yet for the wicked, the picture is stark: even if one of them should live to a hundred years, they will die under the curse. God, grants His people grace and comfort as they endure the pain and suffering of this present life. And as for death, its reign will be ended. It too will be destroyed, never again to cast its shadow over the people of God, [Revelation 20:13-15 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.]
This reminds me of those moments when I cry out to God, confused and overwhelmed, wondering what in the world is happening, only for Him to show me something before I even ask. He often answers the prayer forming in our hearts long before it reaches our lips. None of us will be perfect until we see Jesus. Even after salvation, we fail Him more times than we care to admit. Yet what God desires above mere outward obedience is that we love Him, reverence Him, and welcome Him into every part of our lives. True fear of the LORD is not terror; it is affection, surrender, and a heart that longs for His presence.
[Isaiah 66:1-4 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? 2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. 3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.]
To be contrite literally means to be worn, crushed, or bruised. A heart that has been broken under the awareness of its sin against the Almighty is a heart that draws near to God. He has a heaven and an earth of His own making, and temples fashioned by the hands of men, yet He overlooks all of these so that He may look with favor upon the one whose heart truly sorrows over sin. The sacrifice of the wicked is not merely unacceptable, it is an abomination to Him. But when the Spirit was poured out and the Gospel went forth from Zion, multitudes were brought to repentance in a short time. The Word of God, especially His promises and ordinances, became the consolation of the Church. These are the very comforts God Himself declares, the assurances that sustain His people as they wait upon His mercy and walk in His truth.
[Isaiah 66:10-14 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: 11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12 For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And when ye 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.]
God will indeed appear, bringing joy to His people and recompense to their foes. The days that follow will be marked by great revivals, when hearts are softened, and souls are brought into the kingdom with ease. Every true believer finds their happiness increased with each convert who comes to Christ, for the family of God grows and the glory of Christ is magnified. Wherever the Gospel is received in its power, it brings with it a river of peace unlike anything this world can offer. Isaiah’s words remind us that when God moves, He does so with both justice and mercy, lifting His people with joy while bringing righteous judgment upon all who oppose Him.
[Isaiah 66:15-18 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. 16 For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. 17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. 18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.]
Whatever blessings arise in that golden age will belong to those who are truly the Israel of God, not merely by descent, but in heart and in life. It is the inward circumcision, the faith-born obedience, that marks out the people of God. In that day, the saved and the unsaved will be separated once and for all, and the final judgment of the world will unfold exactly as the LORD has declared.
[Isaiah 66:20-22-24 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. 22 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. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.]
In other words, the righteous in Christ will enter into everlasting joy, and the wicked will face the recompense of their unbelief. Isaiah’s vision reminds us that God’s promises are sure, His justice is perfect, and His kingdom will be given to those who belong to Him in truth. The punishment which comes upon the enemies of the LORD will be both a source of satisfaction to the believers and an example of warning. To this day and hour these words of the Lord hold true, [Mark 16:15-18 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.]
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, I believe in the sacrifice that You made for me, and I put my faith and trust in You that one day I will see You face to face. I know my works do not get me into heaven, but they do show You just how thankful I am of what You have done for me. They also remind me that I can do absolutely nothing without You and just how weak my flesh is to the resistance if I am not walking in Your strength. Lord, lead me and guide me, let me enter and remain in Your rest, fully protected and comforted by Your loving arms, at all times. Never let me forget that I am Yours and You are mine and no matter what I have done that will never change. Keep me humble and always seeking You for it is only when I take my eyes off you that the I will fall into the resistance. I love You, Lord and ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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