Isaiah 35

CHAPTER 35THEME: The blessings of the Millennium, a picture of the KingdomAs we come to this chapter, we can thank God that the War of Armageddon is not the end of all things. Chapter 35 is a poetic gem. There is a high sense of poetic justice in this chapter which concludes the section on judgment. The fires of judgment have now burned out, and the sword of justice is sheathed. The evening of earth-trouble is ended, and the morning of millennial delights has come. This section closes on the high plane of peace, having been through suffering to peace, through the night to the dawn, through judgment to salvation, through tears to joy in the morning. The calm of this chapter is in contrast to the storms of judgments of the previous chapter and even those that preceded it. We can say with the writer of the Song of Solomon, the winter is past, and the flowers appear on the earth (see Son_2:11, Son_2:12).

Isaiah 35:1

MATERIAL EARTH WILL BE RESTOREDFirst we see that the material earth will be restored and the curse of sin lifted. This is the body of the earth. We are informed today that the deserts of the world are being enlarged each year; they are not being reduced in size. Drought and soil erosion are hastening this process. Today pollution is filling the earth. All of this will be reversed for the Millennium. The smog will be lifted, and the curse of sin will be removed. The familiar and beautiful statement, “the desert shall …blossom as the rose” is an apt and happy picture of the earth’s future.

If you are familiar with the great desert area of the southwestern section of our country, you will be impressed with this statement. This outline was written while we were crossing the southeast section of Colorado where the drought has been so severe and where the vast grasslands have been eroded by sandstorms. During the Millennium all of this will be reversed.

Isaiah 35:2

Paul tells us that creation is groaning and travailing in pain (see Rom_8:22), while in the Millennium all creation will rejoice.

Isaiah 35:3

MEN WILL BE RENEWEDThe bodies of men will be renewed, as will the psychological part of man. Creation is waiting for us to get our new bodies.

Isaiah 35:4

In the midst of the storm of judgment, God’s people can rejoice because they will know that God will come and save them. The church has the added hope and joy of never experiencing the Great Tribulation period.

Isaiah 35:5

Sickness and disease and all affliction are the result of man’s sin. These will be lifted in the Kingdom.

Isaiah 35:7

What a beautiful picture we have here of the earth during the Kingdom Age.

Isaiah 35:10

MEMBERS OF GOD’S FAMILY WILL RETURN TO ZIONHere we see the spirit of earth; that is, man will be renewed spiritually. Can you think of anything nicer than this? This not only includes Israel, but it will include the redeemed who enter the Millennium upon the earth. In Zec_14:16-17 we read, “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” We can say with that old Puritan, Richard Baxter, “Hasten, O Saviour, the time of Thy return. Delay not, lest the living give up their hope. Delay not, lest earth shall grow like hell, and Thy Church shall be crumbled to dust. O hasten, that great resurrection day, when the graves that received but rottenness, and retain but dust, shall return Thee glorious stars and suns. Thy desolate Bride saith, Come. The whole creation saith, Come, even so come, Lord Jesus. The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain, waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.” Thus ends the first major division of the Book of Isaiah with all the blessing of the Millennium.