Prophecy of New Jerusalem

Isaiah 59:21-60:22

“As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.” (Isaiah 59:21)

God’s original covenant in the law was dependent on human effort to obey that law and as Romans 8:3-4 tells us, it was unable to save people as a result.  “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”  Galatians 3:23-24 tells us if it had been possible for the law to take away sin, mankind could have been saved by his own efforts.  “… For if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.”

While the Law promised the best possible life here on earth, even keeping it perfectly would not get anyone into heaven, as a result the Law was a curse, leaving the people with no hope of eternity.  In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God promises to make a new covenant with them.  “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.  And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Under that new covenant, Isaiah 44:3 explains, “…I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring.”  Instead of trying to measure up to the minimum physical standard required by the Law for a good life on earth, they will have the Holy Spirit, to enable them to live a life of spiritual righteousness, in which sin is no longer an issue.  There will be no problem with forgetting what is right or wrong because it will be an innate part of the person’s life, rather than a set of rules he is trying to keep.   

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.” (Isaiah 60:1-3)

When the Lord sets up his earthly kingdom and the Holy Spirit indwells Israel, The Antichrist’s kingdom will be in power, directed by Satan.  The world will be enslaved by sin and darkness, and Christ’s Light shining in Israel will draw people like moths are drawn to a light in the darkness. 

“Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.  Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.  The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall show forth the praises of the LORD.  All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.” (Isaiah 60:4-7)

The influx of people coming to worship God at the Temple will amaze the Jews.  All the people of Jewish heritage will seek to be there, but the Gentiles will come as well, leaving their false religions and converting to the worship of God.  they will come from every direction and their camels and means of transport will cover the land and the offerings they bring will enrich the land.  All of them will be accepted on God’s altar.

“Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?  Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.  And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.

Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.  For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.  The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.” (Isaiah 60:8-13)

The traders and shipping nations of the world will be the first to turn, transporting the Jews to Israel, and turning to him themselves, bringing the power and wealth of the world to Israel. Revelation 21:22-26 describes these details about the Great city, New Jerusalem.  “And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.  And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.  And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.  And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.”

“The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. Isa 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.  Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.” (Isaiah 60:14-18)

When Christ sets up his kingdom, Israel’s enemies will come humbly asking forgiveness and their officers and guards will not have to keep peace but will be at peace themselves.  The detractors of Israel will themselves live by the same standards and violence and vandalism will cease.  The walls will represent the standard of salvation with the gates that are never shut a place of praise because they don’t shut people out.

“The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.  Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.  Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.  A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.” (Isaiah 60:19-22)

Revelation 21:27 concludes, “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”