Monday, July 2, 2012

OT: Isaiah 65:17-19

Reading:
For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.  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.  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.

Commentary:
Our Lord here speaks of creating a new heaven and earth, and "the former shall not be remembered nor come to mind."  We also know this world will be annihilated on the Last Day, and it is certain we will have no painful memories of the past.  Regarding heaven we should be careful concerning the many books in this world, where people describe out of body experiences, special dreams or visions regarding heaven.  What validity ought we to give such dreams and visions, as opposed to the absolute certainty of God's inspired Word?  Did God not reveal enough for us in the Scripture, so that we must have new relevant information about heaven?  Paul writes, "now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face."  In the other verses of Isaiah, we see God's creation of Jerusalem, "for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy."  Jerusalem is the True Church of all believers, a.k.a., Zion, or Israel.  He created us, gave us faith, when He called us by the Gospel.  "Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." 

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