Christ in Isaiah: He Will Swallow Up Death Forever

Let me say it right up front ... this is not a typical Christmas Day sermon! And yet it has everything to do with the theme of Advent. This year’s Advent theme has been Christ in Isaiah. Isaiah, more than any other Old Testament prophet, describes the life and ministry of God’s Messiah, whom Isaiah comes to call God’s Righteous Servant whom we know to be the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah, has more to say about Christ’s 1st Advent than any other Old Testament prophet. But Isaiah also has as much, if not more to say, about the Christ’s 2nd Advent. The two are connected.

Chapters 24-27 of Isaiah are referred to by Biblical scholars as the Apocalypse of Isaiah because these chapters all point to “end of world” events. Chapter 24 begins with this ominous prediction ... “See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it; he will ruin its face and scatter its inhabitants—” (Isaiah 24:1, NIV84). Like I said ... this is not a typical Christmas Day sermon. It’s not going to be “Global Climate Change” that destroys the earth. Nor will it be by Nuclear Holocaust. Even World-wide Pandemics will not end civilization. Some day, at the end of time, when the Earth lies desolate, and it’s inhabitants ravaged it will not be because of man’s poor stewardship of the environment, or his inability to control his aggressive instincts, or a genetically engineered virus set loose. It will be because God decides it’s time for the Christ to reign and that all his enemies become his footstool. “In that day the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below. They will be herded together like prisoners bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punished after many days.” (Isaiah 24:21–22, NIV84). There will be inescapable judgement of both rebellious angels, and rebellious men. So “Merry Christmas,” and “Happy New Year” ... right?

Throughout the history of the Church, Advent has always been as much about Christ’s 2nd Advent as it was his 1st. At his 1st Advent he came humbly, unnoticed by the wider world save for some scruffy shepherds, and Persian astronomers who perceived the heavenly signs, and came to worship him. Thirty-three years later, the child born in a manger would die a criminal’s death on a cross, and in doing so accomplish God’s redemptive plan. At his Ascension he promised to come again.

Our text for this morning points us to the next great event in God’s plan. It is Christ’s 2nd Advent and the establishment of his Millennial Kingdom. It is a message of hope and promise to the Jews. Yet, as I read these verses, I am reminded of a parallel passage in Rev. 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.” I don’t know about you, but I like the thought of Jesus wiping all of our tears away!”

This morning, I want to take some time to look at this prophetic passage. I want to look at what Isaiah is saying and I would like to preach for a few minutes on Some Tears Our Lord Will Wipe Away.

• I want you to know that there is a better day coming for all of God’s children.

• I want you to know that weeping and sorrow will not last forever.

• I want you to know that trials and heartaches will come to an end one of these days.

• I want you to know that one day, God’s children are going home and, when we arrive there, God will take His great handkerchief of grace and all of our tears will be wiped away.

Here are some of the tears our Lord will wipe away.

I. AT HIS SECOND ADVENT HE WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS OF DEATH

“he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 25:8, NIV)

1. death has a universal impact on mankind and most men live in fear of death and dying

ILLUS. History is full of men who feared death when it suddenly came calling. Philosopher François-Marie Arouet (Ar-way), better known as Voltaire, was a famous anti-Christian deist. He spent his life ridiculing Christ and his Church. Suffering from pain in his lower abdomen, Voltaire visited his doctor who informed Europe’s most famous atheist that he had just a short time to live. He told his physician, “I am abandoned by God and man; I will give you half of what I am worth if you will give me six months’ life.” When his doctor told Voltaire there was nothing he could do, Voltaire lamented, “Then I shall die and go to hell!” While on his deathbed a priest was summoned. He asked Voltaire, “Sir, do you acknowledge the divinity of Jesus Christ?” “For the love of God, do not mention that man’s name,” was Voltaire’s response. A short time later he died.

2. the Bible is very clear that physical death comes to all men and there is nothing we can do about it “No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.” (Ecclesiastes 8:8, NIV)

3. the Bible is equally clear that after physical death, men will stand before God and give and accounting of their lives

“Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27, NIV)

4. ever since man sinned in the Garden death has reigned over this world

a. it is the #2 fear that Americans list in their top fear in life (interesting enough, speaking in public is the #1 fear)

b. we have all been touched by death in some way, and if the Lord doesn’t return in our lifetimes, we will experience it personally

5. Isaiah gives us hope when he writes that a day is coming when God will swallow up death forever and in the next chapter over he promises resurrection

“But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.” (Isaiah 26:19, NIV84)

A. JESUS HAS CONQUERED DEATH SO WE CAN CONQUER DEATH

1. in Isaiah 25:7 Isaiah paints a picture of a dead body covered in a shroud

a. then God snatches the shroud away, and dares us to believe that one day death will be swallowed up forever

2. we can believe it because death died when Jesus rose from the grave

“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” (Matthew 28:5–6, NIV)

ILLUS. William Saroyan was an Armenian-American novelist, playwright, and short story writer. He had achieved great success in his field. His works had been acclaimed in the literary world, his name was a familiar entry on best-seller lists, and he had even been awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his play The Time of Your Life. Early in 1981 he lay in apartment dying of cancer. One evening, as Saroyan reflected on his life and what the future held for him, he placed a phone call to Associated Press. After identifying himself to the reporter who answered his call, he posed a searching question. It was a final statement to be used in his obituary. He said, “Everybody has got to die. But I have always believed an exception would be made in my case. Now what?” And then he hung up the phone. He died a few months later.

3. Jesus has answers the ‘now what’ for those who call upon His name

“And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”” (1 Corinthians 15:49–55, NIV)

4. for believers death is not a sad end to life, but a new adventure that ushers us through a doorway into the presence of God

a. on that day the Lord Jesus will reward us with the crown of righteousness

B. DEATH HAS BEEN ABOLISHED WHERE WE ARE GOING

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4, NIV)

1. never again will we follow a loved one to the cemetery

2. never again will view them in their coffins

3. never again will the cold, icy grip of death take hold on those we love!

4. no tears over death, because death will be no more!

II. AT HIS SECOND ADVENT HE WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS OF DESPAIR

A. THIS WORLD IS A LAND OF WEEPING

1. this world is a vale of tears!

a. who here has not been touched by heartache, tragedy, depression and death?

b. but in Isaiah 25:6 the prophet tells his readers that God will remove the shroud of mourning, as he deals with “death” and its causes

c. the Bible makes it clear that there will be occasions when we will pass through times of heartache and sorrow

“Man born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.” (Job 14:1, NIV)

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NIV)

3. but our troubles, and heartaches are not permanent situations

B. JESUS TURNS OUR HEARTBREAK INTO VICTORY!

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9, NIV)

1. God’s grace really is sufficient for us

2. King David knew what it was like to experience victory in the midst of heartbreak

a. in the 8th Psalm, David has good advise for those who are passing through a difficult time

“Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.” (Psalm 84:5–6, NIV)

b. the word Baca means Weeping

1) the Psalmist tells those who are passing through the Valley of Weeping to dig a well and then rejoice in the sweet waters

2) in other words, he is saying, “When you pass through a hard, deep valley, scoop out some places along the way. When God sends His rain of refreshing into your life, it will leave some valuable water behind for those pilgrims who enter the valley after you.”

c. God will refresh you with streams of mercy, as well as using your valley experience to be a blessing to someone else!

3. look for God in your valley, He is there

C. A DAY WILL COME WHEN JESUS WILL WIPE AWAY ALL TEARS

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4, NIV)

1. at his 1st Advent Jesus became our Great High Priest who fully understands our travails

2. at his 2nd Advent Jesus will be our Great High Priest who heals all our travails

III. AT HIS SECOND ADVENT HE WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS OF DISPARAGEMENT

ILLUS. We live in a culture where Christians are increasingly maligned. There is an increasing intolerance toward peoples of faith in general, and especially Christians. Christians who want to live out their faith both in church and in their marketplace, are facing more and more litigation. Special targets are those who provide such services as wedding venues, wedding photography and cake decorating. Just last week Congress passed and the President signed The Respect of Marriage Act. It’s anything but. It normalizes just about anything anybody wants to call marriage, and provides virtually no religious liberty protections for Americans who support biblical marriage.

1. it’s opened a proverbial “Pandora’s Box” that’ll lead to Confessing Christians being increasingly disparaged and maligned for their faith

a. Jesus said it would happen to us, because it happened to him first

A. GOD KNOWS THE TRIALS HIS PEOPLE ENDURE

1. Isaiah is saying that a day is coming when God’s people will be persecuted no more!

a. until that day arrives we must persevere

ILLUS. This past Tuesday, at a ceremony hosted at the White House, President Biden signed into law the so-called Respect for Marriage Act. The president used a lengthy speech delivered beforehand to soundly denounce any challenge to any aspect of LGBTQ ideology and activism. The President told his audience that anyone who claims that human gender is tied to biology, or who insist that marriage is between a man and woman will be classed along with the racists and bigots of history. To be opposed to the anti-LGBTQ agenda is to be a “hater” according to President Biden.

3. Isaiah declare the day is coming when those who do not know the Lord Jesus will wish they did!

a. there is coming a day when the greatest men of this world, along with the vilest sinners will cry out for the rocks and the mountains to shield them from the face of the Lamb and from His wrath — Rev. 6:12-17

4. there will come a day when it will be desirable to be found in Jesus Christ

a. don’t be ashamed of your relationship with Jesus!

1) whether it be at your place of employment

2) at the school house or

3) where you live

b. be glad that you know Him, for one day, He will remove the reproach and the disgrace of His people from off the earth!

IV. AT HIS SECOND ADVENT HE WILL WIPE AWAY THE TEARS OF DISTANCE

“In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9, NIV)

1. verse 9 pictures the Jews finally seeing their Messiah after having waited on Him for thousands of years

a. often, what we perceive as His delay in coming causes many to become discouraged and disillusioned

b. sometimes the enemy will whisper in your ear “He’s not coming! You are wasting your time living for Him!”

2. I just want to remind you that the world and the devil are liars! —Jesus will come!

a. one day, He will bridge the distance between us and Himself and He will come to take us home, to be with Him forever

1) that is His plan and that is His promise

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1–3, NIV)

2) in that day, He will replace our sighing with shouting!

3. we will see Him and spend our eternity praising Him

a. this great verse gives us three themes that will form the basis of our praise in glory

A. WE WILL PRAISE HIM FOR HIS STEADFASTNESS

1. we will praise Him because He said He would come for us and He did!

a. notice the wording of verse 9—“THIS is our God...THIS is the Lord”

1) the Jews are praising Him because He came like He said He would

b. may I just remind you this evening, we serve a steadfast God?

1) He is faithful

“Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22–23, NIV)

c. not the least of His promises to you shall go unfulfilled

1) He will take care of you in this life and He will safely transport you to His home in Heaven when the time comes

2. we will praise Him because He did not let us down!

B. WE WILL PRAISE HIM FOR HIS SOVEREIGNTY

1. He is called God and Lord

a. these two titles remind us that He is in absolute control of the path

1) it may get tough at times, but God is the One directing your steps and ordering your way

“If the LORD delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;” (Psalm 37:23, NIV)

2. we will praise Him for the fact that He was working all the time in our lives as we journeyed

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NIV)

3. and we will praise Him for taking us to a place where trials and sufferings cannot come

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18, NIV)

C. WE WILL PRAISE HIM FOR HIS SALVATION

1. we will praise Him there for His great salvation

a. we will praise Him for sending Jesus to die for us

b. we will praise Him for calling us, saving us and for keeping us saved

c. we will exalt His name for His marvelous, saving power!

2. the promise that came with Christ’s 1st Advent will have been fulfilled

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”—which means, “God with us.”” (Matthew 1:20–23, NIV84)

V. AT HIS SECOND ADVENT HE WILL PREPARE A GREAT BANQUET FOR HIS PEOPLE

“On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines.” (Isaiah 25:6, NIV84)

1. how do you describe what eternity is like?

a. the Old Testament prophets wrote that it was like a great banquet with the best of everything and lots of everything

b. even Jesus used this typology (Luke 14) to explain what God’s eternal Kingdom will be like (this ought to resinate with Baptists)!

ILLUS. Jesus tells of a master who prepared a great banquet and invited many guests, saying "Come, for everything is now ready." After so many excuses for not attending by his invited guests, the master became angry and ordered his servants: "Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame." After this had been done and room still remained, the master told his servants: "Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full."

2. in ancient times (1 Sam. 11:15; 1 Kings 1:9, 19, 25) it was customary after the coronation of a new King to offer sacrifice and to celebrate by throwing a lavish banquet

a. at his 2nd Advent, after the Lord takes up His reign in Jerusalem, there is to be a festal meal

b. the Lord of hosts is the host of this banquet

1) he is the Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace, the God of the covenant who purposed to redeem us and who accomplished our redemption

Conc: In this life you and I will have tears and burdens. But, I thank God a day is coming when He will wipe everyone away forever. And, after He does, they will never return again!

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