The Nations at the Table (2)

Introduction

Isaiah 66:18–23 ESV

“For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations. And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord. And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord. “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the Lord, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the Lord.

Alec Moyter // The work of vengeance is done; here is the parallel work of salvation.

Explanation

V18

As Isaiah concludes his prophecy, we see a pretty clear outline of God’s redemptive plan.

God’s salvation is not only for the Jews, but it is for all of the Gentiles as well.

As the Bible Belt, we tend to think that we are the center of Christianity in the world.

We are the gentiles! We are those who were far away and had to be rescued by God.

We are the nations that Isaiah is talking about.

V19

The “sign among them” is Jesus and the cross.

a. Jesus is the center of human history.

b. Everything before Jesus was leading up to his entrance into the world.

c. Everything after Jesus should concern his growing Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

Jesus would come into the world and teach his disciples. These disciples would be “sent as survivors” (v19), and they would go to the nations.

This prophecy was fulfilled, because these were all of the places that the Apostles (and the Ethiopian Eunuch) first went.

Tarshish is modern day Spain

Lud and Pul were nations of northern Africa.

Tubal was north in the Caucasus Mountains.

Javan was the name for Greece in that time.

APPLICATION: We are continuing the work of the disciples.

You do not have to go around the world to share the gospel.

You can love your neighbors and share as you get to know them.

Erin and I have prayed for every family in our cul-de-sac, and we see our cul-de-sac as a unique opportunity to evangelize others.

One of our neighbors was baptized. Another sent her kids to some of our KidMin events. Three-fifths of the houses have been touched by the gospel as a result of our being there.

You don’t have to go with a track or your Bible. Just go with a plate of cookies or something.

V20-21

Every nation shall be judged, and every nation shall be sifted.

I spoke of this reality a few days ago.

I have also been preaching through the minor prophets on this point.

However, while every nation shall be judged and sifted by God, not one single nation will not have a representative who has been saved by God.

God’s grace will reach the furthest nations and peoples.

Long after every nation has ceased to exist, God’s people will still be worshipping around the throne.

Application:

The greatest eternal good that you can ever do is to know God and make Him known to others.

What are you doing to share the gospel with others?

When was the last time you cared about the eternal state of someone else?

Find one person and begin to share the gospel with them.

God is incredibly gracious. His grace will reach the furthest corners of the world.

Just as Jesus said that a good shepherd leaves the 99 to find the one, so God will call people to Himself.

Do you know where the two fastest growing churches in the world are?

China // China could be a predominately Christian nation by 2050.

Iran // Iran’s Christian population, almost completely decimated in the Islamic Revolution, is growing faster and faster and faster.

V22-23

Jesus will one day return to claim His bride, the church, and create a new heavens and earth.

On that day, we will stand in his presence forever.

We will be made new in his presence.

At every funeral at McLaurin Heights, I read Revelation 21.

Revelation 21:1-4 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””

One day, there will be a final funeral. That funeral service will be for death, itself.

In the new heavens and the new earth, no more pain or sorrow or loss we will face.

God will end it as death ends.

Invitation