Isaiah · chapter 66 of 66
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Isaiah 66, the last chapter of the book, declares that heaven is the Lord's throne and that he looks to the humble and contrite who tremble at his word, not to empty ritual. It promises to comfort Jerusalem like a mother, to judge the rebellious with fire and to gather people from all nations to see his glory, while the new heavens and the new earth endure and all flesh worships before the Lord.
Isaiah 66 closes the book and the third part (chapters 56-66), with its eyes on the future. After the promise of new heavens in chapter 65, the prophet contrasts true worship with empty religion, announces the birth of a new Zion and paints the outcome: judgment, the gathering of the nations and perpetual worship.
The Lord says heaven is his throne and the earth his footstool: where is the house they will build for him? All these things his hand made. But he will look to the poor and contrite in spirit who trembles at his word. By contrast, those who offer sacrifices without obedience chose their own ways, and the Lord will choose their punishment, because he called and no one answered. Those who tremble at his word and are rejected by their brothers will be vindicated, and their mockers put to shame.
Verses 7 through 14 announce the birth of Zion: shall a land be born in one day, a nation brought forth at once? Zion brings forth her children as soon as she is in labor. All who love Jerusalem are invited to rejoice with her. The Lord extends to her peace like a river, and as a mother comforts her son, so he will comfort them.
Verses 15 through 17 show the Lord coming with fire, to render his anger in fury; by fire he will enter into judgment with all flesh, and many will be those slain by the Lord. Verses 18 through 21 announce that he will gather all nations and tongues to see his glory. He will set a sign among them and send survivors to the distant nations, to Tarshish, Pul, Lud, Tubal and Javan, which have not heard his fame or seen his glory, and they will bring their brothers as an offering; he will also take some of them as priests and Levites.
The book ends with a promise and a warning: as the new heavens and the new earth that I make endure, so will your offspring and your name. From new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath all flesh will come to worship before the Lord. And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against him, whose worm will not die and whose fire will not be quenched, and they will be an abhorrence to all flesh.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
Heaven is the Lord's throne and the earth his footstool, so no house can contain him. He looks to the poor and humble who tremble at his word. Stephen quotes these verses in Acts 7:49-50.
The Lord promises to comfort his people as a mother comforts her son, and that they will be comforted in Jerusalem. It is one of the most tender images of God in the Old Testament.
The Lord will come to gather all nations and tongues to see his glory. The book, which began with judgment on Judah, ends with a vision of a universal people gathered before God.
Those who rebelled will be an abhorrence to all flesh, their worm will not die and their fire will not be quenched. Jesus uses similar words when speaking of judgment in Mark 9:48.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: That heaven is his throne and the earth his footstool, and that he made it all. — Isaiah 66:1-2
Answer: The poor and contrite in spirit who trembles at his word. — Isaiah 66:2
Answer: Zion's, who brings forth her children suddenly, like a nation in one day. — Isaiah 66:7-8
Answer: As a mother comforts her son. — Isaiah 66:13
Answer: He will gather them to see his glory. — Isaiah 66:18
Answer: All flesh, before the Lord. — Isaiah 66:23
Isaiah 66 puts worship in its place. Neither the building nor the rite pleases God in itself; he looks to the one who trembles at his word with humility. A class can talk about how to approach the Bible with that attitude, not as one more duty but as hearing the Lord's voice.
The image of a mother who comforts is a valuable pastoral resource for those who suffer. And the vision of the gathering of the nations reminds us that mission is not optional: God intends for people of every nation to see his glory. As the book ends, the group can ask: which part of Isaiah has given us the most hope and what does it ask us to do?
Isaiah ends with the Lord gathering all nations, with new heavens and a new earth and with worship that never ceases, without hiding the seriousness of judgment. It is a book that begins with a vision of sin and judgment and ends with a promise of universal salvation that the New Testament sees fulfilled in Christ. With this the book of Isaiah closes.
The image describes corpses consumed by worms and fire, and expresses the seriousness of judgment on the rebellious. Jesus takes up these words in Mark 9:48 to speak of final judgment. Christians differ on how to understand the punishment, but agree that the text calls us to take rebellion against God seriously and to trust in his mercy.
With a double vision: the gathering of all nations to see God's glory and worship him, and a warning about the fate of those who rebel. Both are part of the book's message, which joins judgment and salvation. For Christians, that universal salvation is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.