Isaiah 65:17


For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind ~ Isaiah 65:17

Isaiah described both the near future and the eschatological future, though he did so in general terms. Things in the future will be so much better than what we experience now that people would not think about what had been. It is most certainly a beautiful thought for those whom have been living through difficult time and experiences. Isaiah’s new heaven and earth is not identical to John’s expression found in Revelation though. Isaiah is speaking more about the here and now for Israel. They were held in Babylon as captives away from their homeland which had virtually been destroyed. The Temple had been decimated, robbed of her precious glory, which for them meant God had been taken from them. These were dark times indeed. The Bible often describes calamity and punishment in the Bible as dark heavens, or as a scroll which is rolled up. Peace, joy, and prosperity on the other hand are represented as a clear sky and pure light of the sun, or like here, the creation of a new heavens and earth. The promise for the Israelite’s is that there will be a new day for them, a day of freedom and peace and prosperity though they cannot see it in the present. We sometimes say there is a light at the end of the tunnel. This is what Isaiah is saying: hold on, for God is working for you and will turn around what is today into a new tomorrow, and in it you will not remember yesterday.

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