Plunging into The Glory - C. R. Oliver (the beginning after the end read novel .txt) 📗

The cleansing of the Temple was more than a symbolic act, it signaled a change in its place with God. The Supreme Sacrifice removed the necessity of bulls, goats and sheep. 

2. The last days Jerusalem which changed the focus of nations by its birth and significance. All of the ramifications of "special place" return to it. Nations will come there for judgment. 

Isaiah 66:10-16 
'Rejoice with Jerusalem; be glad with her, all you who love her, you who mourned for her. 11 Delight in Jerusalem; drink deep of her glory even as an infant at a mother's generous breasts. 12 Prosperity shall overflow Jerusalem like a river," says the Lord, "for I will send it; the riches of the Gentiles will flow to her. Her children shall be nursed at her breasts, carried on her hips and dandled on her knees. 13 I will comfort you there as a little one is comforted by its mother.' 

14 When you see Jerusalem, your heart will rejoice; vigorous health will be yours. All the world will see the good hand of God upon his people and his wrath upon his enemies. 15 For see, the Lord will come with fire and with swift chariots of doom to pour out the fury of his anger and his hot rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For the Lord will punish the world by fire and by his sword, and the slain of the Lord shall be many! 
TLB 

Division is seen once again, this time between the "good hand of the Lord" and that of His wrath. 

All the nations which are forming alliances against modern Israel are mentioned by their ancient names. (A description of their sins and why God fumes against them is enumerated.) Because of the nature of intermingled prophetic times, some of these passages may bleed over into the New Jerusalem time. 

Isaiah 66:17-21 7 'Those who worship idols that are hidden behind a tree in the garden, feasting there on pork and mouse and all forbidden meat--they will come to an evil end,' says Jehovah. 18 "I see full well what they are doing; I know what they are thinking, so I will gather together all nations and people against Jerusalem, where they shall see My glory. 19 I will perform a mighty miracle against them, and I will send those who escape, as missionaries to the nations--to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Meshech, Rosh, Tubal, Javan, and to the lands beyond the sea that have not heard my fame nor seen my glory. There they shall declare My glory to the Gentiles. 20 And they shall bring back all your brethren from every nation as a gift to the Lord, transporting them gently on horses and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules and camels, to My holy mountain, to Jerusalem," says the Lord. "It will be like offerings flowing into the Temple of the Lord at harvest time, carried in vessels consecrated to the Lord. 21 And I will appoint some of those returning to be my priests and Levites," says the Lord.
TLB

I find it interesting that of those who escape the wrath of the Lord, of such will become the missionaries to the world. They will have seen His power and they willingly scatter to tell the nations about Him. They are believers for sure. They will also be the source of returning His people to the city. 

Note: it says "will be like offerings flowing into the Temple." It does not say there will be a Temple in Jerusalem. Those returning will be because of the missionaries (Converts to the Lord Jesus). 

Many things are "not said" in these passages. 

The shift back and forth between blessing and judgment is a beautiful integration of the Presence of the Lord in the scenario. His overt activities in these historical events make the difference. Time is not a factor to Him, there is no past or future-only the Now!

3. The New Jerusalem Isaiah 66:22-24
As surely as My new heavens and earth shall remain, so surely shall you always be My people, with a name that shall never disappear. 23 All mankind shall come to worship Me from week to week and month to month. 24 And they shall go out and look at the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me, for their worm shall never die; their fire shall not be quenched; and they shall be a disgusting sight to all mankind." 
TLB

Addendum:
Isaiah accomplished his task of re-introducing God to His people and to the world. His emphasis on the glory and power of the Lord toward His own and toward those who oppose Him flow through his work. Beginning with the majesty of Isaiah 6, when he beheld the Throne of God and with it his commitment "Here am I Lord, send me," he does not waver from his task. 

Israel had forgotten who they were and who their God was. Isaiah brought them face to face with their destiny. This destiny was fulfilled in the last chapter, as their Great and Good God stepped in and once again caused His people to flourish. 

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Publication Date: 07-06-2015

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Dedication:
Thanks to C. R. Oliver and the Newsletter Division for allowing the use of his Bible studies for this book.