Scripture Reading: Isa. 63:1-4; 61:4-11; 65:17; 66:22-24; 62:6-7
Ⅰ
The Lord's two comings bring in the restoration of Israel—61:4—63:19:
A
In the sight of God, Christ's two comings are two aspects showing one unique coming of Christ—7:14; 9:6; 63:1-4:
１
Because the Lord's unique coming has not been finished, it will continue with the second aspect of His coming—Acts 1:11; 3:20-21; Rev. 22:7, 12, 20:
ａ
The first section of Christ's coming results in the producing and building up of the church—Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:21-22; 4:16.
ｂ
At the end of the church age, during the last three and a half years of this age, Christ will continue His coming—Rev. 10:1-2, 6-7.
２
The continuation of Christ's coming will be of three parts:
ａ
Christ will be in the heavens to receive the raptured overcomers into His presence—12:5; 14:1-5; Luke 21:36.
ｂ
Christ will descend with His overcomers from the third heaven to the air—Rev. 14:14:
⑴
While He is in the air, the rapture of the majority of the believers will take place—vv. 15-16; 1 Thes. 4:15-17.
⑵
The Lord will judge the believers to determine who will receive the reward of the kingdom and who will suffer discipline during the kingdom age that they may mature—Matt. 16:27; 2 Cor. 5:10.
⑶
Christ will have a wedding, with Himself as the Bridegroom and the overcoming saints as the bride—Rev. 19:7-9.
ｃ
Christ and His newly married bride as His army will descend to destroy the armies of the earth—vv. 11-21.
B
Based upon what the Lord Jesus did in His first coming, His second coming will issue in the restoration of Israel—Matt. 19:28:
１
In His coming back Christ will save Israel from destruction—Isa. 63:1-4.
２
Israel will be priests of Jehovah and will exult in Jehovah—61:4-11:
ａ
There will be "new wine" that will cheer God and His people—65:8-10, 13-16.
ｂ
The unique work carried out by God's people in the restoration will be to sing, praise, worship, and rejoice—vv. 20-22.
３
Zion will shine forth righteousness, and Jerusalem will be established and made a praise in the earth—62:1-9.
Ⅱ
The book of Isaiah consummates in the new heaven and new earth— 65:17; 66:22-24:
A
The restoration of Israel and of all things consummates in the new heaven and new earth—Acts 1:6; 3:21; Rom. 8:19-22; Rev. 21:1; 2 Pet. 3:13.
B
After so many things have passed away, what will remain will be the new heaven and new earth with the New Jerusalem—Rev. 21:1-2:
１
The new heavens and new earth are the old heavens and old earth renewed and transformed through the burning of God's judging fire— 2 Pet. 3:12-13.
２
Righteousness will dwell in the new heavens and new earth, saturating God's new universe prevailingly and thus maintaining it absolutely under God's righteous order—v. 13.
C
In eternity past God purposed to have a corporate expression that He might be fully expressed and glorified; for this He created the heavens, the earth, and mankind—Eph. 3:9-11; 1:9-12; Rev. 4:11; Gen. 1:1, 26; 2:7; Zech. 12:1.
D
In the old heaven and old earth, God uses four dispensations to perfect and complete His chosen people that they may be His eternal corporate expression for the accomplishment of His purpose—Rev. 21:2, 10-11:
１
The dispensation of the patriarchs, from Adam to Moses—Rom. 5:14.
２
The dispensation of law, from Moses to Christ—John 1:17.
３
The dispensation of grace, from Christ's first coming to the restoration of all things at Christ's second coming—Acts 3:20-21.
４
The dispensation of the kingdom, from Christ's second coming to the end of the millennium—Rev. 11:15; 20:4, 6.
５
Although the dispensation of the kingdom will be the dispensation of restoration, it will take place in the old heaven and old earth—Isa. 11:
ａ
God's perfecting and completing work in His chosen people will not be finished until the end of that dispensation—65:17; 66:22-24.
ｂ
When God finishes His perfecting and completing work through the dispensation of the kingdom, the old heaven and old earth will pass away through fire and be renewed to become the new heaven and new earth, into which the New Jerusalem will come to be God's eternal expression—2 Pet. 3:12-13; Rev. 21:1-2, 10-11.