25:8; 60:20
15. Sorrow and mourning will not exist in the kingdom. 25:8; 60:20
16. An eternal kingdom, as a part of God's new creation, will follow the millennial kingdom.
24:23; 51:6, 16; 54:11–12; 60:11, 19; 65:17
17. The King will judge overt sin in the kingdom. 66:24
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ISAIAH—NOTE ON 65:10 Sharon . . . Valley of Achor. Sharon was the western fertile territory on the Mediterranean coast, south of Mount Carmel (35:2). The eastern Valley of Achor was near Jericho and the Jordan River (Josh. 7:24–26). Together they represented the whole land.
ISAIAH—NOTE ON 65:11–12 Another pronouncement of judgment was given on the rebellious Israelites, who resorted to the worship of pagan gods, like Fortune (Hebrew Gad) and Destiny (Hebrew Meni), and had no one to blame but themselves for the sword of damnation that fell on them.
ISAIAH—NOTE ON 65:13–14 Continuing to address the rebel idolaters, the Lord himself gave contrasts between the faithful and unfaithful of Israel.
ISAIAH—NOTE ON 65:15 your name . . . for a curse . . . another name. Israel's new name was to reflect her favored status among the nations (62:2–4). Delinquent Israelites, on the other hand, were to endure the reproach of men, so that the very name "Jew" would be disclaimed.
ISAIAH—NOTE ON 65:16 God of truth. Lit., this is "God of Amen," referring to the very God, the true God, who will honor his promises to Israel, thus vindicating himself in the eyes of all people. Someday the rebels will be purged out and the redeemed remnant will be left. In that time, all blessing and swearing will be by the one and only true God, because all idols will be vanquished and forgotten in the glory of the kingdom of Messiah.
ISAIAH—NOTE ON 65:17–25 The blessings of faithful Israel in the coming kingdom are described.
ISAIAH—NOTE ON 65:17 new heavens and a new earth. Israel's future kingdom will include a temporal kingdom of a thousand years (see notes on Rev. 20:1–10)