Isaías 63

Isaías 63:1-6

Guzik has an excellent comment on day and year - In this, Isaiah prophetically explains why the Messiah can say, “vengeance is in My heart.” It isn’t because God loves punishing sinners; but He does love vindicating His redeemed. Notice also the comparison: it is a mere day of vengeance, but an entire year of My redeemed. Each phrase is simply a poetic way of saying “time,” but God fittingly uses the picture of a day in communicating His vengeance, and a year in expressing His grace. Jamieson adds - here, as in Is 34:8; 61:2, the time of “vengeance” is described as a “day”; that of grace and of “recompense” to the “redeemed,” as a “year.” (Ed: Amazing grace indeed!) Isaiah 63:5 "I looked, and there was no one to help, and I was astonished and there was no one to uphold. So My own arm brought salvation to Me, and My wrath upheld Me. Looked: Isa 63:3, 41:28, 50:2, 59:16, Jn 16:32 My own: Isa 40:10, 51:9, 52:10 Ps 44:3, 98:1 Ho 1:7 1Co 1:24 Heb 2:14,15 My wrath: Isa 59:16-18 Messiah testifies that "there was no one to help" Him in the grand work of redemption of men and creation from the ravages of sin. In context, Messiah alone was able to accomplish redemption of the nation of Israel based upon the fact that "through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." (Heb 9:12-note, cp Heb 9:26-note) I was astonished and there was no one to uphold...So My Own arm brought salvation to Me - Here Messiah refers to His first coming, which culminated in His crucifixion, burial and resurrection which brought salvation to all who would believe (cf Titus 2:11-note). Isaiah had previously alluded to Messiah's own arm accomplishing salvation.. And He (Messiah) saw that there was no man, and was astonished that there was no one to intercede. Then His own arm brought salvation to Him; and His righteousness upheld Him. (Isa 59:16) Comment: Note the parallel - "My own arm brought salvation to Me, and My wrath upheld Me" (Isa 63:5) and "His own arm brought salvation to Him; and His righteousness upheld Him." (Isa 59:16) In one passage His wrath, in the other passage His righteousness. Both are available to every human being ever created (cf 1Ti 2:4, 2Pe 3:9-note). This is every one's personal choice - we must choose either Christ's wrath or Christ's righteousness! Have you chosen dear reader? Isaiah 63:6 "I trod down the peoples in My anger and made them drunk in My wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth." Make: Isa 63:2,3, 49:26, 51:21-23, Job 21:20 Ps 60:3, 75:8 Jer 25:16,17,26,27 La 3:15 Rev 14:10, Rev 16:6,19, Rev 18:3-6 I poured: Isa 25:10-12, 26:5,6 Rev 18:21 Trod down - Exactly how this occurs is not clear. What is clear is that Messiah will defeat all the enemies of God and His garment will be splattered with their blood. Trod (0947) (bus) is a relatively uncommon verb used 12x in the OT with 4 uses by Isaiah (Isa 14:19, 25, Isa 63:6, Isa 63:18). Here are three encouraging passages (using "bus") for all of God's children who in this life feel downtrodden by adversaries... Psalm 44:5 Through You we will push back our adversaries; Through Your name we will trample down (Heb = bus; Lxx = exouthenoo = disdain, set at, cp exoutheneo = despise someone on basis of being worthless or of no value) those who rise up against us. Psalm 60:12 (repeated in Ps 108:13) Through God we shall do valiantly, and it is He who will tread down (Heb = bus; Lxx = exoudenoo in future tense = will disdain, utterly despise, treat as of no account!) our adversaries The peoples - The Gentile nations opposed to God and to His chosen people, Israel. Oswalt - If it is true (Ed: Indeed it is!) that the Servant/Messiah will one day tread the wine press of earth and pour out the lifeblood of earth's rebels on the ground (cf. Rev. 14:17-20), we must never forget that before that, he is the same one who "poured out his soul unto death" (Isa. 53:12) for their sakes. Their death is only the result of refusing to avail themselves of his death. Proposed Sequence of Events Campaign of Armageddon - Arnold Fruchtenbaum (Click map to enlarge) Isaiah describes this same final and terrifying day of judgment against all nations which will take place beginning in Bozrah (see map above for Arnold Fruchtenbaum's proposed sequence of events associated with the Triumphal Return of the Messiah - see another proposed sequence), in the land of Edom. Many associate these events Armageddon, a name which is more accurately descriptive of the initial gathering of the nations at Armageddon (See map) (Rev 16:16-note). THE DAY OF VENGEANCE FOR EDOM & THE WORLD Isaiah 34:1-10+ Draw near, O nations (= goyim = Gentiles), to hear; and listen, O peoples! Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it. (Clearly this description is not of just a local battle but is against all the nations those who oppose Messiah and have gathered at Armageddon and marched south sacking Jerusalem and coming to Edom to attack the remnant of Jews who have fled to the wilderness - presumably Petra) 2 For (term of explanation - explains why the nations of the world are being summoned) the Lord’s indignation (= a short outburst of anger) is against all the nations (= Goyim = Gentiles. So not just against Edom, but all who have hated and despised God - Guzik = "In the immediate context, Isaiah continues the thought of the coming judgment against the Assyrians. But in the larger context, we can see this passage as an announcement of the judgment of come upon the nations during the Great Tribulation."), and His wrath (= a more abiding, smoldering type of anger) against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to slaughter (Notice that this future event [the fact that it is against "all nations" calls for a future event, as this has never occurred in world history] is so certain to transpire as described that the prophet uses the past tense!). 3 So their slain will be thrown out, and their corpses will give off their stench, and the mountains will be drenched with their blood (This description could be figurative, but could just as easily be taken literally - in either event it is a vivid description of the result of Messiah's triumph over His foes as described in Rev 14:17-20 [see below], Isaiah 63:1-6 and Rev 19:11-21+). 4 And all the host of heaven will wear away, And the sky will be rolled up like a scroll; All their hosts will also wither away As a leaf withers from the vine, Or as one withers from the fig tree (cf John's description Rev 6:12-14+). 5 For My sword is satiated in heaven, Behold it shall descend for judgment upon Edom (Edom was the "prototype" and representative of all Gentile nations that hated and persecuted Israel) and upon the people whom I have devoted to destruction (NET = "annihilate in judgment."). 6 The sword of the Lord is filled with blood, It is sated with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, With the fat of the kidneys of rams. For the Lord has a sacrifice in (the city of) Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Edom. 7 Wild oxen will also fall with them And young bulls with strong ones; Thus their land will be soaked with blood, And their dust become greasy with fat. 8 For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. (Notice that the slaughter is for the cause or sake of Zion which symbolizes the nation of Israel [not a popular concept in most circles today] = God will Himself defend the nation of Israel in this last great battle!) 9 Its streams will be turned into pitch, And its loose earth into brimstone, And its land will become burning pitch. 10 It will not be quenched night or day; Its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation it will be desolate; None will pass through it forever and ever (This description which recalls to mind the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah also supports that the events are yet future to our day). (Isa. 34:1-10) The apostle John dramatically describes this event in the Revelation... And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, and he also had a sharp sickle. 18 Then another angel, the one who has power over fire, came out from the altar; and he called with a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, "Put in your sharp sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because her grapes are ripe." 19 So the angel swung his sickle to the earth and gathered the clusters from the vine of the earth, and threw them into the great wine press of the wrath of God. 20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses' bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles. (Revelation 14:17-20+; See discussion of Campaign of Armageddon; compare description of the slaughter with Isaiah 34:3. See description of the "Divine Vintner" in Isaiah 63:3) My anger...my wrath (Repetition suggests emphasis - cf Isa 63:3) - If you have ever seen a tomato ripening and left on the vine too long (especially when dehydration occurs), you have noticed that it finally begins to crack. This is a picture of the righteous (and fully justified) anger and wrath of God which He has been accumulating (and patiently holding back for millennia), but which like that ripened tomato, finally breaks out on His day of vengeance (cp Isa 26:20, Rev 15:1+, Rev 16:17+) The peoples (the nations) - These are the Gentiles gathered together (cf Rev 16:16+) against Israel, the Kingdom of God and the King, Jesus. The method by which the nations are to be conquered by the King at His Second Coming is too often thought to be a peaceful missionary conquest; on the contrary, He breaks them with a rod of iron and dashes them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. This violent subduing of the nations by the returning King is many times pictured in the predictions of God’s Word. None of these is more vividly stated than Isaiah 63:1–6. Made them drunk in My wrath (cp Isa 49:26, Rev 16:6+) - Isaiah modifies the winepress metaphor slightly, here referring to the related image of the wine cup full of God's wrath, which sinners are given to drink down to the dregs (the sediment at the bottom, the last part, the least desirable portion)! CAMPAIGN OF ARMAGEDDON ANOTHER PROPOSED SEQUENCE Here is another proposed sequence of events related to the Campaign of Har-Magedon. While this sequence can be "authenticated" from Scripture, it is merely a proposal and not a meant to be a definitive description of the cataclysmic end times events. 1). As the result of pouring out of the Sixth Bowl of God's Wrath, we see a gathering of the nations (Gentiles) in the valley of Megiddo, north of Jerusalem. (Rev 16:12-14, 16+) There is no evidence that an actual battle occurs here even though everyone refers to the Battle of Armageddon. 2). Babylon is destroyed (Rev 18:1-24+) 3). The armies in #1 invade and conquer Jerusalem, but they know that there are still a remnant of Jews that have fled into the wilderness (Rev 12:6, 13-17+ "woman" = Israel). (Zechariah 12:1-14:21+ describes the capturing of Jerusalem, but then describes the liberation of Jerusalem by Messiah.). 4). After conquering Jerusalem, the Antichrist moves with his armies south towards Edom seeking the Jewish remnant that had fled Jerusalem (cp Jesus' warning - Mt 24:15-21+, describing the Great Tribulation, the last three and one half years when Antichrist rules the world seeking especially to destroy Israel.) 5). John describes Jesus' triumphant return in Rev 19:11-16+. But to where does the Lord return? Isaiah 63:1-6 supports the premise that Messiah returns first to the area of Edom whose capital city was Bozrah, which is near where the Jews have been sheltered for 3.5 years. Some feel Bozrah could also be Petra. 6). As Christ returns to Bozrah in Edom, the Antichrist's armies come south from Jerusalem. The Messiah victoriously treads down His foes and marches straight through them northward, His garments becoming soaked with their blood that rises as high as the bridle on the horses for 200 miles (Rev 14:20). Note that several passages support the premise that when Christ returns, He first comes to the region of Edom. (a) Isaiah 34:1-7+ (see also discussion below) (b) Isaiah 63:1-6 (c) Habakkuk 3:3+ - God comes from Teman (Edom), and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His splendor covers the heavens, and the earth is full of His praise. In addition Messiah makes a Highway of holiness (Isaiah 35:8) on which the redeemed follow Him in His triumph. 7). Christ comes up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat (Valley of Decision), where the nations have been gathered (Joel 3:2, 12-14+) and He walks up to the Mount of Olives and stands on the Mount (Zechariah 14:1-4+) as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS AND VERY GOD OF VERY GOD. And when He does all the nations that are in the Valley of Jehoshaphat are judged by Christ, Who separates the sheep from the goats. All of those who have not received the MARK OF THE BEAST and have taken care of His brethren, the Jews, will enter into His kingdom, but the goats who have not will be cast directly, immediately into the Lake of Fire. Arnold Fruchtenbaum suggests the following sequence: (click map) 1. The Assembling of the Allies of Antichrist - When the sixth bowl is poured out, the Euphrates river is dried up and the kings of the earth are gathered to the valley of Jezreel (Rev. 16:12-16+; Joel 3:9-11+). 2 The Destruction of Babylon - Babylon has been rebuilt on the banks of the Euphrates and is the world economic capital (cf Zec. 5:5-11+). While the Antichrist is away at Megiddo, Babylon undergoes catastrophic destruction (Isa. 13+, Isaiah 14+; Jer. 50, 51; Rev. 15:8+; Rev 17:18+; Rev 18:1ff+; Rev 19:2+). (ED: IN MY OPINION THIS DOES NOT FIT WITH THE FACT THAT THE ANTICHRIST AND 10 KINGS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FINAL DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON IN Rev 17:16-17+) 3. The Fall of Jerusalem - The Antichrist receives news that his capital city has been destroyed and moves south against Jerusalem (Zec. 12:1-3+; Zech 14:1-9+; Micah 4:11-5:1+). The Jews will put up a mighty defense, but Jerusalem will eventually fall (Zec. 14:2+). 4. The Armies of the Antichrist at Bozrah - The Jewish remnant flees to the mountains (Mt 24:15+) and then to the wilderness in Edom (see Sheep in Bozrah). The armies under Antichrist will move against the Jews in Bozrah (Micah 2:12+). 5. The National Regeneration of Israel - The Jews confess their national sin, the rejection and crucifixion of Messiah Jesus (Lev. 26:40-42+; Jer. 3:11-18; Hos. 5:15). They then plead for His return (Ps. 79:1-13; Isa. 64:1-12; Hos. 6:1-3; Zec. 12:10-13:1+; Zech 13:7-9+; Mt. 23:39). 6. The Second Coming of Messiah - Christ returns to Bozrah, where the remnant have been preserved (Isa. 34:1-7+; Isa. 63:1-6; Mic. 2:12-13+; Hab. 3:1-19+; Zec. 12:7+; Rev. 19:11-18+). 7. The Battle from Bozrah to the Valley of Jehoshaphat - Christ fights the forces of Antichrist from Bozrah continuing all the way back to the eastern walls of Jerusalem, which overlook a section of the Kidron Valley, also known as the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Antichrist is destroyed. (Joel 3:2, 12-13+; 2Th. 2:8+; Zec. 14:12-15+; Rev. 14:19-20+; Rev 19:20+). 8. The Victory Ascent Up the Mount of Olives - This is not the initial return of Christ, for He will save the tents of Judah first (Zec. 12:7+). Nor will his initial return be to the same place He ascended, the Mount of Olives, but merely in the same manner (Acts 1:11 = "will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven"). His ascent to the Mount is attended by cataclysmic events associated with the seventh bowl judgment (M 24:29+; Zec 14:4-5+; Rev. 16:17-21+). Dwight Pentecost suggests a less detailed sequence of events as follows focusing more on the prophecies in Daniel: 1. Covenant with Antichrist - Prince of Roman empire [the Antichrist] makes a covenant with Israel for a seven year period (Da 9:26-27+). (Although this covenant is broken three and one-half years later.) See Events of the 70th Week of Daniel. 2. Invasion of Palestine - The King of the North and the King of the South invade Palestine (Da 11:40+). 3. Antichrist Responds - Because of his covenant with Israel, the Antichrist will come to Israel’s defense (Da 11:40-45+). 4. News from East and North - News from the east and the north troubles the Antichrist (Da 11:44+). Perhaps it is the approach of the kings of the east (Rev. 16:12+). (The troubling news may be the destruction of Babylon, although Pentecost does not mention this.) 5.Headquarters in Palestine - The Antichrist moves his headquarters into the land of Palestine and assembles his armies there (Da 11:45+). 6. Christ Returns - Before he can engage the kings from the east, Christ returns. All the armies combine to fight against God (Rev. 19:19+). 7. Antichrist and Armies Overthrown - The armies and the Antichrist are destroyed without human means (Da 9:25+; Da 11:45+; Rev. 19:20+e).