Isaiah 66:22

22 "For just as the new heavens and new earth that I am making will stand firm before me" - God's Decree - "So will your children and your reputation stand firm.

Isaiah 66:22 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 66:22

For as the new heavens, and the new earth, which I will make,
&c.] Not "have made"; for this is not to be understood of the heavens and the earth made new in the beginning, and which continue so without any change or alteration; though sometimes the perpetuity of the church, which is here predicted, is set forth by the duration of those, ( Psalms 89:36 Psalms 89:37 ) ( Jeremiah 31:35-37 ) ( Jeremiah 33:25 Jeremiah 33:26 ) but either of the new state of things under the Gospel dispensation, which still continues, promised ( Isaiah 65:15 Isaiah 65:17 ) , or rather, since that would be an illustration of it by the same thing in different words, it may be interpreted literally of the new heavens and the new earth, which will be made when the present ones shall wax old and perish, and be no more, as in the New Jerusalem state, ( 2 Peter 3:10-13 ) ( Revelation 21:1 ) : shall remain before me, saith the Lord;
these shall continue, not only throughout the Millennium, or thousand years' reign, but for ever: so shall your seed and your name remain;
not the natural seed of believers; all have not such seed, and they that have, they are not all converted persons; but the spiritual "seed" of the church, born in her, and brought up by her; which shall continue in successive generations to the end of time, notwithstanding the persecutions of men, and the craft of false teachers, and the reproaches and banters of a vain world, ( Psalms 22:30 ) ( Isaiah 59:21 ) , and their "name" also; the name of Christ they name and confess, and that is called upon them, and from whence they are called Christians; this shall endure as long as the sun, ( Psalms 72:17 ) or the new name of sons and daughters of the Almighty; or their fame and glory, the memory of them; they shall be had in everlasting remembrance, ( Psalms 112:6 ) .

Isaiah 66:22 In-Context

20 They'll return with all your long-lost brothers and sisters from all over the world. They'll bring them back and offer them in living worship to God. They'll bring them on horses and wagons and carts, on mules and camels, straight to my holy mountain Jerusalem," says God. "They'll present them just as Israelites present their offerings in a ceremonial vessel in the Temple of God.
21 I'll even take some of them and make them priests and Levites," says God.
22 "For just as the new heavens and new earth that I am making will stand firm before me" - God's Decree - "So will your children and your reputation stand firm.
23 Month after month and week by week, everyone will come to worship me," God says.
24 "And then they'll go out and look at what happened to those who rebelled against me. Corpses! Maggots endlessly eating away on them, an endless supply of fuel for fires. Everyone who sees what's happened and smells the stench retches."
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.