God Will Swallow Up Death Forever

The first element of that wise plan is somewhat surprising. In Isaiah 24 we saw God crush the “City of Man,” the self-glorying empire building that has characterized history. Isaiah 25:2 picks up that same theme again, saying that part of God’s ancient plan is turning the fortress of “barbarians” into piles of rubble, never to be rebuilt. But suddenly in verse 3 God reveals that his purpose in destroying these cities is so that “a strong people will honor [him]. The cities of violent nations will fear [him].” This speaks of the power of God to convert formerly terrifying enemies into genuine worshipers: Nebuchadnezzar, the murderous tyrant (Dan 4:34-35); the Roman centurion who crucified Jesus (Mark 15:39); Saul of Tarsus, who began the day breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples and ended the day a Christian (Acts 9:1-8). This power to transform world conquerors into genuine worshipers has been played out again and again in history. Courageous missionaries have faced death and persecution to spread the gospel to one terrifying, war-loving people after another: world-conquering Romans, scimitar-wielding Muslims, fierce Viking warriors, head-hunting cannibals, Amazonian tribes, communist party officials behind the Iron Curtain, etc. Heaven will be full of formerly vicious warriors who became disillusioned and sat on piles of rubble in their home cities after returning home from lost wars, who later found Christ after their worldly dreams of conquest were shattered.

Until the violent are converted, God must protect his beloved people from the storm of their vicious attacks, so verses 4-5 depict the refuge God is from their onslaught. The delight of his people comes when God at last stills the song of the violent by either converting them or crushing them, as he does at the end of the chapter.

Isaiah 25:6-9

Isaiah 25:6-9 is one of the clearest predictions in the Old Testament of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Romans 5:12 teaches that sin and death spread to all human beings in Adam. The entire human race is covered with shame because of this death penalty. Isaiah 25:6-9 depicts a lavish feast spread by the Lord of Armies, a banquet with the best of wines and choice meats. This feast is spread “for all the peoples,” for the entire human race, laid out “on this mountain.” It is a metaphorical feast, for it consists of God destroying the burial shroud that covers all nations—death itself. The verse plainly says that God will “destroy death forever.” The Hebrew word translated accurately by most versions (“swallow up”) gives the picture of an overwhelming defeat of death, like the earth swallowing up the enemies of God. God uncovers the face of the corpse and speaks the word of resurrection, removing the disgrace of his people from the whole earth. They rise in power, never to die again. The disgrace of sin and death has been swallowed up in victory (1 Cor 15:54).

Clearly this has been fulfilled in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is the death Conqueror, and by his death and resurrection alone are these words fulfilled. “On this mountain,” Mount Zion (Jerusalem), Jesus wins his victory over death once for all. And he speaks the clear promise to the human race: “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live” (John 11:25). This is the most lavish feast in history—eternal life through faith in Christ!

Isaiah 25:10-12

The chapter ends in a strange way, with Isaiah speaking words of condemnation against Moab, who probably represents the reprobate among the nations, those who will never believe. God will bring down Moab’s pride as if he were a swimmer drowning in a dung pile. Part of the joy of heaven will be that God will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all those who do evil (Matt 13:41). We will feast in peace, free from the assaults of the arrogant.

As noted, this chapter gives four magnificent themes for us to use in praise to God. In light of these, we should live confidently in this world, knowing that God, in his wisdom, has crafted a marvelous plan. We should pray that he will carry out faithfully every detail of his plan. We should live utterly fearless lives in the face of death, for wicked oppressors still stalk the earth, many of whom will be converted by the grace of God. And we should long for the day when the wicked will either be converted or be destroyed by the power of God.