Isaiah 66:18

18 I know their thoughts and their deeds. I am coming to gather the people of all the nations. When they come together, they will see what my power can do

Isaiah 66:18 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 66:18

For I know their works, and their thoughts
That is, of the persons before described; their evil works and thoughts, which are known to Christ the discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, whose eyes are as a flame of fire to pierce and penetrate into them, ( Revelation 2:18 Revelation 2:23 ) or, "as for me F12, their works and their thoughts"; as I know them, and abhor them, I will take vengeance on them for them, for what they have devised and done against me and mine: "and it shall come"; that is, it shall come to pass, or the time shall come: that I will gather all nations and tongues;
not against Jerusalem in the war of Gog and Magog, as the Jewish commentators, Aben Ezra, Jarchi, and Kimchi, interpret it, illustrating it by ( Zechariah 14:2 ) but to Christ and his church, by the preaching of the Gospel; which in the latter day will be published to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and that immediately upon the destruction of both the western and eastern antichrists; and particularly, by the means of the latter, way will be made for it into the kingdoms of the east, which thereby will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, ( Revelation 14:6 ) ( 16:12 ) ( 11:15 ) , and they shall come and see my glory;
the glory of Christ's person, offices, and grace; the glory of his Gospel, worship, and ordinances; the glory that will be upon Zion the church, and on all which there will be a defence, and a glorious sight it will be; see ( Isaiah 4:5 ) ( 60:1-3 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F12 (ykwnaw) "ad me vero quod attinet", Piscator, De Dieu, Cocceius, Vitringa.

Isaiah 66:18 In-Context

16 By fire and sword he will punish all the people of the world whom he finds guilty - and many will be put to death.
17 The Lord says, "The end is near for those who purify themselves for pagan worship, who go in procession to sacred gardens, and who eat pork and mice and other disgusting foods.
18 I know their thoughts and their deeds. I am coming to gather the people of all the nations. When they come together, they will see what my power can do
19 and will know that I am the one who punishes them. "But I will spare some of them and send them to the nations and the distant lands that have not heard of my fame or seen my greatness and power: to Spain, Libya, and Lydia, with its skilled archers, and to Tubal and Greece. Among these nations they will proclaim my greatness.
20 They will bring back all your people from the nations as a gift to me. They will bring them to my sacred hill in Jerusalem on horses, mules, and camels, and in chariots and wagons, just as Israelites bring grain offerings to the Temple in ritually clean containers.

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. [Some ancient translations] I know; [Hebrew] I.
  • [b]. [Some ancient translations] I am coming; [Hebrew] He is coming.
Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.