Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 60

Verses 1-14

Isa 60:1-14

Isaiah 60:1-3

This chapter begins a discussion of the glorious state of the New Israel, that is, the Church of Jesus Christ, during the reign of Christ upon this earth, a reign that began on the first Pentecost after the Resurrection of the Son of God. For ages, this has been the accepted position of Christian commentators on this prophecy. As Lowth expressed it:

"The subject of this chapter is the great increase and flourishing state of the church of God, by the conversion and accession to it of the heathen nations; which is set forth in such ample and exalted terms as plainly show that, the full completion of this prophecy is reserved for future times."

Barnes agreed with this, and called it, "A description of the Golden Age under the Messiah," stating also that, "The description continues to the end of the next chapter."

Some scholars, of course, disagree. Payne applied it to the nation of Israel, calling it, "Jerusalem’s future glory." Henderson identified the chapter, "Mainly, with the future glory of the Jews." All such interpreters have completely overlooked the "judicial hardening" of Israel (the literal nation) pronounced, not only by Isaiah, but by Christ himself, and quoted no less than four times in the New Testament.

Difficult as some of the questions that arise here may be, the traditional interpretation appears to be absolutely correct.

The light which suddenly bursts upon mankind in this chapter, "Will appear at a time when the nations dwell in darkness; and, in the midst of that distressing condition, Jehovah will arise upon Zion in the person of His Son; in Christ, the glory of God will be revealed."

We agree with Jamieson who declared that, "The language is too glorious to apply to anything that has yet happened;" and this surely fits the application of some of the things related here to heaven itself. However, there are actually no words too glorious to apply to the Church of our Lord which was purchased with his own blood, and in which alone, men of Adam’s condemned descendants may be fully restored to fellowship with their Creator, and attain, at last, to eternal life in heaven. No words are too wonderful for that!

The division of the chapter naturally fails into five parts, very nearly the same length each, and which Rawlinson entitled: "(1) Zion’s brightness and increased numbers (Isaiah 60:1-4); (2) Zion’s immense wealth (Isaiah 60:5-9); (3) Zion’s reconstruction (Isaiah 60:10-14); (4) Zion’s prosperity (Isaiah 60:15-18); and (5) Zion’s crowning glories (Isaiah 60:19-22)."

The "Zion" of this chapter is by no stretch of imagination the hardened, blinded, and deluded Israel of the flesh. "Zion" here refers to the New Israel, the heavenly Jerusalem, which is our mother, and especially to the church of God in Christ.

Isaiah 60:1-3

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah hath risen upon thee. For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee. And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising."

"Arise, shine; for thy light is come ..." (Isaiah 60:1). "This prophecy received its highest fulfillment at the coming of Christ, the true Light of the World, which was followed by a great ingathering of the nations to the church of God."

We must not be deceived by the literal language of this chapter, "Which is that of the Old Testament ordinances and of the literal Jerusalem; it will need translating into the terms of the `Jerusalem above’ (Galatians 4:26) ... and also of the radiant city of heaven (Revelation 21)."

"Darkness shall cover the earth ..." (Isaiah 60:2). The birth of Christ did indeed occur at a time of universal spiritual darkness of the human race. (1) The Gentile nations were sunk in the grossest and most shameful idolatry. (2) The Jewish nation was in no better position, despite their possession of God’s Law, which they had formalized and perverted; and by their transgression of it dishonored God, leading to the blasphemy of God on their account by the whole Gentile world (Romans 2:23-24). (3) The vain philosophy of the Greeks and Romans provided no relief from the awful darkness of that era.

"Nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising ..." (Isaiah 60:3). The religion of Jesus Christ dispersed the darkness that lay over the minds of men; and all nations turned to it. From that near-universal acceptance of Christ, the whole world was divided into B.C. and A.D.; and the holy light that came from the face of Christ was the "Star" that created what men call civilization; and when that Light is obscured, (Which may God prohibit), what is called "civilization" will disappear from the earth!

The mention of "kings" coming to the brightness of the rising of that Light received a token fulfillment at the birth of Christ, when the "wise men" from the East (the "three Kings of Orient") came with gifts of gold, and frankincense, and myrrh; but the ultimate fulfillment came when the wisest and greatest of earth believed on Him and received his word.

It should be noted, as Douglas observed, that the vocabulary of this passage is practically identical with Isaiah 9:2. As we shall see, this is a recurring phenomenon in this chapter, indicating the correctness of the title that author gave his book, "Isaiah One, and His Book One."

Isaiah 60:4-9

"Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to thee; thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be carried in the arms. Then thou shalt see and be radiant, and thy heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned unto thee, the wealth of the nations shall come unto thee. The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee; they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar; and I will glorify the house of my glory. Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee."

Douglas pointed out vocabulary correspondence in Isaiah 2:2-4; Isaiah 11:12; Isaiah 21:16-17; Isaiah 9:4; Isaiah 10:26; Isaiah 2:6-22; and in Isaiah 23:1; Isaiah 23:6; Isaiah 23:10; Isaiah 23:18), with this paragraph. The same author pinpointed such correspondence throughout these last twenty-seven chapters with earlier chapters in Isaiah, making it a practical certainty that Isaiah is the author of the whole prophecy.

Kidner pointed out that the priestly terms of Isaiah 60:7 "preclude a literal interpretation of the chapter, because the New Testament reveals that there can be no return to a worship based upon such things as `rams ... altar ... and house,’ which are but a shadow of the good things to come (Hebrews 10:1)."

These verses undoubtedly depict the glorious wealth that shall characterize Christianity, an amazing truth evident in all generations. This very day, all over the world, let the Christian nations (however imperfectly they deserve the title) be compared with the nations that are in darkness, either because they never accepted the truth, or because they rejected it and reverted to their old ways; and the result is astounding. Compare Ethiopia, India, China, etc. with England, Western Europe, and North America; and behold the difference. Russia is indeed a great nation; but they rejected Christianity; and today, they are rapidly slipping backward into the impoverished state that always belongs to the rejection of Christianity. The United States is feeding them via the sale of 200,000.000 metric tons of wheat a year! To us, this remarkable passage speaks more of this colossal truth than of anything else.

This very year (1989-1990), Russia is authorizing the shipment of millions of Bibles into their nation. The new leadership, at last, seems to have discovered the cause of the nation’s failure and are attempting to remedy it.

Isaiah 60:10-14

"And foreigners shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favor have I had mercy on thee. Thy gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive. For that nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted. The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine, and the box-tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. And the sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee The City of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel."

This paragraph speaks of the contrast between the punishment and desolation brought upon the Old Israel because of their wickedness, and the glorious prosperity and blessing to be inherited by the New Israel, contingent in the case of the New Israel as it was in the case of the Old upon their continuity in the way of righteousness; and, without any doubt, many of the blessings to be associated with the New Covenant have not yet been realized fully because of the constant tendency of the human race to sin and rebellion against God.

Just as God’s promise to Abraham of a posterity that would be as numberless as the stars of heaven was never fully realized because of the sins of the people, there must, in like manner, be many blessings of the Messianic Age that will fall short of God’s intentions because of man’s wickedness.

The building of walls and gates here could not possibly be construed as literal, because with gates that never closed night or day, walls would be useless. What is meant is that in the Lord’s Kingdom of Messiah, "God openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and none openeth" (Revelation 3:7).

People represented here as bowing down to the soles of the feet of the Old Israel is fulfilled in the person of the Ideal Israel, who is Jesus Christ. Since Christ is the New Israel, all of his followers being "in him" and part of him, all who worship Christ are, in that act, bowing down to Israel, not to the old wicked Israel, of course, but to Christ the True Israel. The Biblical confirmation of this principle is seen in Revelation 3:9.

People who try to find the rebuilding of the walls and gates of literal Jerusalem here should note that, "Nehemiah commanded, "Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand on guard, let them shut the doors, and bar ye them" (Nehemiah 7:3). The gates mentioned here were never shut, either day or night.

Isaiah 60:1-5 LIGHT: It has been our purpose to show the student of Isaiah the logical progression of the prophet’s message. In the first 35 chapters Isaiah has declared that Israel’s salvation is not in any human programs; neither self-righteousness nor idolatry nor military alliance with the heathen will save her. In chapters 36–39 Isaiah inserts parenthetically a record of an historical event which demonstrates precisely what he is preaching; that Israel, God’s covenant people, can only be saved and reach her messianic destiny through faith in Jehovah by keeping covenant with Him. Finally, in chapters 40–66, Isaiah will prophesy and typify the grand climax of God’s program for the redemption of the whole world through the Servant and Covenant relationship to Him. The last section, with which we now begin to deal, predicts the glorious consequence of Zion’s appropriation of the Servant’s work by Covenant-communion. Zion will enjoy Reward, Regeneration and Rest, among other blessings. Zion is going to be made “whole” (see our discussion of the word shalom/peace on Isaiah 59:8) because she will have given to her a covenant of peace or wholeness (cf. Isaiah 54:10) when the Servant becomes peace/ shalom for her (cf. Isaiah 53:5).

In anticipation of this wholeness (peace) Zion is told to arise and shine. The future glory of Zion is so certain (although it is centuries away from accomplishment by the Messiah) Isaiah speaks of it as if it had already come. The remnant of Judah will be prostrated in exile along with the unbelievers of the nation. It will be a temptation for the remnant to despair and give up hope that God will ever keep His promises made to their forefathers (Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David). But Isaiah says, “Stand up, stand fast in your witness as those who believe God will keep His covenant. Let your messianic light shine, for God has promised, and it will come to pass!”

The “light” which comes upon Zion is the “glory” of Jehovah. That cannot be anything less than the Messiah. Christ was the effulgence of the glory of God and bore the very image of His substance (cf. Hebrews 1:3). Jesus was the Word become flesh and men beheld His glory, glory as the only begotten from the Father (cf. John 1:14). The Word was the life and the light of men (John 1:4). The Hebrew word kevod is translated glory. The fundamental root meaning is probably weight or heaviness, conveying the idea of some external, physical manifestation of dignity or preeminence of majesty. But the word as it is most widely used means, “the exhibition of the excellence of the subject to which it is ascribed.” In other words, character is the chief element of glory. Concerning God it is the display of His divine attributes and perfections of righteousness, power, truthfulness, faithfulness, mercifulness, justice, compassion, love, etc. Some of the glory of God may be seen in a limited way in nature (cf. Romans 1:18-23; Acts 14:15-18, etc.).

Zion is to have the excellence of the character of Jehovah “rise” upon her. The glory of God is to be imputed to Zion through the Servant and made available for appropriation through the New Covenant. Zion will not earn His glory. The Servant comes to earn God’s glory for Zion. Zion simply receives it by exercising faith through covenant conditions.

She is to reflect His glory. Darkness covers the earth. All nations (including Israel) fall short of the glory of God (cf. Romans 3:9-26; esp. Romans 3:23). But the people who walk in darkness will see a great light (cf. our comments Isaiah 9:1-7). The Light of the World came to Zion and made her a kingdom of light (cf. John 8:12-20; John 12:46; Ephesians 5:8; Colossians 1:12-13; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 2-3). The letters of the apostle Paul to churches predominantly Gentile confirm the prediction of Isaiah 60:3 that “nations shall come to thy (Zion’s) light.” Great and powerful rulers and men of renown were attracted to Zion’s glory (see comments Isaiah 49:7).

The Hebrew word ‘amanah is translated carried but means more literally, a foster-father or foster-nurse who has a child in safe keeping. What it means in verse four is that the Gentiles shall bring children safely to Zion (cf. comments on Isaiah 49:22-23). Zion is exhorted to look even now in faith down through the centuries from Isaiah’s day to the messianic glory and behold Gentiles coming to her from all directions of the earth. This vision compares to the one given the seven churches of Asia Minor by the apostle John when he recorded the spectacle of the redeemed “which no man could number” from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues standing before the throne (Revelation 7:9).

The Hebrew word nahare is translated radiant in verse five. It is from a root which means to flow, to run. Zion’s reaction to the Gentiles coming to her for the glory of Jehovah which she has will be that of effervescent joy. She will radiate a bubbling excitement because she sees the promises of God being fulfilled that “in her seed shall all the nations be blessed.” The word phakhad means to tremble with joy and is thus translated thrill. The picture Isaiah paints of Zion is of the messianic age when she has realized she has become the instrument of God for the salvation of the world and is one of excitement. Zion’s heart trembles, swells, pumps and jumps with excitement as she realizes she is engaged in divine, eternal, cosmic redemptive history as a colaborer of Almighty God (cf. Acts 11:18; Acts 15:3; Acts 19:10, etc.). Zion is caused to tremble with joy because she sees that there are Gentiles who are precious in character and that there are Gentiles worthy of becoming jewels in the crown of a Jewish apostle (cf. Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19). The “abundance of the sea” is the wealth of the islands and coastlands (Gentile territories). What is the wealth of a nation? It is its people, especially regenerated, redeemed people. These are the people who produce goodness, truth and beauty in any nation or society. These are the people who serve humanity without selfish motives. Zion sees that she possesses that which is the wealth of the world after all—people being conformed to the image of Christ.

Isaiah 60:6-7 LAUDATION: AS Keil and Delitzsch point out: “The prophet, indeed cannot describe even what belongs to the New Testament in any other than Old Testament colors, because he is still within the Old Testament limits.” In other words, Isaiah is depicting the spiritual prosperity of New Testament Zion (the church) in terminology of his own times. The picture Isaiah draws is that of multitudes of people from the fartherest reaches of civilization uniting in praise and honor to Jehovah. Midian was a son of Abraham from Keturah (Genesis 25:1-6) and Ephah was a son of Midian. Midian and his descendants claimed the land east of the Jordan river and the Dead Sea, southward through the Akabah and including the southern and eastern parts of the peninsula of Sinai. Sheba was the oldest son of Jokshan (Jokshan was also a son of Abraham by Keturah). His descendants probably became what is called the kingdom of Sheba or the Sabeans. The Queen of Sheba who visited Solomon was from this people. These far distant peoples shall contribute their wealth to Zion and they shall come to Zion and proclaim the praises of Jehovah. Kedar was the second son of Ishmael (a son of Abraham by Hagar, the handmaiden of Sarah), (cf. Genesis 25:13), whose descendants lived in the desert between Syria and Mesopotamia. Nebaioth is mentioned always in connection with Kedar or the descendants of Ishmael (Genesis 25:13; Genesis 28:9; 1 Chronicles 1:29) and is regarded by most as identical with the Nabataeans. It is interesting to note that all these are descendants of Abraham, but alien to the original covenant which was administered exclusively through the only son of Abraham by Sarah—Isaac. Yet, when the promise was given to Abraham, before Isaac’s birth, it included blessedness to “all nations” through that “singular” seed (cf. Galatians 3:16). These Gentiles are going to be acceptable! Their offerings (worship) will be acceptable and their ministry will be acceptable. As Young says, “The picture here given is that of Gentiles converted to Christ who bring all that they have and devote it to His service.”

These desert nomads (Midian, Ephah, Sheba, Kedar, Nabataeans) were all enemies of the Jews for centuries. They are even today, racial, geographical and political enemies. The only way these people could ever become united in praising Jehovah and be accepted as worshippers and ministers of Jehovah is through the reconciliation that is in Christ Jesus (cf. Ephesians 2:11-22; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21, etc.).

These verses indicate that Jehovah is going to send His “Light” (the Messiah) to glorify Zion and make available to her the wealth of the world. In other words God is going to demonstrate, once and for all, that His redemptive people (the church) are the focal point of the cosmos. Everything in His creation is to glorify Zion. Sooner or later, ultimately, inevitably God will use everything He has created to serve for the glorification of the redeemed. The apostle Paul said as much in 1 Corinthians 3:21-22 : “. . . all things are yours . . . whether . . . the world or life or death or the present or the future . . . all are yours.” Everything that is good and eternal and abiding of God’s is the birthright of His Son, and Christians are joint heirs with Him. The “house” of God is going to be made more beautiful than it has ever been when He adorns it with the “wealth” of the nations (Gentiles beautiful in character) (see comments Isaiah 56:7).

Isaiah 60:13-14 COMELINESS: The place of God’s dwelling (New Zion) will be exalted above all that is on the earth—both of nature and men. It is going to be made glorious and preeminent. Everything in creation will be made available to glorify her (art, music, learning, literature, thoughts, emotions). The greatest powers opposing her will be humbled (cf. Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:15-20; Colossians 2:14-15; Hebrews 2:5-18). Many of the powerful forces and peoples opposing Zion will become converts to her. Formerly they ridiculed and scoffed at her—but they will penitently call her what she very evidently is: The (only) city of Jehovah, The Zion (Citadel or Sanctuary) of the Holy One of Israel. In Old Testament times it appeared Zion could be despoiled, humbled and obliterated by war, siege and death. But Zion’s Eternal King came (the Messiah) in a space-time historical event and conquered death forever! This is the message of the book of Revelation. The Lamb has come and conquered death by resurrection and is now worthy to reveal (open the scroll) that New Zion (the church) is unconquerable! New Zion is the citadel of eternal safety.

Verses 15-22

Isa 60:15-22

Isaiah 60:15-18

"Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. Thou shalt suck the milk of the nations, and shall suck the breast of kings; and thou shalt know that I, Jehovah, am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, desolation nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise."

The glories of the future Israel revealed in these chapters (Isaiah 60-61) should have been infinitely comforting to the captives in Babylon; because they emphasize a number of great principles. (1) God is not unmindful of the welfare of his people, and all of their humiliation and suffering shall be made up to them (if they are faithful) a thousand-fold. (2) Nothing can thwart the eternal purpose of God. Satan indeed may win victories over any given generation, but God is forever winning the Great War against evil. (3) The walls that have been destroyed will be rebuilt. (4) Those who have hated God’s people will return, along with their seed, to adore and honor them. (5) God’s judgment against the wicked will take place dramatically before the eyes of the whole world.

Note the correspondence of Isaiah 60:17 with Isaiah 9:9-10, and with later verses in that chapter. Also, Isaiah 60:18 is but a restatement in different words of Isaiah 26:1-3. Isaiah is doubtless the author of both passages, and of the whole prophecy.

Isaiah 60:19-22

"The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but Jehovah shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. Thy sun shall no more go down, neither shall thy moon withdraw itself; for Jehovah will be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. The people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation: I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time."

That wonderful tomorrow when God’s people will no longer have need of sun or moon for light, when God’s glory shall be the light, and the Lamb of God the Lamp of the New Jerusalem, when all mourning is ended and eternal joy will prevail, that great condition will be realized, not upon earth, but in heaven. And when shall this occur? God states in Isaiah 60:22 that, "He will hasten it in its time." The time is not known to men in our generation.

One thing stands out starkly enough, "Only the righteous, only those who are the shoot of God’s planting, and the work of his hands will participate in Zion’s glorious future."; Isaiah 60:21 emphasizes this truth.

It is clear enough that Revelation 21 is based upon the promises of this chapter; and there also we read the identity of the Zion mentioned here. It is the New Jerusalem; it is The Bride, the Lamb’s Wife; it is the Holy City Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.

There are many things men cannot know about heaven. The eventual activity of the saints of God in heaven is not revealed in the Bible. We do not know if the Holy City promised here and in Revelation 21-22 is the same as the New Heavens and the New Earth promised by Christ and the apostles. Although Christ promised to destroy our earth by fire at the end of the age, we do not know if this is a cosmic destruction that shall remove our earth from its orbit, or a refurbishing of it, as in the case of the flood. Either condition would fit the word "destroy." Many believe that our earth will be destroyed in a cosmic sense.

Some have built up speculations about what they call the Millennium; but all of the Biblical passages bearing upon the reign of Christ show that, (1) it is in progress now (Matthew 28:18-20); (2) the second advent will not be the beginning of the reign of Christ, but the end of it (1 Corinthians 15:25-28); (3) there is no such thing as a rapture that shall allow God’s people to escape the great tribulation (Acts 14:22); (4) the general resurrection will be the occasion of the final judgment (Matthew 25); (5) Christ’s reign on the throne of David refers to his resurrection, and not to his return to literal Jerusalem (Acts 2:31). (6) The so-called `Great Tribulation’ is the current dispensation (Revelation 7; Revelation 14). For these and many other valid reasons, we cannot agree that any of this chapter refers to what some call "The Millennium."

Isaiah 60:15-17 RICHES: The time came when the “glorious land” (Palestine) and the “holy” city (Jerusalem) was an object of ridicule and mockery. After Assyrian invasion of Israel in 722 B.C. and the deportation of the ten northern tribes (and the immigration of foreigners into the unoccupied territory) came the Babylonian invasion of Judah (606–586 B.C.). Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple, tore down most of Jerusalem’s walls and took the people back to Babylon as prisoners of war. The land of Palestine became inhabited by a nomadic people from the deserts and mostly pagan. The beautiful homes and luxuriant vineyards and productive farms of the Jews were allowed to deteriorate. The city of Jerusalem remained in a semi-ruined state until 70 years later when Nehemiah received word that it was in ruins (Nehemiah 1:1-4), and got permission to return and rebuild it. For two generations caravans, travelers and soldiers passed by Palestine and by the city of Jerusalem, wagging their heads and “hissing” (whistling) at the devastation. This was what God predicted (cf. Jeremiah 18:16; Jeremiah 19:8; Jeremiah 25:9; Jeremiah 25:18; Jeremiah 29:18; Lamentations 2:15-16; Micah 6:16). The world not only hissed at the land of Palestine, it also mocked the Jewish people. They had (until idolatry became so prevalent) claimed their God, Jehovah, was the only true God and that He was all-powerful. They also claimed He was righteous and holy. But they had become pagan themselves and were conquered by those they held in contempt as ignorant heathen. Suddenly they were mocked and shunned and despised. This was precisely predicted (Deuteronomy 28:15-46, esp. Deuteronomy 28:37).

From these despicable depths, however, God promises to rescue a remnant and form a New Zion which He will exalt and magnify eternally. The Hebrew word ge’on is translated excellency; it means to grow up, to increase, to be lifted, exalted, majestic. The Lord is going to make the New Zion majestic and an object of rejoicing for succeeding generations (millions of people).

The interesting phrase in Isaiah 60:16, “Thou shalt also suck the milk of the nations,” is a graphic figure of speech to portray the New Zion as a hungry nursing child feeding on the choicest products of the nations of the whole world. This has already been commented on in Isaiah 60:11. There have been the Augustines, Justin Martyrs, Pascals, Gladstones, Lincolns, Agassizes, Miltons, Handels, ad infinitum. “the milk of the nations” which have sustained Zion. There have been the millions and millions of “little” people, the “salt of the earth” people, the real jewels of each generation and nationality which have also come to Zion. The fact that great and small, rich and poor, literate and illiterate, weak and powerful may come together in a kingdom of peace redounds to the glory and praise of Jehovah who created Zion. The church itself is undeniable, empirical evidence of the existence of God. Isaiah 60:17 is a continuation of the idea that God is going to build New Zion from only the best of everything. There will be no inferior materials in building His New dwelling place (the church). There will be no more need for human rulers in New Zion (human rulers were oppressive and inferior) because she shall be ruled by Peace (see comments on Isaiah 59:8 for “peace”) and by Righteousness. In the church of Christ there are no positions of human rulership—only servanthood. Elders, deacons and evangelists are not rulers—they are slaves, ruled over by the Prince of Peace and the King of Righteousness. The Hebrew word Jerusalem means righteousness-peace.

Isaiah 60:18-22 RIGHTEOUSNESS: AS important to the goodness Zion is to have as riches, is righteousness. Citizens of New Zion are not belligerent; they do not retaliate (they leave justice to be done by the proper authority); they do not war and fight against one another (Matthew 5:7; Matthew 5:9; Matthew 5:21-26; Matthew 5:38-42; 1 Corinthians 6:1-8; Ephesians 5:25-28; James 4:1-12; 1 Peter 2:13-25, etc.). Citizens of New Zion have conformed their thinking and acting to the image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and there is no violence in Zion. The New Zion is the only Zion of which this can be said. It certainly cannot apply to any literal, physical Zion or Jerusalem! The reason there is no violence in New Zion is that she is walled about by Salvation and Praise. Jesus pointed out to some men in His day that the kingdom of God had suffered a history of violent men wanting to take God’s kingdom from Him and use it for their own violent purposes (cf. Matthew 11:7-15), but (the inference is) His coming to establish His rule as King would stop all that.

Some commentators think Isaiah 60:19-20 refer to the heavenly-consummation when heaven and earth shall have passed away and there is no more sun or moon (cf. Revelation 21:23; Revelation 22:5). Isaiah does not actually state here that the sun and moon will be done away, but merely that it is no longer to give light to Zion by day. It is possible that this is merely a figure to predict that all light (mental and spiritual illumination) except Divine Light will be excluded from the New Zion. The menorah (lamp-stand) in the Tabernacle in which only that oil made according to Divine formula could be burned typified the fact that in the Lord’s dwelling place only Divine Light was to shine. Instructions concerning the Tabernacle also prohibited the Jews from allowing sunlight, moonlight or any other light to shine inside the tent. Jesus was the Light (John 1:4; John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:46). The gospel is the Light (Acts 26:23; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:5; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:19; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 1:7; 1 John 2:9, etc.). Malachi predicts the “sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings” (Malachi 4:2) which we believe to be a messianic prophecy. God’s city will be changed from a physical, geographical Zion which has a physical sun to a spiritual, universal Zion which will have a spiritual Light.

Isaiah was directed to “comfort” Israel with the prediction that her “warfare is ended” (cf. Isaiah 40:1 ff, see comments there). Chapters 60–66 are amplifications of that prediction. When New Zion is created, the days of mourning for God’s people will be over (cf. comments Isaiah 25:6-9).

The crowning characteristic of New Zion will be the righteousness of her citizens. This is possible only because God has provided a satisfactory atonement and imputed His righteousness to Zion’s citizenry (cf. comments Isaiah 53:11). Zion’s citizens, declared righteous, must by righteous living be faithful to their calling, however, or they will not remain citizens. In other words, there is an imputed righteousness and a lived righteousness. The one who is justified and saved will do righteousness (cf. 1 John 3:4-10). Anyone born of God cannot go on sinning (deliberately). This is the correct understanding of the present tense Greek verb poiei in 1 John 3:9, and the present tense participle poion in 1 John 3:8. Present tense in Greek means continuing action. Citizens of Zion hunger and thirst after righteousness. As John says, “. . . let no one deceive you . . . the one continuing to do righteousness is righteous . . . the one continuing to do sin is of the devil . . .” Ultimately, of course, we will be saved forever by God’s imputed righteousness for we sin even after accepting by faith the grace of God (1 John 1:8; 1 John 2:1-2 was written to Christians). But if we repent (change our minds) and determine not to continue in a particular sin but rather keep His commandments, we are faithful citizens of Zion and we shall receive our inheritance. We are the human offspring of our earthly parents by their grace, so to speak, and we remain in the grace of our mothers and fathers only so long as we choose to be faithful to them. We are joined to our earthly spouse by his or her grace, but we remain in the love of that grace only so long as we are faithful.

When God’s people are faithful and live righteously, God is glorified. And Zion’s population is increased when God is glorified. The phrase “The little one shall become a thousand . . .” apparently means that the Lord will take the foolish, weak, and despised and confound the wise and powerful (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18-31). God will take what the world says can never become anything and give it increase and glory (cf. Micah 5:2); even Bethlehem of Ephrathah small among the claims of Judah will produce the Messiah, Jehovah will not follow man’s timetable. He has His own seasons and times in His great redemptive work (cf. Daniel 9:20-27, see our comments there, College Press). The Lord fixes all times and seasons in His own authority (cf. Acts 1:6-7; Daniel 2:20-23). And the Lord will create New Zion “in its time.” Its time was, of course, in the days of the kings of the fourth kingdom (cf. Daniel 2:44); the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1 ff). The creative work of Zion’s incarnate King began on a Sunday, as He mounted a colt, the foal of an ass, and rode toward physical Zion declaring Himself the prophesied King of Zechariah 9:1-10 coming to establish spiritual Zion.