以賽亞書十三章到廿三章，是上帝對以色列鄰國、城市及人們的審判，接下來廿四到廿七章的預言，延伸到世界各國。以賽亞的許多預言，讓人了解到末世的景況，而預言的應驗，是在最後上帝對全地的審判。上帝對全地憤怒的原因：（1）人們違背上帝的律法；（2）人們扭曲敗壞上帝授權的政府和法令；（3）人們不守上帝和挪亞所立的約。這約是有關人類生命的神聖和認識上帝是創造者及支持整個宇宙的上帝，人們該遵從祂，但人們驕傲、不敬畏上帝，沒有履行管理地上的責任，又流不義人的血，這些惡行污穢了全地（24：4~5；創9：5~6；民35：33~34；詩106：38；利18：24~26）。

        在上帝審判的日子中，上帝使全地的人沒有階級的分別（24：2），罪人賴以享樂的東西都被取走，喝濃酒藉以消除忘卻恐懼痛苦的人必要絕望（24：7~11），罪人不能逃避上帝的憤怒（24：17~18），地上的人數大量減少（24：3），像是經過強烈地震的劫難（24：18）。上帝將要捆綁撒但和世界上邪惡的勢力，使他們等待最後審判（24：21；啟20：1~10），末了，公義的人，必得救贖和釋放，犯罪的必被毀滅（24：3、6、13）。

        經過迫害之後（24：16），在全地餘留的信心之人，必和上帝一同歡樂、歌唱讚美上帝和榮耀祂（24：14~16），榮耀的光輝從救主耶穌而來，當祂統管新耶路撒冷城時，太陽月亮都要黯淡，長老要站立在祂面前，唱新歌榮耀祂（24：23；啟4：4；7：11；14：3）。

        接著以賽亞轉向餘留的公義之民，因上帝的能力、主權及對人類的眷顧，他們要尊崇祂（25章），所有在上帝權能之下的國都讚美祂。邪惡的城市已被滅，驕傲的國變為謙卑，又學會敬畏上帝，義人──也就是剛強的人（25：3），在災難中仍持守對上帝的信心，必蒙上帝的保守，在審判的時候，上帝是他們的避難所（25：4，9；26：20~21）。服事主的猶太人或外邦人，都被邀至錫安山，參加榮耀的「羔羊婚宴」，基督則是教會的新郎（啟19：7~9）。

        彌賽亞統治全地時，祂將除去靈裡眼瞎和靈裡沒有生命的（林前15：54；提後1：9~10），祂是一位謙卑的慈父，擦乾祂子民的眼淚，除去他們的羞恥（啟7：13~17；21：4），將他們高舉，但不信主的人在最後的審判中將被毀滅。

        廿六章論到彌賽亞耶穌掌權的歡樂。新耶路撒冷公義國（屬靈的以色列）的門將打開，藉耶穌基督成為公義的人將進入與上帝一同歡樂，享受上帝所賜的平安（26：2~3），這「平安」在希伯來文有「最後的平安」之意，上帝有能力統治祂的仇敵將人從仇敵手中贖回，這些完全信靠祂的人要得享平安（26：4~6）；所有正直的人也能享有平安，因他們所做的事都是上帝成就的（26：12）。被上帝贖回的人，承認過去支配他們的主是偶像和慾望，但在他們回轉向上帝時，這些都消失被遺忘，如今他們只服事主，呼喊主名（26：13~14），因耶穌的名大有能力。以賽亞又看見上帝國度的擴張，外邦信主的人也得到祝福，上帝揀選以色列人做為外邦人的光，使外邦人能認識上帝並服事祂；但以賽亞也承認以色列人沒有盡到責任，以致疼痛所生產出來的，像風一樣流逝（26：17~18），以色列人雖然失敗，上帝救贖外邦人的計畫，仍然藉著耶穌完成，死了的人也是藉耶穌得以復活；以賽亞在此的記載，是舊約中有關信徒身體復活的清楚預言（26：19；但12：2；帖前4：16）。

感謝主，您是實際信心的實行者，求讓我們的心思意念安定在您，您的平安和喜樂必賜下，幫助我們將白白得來的福音，傳給其他的人。奉主耶穌聖名，阿們！

English

        The judgments of the Lord that have been proclaimed upon the particular nations, cities, and peoples that neighbour Israel (chapters 13-23) now expand to envelop the whole world (chapters 24-27). Many of these prophecies of Isaiah are to be understood eschatologi-cally, finding ultimate fulfillment at the time of the final divine judgment upon the earth. The reasons for the wrath of God upon the earth are: (1) the people transgressed the Law of God - going far beyond the limits God had set; (2) they twisted and corrupted God's ordinances which are to govern society; and (3) they broke the everlasting covenant, likely referring to the Noahian covenant which God had made with all mankind. This covenant guarded the sanctity of human life (Gen. 9:1-17; note verses 5 and 6) and recognized the Lord God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who is to be respected and obeyed. The people, however, were haughty and did not humble themselves and fear the Lord. They did not fulfill their responsibility in having dominion over the earth; rather, they defiled the ground with their iniquity and the shedding of innocent blood (24:4-5; cf. Gen. 9:5-6; Num. 35:33-34; Ps. 106:38; Lev. 18:24-26).

        During this period of tribulation, the judgment of God will come upon all the earth's inhabitants, regardless of class, rank, or condition (24:2). The things in which the sinful people take pleasure will be taken from them, and strong drink will be consumed out of despair in an attempt to forget their horrible afflictions and distress (24:7-11). For the sinner, there will be no escaping the wrath of God (24:17-18), and the population of the earth will be greatly depleted (24:3), likely caused by violent earthquakes (24:18b). The Lord will imprison the satanic and wicked earthly forces to await the final judgment (24:21; comp. Rev. 20:1-10). The end result will be the destruction of the majority and the deliverance and salvation of only a righteous remnant (24:3, 6, 13).

        After going through much persecution from the "treacherous dealers" (24:16b), the faithful remnant will rejoice at the Lord's intervention upon the earth, and from the east to the west (the meaning of verse 15) and all over the earth they will sing praises to God and glorify Him (24:14-16a). The glorious Light that radiates from the Messiah King Jesus when He reigns in the New Jerusalem will outshine the sun and moon, and His elders will bask in His presence, singing a new song and glorifying Him (24:23; Rev. 4:4; 7:11; 14:3).

        In continuation, Isaiah gives expression to the adoration that the righteous remnant will give to the Lord for His powerful intervention, sovereignty, and providence in the affairs of mankind (chapter 25). The Lord is extolled for bringing all nations under His authority. The wicked cities of mankind have been destroyed and proud nations have been humbled and taught to fear the Lord. The righteous remnant, the "strong people" (25:3) who remained faithful to the Lord during the times of tribulation, have been protected by Him as a refuge in the storm of the terrible judgments He brought upon the earth (25:4, 9; 26:20-21). To celebrate the victory of the Lord, "all people" who serve Jesus, be they Jew or Gentile, will be invited to Mount Zion (the New Jerusalem) for a glorious feast. Isaiah may have envisioned the "marriage supper of the Lamb" for the Bride of Christ, the Church (Rev. 19:7-9).

        As the Messiah begins to reign, He will swallow up the veil of spiritual blindness and death which hangs over the earth (cf. 1 Cor. 15:54; 2 Tim. 1:9-10). Graciously condescending as a loving Father, He will wipe away the tears of His people and take away their shame (cf. Rev. 7:13-17; 21:4). They will be lifted up, but the unbelieving world ("Moab") will be destroyed in the final judgment.

        Chapter 26 describes further the joyous reign of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus. The gates of the New Jerusalem will be opened so that "the righteous nation" (spiritual Israel), those clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, may enter and enjoy the Lord's "perfect peace" (26:2-3), literally "peace peace" (Hebrew — shalom shalom). This means the ultimate peace that is available for the redeemed of the Lord who trust fully in Him and who, with the strength of the Lord, have conquered their foes together with Him (26:4-6). The upright are quick to acknowledge that all they have done and their salvation is the result of His work in them (26:12). They confess that in the past "other masters" (idols, lusts) have had dominion over them, but they are gone and forgotten, since they now serve only the Lord and mention His Name (26:13-14). That Name is Jesus, for there is power in the Name of Jesus!
Isaiah foresees that the Lord Himself has "increased the nation", and "expanded all the borders", which no doubt refers to the inclusion of believing Gentiles into the blessings of the true Israel through the Lord Jesus. God had chosen the people of Israel to be a light to the Gentiles, that they might come to know and serve Him. But Isaiah confesses that they did not fulfill their duty; they gave birth to "wind" (26:17-18). Despite their failure, the Lord's plan of redemption for the Gentiles was accomplished through Jesus. Also through Jesus, "Your dead shall live". Here Isaiah gives the most explicit Old Testament prediction of the bodily resurrection of believers (26:19; cf. Dan. 12:2; 1 Thess. 4:16).

        Thank 'You, Lord, for the realistic optimism of faith in 'You. Grant that our minds will be stayed on You. Your peace and joy is ours. Help us to give this away constantly to others.