Isaiah 25:6–8

There is no difficulty about what "this mountain" means. The only mountain mentioned in the context is Mount Zion. The previous chapter deals with the terrible judgments that will lay the earth waste.

It is a time of blessing never known before. And it is not limited to a certain number called out from the world, as it is now. "This mountain" refers to the land of Palestine, because for the whole earth it will be the place where Jehovah will be exalted. Understand this in a moral sense, not a physical one.

"Wines on the lees" are wines left undisturbed on their sediment to mature.

That rich old wine is figuratively referred to in Isa. 25:6, they admit, as many accurate versions have done.

The day of earthly joy is coming, and it will extend to "all peoples," for the word there is in the plural. Yet the centre of it will be "this mountain." That is mount Zion, named in the last verse of the previous chapter. No doubt this points to Jerusalem. But it is named in a way that stresses one thing: God gives the blessing as an act of mercy, not as a reward earned.

But do not suppose that judgment on the nations, and the moral effect of God stepping in this way, are the only ways restored Israel will help bring the world under the rule of Jehovah. Other passages foretell that Israel will exercise a kinder, more generous influence. That influence will fill the whole world with blessing.

The Spirit of God refers here to resurrection. So does the apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15:54, where he applies the opening words of verse 8. The resurrection happens at the same time as the deliverance of Israel. That deliverance will itself be "life from the dead" for the world (Rom. 11:15). So the first open blow struck at death will be at this very time. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. When He comes with His risen saints, He will receive His ancient people. He will swallow up the covering that is spread over all the nations. For there is no deliverance accomplished in the earth up to that time. It is when His reign over the earth is to begin, not when it ends.

When today the veil is lifted from a sinner's eyes, and he discovers his Saviour, it is the gracious work of the Spirit of God. Today it is an individual matter. In that day it will be on a world-wide scale.

Isaiah 25-27 close the second section of Book I. They bring us to joyful celebration: the feast of rich food, of wines on the lees. It is enjoyed on the mount of royal grace (Isa. 25:6), not on the fiery mount of law-giving. The praise is full! The song is sweet! The worship is true!

True believers know this royal mount in its gracious meaning already. As "risen with Christ" they sit at the feast. "He will swallow up death in victory" (v. 8) confirms this, for the Holy Spirit takes up these words and uses them in 1 Corinthians 15:54. We can say even now, in the words of verse 57, "thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"

"This mountain" is said of the land of Palestine, because it will be to the whole earth the spot where Jehovah will be exalted. Of course this is to be understood morally, not physically. The Lord will destroy the darkness that is now over the face of all nations, and "the veil that is spread over all nations."

The day of earthly joy is coming, and it will extend to "all peoples," for the word there is in the plural. Yet the centre of it will be "this mountain," referring to mount Zion, mentioned in the last verse of the previous chapter. Jerusalem is doubtless meant. The way it is mentioned emphasises that the blessing comes as an act of mercy, not as the reward of merit.

The power of the adversary has cast a covering, or a veil, over all the peoples, and it will be completely removed. The Apostle Paul uses a similar figure in 2 Corinthians 3 and 4, only applying it more particularly to Israel, based on the veil that Moses wore. Yet he makes it more general in chapter 4. There he said that he put no veil on the Gospel he preached, and that any veil that existed had its seat in those who were lost. When today the veil is lifted from a sinner's eyes, and he discovers his Saviour, it is the gracious work of the Spirit of God. Today it is an individual matter. In that day it will be on a world-wide scale.

Someone may ask, "Will not the world then be filled with the knowledge of the Lord by the gospel of grace?" No. The gospel of the kingdom will indeed be preached among all nations, but then the end will come... But will the world not be filled with the knowledge of the Lord? Certainly. But how? By the gospel of grace? Not at all. Three passages of Scripture mention this subject, and none of them speak of grace; they all speak of judgment. Isaiah 26:9-10 states plainly that the inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness when the judgments of God are in the earth. Though favour is shown to the wicked, "they will not learn righteousness." Isaiah 25:7-9 shows the same. At the time when the veil that is spread over all nations is removed, the resurrection has taken place, and the Jewish people is restored in blessing.

As to the last point — death swallowed up in victory — Paul is the one who applies it that way in 1 Corinthians 15. He declares it is accomplished in the resurrection of the saints. Clearly it does not extend to the wicked. We have only to ask whether Isaiah 25 refers to blessing for men on the earth... What is destroying the veil that is over the nations? Is it not bringing the Gentiles into the full light of blessing?

And when Israel is turned to the Lord in this way, what will it be to the world but life from the dead? The covering that is now cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations, shall then be destroyed also (Isa. 25:7). For God's salvation, God's burning lamp, shall be "a light for revelation to the Gentiles," as well as "for glory to your people Israel."

Speaking of the time "when the LORD of hosts shall reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders gloriously," it is said that "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces." The time at which this prophecy in Revelation receives its fulfilment is neither during the Church period, nor in the eternal state; and the place is not in heaven. It is a prophecy about people on the earth. It describes that blessed age when Christ, having judged His enemies, will reign in righteousness and peace over the nations of the world.

For us, Isaiah 25:8 will come true when we are changed in body to a state of immortality and incorruptibility. The Old Testament has in view the victorious resurrection power of God exercised on earth. Our Scripture brings to light a greater fulness of meaning. That meaning lay asleep in the verse until the Gospel day came. When the saints reach the image of the heavenly, death will be swallowed up in a victory that none can deny.

The Spirit of God refers here to resurrection: so the apostle, in 1 Corinthians 15:54, applies the beginning of verse 8. The resurrection coincides with the deliverance of Israel, which itself will be "life from the dead" for the world (Rom. 11:15). So the first open stroke at death will come at this very time. Jesus is the resurrection and the life. When He comes with His risen saints, He will receive His ancient people, and will swallow up the covering that is spread over all the nations. For there is no deliverance worked in the earth up to that time. It is when His reign over the earth is to begin, not when it ends.

"He will swallow up death in victory, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces." That could not be unless the power of death had been broken. It has been broken, thank God, for Jesus Christ is the First-begotten from the dead.

There is a moment coming when tears will all be gone. Three times in Scripture we are told that God will wipe away all tears; Isaiah 25:8; Revelation 7:17; Revelation 21:4. Two references would have been enough testimony to the fact. But we have the Holy Spirit's complete testimony: the day is coming when God Himself will remove all tears, and their cause will be gone for ever. Every true tear recorded; every true tear valued by God; but every tear wiped away.

When death is removed, the tears it has brought to countless faces will be wiped away for ever. The "rebuke," or "reproach" of His people will be gone for ever too. Primarily, no doubt, His "people" here refers to the redeemed and born again Israel, who will enter the millennial age.

"The LORD has spoken." Why, we ask, does He say so here? Is it not because He foresaw that man would be unbelieving? The special mark of the LORD's voice is here. He knows the evil heart of unbelief well, and all the delusions of wise and unwise, deceiving and being deceived. He knew what Christendom would say when reading of judgements foretold: they were for the Jews. Of blessings, it would say: these are for themselves.