Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles 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 incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord.
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, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
For the 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 tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
The sons also 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 the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord 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, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord 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 the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.
Isaiah 60 offers a breathtaking vision of Israel's future glory and its pivotal role in God's millennial kingdom. This chapter, rich in imagery and prophetic promise, paints a picture of unparalleled joy, blessing, and light radiating from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. It's a passage that speaks of both national restoration and global transformation.
The Dawning of a New Era (Isaiah 60:1-3)
The prophecy begins with a powerful call to awakening: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you" (Isaiah 60:1). This is not merely an invitation, but a declaration of God's redeeming power and His unwavering covenant of blessing upon Israel. As the world capital and centerpiece of Christ's reign during the millennium, Israel will experience unending joy and blessing.
The nation will become a beacon of light to all nations, not through its own merit, but because the glory of the LORD will shine both within it and radiate outward to the furthest corners of the earth (Isaiah 60:1). This divine light will overcome the pervasive spiritual darkness that has enveloped the world since the fall, a darkness that has held countless millions captive (Isaiah 60:2). In the millennial kingdom, however, entire nations and their kings will be drawn to Israel, eager to learn the truth about God and His salvation (Isaiah 60:3). This influx of people will be crucial, as many will be born during this thousand-year earthly paradise and will need to be taught about Christ.
The Gathering of the Exiles (Isaiah 60:4)
Isaiah 60 also speaks of the prophesied ingathering of Israel. This is a recurring theme in Isaiah, vividly portraying the return of Israel's sons and daughters from distant lands (see also Isaiah 49:22; 60:9). While many Jews have returned to Israel in recent times from various countries, the majority do not yet recognize Jesus as their Messiah. Therefore, many Bible scholars believe that this modern return does not fully align with the prophecies of Israel's complete regathering. Passages like Isaiah 60 likely point to the future reign of Christ on earth when the Jewish people will embrace Him as their Messiah.
Wealth and Worship (Isaiah 60:5-14)
This golden age will be characterized by the wealth of the nations flowing into Israel (Isaiah 60:5). They will bring gold to adorn Jerusalem and enrich the nation, and more importantly, they will proclaim the praises of the LORD (Isaiah 60:6). The gates of Jerusalem will remain perpetually open, never to be shut, allowing the continuous influx of the nations' wealth and their kings who will come to offer gifts and pay homage to Christ (Isaiah 60:11). While Revelation 20:7-9 reveals that Satan will briefly deceive and lead Gentile nations in a rebellion at the end of the millennial age, this uprising will be swiftly crushed, and the rebels annihilated (Isaiah 60:12).
Eternal Pride and Righteous Reign (Isaiah 60:15-22)
With the return of Christ, Israel will become an object of eternal pride, a source of joy for all generations, with Jerusalem as its crowning jewel (Isaiah 60:15). God's promise to "appoint peace as your officials and prosperity as your rulers" (Isaiah 60:17) signals the end of centuries of war and destruction against Israel and Jerusalem. The light of God's presence, embodied in Jesus the Messiah, will cause Israel to shine as a welcoming beacon to the world. All of its people will be righteous during the millennial age, and Israel will finally fulfill its destiny as a witness to the nations, guiding them to the true God (Isaiah 60:21). The LORD Himself guarantees the fulfillment of this prophecy, promising to accomplish it swiftly in His time (Isaiah 60:22).
Isaiah 60 is not just a prophecy of future events; it is a testament to God's unwavering love for Israel and His ultimate plan for the redemption of all nations. It is a call to hope, a reminder of God's faithfulness, and a glimpse into the glorious future that awaits those who trust in Him.
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles 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 incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord.
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, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee.
Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
For the 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 tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
The sons also 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 the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the Lord 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, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.
The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord 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 the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.
Isaiah 60 offers a breathtaking vision of Israel's future glory and its pivotal role in God's millennial kingdom. This chapter, rich in imagery and prophetic promise, paints a picture of unparalleled joy, blessing, and light radiating from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. It's a passage that speaks of both national restoration and global transformation.
The Dawning of a New Era (Isaiah 60:1-3)
The prophecy begins with a powerful call to awakening: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you" (Isaiah 60:1). This is not merely an invitation, but a declaration of God's redeeming power and His unwavering covenant of blessing upon Israel. As the world capital and centerpiece of Christ's reign during the millennium, Israel will experience unending joy and blessing.
The nation will become a beacon of light to all nations, not through its own merit, but because the glory of the LORD will shine both within it and radiate outward to the furthest corners of the earth (Isaiah 60:1). This divine light will overcome the pervasive spiritual darkness that has enveloped the world since the fall, a darkness that has held countless millions captive (Isaiah 60:2). In the millennial kingdom, however, entire nations and their kings will be drawn to Israel, eager to learn the truth about God and His salvation (Isaiah 60:3). This influx of people will be crucial, as many will be born during this thousand-year earthly paradise and will need to be taught about Christ.
The Gathering of the Exiles (Isaiah 60:4)
Isaiah 60 also speaks of the prophesied ingathering of Israel. This is a recurring theme in Isaiah, vividly portraying the return of Israel's sons and daughters from distant lands (see also Isaiah 49:22; 60:9). While many Jews have returned to Israel in recent times from various countries, the majority do not yet recognize Jesus as their Messiah. Therefore, many Bible scholars believe that this modern return does not fully align with the prophecies of Israel's complete regathering. Passages like Isaiah 60 likely point to the future reign of Christ on earth when the Jewish people will embrace Him as their Messiah.
Wealth and Worship (Isaiah 60:5-14)
This golden age will be characterized by the wealth of the nations flowing into Israel (Isaiah 60:5). They will bring gold to adorn Jerusalem and enrich the nation, and more importantly, they will proclaim the praises of the LORD (Isaiah 60:6). The gates of Jerusalem will remain perpetually open, never to be shut, allowing the continuous influx of the nations' wealth and their kings who will come to offer gifts and pay homage to Christ (Isaiah 60:11). While Revelation 20:7-9 reveals that Satan will briefly deceive and lead Gentile nations in a rebellion at the end of the millennial age, this uprising will be swiftly crushed, and the rebels annihilated (Isaiah 60:12).
Eternal Pride and Righteous Reign (Isaiah 60:15-22)
With the return of Christ, Israel will become an object of eternal pride, a source of joy for all generations, with Jerusalem as its crowning jewel (Isaiah 60:15). God's promise to "appoint peace as your officials and prosperity as your rulers" (Isaiah 60:17) signals the end of centuries of war and destruction against Israel and Jerusalem. The light of God's presence, embodied in Jesus the Messiah, will cause Israel to shine as a welcoming beacon to the world. All of its people will be righteous during the millennial age, and Israel will finally fulfill its destiny as a witness to the nations, guiding them to the true God (Isaiah 60:21). The LORD Himself guarantees the fulfillment of this prophecy, promising to accomplish it swiftly in His time (Isaiah 60:22).
Isaiah 60 is not just a prophecy of future events; it is a testament to God's unwavering love for Israel and His ultimate plan for the redemption of all nations. It is a call to hope, a reminder of God's faithfulness, and a glimpse into the glorious future that awaits those who trust in Him.