Chapter 60
This verse:
2 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. [Isa 60:2 ESV]
This could be a reference to the Tribulation that precedes the Millennial, to the testing of the Jews during that time under the direct attack of Satan. Thick darkness is an interesting phrase. Up to this point in the Bible it has been associated with God, as in these verses:
22 "These words the LORD spoke to all your assembly at the mountain out of the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and he added no more. And he wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me. [Deu 5:22 ESV]
10 He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. [2Sa 22:10 ESV]
12 Then Solomon said, "The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness. [1Ki 8:12 ESV]
Then there are a few where thick darkness is not about God:
22 the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness." [Job 10:22 ESV]
22 And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness. [Isa 8:22 ESV]. Job and Isaiah both seem to use the phrase as a negative, oppressive kind of thing. Interesting that they are so different.
2024 - Today, this seems more like a reference to the sixth seal: 12 When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, [Rev 6:12 ESV]. This is thick darkness, I believe it is the end of the church age, of the New Covenant, and Israel will once again be at the center of God's will. They will turn back to him after this, they will be protected through the time of His wrath, through the vengeance of God on the whole earth. "But the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you...". Surely this is about the protection of the Jews through wrath. The rest of the chapter surely seems to bear this out.
Then it continues with "Arise, shine, for your light has come..." This is about the Millennial I believe. Those who still look to God are being encouraged by this vision of the future Israel.
In vs 4 we have another reference to a great homecoming - of Jews young and old, with their children, returning to Israel.
vs 7b:
7 ...they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will beautify my beautiful house. [Isa 60:7 ESV]
Surely this refers to a reconstructed Temple and to reinstatement of the sacrificial system. Maybe just for peace offerings and thank offerings. I don't see that sin offerings will need to be made at all at that time. Perhaps this is referring to the early days of the Tribulation, after Anti-Christ restores the Temple.
2021 - Vss 1-9 speak of the return of the diaspora to Israel in the Millennial and to the preeminence of Israel among the nations during that time.
2021 - Vss 10 and following are about other nations bringing their wealth to Israel. Now this is during the Millennial reign. So if, at the sheep and goat judgment, all those who took the mark were sent to hell, and those who didn't rule with Christ, then who are these people bringing wealth to Israel? Could there be a third group? People and nations so remote from the goings on in the Middle East that they neither take the mark, nor are they saved? Seems unlikely as the destruction will be worldwide...but will the reach of the Man of Lawlessness be that way? You just have to wonder who these people are. At the sheep and goat judgment, the lost went away. There are only saved left. So who will be around for vs 12 below to even be necessary? Even if many of the sheep are Gentile and from far away, they are not at all likely to refuse to serve the one that saved them from hell when those with the mark were sent away, right? This whole chapter says I have that wrong, about who will be left. Need to get this into better shape.
10 Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. [Isa 60:10 ESV]
Perhaps God's wrath following the crucifixion is what is referred to here. The Jews have not really been a "power" in the world since that time. They have not even been a nation for much of it, and since 1948, they struggle every day just to remain a nation. But God's favor will return at the Millennial at least. Perhaps in the time leading up to Trib they will begin to come home and to be a source of guidance to the world. They certainly are not right now.
12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste. [Isa 60:12 ESV]
How can this promise be made to apply to the church??? No. The promises to Abraham will be fulfilled in Abraham's descendants. NOT in the church.
13 The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. [Isa 60:13 ESV]
Another implication of the rebuilding of the Temple.
2021 - All the way through 18 we are still talking about the Millennial, and the way things will be.
This verse I think refers to the New Jerusalem, even beyond the Millennial reign. Revelation refers to this also, where sun and moon are not needed because there is no night, and God gives all the light that is needed.
19 The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. [Isa 60:19 ESV]
Maybe the whole chapter is beyond Tribulation. Isaiah has had a number of chapters that seem clearly to be after the Tribulation and during the Millennial reign.
2023 - In a hurry before a trip, but it seems to me that we really need to know the "when" of this chapter. If we say Millennial, then we have to say that the Kings bringing tribute are saved but not Israel. They remained after the sheep and goat, and they know enough to bring tribute. But...if we say this...who is vs 12 about? Are these nations going to be present, or going to arise, during the Millennial? Will the Jews live long lives and non-Jews die as usual such that there is frequent turnover of leadership in the rest of the world, and some of those leaders revolt? Is this why Jesus will rule with a rod of iron? He wouldn't need that if only the saved were left. So we must conclude that if this is Millennial, then a whole new "age" of lost people, the lost of the thousand years, will be there. How can you be saved during the Millennial? It won't be by faith, because faith has become sight? Surely it will still be with the heart, but the Temple will also be back. A grateful heart perhaps? And in such a situation, as always, some will not be grateful. So not all will be saved during the Millennial. Indeed, given that last battle, perhaps very few non-Jews will be saved.