The Prophet and His Day: Isaiah 1-39 - Free Bible Commentary

9They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain,For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORDAs the waters cover the sea.11:6-9 This is a picture of the Messianic era, described in terms of Genesis 1 and used in Revelation 22.Nature has been affected by mankind’s sin, Genesis 3. It will also be affected by the Messiah’s salvation(cf. Rom. 8:19-25). Notice the emphasis again on the small child of the new age.The fellowship between humans and animals reflects the Garden of Eden. Humans have so much incommon with the animals that occupy the surface of this planet. They were also created for fellowshipwith God (cf. Job 38:39; 40:34) and us! The Bible starts with God, humans, and animals in a gardensetting (Genesis 1-2) and it concludes with God, humans, and with these passages in Isaiah, animals (cf.Isa. 65:15; Hosea 2:18; Revelation 21-22). I personally do not think our pets will be in heaven, but I dothink animals will be a part of eternity! They add a wonderful richness to life. They only became foodand coverings after the Fall!Another point about the inherent ambiguity involved in texts associated with the eschaton is the ageof the persons mentioned. Little children (v. 6) and infants (v. 7) implies that physical birth continues.This assumes an earthly setting totally analogous to current life (cf. Matt. 24:38; Luke 17:27). However,Jesus asserts that there will be no sexual activity in the new age (cf. Matt. 22:29-30). Will humans in theeschaton be all different ages? Will they grow old? These are questions that have caused commentatorsto postulate a limited earthly period of restored righteousness (i.e., a millennium) and a future idealizedstate. Some have even postulated a split between a group in heaven and a group on earth. I prefer asingle, visible Second Coming and an immediate idealized fellowship with God. If this is true, much ofthe OT and NT has to be viewed as accommodation related to the spiritual Kingdom of God. Please seemy commentaries on Revelation, Daniel, Zechariah online free at www.freebiblecommentary.org.This new day of universal peace is described in idealistic, area-wide, inclusivistic terms. When isthis new age to manifest itself?1. return from exile under Zerubbabel and Joshua (i.e., Ezra and Nehemiah)2. the Maccabean period (interbiblical)3. the inauguration of the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ lifetime (Gospels)4. a millennial period (Rev. 20:1-10 only)5. an eternal kingdom (cf. Dan. 7:14)Each is viewed as a new opportunity, but with problems (#1-4). This is where different systematic(denominational) theologies take the ambiguous references and turn them into a “theological grid”through which to view all Scripture. The promises are sure! But the time frame and specifics are not.One central question which deals with this issue is “how literal is the restoration of an earthlygarden (i.e., Eden) to be taken (Genesis 1-3 and Revelation 21-22)”? Is (1) this planet the focus; (2) thekosmos the focus; or (3) a spiritual realm beyond time-space, possibly another dimension of reality (cf.John 4:21-24; 18:36)?11:6NASB, NKJV,NRSV “and the fatling”REV, REB “will feed together”NJB “fat-stock beast”The LXX and Peshitta add “ox” and also add the VERB “feed together.” The MT has “fatling,” butno VERB. With an emendation “and the fatling” (!*9/&) can be changed to “will be fed” (&9/*). TheUBS Hebrew Text Project gives the VERB a “C” rating (considerable doubt). With the parallelism of thefirst two and fourth lines of poetry having VERBS, one would expect the third line to have one also. TheDead Sea Scroll of Isaiah and the Septuagint have the VERB “fed.”142