1. Isaiah 61:1-2. Why did Jesus only quote the first verse, and a little of the second, when He was speaking in Nazareth on that fateful morning?

He knew something that Bible scholars to this day haven’t figured out: The coming of the Lord was to be in two phases, a first and second appearance. During His first appearance He would accomplish the items delineated in the first words of the chapter. He brought – and still brings – good news to afflicted people. He binds up the broken-hearted. He proclaims liberty to the captives. He gives freedom to prisoners of lust and drugs and self. He proclaims the day of the Lord, the day of salvation.

But He is not yet dealing with vengeance. He has not yet planted Israel, the true Israel, in such a way that He is glorified in all the earth. And as you read through the rest of the chapter and the chapters following… He hasn’t done any of those things either.

There is a sense of “Kingdom now” in that Kingdom people of our day experience glimpses of Who He is and what He can do. But this is not the promised Kingdom, that is, the Kingdom promised to Israel, and all the church for that matter. That Kingdom is still future, and demands the coming again of Jesus to initiate it.

2. Isaiah 65:20ff. Is the Millennium the same as “eternity”?

The Millennium is the gateway to eternity. Much that is familiar will still be here. Even death will still be permitted, albeit after a very long and fruitful life. Perfect justice and peace will reign, but men will still need to have their lives controlled by God’s rule. It is at the end of the reign of Jesus that He gives everything over to the Father, and eternity begins, death is destroyed, and life takes on a meaning that we cannot imagine at this time. Precious little is told us in the Scriptures about “eternity”. But we will have 1,000 years to prepare for it!

3. Isaiah 66:3. Why is the Lord negating animal and grain sacrifices here? Had he not ordained such for his people Israel? Here He seems to be saying such sacrifices are sinful.

The people of Israel were leading evil lives, then doing their “religious” duties. They had a surface religion but nothing in their heart. God has always disdained such hypocrisy. All outward forms of religion that are not expressions of inward piety will be rejected.

4. Isaiah 66:7-9. What is it that shall be born instantly, and when shall this happen?

Isaiah seems to be speaking of the return of Christ, His judgment, and His ingathering of His people, to form the Kingdom long foretold and awaited. Involved in all of this is the forming of the remnant Israel (144,000, I believe) into a people that will rule the earth.

5. Isaiah 66:24. As a part of the regular trip to the Holy Land in the Kingdom era, what ghastly stop will be made?