Scripture Reading : Isaiah 25
Theme : God will Abolish Death Forever
This chapter describes what the world will be like when Jesus sets up His Messianic Kingdom. When He establishes His kingdom on earth, He will level the pompous pride of wicked cities, but He will be a refuge for the poor (i.e. humble and lowly) and the distressed who are persecuted, oppressed by wickedness of the world. In the second phase/stage of the Messianic Kingdom, in the new heavens and new earth, God will abolish death and sin forever in the Messianic Kingdom (Rev. 20:14). He will wipe all our tears away. This agrees with Revelation 21:4. Again, it is prophesized that Moab (modern Jordan) will be judged. It is a clear and repeated theme in the OT for God to judge Israel’s surrounding nations, like Moab, in the end times.
Praying the Scripture
- Just as a woman must go through birth pains in order to give birth to a wonderful new life, so the world must experience the pain of God’s judgment before it gives birth to a new world (Mark 13:8; Matt. 18:7). Every believer should have a strong longing for Jesus’ return and with Him, a glorious new world order. Pray that the imminent return of Jesus is seriously real to you and that you will live in reverent fear and joy to see this glorious new world.
经文：以赛亚书25
主题：神会永远除去死亡
这个篇章形容的是当耶稣建立祂弥赛亚国度时，世界将是怎样的。当祂在地上建立祂的国度时，祂会除尽邪恶城市的狂傲自大，但同时也作贫穷人（即谦卑和低微的）和困乏人的保障，因为他们被世界的邪恶逼迫，受到欺压。在弥赛亚国度的第二阶段中，就是在新天新地里，神会永远除掉死亡和罪孽（启20:14）。祂会擦干我们所有的眼泪。这与启示录21:4是一致的。这里同时又预言摩押（现今约旦）会受到审判。这是旧约一个清晰并重复性的主题：神必在末日时审判以色列周遭的国家，如摩押一样。
用经文祷告
- 如妇女必须经历产痛才能迎接一个新生命似的，世界也要经历神审判的痛苦才能看到一个新世界（可13:8；太18:7）。每一位信徒当强烈期待耶稣的归来，渴望与祂同在，盼望荣耀新世界的制度。祷告你会非常认真地看待耶稣即将到来这件事，能在虔诚的敬畏和喜乐中度日，盼这个荣耀的新世界。
