Isaiah

Lesson 3Isaiah Chapters 24-27

This week as we continue our look at Isaiah, we will study two very important Biblical precepts: the certainty of God’s final judgment on the earth, and the certainty of the resurrection of the dead.

Our study covers chapters 24 through 27 within which God proclaims that He will judge the earth, that all will be destroyed, and that the righteous shall escape the judgment to live with Him in a new heaven and earth.

Bible

From our study, we should come away with a deeper conviction about the seriousness of the lost state of this world, a deeper need to reach the lost before the coming judgment, and a deep sense of peace about our own death, judgment and resurrection as we continue to put our hope and faith in Christ our Savior.

To begin our lesson, let’s first look at the certainty of the coming judgment on the earth and what God’s word tells us about our responsibilities during this time of anticipating his coming.

Read Isaiah chapter 24:18-23, Revelation 20:7-15, 2 Peter 3:7-10, then 2 Peter 11-18 and consider the following:

  1. What does God tell us about the people, and the judgment that he will bring against them?
  2. Could the prophesy cited in Rev 20:7-15 be related to that cited in Isaiah chapter 24? What are the similarities?
  3. What does 2 Peter 3:7-10 tell us about the coming judgment?
  4. In light of this certain judgment, what are we as Christians instructed to do in 2 Peter 3:11-18?

Now read Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 26:19, Revelation 20:5-6, Acts 24:15, and 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; then answer the following:

  1. What happens to death? Who gets this victory?
  2. According to these verses, what happens to those who die?
  3. Is everyone resurrected, or just the righteous? (re-read Acts 24:15 carefully)
  4. What does 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 tell us as Christians that gives us great hope and joy when facing death?
  5. What does Revelation 20:5-6 mean when it refers to the "first resurrection"?

Again, consider what Peter tells us we should do while we wait and watch for Christ’s coming and the final judgment on the earth. Consider also the peace that comes from knowing that "God is the God of the living, not the dead" and that when our loved ones or we die, we immediately go to be with Him.

Thus, from the moment that you allowed Christ into your life you began an eternal existence with him; so you will you also live in heaven with Him, and you will return to earth to live and reign with him. Knowing all these things, and reading about the beautiful new heaven and new earth that he is preparing for us, let us live each day in joy, peace, and in celebration of the greatest gift ever given to us: eternal life and an escape from the coming final judgment on the earth.

May God richly bless you with his peace and joy as together we study His Holy Word.

Have a great week everyone.

Yours in Christ,

Wes

[2003]