This is a fascinating prophecy of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, a proof of His deity, and an exhortation to wait for His return. “That day” in Isaiah’s prophecy refers to “the resurrection at the last day” (Joh 11:24) when Jesus Christ will return to raise the dead and forever vanquish death itself. In the previous verse (Isa 25:8), the prophet prophesied that “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces.” These statements are shown by the apostles in the New Testament to refer to the resurrection and our lives on the new earth.
1Co 15:51-54 – Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
Rev 21:1, 4 – And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea . . . 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Isaiah goes on to write, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Notice that it is our God and the LORD for whom we wait to save us from death and sin which causes it. By comparing scripture with scripture, it is clear that Jesus Christ is “our God” and “the LORD (Jehovah)” for whom we wait to save us.
Joh 5:26-29 – For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Joh 6:39 – And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
1Th 1:10 – And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Our Lord Jesus Christ delivered us from hell at His first coming when He died for our sins. He also guaranteed our future deliverance from the wrath to come in the lake of fire which the wicked will be consigned to on judgment day.
Rom 5:9-10 – Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Joh 5:24 – Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
The ransom has been paid (Mat 20:28; 1Ti 2:6) and our salvation is guaranteed―all we must do now is wait for the Lord’s return.
2Th 3:5 – And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
Jas 5:7-8 – Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
Scoffers will clamor that Christians have been waiting in vain for nearly two thousand years for the return of Christ, saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2Pe 3:4). Let the mockers mock on, for the “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night” (2Pe 3:10) when men expect Him least. Hence the reason why we need to be “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God” (2Pe 3:12) and to “look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2Pe 3:13), for “unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb 9:28).
Waiting isn’t easy. As the old saying goes, a watched pot never boils, which is why the Lord instructed us to “Occupy till I come” (Luk 19:13). When we are not idle, but are engaged in the work (whatever it may be) which God has bidden us to do, the time will pass more quickly as we patiently wait for the coming of the Lord. As we wait on the Lord, He will strengthen us to endure the tribulations of life until we finally one day hear that glorious trumpet sound when we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
Isa 40:31 – But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
Psa 27:14 – Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
