(1) INTRODUCTION
Isaiah 60 is prophesying “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you…” (Isaiah 60:1)
Based on Isaiah 60:1, many famous teachings say that the world is getting darker and darker, but the church is getting brighter and brighter.
Not just that, they are saying great favors, and blessings are coming to Christians.
Furthermore, they say, it is a generation for Christians to gather great wealth in this season.
In addition, they say it is the era of inverted wealth. This means the non-believers’ wealth is being transferred to Christians.
Believers are to “Arise, and shine…”
(2) CONTEXT
Because of space, I shall attach selected verses of Chapter 60 here. Nevertheless, it is good for readers to examine the whole chapter with their own bible. Scripture reading as below:-
| Isaiah 60:10-12 NIV 1 “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. (Isaiah 60:1) 5 Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; THE WEALTH ON THE SEAS will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. (Isaiah 60:5) 10 “Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and THEIR KINGS WILL SERVE YOU. Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion. 11 Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night, so that people may bring you the wealth of the nations— their kings led in triumphal procession. 12 FOR THE NATION OR KINGDOM THAT WILL NOT SERVE YOU WILL PERISH; it will be utterly ruined. (Isaiah 60:10-12) |
Wow! If the word “You or your” is referring to Believers, and Christians can claim “Arise, shine”, as to how those famous teachings suggest, then they can also claim::-
Hallelujah, praise the Lord!
Christians are so blessed.
See, see, the wealth on the seas will be brought to us.
Even the riches of the nations will come to us.
How can believers not be blessed?
If that is not enough, see, even the foreigners, not just coming to serve us but also rebuild our walls.
Oh, oh EVEN KINGS WILL COME TO SERVE US.
Hallelujah, for THOSE NATIONS AND KINGDOMS THAT DON’T SERVE US SHALL PERISH.
Praise the Lord!
Frankly, does any sound-minded Christain truly believe that wealth, nation, and kingdom come to serve him?
If not, that kingdom, nation shall perish?
(3) QUESTIONS
Thus, to put things into perspective, Christians should ask:-
– Q1) What does that refer to in Isaiah 60:1?
– Q2) And, to whom does that refer in Isaiah 60:1?
– Q3) When will that happen?
Thus, it is good to look into its context.
I don’t know Greek or Hebrew. I can’t debate with those scholars or famous preachers in Greek and Hebrew. But it is good to draw the context from a few translations. Let’s consider the Chinese bible first.
First and foremost, the words “YOU and YOUR” can be singular or plural. And Chinese language can be easily identified if it is singular or plural. That means:-
> The word “You” in the singular is 你. And “Your” is 你的
> Whilst, in the plural, it is written as 你们 (You) and 你们的 (Your).
With that in mind, as we study Isaiah 60 in the Chinese bible, we shall notice that it is written in the singular. Thus, the whole chapter is not referring to Believers (plural). God does not prophesy and tells believers to “Arise, shine” in Isaiah 60:1. Unless you are saying that you alone shall “Arise and shine”.
If that is not enough, let’s look into other translations. The GNT, ESV, and NLT give subtitles in Isaiah 60 as:-
# (GNT) The Future Glory of Jerusalem
# (ESV) The Future Glory of Israel
# (NLT) Future Glory for Jerusalem
Clearly, in the context, the “Arise, shine” is not declared to all believers. It is prophesying to Jerusalem. Again, many scholars and modern teachings might like to jump in by saying Gentile believers are the spiritual branch of Israel. Whatever the natural (Israel) experiences, it will happen to the spiritual (Gentile believers).
Well, we shall leave the discussion of the meaning of the “Natural and Spiritual” branches to a separate discussion. But the subtitles on GNT, ESV, and NLT clearly say “FUTURE”… “Future glory of Jerusalem or Israel.”
Hence, “Arise, shine” is not a NOW word. It does not say “Now Jerusalem shall arise and shine”.
If not now, when would this fully happen? Well, verses 18-20 is saying that:-
– We won’t be seeing violence and destruction of borders.
– And Jerusalem does not need the sun by day nor the brightness of the moon at night.
– Because God is Jerusalem’s eternal light. God is Jerusalem’s splendor.
– Is Jerusalem no longer experiencing violence, and destruction now?
– Does current Jerusalem need no natural sunlight now?
Obviously, destruction and violence are everywhere now!
(4) SCRIPTURE REFERENCE FOR ISAIAH 60:18-20
The scripture reference for Isaiah 60:18-20 as below:-
| (NIV) 18 No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise. (GNT) 18 The sounds of violence will be heard no more; Destruction will not shatter your country again. I will protect and defend you like a wall; You will praise me because I have saved you. |
| (NIV) 19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. (GNT) 19 “No longer will the sun be your light by day Or the moon be your light by night; I, the Lord, will be your eternal light; The light of my glory will shine on you. |
| (NIV) 20 Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. (GNT) 20 Your days of grief will come to an end. I, the Lord, will be your eternal light, More lasting than the sun and moon. |
(5) PURPOSE OF WEALTH
– Next, are those gold, incense, wealth, precious woods, fir, and cypress being gathered for either Gentile or Jewish believers?
– Is the purpose of gathering wealth from nations to bless individual believers?
No, the context is very clear. These items are to be gathered to honor the Lord and build His temple (verses 7-17).
It is good to remind again that the wealth to be gathered is not individuals. It is to honor God and build His temple in the future. The scripture reference as below:-
| Subtitle: The Future Glory of Jerusalem Isaiah 60:1-2 (GNT) 1 Arise, Jerusalem, and shine like the sun; The glory of the Lord is shining on you! 2 Other nations will be covered by darkness, But on you the light of the Lord will shine; The brightness of his presence will be with you. (Isaiah 60:1-2 GNT) Isaiah 60:7-14 7 All the sheep of Kedar and Nebaioth Will be brought to you as sacrifices And offered on the altar to please the Lord. The Lord will make his Temple more glorious than ever. 8 What are these ships that skim along like clouds, Like doves returning home? 9 They are ships coming from distant lands, Bringing God’s people home. They bring with them silver and gold To honor the name of the Lord, The holy God of Israel, Who has made all nations honor his people. 10 The Lord says to Jerusalem, “Foreigners will rebuild your walls, And their kings will serve you. In my anger I punished you, But now I will show you my favor and mercy. 13 “The wood of the pine, the juniper, and the cypress, The finest wood from the forests of Lebanon, Will be brought to rebuild you, Jerusalem, To make my Temple beautiful, To make my city glorious. 14 The descendants of those who oppressed you will come And bow low to show their respect. All who once despised you will worship at your feet. They will call you ‘The City of the Lord,’ ‘Zion, the City of Israel’s Holy God.’ (Isaiah 60:7-14 GNT) |
(6) SUMMARY
In summary, Isaiah 60:1’s “Arise, shine…”, is not referring to Christians. It does not tell believers that “As the world gets darker and darker, Christians are getting brighter and brighter. It does not say that Christians will be abundantly blessed, giving great favor, and inverted transferring of wealth from nonbelievers to gentile Christians. Indeed, the whole chapter of the prophecy is referring to the future glory of Jerusalem.
The parallel message can be found in Revelation 21:22-26
| Revelation 21:22-26 GNT 22 I did not see a temple in the city, because its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. 23 The city has NO NEED OF THE SUN OR THE MOON TO SHINE ON IT, because the GLORY OF GOD SHINES ON IT, AND THE LAMB IS ITS LAMP. 24 The peoples of the world will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their wealth into it. 25 The gates of the city will stand open all day; they will never be closed, because there will be no night there. 26 THE GREATNESS AND THE WEALTH OF THE NATIONS will be brought into the city. (GNT) |
Bear in mind that Revelation 21:22-26 is an event after the “Opening of the Book of Life and Great White Throne Judgment”. Certainly, believers are not living in that era yet.
In closing, it is very dangerous to paraphrase His truth with a single verse. God doesn’t promise great wealth shall be transferred from nonbelievers to Christians.
(7) CHINESE BIBLE REFERENCE
The scripture reference for the Chinese bible:-
| (Isaiah 60:1 CUVS) 1 兴 起 ， 发 光 ！ 因 为 你 的 光 已 经 来 到 ！ 耶 和 华 的 荣 耀 发 现 照 耀 你 。(Isaiah 60:1) Isaiah 60:5 5 那 时 ， 你 看 见 就 有 光 荣 ； 你 心 又 跳 动 又 宽 畅 ； 因 为 大 海 丰 盛 的 货 物 必 转 来 归 你 ； 列 国 的 财 宝 也 必 来 归 你 。(Isaiah 60:5) Isaiah 60:10-14 10 外 邦 人 必 建 筑 你 的 城 墙 ； 他 们 的 王 必 服 事 你 。 我 曾 发 怒 击 打 你 ， 现 今 却 施 恩 怜 恤 你 。(Isaiah 60:10) 11 你 的 城 门 必 时 常 开 放 ， 昼 夜 不 关 ； 使 人 把 列 国 的 财 物 带 来 归 你 ， 并 将 他 们 的 君 王 牵 引 而 来 。(Isaiah 60:11) 12 哪 一 邦 哪 一 国 不 事 奉 你 ， 就 必 灭 亡 ， 也 必 全 然 荒 废 。(Isaiah 60:12) 13 利 巴 嫩 的 荣 耀 ， 就 是 松 树 、 杉 树 、 黄 杨 树 ， 都 必 一 同 归 你 ， 为 要 修 饰 我 圣 所 之 地 ； 我 也 要 使 我 脚 踏 之 处 得 荣 耀 。(Isaiah 60:13) 14 素 来 苦 待 你 的 ， 他 的 子 孙 都 必 屈 身 来 就 你 ； 藐 视 你 的 ， 都 要 在 你 脚 下 跪 拜 。 他 们 要 称 你 为 耶 和 华 的 城 ， 为 以 色 列 圣 者 的 锡 安 。(CUVS) |
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