The Bible is full of imagery and rich with metaphor. The biblical writers, inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and led by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21) used familiar, everyday objects to symbolize spiritual truth. Symbols are quite common in the poetic and prophetic portions of the Bible and much of the book of Isaiah is written this way. By its very nature, poetry relies heavily on figurative language. Likewise, prophecy contains much figurative imagery. It is important to remember that a literal interpretation of the Bible allows for figurative language. Here’s a simple rule: if the literal meaning of a passage leads to obvious absurdity, but a figurative meaning yields clarity, then the passage is probably symbolic.
Isaiah 25:6 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will preparea feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines.
The “mountain” in verse 6 refers to the mountain of the Lord, or Mt. Zion. Scripture clearly defines Mt. Zion as the church (Psalm 132:13; Ephesians 2:14-22; Revelation 21:9-10; Hebrews 12:22-24). Zion, means the Lord’s Church, which under Christ will be assembled of all peoples. A feast was often associated with a coronation or wedding. New Testament examples are found in Matthew 22:2-14 and Luke 14:15-24. In Isaiah 25:6 the picture is of an inaugural banquet for a king, with the Lord as King and the church as the kingdom. Or of a wedding banquet, in which Christ is the groom and the church is the bride (Revelation 19:7-9 the wedding of the lamb). The rich food of this great feast is symbolic of great spiritual blessings and the aged wine indicates “the very best”. Throughout the Scriptures, the Kingdom of God is described as a place of the very best where hunger and thirst are freely satisfied.
Isaiah 25:7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations.
What would be destroyed on this mountain? “the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations.” What is the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations? The glory (or presence) of God was hidden, or veiled, from those under the Old Covenant. This is pictured by the physical veil Moses wore to hide a glory on his face which was fading away. The apostle Paul, inspired by God, spoke of this in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18.
2 Corinthians 3:7-11 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!
Here, the glory of the Law is contrasted with the glory of the life-giving Spirit. If the Law that leads to death, was glorious, how much more glorious is God’s plan to give us life through His Spirit? The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is far superior to the Old Testament system of sacrifice (Hebrews 8 and 10 discuss this more completely). In the first century, the veil of the Old Covenant was being removed as “each one turned to the Lord,” (2 Corinthians 3:16) and as the lesser glory of the Old was being replaced by the greater and excelling glory of the New; and as those under the Law were being liberated from the bondage of the “ministry of death” and transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:17-18). In other words, the darkness which covered the people under the Old Covenant was being removed from all God’s people, as each one believed and accepted the gospel.
2 Corinthians 3:13-18 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments; his face glowed from being in God’s presence (Exodus 34:29-35). Moses had to put on a veil to keep the people from being terrified by the brightness of his face; this veil kept them from seeing the radiance fade away. Moses and his veil illustrate the fading of the old covenant and the veiling of the people’s minds and understanding. The people’s minds were veiled because of their pride, hard hearts, and refusal to repent. The veil kept them from understanding the references to the Messiah in the Scriptures. When they accepted the gospel the veil was removed (2 Corinthians 3:16), giving eternal life and freedom from trying to be saved by the Law.
The veil or shroud symbolized the law and death as the law brought death (2 Corinthians 3:7). Romans 7:10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. What Isaiah seems to be saying in Isaiah 25:7 was that ignorance and blindness, along with the shroud of death would be removed forever at the coming of the Messiah.
Isaiah 25:8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.
The Old Testament includes only a few hints about resurrection and the afterlife, and this is one of the strongest. In fact this is one of the most powerful verses in all of Scripture. Death was viewed in ancient Israel as a hungry enemy that swallowed its victims. Here, Isaiah inspired by God, says death, the hungry enemy that devoured people would itself be devoured. Isaiah gives a bright promise of a future where death will be defeated and the people’s disgrace removed. The apostle Paul inspired by God, quotes from this verse in 1 Corinthians 15:54. It is also quoted from in Revelation 7:17 and Revelation 21:4.
There are several questions that come up from this verse: When is death swallowed up? When are tears wiped away? When is the people’s disgrace removed? What is the disgrace? Is Isaiah speaking of physical death and physical tears? 1 Corinthians 15:54 sort of answers our first question.
1 Corinthians 15:54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
According to this verse when is death swallowed up? When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. Of course this answer leads us to another question. When is the perishable clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality? Some believe this takes place at the second coming of Christ at which point the dead are raised imperishable and those who are still alive are then immediately changed to a “heavenly” or “spiritual” body (1 Corinthians 15:51-53; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Sincere Christians interpret these verses differently, some figuratively, others literally A purely futurist (and literal) view makes physical death and a resurrection from the grave at the end of the world the redemptive event which accomplishes “the swallowing up of death” in Isaiah 25:8 and 1 Corinthians 15:54. While some believe a “physical bodily resurrection” is associated with this event, neither 1 Corinthians 15:52 nor 1 Thessalonians 4:16 mention a “physical bodily” resurrection. These verses simply state that the dead in Christ will rise (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and the dead will be raised imperishable (1 Corinthians 15:52). A one time, end of time interpretation must also be reconciled with what Scripture says in Hebrews 9:27 which states “man is destined to die once” (1984 NIV). If some are still alive at the second coming how does that reconcile with Hebrews 9:27?
1 Corinthians 15:35-58 speaks of the resurrection body and provides the context for 1 Corinthians 15:54. Three verses stand out from this passage: 42, 44, and 50. 1 Corinthians 15:42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable. 1 Corinthians 15:44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. What do these verses tell us about the resurrection? Is it a literal physical resurrection or could it be a spiritual resurrection?
Others interpret the above passages more figuratively and some believe we clothe ourselves with the imperishable at baptism.
Romans 6:3-5 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. Regardless of which way you interpret these Scriptures, the end result is the same, eternal life with Christ.
Isaiah 25:8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.
People die every day, physical death is a harsh reality of life on this earth. When loved ones die we are sad and we shed tears. Life on this earth has plenty of sadness so in a purely physical sense this cannot have been fulfilled. But is it talking about purely physical things? Remember the mistake of the1st Century Judeans (John 18:36 “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world”.)
When Eve took of the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3 did she physically die? However, what happened to Adam and Eve as a result of their sin? They were banished from the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:23) in other words they were cast from God’s presence. That is spiritual death to be cast from the Lord’s presence forever and Jesus speaks of this with phrases such as “throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 22:13).
All of this leads to the question “where do the spirits of the dead go until Christ returns”? Some believe we go to paradise or Hades, a temporary waiting room until the second coming, others believe we rest or sleep and at the sound of the trumpet will be awakened. In Luke 16:19-31 we read of the rich man and Lazarus, some say this shows where we go when we die. In Luke 23:40-43 we read of Jesus and the thief on the cross where Jesus tells him“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise” referring to what will happen after he physically dies. In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 the apostle Paul seems to speak of some sort of life after death experience? In Philippians 1:23 Paul, inspired by God, states “I desire to depart and be with Christ”. The Scriptures support that when a person dies their soul lives on.
Most within the Lord’s church hold that when a person dies they go to be with the Lord (either in a waiting place until a second coming or straight to the Spiritual kingdom/heaven). In fact, every church of Christ funeral I have attended the speaker talks about how the deceased is now at home with the Lord. Therefore physical death is not an end simply a transition into eternity. Regardless of your interpretation the bottom line for the Christian is that we need not fear death because Christ has conquered it. One way or the other the Christian will spend eternity with the Lord.
Isaiah 25:8… The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces. Are physical pain, sickness, sorrow and tears, the things from which Christ died on the cross to redeem us?
Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. What was the suffering that he bore, and the pain that he carried?
In the passage above we see it confirmed: he was wounded for our transgressions, and crushed for our iniquities. He carried the pain and suffering for our sin. He took our guilt and our shame as if it were His own. He took it upon Himself, so that it would no longer be borne by us, and we would become His righteousness. 2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Micah 7:19 prophesied that our iniquities would be hurled into the depths of the sea. Psalm 103:12 says “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” If our sins are no more, then so is our sorrow for them. Thus, He has wiped away our tears (see Revelation 21:3-4).
Depending on how one interprets the Scriptures Isaiah 25:8 is still a future event or it was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. People still die and cry but spiritually speaking the shame and sadness for our sins has been dealt with through Christ. Scripture indicates that when we die we go to be with the Lord. In this sense, through Christ, He has wiped away our tears and death has been swallowed up.
Isaiah 25:8 he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. What is the people’s disgrace? Sin. Through Christ the people’s disgrace is removed. Only through the blood of Jesus Christ are sins removed. He is the ultimate sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) and no other sacrifice for sin is left (Hebrews 10:26).
Isaiah 25:9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him;let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” Isaiah says these things will happen “in that day”. This brings us to our last question, what does “In that day” refer to?
While “that day” was a future event to Isaiah’s original audience is it still a future event to us? The word “day” in verse 9 could refer to a literal sunrise to sunset day or to a space of time. So let’s ask some more questions. When did Christ bear our iniquities? When did Christ rise from the dead? When was the church established? These events did not all occur on the same literal day but they did all occur in the first century. Could it be that “In that day” is referring to the time of the Messiah, his life, death, burial, resurrection, and the proceeding years of the apostles and the early church when the gospel was first preached.
The blessings of the coming Messianic age are discussed in Isaiah 25:6-8. It would seem that all of these blessings became a reality or available in that day, in the first century when Christ fulfilled the law, conquered sin, and overcame death.
Christ provides all that is needed both now and forever more. The shroud of the law and death was removed, death was swallowed up, the sorrow for our sins was wiped away, the disgrace of God’s people was taken away with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They become a reality for the individual when that individual accepts the gospel and is baptized into the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).
If Isaiah 25:8 is not fulfilled in Christ then aren’t we saying that we remain under the veil of the Old Covenant? We must be prepared to say that we are still dead in our sins, and that Christ did not in fact bear our sorrows. We must say that the bondage to which Old Testament believers were subject to is still ours today. If our disgrace has not been removed then our sins have not truly been removed as far as the east is from the west, and we remain guilty and ashamed; and our sin yet separates us from the presence of God. Either God has taken away the rebuke of His people, or we are not saved!
But thank God, He has saved us! We have been justified by God through Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11 “you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ”. Romans 8:1-2 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
Isaiah 25:6-9 On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. 9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
“On this mountain” God is at rest in his love, the church and we are at rest in Him. We now take part in the great spiritual feast spoken of in Isaiah 25:6 (the Lord’s Supper?). For the Christian, death has been swallowed up forever and our disgrace has been removed along with the sorrow for those sins. When we fail to appreciate that these things have been fulfilled in our lives, and instead look for a future, alternative sensual fulfillment of these promises, we cannot experience the joy that is ours in the new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
Isaiah 25:9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.” I contend that those of us in Christ Jesus have been saved so let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation!