Isaiah 51:6Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophet contrasts two opposing ideas: God solidifies what is fragile and softens what is sturdy, demonstrating that all things are effortless for Him. The inhabitants of the earth shall perish, meaning those who dwell upon it. It seems to me that the prophet intends to address heaven with his words as well. God has the power to annihilate that which exists as mere smoke. Certainly, if it pleases Him, He can dissipate the sky like smoke, for its solidity is not inherent, but a product of the Creator's will. In His design for beauty and brilliance, He created it to be gentle and light, sustaining it by His might. If, He says, I can destroy the heavens, how much more can I bring ruin to mankind—your adversaries—whenever I choose. Thus, to admonish those who are wicked, He concludes with these words: Listen to Me, you who understand truth.

In doing so, they strayed far from true beliefs and from Him who, by nature, is the God of all and who created all that exists from nothing. He highlights the distinct differences between the Creator and His creations and instructs them to raise their gaze to the heavens; to observe the sky and everything within it, and then to look down again to the earth, seeing the creatures that inhabit it and all that it encompasses. If they genuinely respect the Creator, their thoughts should not fixate on the creations but should recognize the power of the Master through the grandeur of His works, appreciating the excellent and indescribable glory of the Creator of all.

We have come to understand the knowledge of God through the sacred Scriptures and the brilliance of His creations. Consequently, Paul expresses ridicule towards the wise of Hellenism who, while priding themselves on wisdom, possess hearts filled with folly. He indicates that they worshipped and served creations rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25). He also admonishes others for their tendency to return to the feeble and insignificant elements of the world, wishing to serve them unjustly (Gal. 4:9). The beauty of creation should lead the wise towards the truth about God, not into error, as he states: "For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made..." (Romans 1:20). Therefore, when you witness the heavens that appear like smoke, understand that what has been created will ultimately face destruction; for everything with a beginning will, one day, return to nonexistence. The earth, too, will face annihilation, leading to the demise of its inhabitants. The death of elements, according to the order of creation, is described here as their transfiguration to something better, as Paul explains: "that creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God" (Romans 8:21).

How will this liberation occur? This will be clarified by a follower of Christ who states, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare" (2 Peter 3:10). However, we anticipate a new heaven and a new earth, as promised (2 Peter 3:13). Thus, the renewal of creation will resemble a resurrection from the dead, akin to the transformation of human bodies. Nevertheless, even as the elements face destruction, He declares, "my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail." Salvation and righteousness are often referred to as the Son; and in referring to Him as His own, He demonstrates the bond He has with Him, as the Son is intrinsically from Him and in Him. He proclaims that He will endure eternally and will never be wanting. With these statements, He illustrates the vast gulf between the Creator and the creation. The creation is fleeting, having been drawn from nonexistence into being, and is not exempt from decay. Conversely, the Creator of all, the Divine Artisan, the Word through whom all things come into being and in whom all things exist, endures forever and shall never lack. This truth is also conveyed by the inspired Psalmist, who states, "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing, you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end" (Psalms 101:26-27).

From this, it is evident that the end of the heavens does not signify their complete destruction but rather a transformation for a greater good. The promise is given that ‘there shall be a new heaven and a new earth, which I will create to dwell in My sight.’ It is written concerning the saints, ‘We shall all die, but we shall not all be transformed’ (1 Cor. 15), and the titles of several Psalms refer to those who are transformed. Thus, how much more should we acknowledge this regarding the heavens, the sun, and the stars, especially when the moon receives light from the sun, and during this time, the sun will shine more brilliantly? Therefore, all of creation groans and suffers until now, longing for the revealing of the children of God for a transformation into glory (Rom. 8). Not only will the immortal souls of humanity be transformed, but also their bodies will take on a glorious nature. It is fitting for this perishable body to be clothed with the imperishable, and for this mortal form to be clothed with immortality (1 Cor. 15:53). When the heavens and the earth, along with all that exists under their expanse, experience death, it will not be for their total destruction but for the vanishing of the former nothingness and the renewal into future glory, when the righteous will shine like the sun (Matthew 13:43), and after the old and worn, all things will be made new.

Some interpret perdition and devastation as synonymous with destruction and death, in light of the epistle from the council: the present heavens and earth are consumed by fire (2 Pet. 3:7), and also: the elements are burned up and dissolved (v. 10). This view is also held by worldly philosophers who assert that everything we see will be destroyed by fire. Thus, the apostle states, ‘The form of this world is passing away, not in regard to what is visible but the unseen; for the visible is temporary, but the unseen is eternal’ (1 Cor. 7:31; 2 Cor. 4:18). The Apostle John similarly declares, ‘the world is passing away along with its desires’ (1 John 2:17). The Hebrew text suggests that the heavens will vanish like smoke, or, according to Aquila and Symmachus, will diminish to destruction, resembling salt that decomposes and evaporates. The Seventy’s translation is puzzling, stating that the sky is confirmed as smoke; if this firmness is considered strength, how can something solid be likened to the transient nature of smoke? Can we confess that the strength and support of the heavens compares to the emptiness of wind and the decay of smoke, as stated in Ecclesiastes: vanity of vanities, all is vanity (Ecclesiastes 1:2)? It should also be noted that as heaven and earth fade and deteriorate, their inhabitants will likewise perish; however, we understand that souls are eternal and bodies will be resurrected. Therefore, it is clear that heaven and earth are not entirely destroyed or abolished but are transformed for a better existence.

Additionally, David addresses their misunderstanding, proclaiming that even when the imagery of this world fades, God remains, along with His faithful ones, as articulated in the one hundred and first psalm: “In the beginning Thou, O Lord, didst lay the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. They shall perish, but Thou wilt endure; all of them will wear out like a garment; as a covering, You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end. The children of Your servants shall dwell secure, and their offspring shall be established forever” (Psalm 101:25-28). This clearly illustrates what is transient and who remains eternal—God alongside His servants. In a similar vein, Isaiah encourages: “Lift up your eyes to heaven and look at the earth below; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like manner; but My salvation will last forever, and My righteousness will never fail” (Is 51:6, LXX).