Isaiah 65:17Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Before coming to faith in Him, we were justly foolish, offering songs to false deities; however, upon knowing the true God, we sing to Him and present the fruit of our lips (Hebrews 13:15), remembering our praises. If an oath needs to be confirmed, it is sworn by the true God. Unlike the idolaters who swore by heaven or other objects, those who possess faith should hastily abandon their transgressions and swear only by the Sovereign God, demonstrating His undeniable authority, for there is no one else like Him. The law of Moses also instructs us, “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve, and by his name shalt thou swear” (Deuteronomy 6:13). Consequently, it is said that they will forget their prior anguish, which pertains to the turmoil they faced when they had no knowledge of the true God and resorted to the worship of evil spirits. They made sacrifices not only of animals but even of their own children, as noted (e.g., Isaiah 48:19). Furthermore, it was a tragedy that they venerated countless deities and were compelled to honor unknown entities; naturally, some were ensnared by their ignorance, susceptible to the malice of the demons that tormented them due to their lack of divine protection. He urges them to forget this sorrow: for behold, the heavens and the earth are being made new. How so? They previously perceived the gods as residing in the earth and sky, but with the illumination from our Savior Christ, they will gain fresh understanding: they will learn that these are not gods, but rather creations of the Living One and Creator of all. In this revelation, he says, they will cease to mention the former powers; they will renounce idolatry along with the false notions they held regarding elements, demons, and misled individuals from ancient times, who had led them astray. Instead of former sorrow, he promises joy and gladness in her—'in her?' Surely in the Church of Christ. Though some interpreters suggest this pertains not to the present age but to the future, he indicates that the righteous will dwell in joy and delight, enjoying eternal spiritual pleasures when creation itself is completely transformed. Indeed, one of the holy apostles stated, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and in it the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will melt in the heat, and the earth and all that is done on it will be laid bare; but we will see a new heaven and a new earth according to His promises” (2 Pet. 3:10, 13). May those who have understanding choose whichever interpretation they prefer. It is important not to dismiss what is beneficial.

The earlier afflictions will be forgotten, not due to a loss of memory, but rather because they are replaced with good things, as it is written: on the day of good things the wicked will be forgotten. Moreover, it says, the trials of time take away sweetness; for those who suffer cannot savor past pleasures, as per the folly of Epicurus. One might argue that in the new heaven and new earth, every trace of the previous existence is wiped away, such that the very memory of past calamities does not contribute to evil.

Regarding the new heaven and the new earth, those who claim everything visible will perish refer to the testimony of the Gospel: heaven and earth will pass away, and the Apostle Paul states: the visible is temporary, but the invisible is eternal. Those who perceive the new as an improvement rather than the destruction of the elements offer this example: In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. They will perish, but You endure; all things will wear out like a garment, and like a robe, I will be changed. This demonstrates that destruction and annihilation do not imply total obliteration, but rather a transition to something better. The passage stating the moon's light shall be like the sunlight, and the sun's light shall be sevenfold does not imply the end of the former creations, but a transformation for the better.

To illustrate this, we can draw from our own experiences. When a child grows into a boy, then into a young man, and further into a husband, and eventually becomes an elder, he does not cease to exist in every stage of life. The same individual remains, though gradually he changes and is considered to have passed away from the previous stage. In this light, Paul stated, the form of this world passes away. We note that he said the form passes, not the essence. Peter likewise affirms this: A mystery hidden awaits those who yearn for it; for the heavens were created first, and the earth emerged from water, made by God's word. Thus, the world at that time was submerged and perished. The current heavens and earth are likewise concealed by that same word.

In what way this is to be understood, he later instructs: But we behold new heavens and a new earth, according to His promise. He did not say we shall see other heavens and another earth, but the former, now changed for the better. Furthermore, we can assert that those who have turned away from idolatry and abandoned their previous errors witness new heavens and a new earth, no longer regarding the elements and earthly births as deities. Now we acknowledge that the heavens and the earth are God's handiwork, while at one time we bestowed divine honor on mere servants and creatures. In this spirit, David sings: I shall behold the heavens, the work of Your fingers, not because he did not see them at that moment, but because, through the gradual growth in virtue and knowledge of what is to come, he perceives as new what he had previously perceived as old.

And what is noted at the conclusion of this testimony, which I create, is absent from the Seventy.

In springtime, new growth emerges from the earth, and similarly, on the last day, the deceased will rise from their graves in their true forms. "For the hour is coming when all who are in the graves will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who have done good will come forth to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment" (John 5:28-29). In winter, the trees and plants may appear lifeless, but spring demonstrates their reawakening. To those unaware of the resurrection, the dead may seem lost; yet our sacred faith assures us that their true life will be revealed on that final day. Throughout winter, both healthy and weak trees appear the same, but with the arrival of spring, their distinctions become clear. Likewise, in this current time and even in death, the just and the unjust may seem alike, but during the resurrection, the significant contrast between them will be revealed. In spring, strong trees and plants are adorned with vibrant leaves and colors. Similarly, at the resurrection, the bodies of the righteous will undergo transformation, becoming bright, favorable, and beautiful, in accordance with God's unwavering promise. "For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our humble body to be like His glorious body" (Phil. 3:20-21). "Beloved, we are now children of God, and it has not yet been made manifest what we shall be. But we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). "Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father" (Matt. 13:43). Just as dry trees and grasses share an unattractive and unchanged appearance both in winter and spring, the unrighteous will appear similarly unpleasant and inferior at that time. Believer, look to spring as a reflection of the resurrection of the dead. You can discern the nature of the resurrection for the righteous as opposed to the unrighteous, since all will face the fruit of their deeds. Live your life in such a way that aligns with how you wish to be resurrected. If you seek the resurrection of the dead and the eternal life to come, conduct yourself in a manner befitting that aspiration. If you desire to stand with the godly, righteous, and holy, then strive to embody those qualities in this life. What resides within you now will be revealed in that future day. Is there holiness? It will be apparent. Is there wickedness and deceit? That too will be uncovered. At that time, "the children of God and the children of the devil will be made evident"; then "the sheep will be separated from the goats" (1 John 3:10; Matt. 25:32-33). If we yearn, dear friends, to reach the resurrection of the righteous, we must spiritually arise with Christ who has risen, "so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:4). "Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light" (Eph. 5:14). "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection" (Rev. 20:6).