The desert will rejoice and blossom as the rose…

Isaiah 35:1-2

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“The wilderness and the wasteland will be glad for them, and the desert will rejoice and blossom as the rose;” Isaiah 35:1

The “them” in that verse refers to the global culture of the beast that comes to a brutal end, as described in the chapter of Isaiah 34, in the posts on Isaiah 34:1-4….Isaiah 34:5-7.…Isaiah 34:8-12….Isaiah 34:13-17. They are those who love living in the darkness of the ways of this world, reject the remission of sin through Jesus Christ, work to keep Jesus dead and entombed within the heart, mind, and soul, and fight against the conviction of sin through the Holy Spirit.

The “wilderness” and the “wasteland” will be glad for them refers to rejoicing over the devastation of those who bring destruction to this present world system. The “wilderness” and the desert” would refer to those who are plundered, used, and abused by the lawless ones of this world. As followers of Jesus Christ, we say, “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.” Habakkuk 3:17-19

The “desert” will rejoice and blossom as the rose describes our home, the New Jerusalem. That rejoicing comes from we who come apart from the dark ways of this world, the darkness of serving the beast that gives them what to do, say, think, and feel. We have come to the Cross of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin and now live in His Light and for the hope of eternal life. The way of the Cross leads home into the eternal New Jerusalem. In that eternal home is where we blossom as the rose, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There will be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelations 21:4-5

“It will blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God.” Isaiah 35:2

The New Jerusalem will blossom abundantly with rejoicing and singing for we who shun the power of darkness that rules this world through the beast that gives people what to think, say, do, and feel. The song we sing is like this, “Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who will not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations will come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.” Revelations 15:3-4

Lebanon is the place of Tyre and Sidon, even to this day, but in the days of Isaiah those places were a powerful economic center of imports and exports that supplied the countries of the “world”. Carmen and Sharon were places of bountiful agricultural resources. When we arrive in the New Jerusalem, we will have the eternal riches and prosperity that this world covets. Our Lord Jesus says to us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

We will see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we will be, but we know that when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3 “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.” Revelations 21:23

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1