God’s universal promise is that He knows all human hearts and will graciously gather every nation to behold His glory.
In Isaiah’s final chapter, the prophet, who ministered in the kingdom of Judah between approximately 740-700 BC, looks ahead to a time when God will reveal His glory to all the peoples of the earth. He prophesies, “For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.” (v.18) This statement acknowledges that the LORD discerns the deeds and intentions of humanity, while also announcing His plan to unite peoples of every language and culture to witness His splendor. Isaiah’s words speak hope to those in exile, reminding them of God’s sovereign knowledge, His readiness to bring justice, and His intention to invite the nations into fellowship with Himself. This passage looks beyond the local troubles of Isaiah’s day to a greater fulfillment—one that encompasses the whole world and anticipates the universal worship of the LORD, echoed later in other parts of Scripture, such as Jesus’s Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). When God says that He “will gather all nations,” it underscores His divine promise to restore a faithful people from every corner of the earth, just as the broader context of Isaiah 66 indicates that worshipers from diverse lands will join together before His throne (Revelation 24.docx).
God’s declaration, “And they shall come and see My glory” (v.18), underscores that He alone is the source of true majesty. Though Isaiah ministered in a turbulent political climate—with impending threats from foreign empires and the coming exile—his prophecy points beyond the immediate historical dangers to a future unveiling of God’s presence among all peoples. The language of “works and thoughts” conveys that the LORD is intimately aware not only of outward actions but also of inward motivations, guaranteeing that His divine plan will be neither hindered nor confused by human plots. In this way, Isaiah 66:18 envisions an era when God’s people, both Jews and Gentiles, will be brought into one assembly, fulfilling the LORD’s design to redeem and reign over every nation through His Messiah (Romans 1:16).
All peoples are ultimately invited to revere the true King, whose glory supersedes any earthly dominion, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophetic message of hope and restoration on a global scale.
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Isaiah 66:18 meaning
In Isaiah’s final chapter, the prophet, who ministered in the kingdom of Judah between approximately 740-700 BC, looks ahead to a time when God will reveal His glory to all the peoples of the earth. He prophesies, “For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory.” (v.18) This statement acknowledges that the LORD discerns the deeds and intentions of humanity, while also announcing His plan to unite peoples of every language and culture to witness His splendor. Isaiah’s words speak hope to those in exile, reminding them of God’s sovereign knowledge, His readiness to bring justice, and His intention to invite the nations into fellowship with Himself. This passage looks beyond the local troubles of Isaiah’s day to a greater fulfillment—one that encompasses the whole world and anticipates the universal worship of the LORD, echoed later in other parts of Scripture, such as Jesus’s Great Commission to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). When God says that He “will gather all nations,” it underscores His divine promise to restore a faithful people from every corner of the earth, just as the broader context of Isaiah 66 indicates that worshipers from diverse lands will join together before His throne (Revelation 24.docx).
God’s declaration, “And they shall come and see My glory” (v.18), underscores that He alone is the source of true majesty. Though Isaiah ministered in a turbulent political climate—with impending threats from foreign empires and the coming exile—his prophecy points beyond the immediate historical dangers to a future unveiling of God’s presence among all peoples. The language of “works and thoughts” conveys that the LORD is intimately aware not only of outward actions but also of inward motivations, guaranteeing that His divine plan will be neither hindered nor confused by human plots. In this way, Isaiah 66:18 envisions an era when God’s people, both Jews and Gentiles, will be brought into one assembly, fulfilling the LORD’s design to redeem and reign over every nation through His Messiah (Romans 1:16).
All peoples are ultimately invited to revere the true King, whose glory supersedes any earthly dominion, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophetic message of hope and restoration on a global scale.