A New Earth
In the manual: Come, Follow Me lesson 42, “The Redeemer Shall Come to Zion,” on Gospel Library
Start
Isaiah’s last chapters look ahead to the day Jesus Christ comes again. In Isaiah 64:1 he prays, “Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down.”
Read Together
Latter-day Saints believe that Christ will reign in person on the earth and that the earth will be renewed (Articles of Faith 1:10). His thousand-year reign is called the Millennium. Isaiah 65:17–25 describes life in that day.
17For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.
24And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.
What It Teaches
Count the words about joy in verses 18 and 19. The people rejoice, and so does the Lord. “I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people.” No one will hear the sound of crying.
People will build houses and live in them, and plant vineyards and eat the fruit (Isaiah 65:21–22). In Isaiah’s day, armies often took what families had worked for. In the Millennium, what people build will stay theirs.
Verse 24 is about prayer. “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” In verse 25, even the wolf and the lamb eat together, and “they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.” That peace comes from the Prince of Peace reigning in person.
Isaiah 64:8 shows how to get ready. “We are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” People who let the Lord shape them now will be glad to see him come.
Talk About It
What do you look forward to most about the day the Savior comes again? What could we do now to be ready to meet him with joy?
Take to Church
When the Savior reigns, even the wolf and the lamb will be at peace. We get ready by letting him shape us now, like clay in a potter’s hands.