Isaiah who from chapter 33 on is talking about the destruction of Assyria and the kingdom of peace that it will bring, in chapter 35 once again is talking about the world of peace. In the age of Isaiah this was the liberation from Assyria, but in the far future it is the Millennium that the end of the seven year tribulation will bring at the end of the world. The Lord Jesus will come again as the king of kings, the Lord of Lords and sit on the throne in Jerusalem. He will establish the Messianic kingdom for a thousand years on this earth. This is the Millennium. At that time everything will change. It will be a beautiful world as if it were heaven. When the Lord Jesus comes, the earth will be changed into a world full of blessings. Today let’s look at the ways the earth will become a world full of blessings when the kingdom of God comes in the course of time, in the Millennium.

I. The desert will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice (Vs. 1,2)
First please look at verses 1 and 2. “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God.”
At that time the natural world will be changed. “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.” (1) “The desert and the parched land” (1) means dry land that can’t grow any plants at all. Such “desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom.” (1) “Lebanon” (2), “Camel and Sharon” (2) also appeared in 33:9. It expresses the abundance of nature. “Lebanon” (2) is renowned for Lebanon cedars. Green is plentiful and it is a place abundant with life. “Sharon”(2) is a plain along the Mediterranean coast north of Joppa, known for its beautiful foliage. “Carmel” (2) was famous for its orchards and produced a lot of fruit. However, “the land mourns and wastes away, Lebanon is ashamed and withers; Sharon is like the Arabah, and Bashan and Carmel drop their leaves.” (33:9) “Arabah and Bashan” (33:9) are deserts. “Lebanon” (2), “Camel and Sharon” (2) which as a result of sin had withered away will once more be full and overflowing in life and abundance. The land became “desert and…parched” (1) because man sinned. The first man, Adam, sinned so all of the natural world was effected. Originally the natural world didn’t oppose man. There were no such things as natural disasters or the law of the fittest. Such things were brought about as the result of man committing sin. The natural world as well as all of creation were influenced by man’s sin. Therefore, if sin is redeemed, the natural world too will be restored to its original state. “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom.” (1,2)
If you look at Romans 8:19 to 23, you will see that all of creation is waiting expectantly for this.
Romans 8:19-23
This will occur at the Lord’s second coming. At that time, the bodies of Christians will be redeemed. Christians have already been spiritually redeemed (received salvation), but their bodies have not been redeemed yet. Their bodies will be redeemed at the second coming of Christ. At that time “The dead in Christ will rise first. After that we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, And so we will be with the Lord forever,” (I Thess. 4:16,17) At that time Christians will rise in an imperishable body, a glorious body. In other words, our bodies too will be redeemed. At that time all of creation that was effected by sin will be redeemed. “For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it.” (Romans 8:19) In other words, it was by man’s sin. Therefore, when man’s sin is redeemed, then all of creation will be redeemed. It will be restored to the world it was at the time of creation when sin had still not been committed. “The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom.” (1,2) How wonderful that will be!
At the Lord’s second coming, when God’s kingdom comes upon you, you “ Like the crocus… will burst into bloom.” (2) That will be made possible only by God pouring out water of grace unlimitedly upon the desolate ground. It can never be done by human strength. That is because humans don’t have such unlimited strength. No matter how much water you pour on the desert, it will definitely never become moist. It is only by the water of God’s grace being poured out that the fountain of grace will spring up and only by that will the parched land be changed into a green meadow. Then the land that up until now has been parched dry will be moist and many flowers will bloom and bear fruit.
How about your heart? Is your heart dry like “the desert and the parched land” (1)? Is it like the desolate ground of the “wilderness” (1)? If your heart is dry, it is because it is not filled with God’s grace. No matter how much you try to fill your own heart, you can’t. It is just only God who can fill your dry heart. It is only when God’s love and the Holy Spirit who is the life of God comes upon you that in your heart abundant flowers will bloom like “Sharon” (2)

Many years ago a girl who had been subject to poverty and physical abuse by her alcoholic father and who at the age of five became blind from untreated trachoma. lived in the state poorhouse in Tewksbury – a filthy, overcrowded home where the children were exposed to people with serious mental and physical ailments. Her years at Tewksbury shaped her personality. Her room was like a dungeon. It received little light and even less hope. According to doctors, it was the only place for those who were hopelessly insane. During her time in the dungeon, an elderly nurse who was nearing retirement believed there was hope — even for the “hopeless.” She would take her lunch down to the dungeon and eat outside the cell where the little girl was kept. She felt that she could, perhaps, communicate some love and hope to the little girl.
In many ways the little girl behaved like an animal. On occasion she would charge at the person sitting outside her cell; other times, she would sit in the corner ignoring her visitor. One day the elderly nurse brought some brownies and left them for her. The little girl gave no hint that she knew or even cared that they were there, but when the nurse returned the next day, the brownies were gone. Every Thursday, from that time forward, the elderly nurse would bring the little girl brownies and shared with her the Gospel. The little girl became a Christian and before long doctors in the institution noticed that she was changing. After a period of time observing her, they decided to “promote” her to another wing of the institution. Later on she was able to enter a school for the blind. She wanted to help others who were facing the kind of adversity she once faced. Many years later, it was this girl who cared for, taught and nurtured Helen Keller. This girl was Anne Sullivan, Helen Keller’s teacher. Anne Sullivan met Jesus Christ and she was completely changed. This “hopelessly insane”girl was able to live a great life that changed others and the world. This was only by the power of God.
If you meet Christ, you will be completely changed too. By Christ pouring out God’s Holy Spirit upon the “hopeless” you, your heart can be changed into a field where flowers can bloom abundantly.

II. Be strong, do not fear (Vs. 3-7)
Next let’s look at verses 3 to 7. First let’s read verses 3 and 4.
Vs. 3 & 4
It tells us here what will occur at the Lord’s second coming. Here it says, “He will come to save you.” (4) It will not be just a spiritual salvation. Physically and materially too we will be saved. Verses 5 and 6 tell us clearly about this. “Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.”

In the course of time when God’s kingdom comes upon us not only will the natural world be changed, but changes in man will occur too. The blind will see and the deaf will hear. The lame and those who can’t move will “leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy.” (4)
These things were actually done in this world 2000 years ago when Jesus came. Please open your Bibles to Luke 7:19 to 23.
Luke 7:19-23
Actually these things were proof of the coming Messiah. The Lord Jesus performed miracles to show proof that he was the coming Messiah. Therefore, when John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus and asked, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Luke 7:20) What the Lord Jesus answered was, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.” (Luke 7:22) This is what the Old Testament said that the Messiah would do.　Therefore, Jesus answered that way. The Lord Jesus is declaring that he has already brought God’s kingdom upon them.
However, at that time Jesus only did a small part of this. We have to wait until the kingdom of God comes for its perfect appearance. We have to wait until Jesus’ second coming. At that time it will come in its perfect form. In the Lord Jesus’ public life we got a peek at it. It is just like a T.V.’s preview of what will happen on the next week’s show. You just get a peek so you don’t actually know what is going to happen until you watch the program the following week. This is the same. Jesus 2000 years ago gave us a peek of what will occur in the Millennium, but it was only a preview of what the Millennium will actually bring. At that time we will see the kingdom of God coming in perfect form. How wonderful it will be!
Therefore, Isaiah claims this, “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.’” (3,4) Such a hope for the future give encouragement to us who are living now. Strengthen the feeble hands” (3) that have become weak by various hardships and pressures. “Steady the knees that give way.” (3) It gives courage and strength to those who are worried about various things, “to those with fearful hearts,” (3) those who are panicky, and to those who are upset. The message that the Lord Jesus will come is the message that the Lord Jesus “will come to save you.” (4) That message will give you strength.

In Holland there was a woman that had continued to smoke for 50 years. Her name was Elena. She made every effort to quit smoking, but wasn’t able to quit. When she became 78 years old, she fell in love with a man named Jason who was a year older than her. Jason who didn’t smoke said to her, “I want to marry you, but because of your smoking I can’t make a decision to.” The moment that she heard those words she was able to quit smoking. It was the power of love. The power of love is greater than the power of the will. The secret for amazing changes to occur in our Christian life is not morality, but love. On the other hand, there is the saying about the people that search for change in order to be happy. “If I can eat, I will be happy for one day. If I get a new cell phone then I’m happy for one week. If I buy a new car, then I’m happy for a month. If I buy a new house, then I’m happy for a year.”
However, those who believe in the Lord Jesus, and place their hope in God will be happy for eternity. Psalm 146:5 says, “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.” Those who place their hope in God will be happy. You can receive encouragement and power at any time.
Now, is there anyone who is giving way? Is there anyone “with fearful hearts”? (4) Please look at Jesus Christ. “He will come to save you.” (4) He will completely restore your body and heart. This is real hope. That hope will aroused in you.

III. A highway will be there (Vs. 8-10)
Lastly let’s look at verses 8 to 10.
Vs. 8-10
There are no roads in “the desert and the parched land.” (1) There are no roads so they stumble. There are no roads so they get lost. Therefore, those who are in the dessert lose the road, get lost, and there are times they lose their lives. God made a road in such a desert. The road God makes is a “highway”. (8) The road “will be called the Way of Holiness”. (8) “The unclean will not journey on it.” (8) “Only the redeemed will walk there.” (9) Only those who have had their sins redeemed and are holy can walk on it. “The unclean” (8) are sinners. They “will not journey on it.” (8)　“No lion will be there; nor any ravenous beast.” (9) This “lion” (9) and “beast” (9) is Satan. You won’t be tempted by Satan. The other day I was driving on the freeway and there was a sign that said to watch for bears. I wondered if bears come out there. It was really close to here. It would be terrible if one came out. We would be attacked. Now in the world that we live in many different things come out. Such things come out into the road and are hit, stumble, and fall, etc. There are some people who drive when they are drunk. However, on this road such people will not get lost. “Only the redeemed will walk there.” (9) Those who were saved by God will never be lost on the road. And they will never lose their life on that road. They will relish in eternal joy, They will be able to enjoy it. Pleasure and joy will follow them. Sadness and lament will run away. This is what those who are saved are like. Those who are saved by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ will definitely not lose their life and joy again. In front of the person is overflowing only with the joy of eternity. Our salvation is like that.
How about you? Do you have this enjoyment and joy? Do you have the highway to Zion in your heart? Psalms 84:5 and 6 say, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.” The people who take this “highway” (8) “pass through the Valley of Baca.” (Psalms 84:5) “Baca” means “weeping” or “balsam trees”. In other words the people who pass through the Valley of weeping “make it a place of springs.” (Psalms 84:5)
This “highway” (8) is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) He is the only way that we can go to God. In life there are many roads, but there is only one way we can go to God. That is through Jesus Christ. If we don’t go that way we can’t get to God. We can’t get there by our own knowledge or experience.
The famous evangelist, Toyohiko Kawgawa said,” a road fulfills its purpose only by being stepped on. Jesus said that no matter how dirty your feet are or how covered with mud your feet are, if you step on me you can go to my Father. I am the way. Don’t wait until your feet are clean. Step on me the way you are. Jesus looks like a cross standing between heaven and earth.
No matter what you are like accept Jesus as the way. If you put your whole life in His hands, you will be able to walk this “highway” (8) as the “redeemed”. (9) There is no one that can hinder your way or get in your way. You “will enter Zion with singing.” (10) You will receive “everlasting joy”(10) and “gladness”. (10) “Sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (10) “Gladness and joy will overtake” (10) you. It is like David said, “Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” (Psalm 23:6)
Please walk in this way. While walking on the “highway” (8) that Jesus prepared let’s prepare ourselves for the blessings of the coming kingdom of God which will come in the course of time. Then that time comes, everything will be changed into blessings.