1 A king shall reign in righteousnessand rulers rule with justice.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
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2 And a man shall become as a shelterfrom the wind or refuge from the storm,like brooks of water in a desert place,or the shade of a large rock in arid country.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
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Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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3 The eyes of those who see shall not be shut,and the ears of those who hear shall listen.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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4 The minds of the rash shall learn understanding,and the tongues of the stammerers master eloquence.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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5 The godless shall no longer be regarded as noblenor rogues considered respectable.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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6 For the godless utter blasphemy;their heart ponders impiety:how to practice hypocrisy and preachperverse things concerning Jehovah,leaving the hungry soul empty,depriving the thirsty soul of drink.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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7 And rogues scheme by malevolent meansand insidious devices to ruin the poor,and with false slogans and accusationsto denounce the needy.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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8 But the noble are of noble intent,and stand up for what is virtuous.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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9 Up, and listen to my voice, O complacent women;you careless daughters, hear my words!
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
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10 In little more than a yearyou shall be in anguish, O carefree ones,for when the harvest is over,the produce shall fail to arrive.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
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11 Be alarmed, you complacent women;be perturbed, O careless daughters!Strip yourselves bare;put sackcloth around your waists.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
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12 Beat your breasts for the choice fieldsand flourishing vines,
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
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13 for my people’s landshall be overgrown with briars and thorns.Mourn for all the amusement housesin the city of entertainment,
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
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14 for the palaces shall lie abandoned,the clamorous towns deserted.High rises and panoramic resortsshall become haunts for ever after,the playground of wild animals,a browsing place for flocks.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
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19 a For by a hail shall forests be felled,cities utterly leveled.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
blue
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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15 Thenb shall a Spirit from on highbe poured out on us;the desert shall become productive landand lands now productivebe reckoned as brushwood.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
blue
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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16 So shall justice inhabit the desert,and righteousness abide in the farmland.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
blue
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who establishes justice and righteousness among Jehovah's elect, facilitating the earth's transformation to a paradisiacal glory.
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17 And the effect of justice shall be peace,and the result of righteousnessan assured calm forever.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
blue
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who establishes justice and righteousness among Jehovah's elect, facilitating the earth's transformation to a paradisiacal glory.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who establishes justice and righteousness among Jehovah's elect, facilitating the earth's experiencing a millennial age of peace.
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18 My people shall dwell in peaceful settlements,in safe neighborhoods, in comfortable dwellings.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
blue
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who establishes justice and righteousness among Jehovah's elect, facilitating the earth's transformation to a paradisiacal glory.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who establishes justice and righteousness among Jehovah's elect, facilitating the earth's experiencing a millennial age of peace.
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20 Blessed are you, who shall then sow by all waters,letting oxen and asses range free.
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who personifies Jehovah's righteousness and establishes righteousness among his repentant people at the time Jehovah restores them.
blue
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates Jehovah's unrepentant people and the nations after they are warned.
red
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, Jehovah's voice to his complacent people, who prophesies the future and receives divine revelation to guide them through a time of wickedness.
blue
Storm imagery representing the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon and his alliance, a power of chaos that ravages the wicked of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who establishes justice and righteousness among Jehovah's elect, facilitating the earth's transformation to a paradisiacal glory.
blue
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who establishes justice and righteousness among Jehovah's elect, facilitating the earth's experiencing a millennial age of peace.
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Apocalyptic Commentary
Isaiah 32
Although Jehovah personally rules in the millennial age (Isaiah 33:17, 22; 52:7), he rules also through his righteousness—his servant (Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-5; 41:2; 46:11-13)—and through the kings of his people who exemplify justice and righteousness (Isaiah 1:26; 42:1-4; 49:23; 60:10-17). As denoted by the singular noun “man,” those who reign with Jehovah are persons who serve as proxy saviors to Jehovah’s people by qualifying them for his “shelter,” “refuge,” and “shade” from the wind and storm—from the king of Assyria/Babylon—in Jehovah’s Day of Judgment (Isaiah 4:6; 25:4-5; 51:16).
Jehovah’s charge to his people to “Go on hearing, but not understanding; Go on seeing, but not perceiving” (Isaiah 6:9), is now reversed as those who were blind and deaf repent and are healed—“lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand in their heart, and repent, and be healed” (Isaiah 6:10). The biggest obstacle to Jehovah’s people seeing and hearing, in other words, is that they assume they see and hear when they don’t (Isaiah 42:18-20). In that state of mind, they can’t accept the new things Jehovah reveals because they haven’t correctly understood the old (Isaiah 29:18, 24; 48:6-8).
Before the millennial age, many of Jehovah’s people “suppose what is evil to be good and what is good, evil” (Isaiah 5:20), enabling impostors among them to command their respect. Although these form the top echelon of society, in Jehovah’s eyes they are the lowest: “Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm top and reed, in a single day; the elders or notables are the head, the prophets who teach falsehoods, the tail. The leaders of these people have misled them, and those who are led are confused” (Isaiah 9:14-16). The spiritual void they create leaves Jehovah’s people vulnerable to disaster.
Most damning are the “blasphemy,” “impiety,” “hypocrisy,” and “perverse things” they pass off as the word of God. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Timothy 3:5), they offer Jehovah’s people who come to be fed words that leave them empty (Isaiah 41:28-29). Jehovah, therefore, holds them in derision: “Predict the future for us: Tell us of events to come hereafter, so that we may know you are gods. Perform something good or evil at which we will be dazzled and all stand in awe. It is clear you are of no account, that your works amount to nothing” (Isaiah 41:22-24).
Coupled with wickedness in high places within the ecclesiastical circles of Jehovah’s people (vv 5-6) is the predatory mindset of these same or similar “rogues” or scoundrels who victimize and defraud the poor and needy among them whom Jehovah claims as his own (Isaiah 3:15; 10:2; 11:4; 25:4; 29:19). Those whom Jehovah regards as truly “noble,” on the other hand, are “they who conduct themselves righteously” (Isaiah 33:15). They “demand justice” for the poor and “stand up for the oppressed,” they “plead the cause of the fatherless” and “appeal on behalf of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17; cf. 58:6-10).
Not only the men but also the women of Jehovah’s people come under Jehovah’s censure. Their being spiritually and physically “complacent” and “carefree” in the face of his impending judgments leaves them unprepared and exposed to the evil time. With another year left of Jehovah’s three-year warning before Assyria’s assault (cf. Isaiah 16:14; 20:3), Jehovah’s voice—his servant—alerts them to the coming time of scarcity. Like Lot’s wife, who couldn’t imagine sudden destruction falling upon her city that had been there for centuries (Genesis 19:26), they too stand to perish (Isaiah 3:16-26).
In their crime of complacency, the women of Jehovah’s people emulate the Woman Babylon, to whose spiritual category they belong. Babylon epitomizes a “pampered lady, securely enthroned, thinking to herself, ‘I exist, and other than me there is nothing’” (Isaiah 47:8). If they don’t strip off their excesses and repent, then, like her, they will be compelled to do because of destitution (Isaiah 3:6-7, Isaiah 3:6-7, 17, 24; 22:12-14; 47:2-3#three_col">Isaiah 3:6-7, 17, Isaiah 3:6-7, 17, 24; 22:12-14; 47:2-3; 22:12-14; 47:2-3, Isaiah 3:6-7, 17, 24; 22:12-14; 47:2-3; 22:12-14; 47:2-3). As enemies invade and the wicked overrun the land, lands yielding ample produce will turn to “briars and thorns” literally and figuratively (Isaiah 5:5-6; 7:23-25; 34:13; 64:10).
Consistent with Jehovah’s covenant curse on the Babylon category of his people, feral beasts overflow entertainment venues as a spoof on those who used to perform there like feral beasts: “Wild animals will infest it, and its buildings overflow with weasels; birds of prey will find lodging there and demonic creatures prance about in it. Jackals will cry out from its palaces, howling creatures from its amusement halls” (Isaiah 13:21-22); “It shall become the haunt of howling creatures, a reserve for birds of prey. Prairie wolves shall greet jackals, and wild goats call to one another” (Isaiah 34:13-14).
The synonymous parallelism of forests and cities signifies that besides its literal meaning the term “forests” functions as a metaphor for “cities”—just as mountains functions as a metaphor for kingdoms or nations and trees for people (Isaiah 13:4; 61:3; 64:1-3). The one who fells the forests or levels the cities is the king of Assyria/Babylon, Jehovah’s axe and saw (Isaiah 10:15; 14:8; 37:24). Identified with storm imagery in Jehovah’s Day of Judgment (Isaiah 8:7-8; 17:12-13; 28:15), he is the hail that flattens the habitations of the wicked in a Sodom-and-Gomorrah type of destruction (Isaiah 28:2, 17, 22).
At the very time Jehovah pours out a fiery destruction from on high upon the wicked, he pours out his Spirit from on high on the righteous. In a reversal of circumstances between fertile lands and wilderness, the “desert” or wilderness blossoms while fertile lands revert to wilderness. Reflective of the righteous who go into the wilderness at the onset of Jehovah’s Day of Judgment, and of the wicked who remain behind amidst ruination, the earth’s entire landscape changes to accommodate Jehovah’s blessing of the righteous and curse upon the wicked (Isaiah 7:21-24; 14:17; 35:1-7; 43:19-21).
Jehovah’s elect, those among whom his servant—Jehovah’s righteousness (Isaiah 41:2; 46:11-13)—restores justice and righteousness (Isaiah 1:25-27; 9:6-7; 42:1-4; 51:1), receive permanent lands of inheritance in the millennial age as a covenant blessing (Isaiah 49:8; 54:3; 58:12, 14; 60:21). The materialistic economy that enslaved them before Jehovah’s Day of Judgment is entirely replaced by an agrarian one. While “there is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21), those whose lives exemplify justice and righteousness Jehovah grants everlasting peace (Isaiah 33:20; 54:10; 57:2; 66:12).
Jehovah’s people who live into the millennial age inherit peace and safety for themselves and their descendants: “All your children shall be taught by Jehovah, and great shall be the peace of your posterity. You shall be firmly established through righteousness; you will be far from oppression and have no cause to fear, far from ruin, for it shall not approach you” (Isaiah 54:13-14). For them, the land yields bounteously: “Then will he water with rain the seed you sow in the ground, that the land’s increase of food may be rich and abundant. In that day shall your cattle graze in ample pasturelands” (Isaiah 30:23).