Isaiah 25:7 – And on this mountain He will swallow up the covering which is over all peoples, even the veil which is stretched over all nations.

What a strong visual Isaiah gives us as he proclaims the promises of redemption that will be fulfilled centuries after him. He wrote from the perspective of Israel’s need for forgiveness, rescue, and restoration from physical captivity and devastation, but in these words are hidden the mystery that was revealed to the apostles who lived and experienced the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.

1 Peter 1:10-12 – As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.

Isaiah 25 speaks of two different realities: a present reality and a future promise. The chapter begins with Isaiah exalting and giving thanks to God for “plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.” He understood that God’s timetable is different than ours, but he also was firmly convinced that all of God’s promises would be fulfilled.

The city of Jerusalem (Mount Zion) was ruined, devastated by the ruthless invasion of the Assyrians. This was their present reality, yet Isaiah gave hope. He says to the Lord, You HAVE been a defense for the helpless and needy in their distress…You HAVE been a refuge from the storm (25:4-5).

Then the tense of the verbs change as Isaiah speaks of the future promise. The Lord God WILL prepare a lavish banquet…He WILL swallow up the covering, the veil that is stretched over all nations…He WILL swallow up death for all time…He WILL wipe tears from all faces…He WILL remove the reproach of His people (25:6-8).

Jesus has already fulfilled what were “future” promises to Isaiah in a spiritual sense. He accomplished salvation, conquering and removing the fear of death and granting eternal life to all who believe. He does wipe away our tears, and He personally, individually removes the spiritual blindness that covers our heart, allowing us to see and understand truth, and believe.

Paul reminded Timothy to gently correct and reason with the lost, praying that God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:24-26). And in 2 Corinthians 3:16, we see that whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

The gospel of Jesus Christ lifts the veil for the individual, allowing us to come to faith and experience salvation.

2 Corinthians 4:6 – For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

However, as Isaiah says, there is still a covering over the world, a veil stretched over all nations. It is the veil of spiritual darkness – the schemes and deceptions of our enemy, Satan, who is the prince of this world.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 – And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (See also Ephesians 2:1-3.)

One day, God is going to swallow up that covering. He is going to peel back the spiritual darkness that stretches over the nations, and the world will see Christ for who He is, in all His glory. This was the ultimate “plan formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness” that Isaiah is writing about, and when that happens, at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11).

Also, all the other precious promises that Isaiah mentions will come to be, not just in a spiritual sense, but in a physical reality.

Revelation 21:1-4 – Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

What do we do in the meantime?

In the midst of spiritual darkness, we wait on God to be our defense and refuge – right now, today. If we haven’t already, we ask God to remove the veil over our hearts and allow our spiritual eyes to see the truth of who Jesus is, and we give ourselves fully to Him. Finally, we wait on God to finish His plans formed long ago. In that day, we will declare with one voice exactly what Isaiah says:

And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (25:9)