Npv. 17 end of the cycle

Is. 65:17-25 is the locus for some  of the material in Revelation. In my view apocalyptic thought oscillates between the poles of destruction and the glory of the new. The dispensationalist interpretation that has captured the American field of vision tends toward one pole, obviously. So it makes it difficult to read  and respond to the material with fresh eyes.

The series of painting by Edward Hicks may be helpful in approaching this.

It envisions release from the curse east of Eden. the new creation seems to me to outstrip the accounts of Genesis 1 and 2. It moves once again to a blessing of all creation. It is as different as the world of humans and angels hinted o at in last week's reading from Luke 20.

Fretheim makes a good point in God and creation on our passage that cosmic significance, universal scope is embedded in Isiah's concern for both redemption and new creation-history gives clues about divine intentions. Ecological vision lies at the heart of God's salvific purpose here. Human and natural salvation are intertwined, as befits the adam, the earth creature.

Please note well:the violence that afflicts creation, the cause of the flood story, will be removed; it will have no nexus in which to gain purchase.

Notice the change in memory-the former things-the world of punishment will no long be remembered nor brought to mind-

note the nouns that follow next-joy, delight-adjectives-glad-the verb is rejoice

a lifetime will look more like the primeval history of early Genesis, but without weeping. The heartbreaking promise of infant death without a lived future is banished.

Security is the watchword for these long-lived people not only in the enjoyment of the needs of life, but in the temporal dimension for descendants.

The nearness of God is then placed in deep understanding of answer before a question is posed, no static, no delay.

Finally the peaceable kingdom eliminates predator and prey.

The agent of temptation the sly serpent will at and become dust-threat will be banished.
Why that would be heavenly-exactly.