The dark sayings of Isaiah: death is swallowed up in victory
Isaiah 25:8 says "He will swallow up death in victory..." Notice the same words are also found here:
1 Corinthians 15:54 "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."
1 Corinthians 15:54 is about the change of our mortal body during the resurrection and the rapture i.e. "when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality". Therefore Isaiah 25:8 is also a reference to the rapture, and we can work backwards to study the verses right before this verse.
Isaiah 25:6-7 "And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. 7 And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations."
This passage in Isaiah 25:6-7 talks about a great feast that will be taking place on a mountain. Verse 6 tells us about "a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined." Verse 7 says that God will destroy in this mountain "the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations." These are the things which must take place before the rapture, since Isaiah 25:8 is a reference to the rapture when Death will be swallowed up in victory.
There is a passage in Revelation 19:17-18 which references to the "marriage supper of the Lamb" in Revelation 19:9. The marriage supper of the Lamb is a feast that must take place at the first resurrection and the rapture. Notice what this passage tells us:
Revelation 19:17-18 "And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; 18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great."
Therefore, the marriage supper of the Lamb is "the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great." That, according to Isaiah 25:6 is "a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined."
Revelation 19:19 "And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army."
This verse is a continuation from Revelation 19:17-18, and it gives us a picture of the beast (the "man of sin"), and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war against the KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS (Jesus Christ) and his armies which followed him upon white horses as he came down from heaven to battle the beast and his earthly kingdom. This is followed by…
Revelation 19:20-21 "And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."
Revelation 19:20-21 tells us that the beast was taken, and together with him the false prophet and both were cast alive into the lake of fire. The rest of the people with him were slain by the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. This is basically what Isaiah 25:6-7 is about. Then in the next verse:
Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."
"He will swallow up death in victory..." This is a reference to 1 Corinthians 15:54 "... Death is swallowed up in victory" referring to the first resurrection and the rapture. Revelation 20:1-3 continues from where Revelation 19:21 left off.
Revelation 20:1-3 "And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."
In this passage, the Devil was bound and cast into the bottomless pit for a thousand years i.e. he will not be present on earth during the 1,000 years millennial reign.
Revelation 20:4 "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years."
This passage was John's witness of the first resurrection, which according to:
Revelation 20:5 "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection."
The last day will be the day of the first resurrection:
John 11:24 "Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
The dead in Christ shall rise first, to be followed by the rapture of those which are alive and remaining unto the last day:
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."
Isaiah 25:8 continues...
Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it."
This verse is a reference to:
Revelation 21:4 "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."
The context of Revelation 21:4 is after the 1,000 years millennial reign and the great white throne judgment, and God has created a new heaven and a new earth. It is only during this time where there shall be no more death.