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Abstract: This essay argues that Isa 65:20 is not about a temporary reversible millennium in which there is actual death but about the eternal irreversible reality of there being no untimely death in the everlasting new creation. I adduce seven main lines of argument in favor of this: (1) discussion of a translational problem in 65:20, which could support premillennialism or could fit into an amillennial view; (2) the eternal new creation context of Isa 65:17-19 and 65:21-25points to the probability that 65:20 is also about the eternal new creation; (3) the use of Genesis 3 in Isaiah 65, which points to an eternal new creation context; (4) the eternal new creation context of Isa 65:17-25 is supportedfurther by its use of Isa 25:7-10, which is about there being no death any longer in the new, eternal age; (5) arguments favoring a figurative view of Isa 65:20; (6) the use of Isaiah in Rev 21:1-22:4 is figurative, thus pointing to Isa 65:20 being a depiction of the irreversible, eternal new creation; (7) the irreversible nature of eschatology itself favors the conclusion that Isa 65:20 is not about a temporary, eschatological millennial state but about the eternal new heavens and earth.
Key Words: eschatology, inaugurated eschatology, premillennialism, amillennialism, new creation
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Isaiah 65:20 says: "No longer will there be from there an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred will be thought accursed."1 This essay had its stimulus in a Westminster Theological Seminary panel discussion on eschatology at the Gospel Coalition conference in Orlando, FL in the spring of 2015. At the conclusion of the panel dialogue, there was an extended time for questions from the audience. One of the questions was about how Isa 65:20 could fit into a classic amillennial view, which typically holds that Isa 65:17-25 depicts the eternal new heavens and earth. As I recollect, the questioner referred to John Piper who had spoken earlier at the conference in support of premillennialism and had said that Isa 65:20 referred to the temporary...