What does Isaiah 25:8 mean?
This passage portrays an amazing moment of ultimate grace performed by the King Messiah. This moment occurs at the banquet which launches the Lord's reign over all the earth. On Mount Zion, Isaiah describes the Lord as "swallowing up death," the shroud that has been cast over all people since Adam sinned for the first time (Isaiah 25:6–7; Genesis 3:19).This amazing grace is made possible because the very King who swallows up death is the One who died on the cross to pay the penalty each person owes for their own sin. The Lord's justice was fulfilled in the death of Jesus and now all who will trust in the Savior Jesus will receive God's forgiveness of their sin. Those who accept this gift of salvation will be free from death's hold on them (John 3:16–18).
That freedom becomes official here as the Lord destroys death forever. He removes that interfering cover from God's gathered people. Isaiah describes the Lord as wiping away the tears of mourning from all faces. Revelation 21 uses similar language:
"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" (Revelation 21:3–4).This is more than just the end of death for God's people. It is the end of shame. No more will God's people live under the reproach of their own sinful choices. Sin will end, and the heavy burden of our sinful choices will vanish with it. No more death. No more reproach.
The joyous rescue applies to anyone in the world who accepts the Lord as Savior (Revelation 7:9). Other nations are used as metaphors for those who oppose God in this passage (Isaiah 25:2, 10). But in the end, it will be faith in God and His Son which separates mankind, not culture or race (John 3:36; Galatians 3:28).