“In that day the LORD of hosts will be a crown of glory,
and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of His people;
and a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment,
and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.” — Isaiah 28:5
Isaiah begins chapter 28 by rebuking the leaders of Israel who had become proud, intoxicated, and spiritually blind. But in the middle of this warning comes a stunning prophetic promise — a picture of what God Himself will be to His faithful remnant “in that day.”
That phrase — “in that day” — is almost always an eschatological pointer. It signals the Day of the Lord, the time of judgment, cleansing, and eventual restoration when God visibly asserts His rule over the nations.
And in verse 5, the prophecy shifts from rebuke to redemption:
1. The Lord Himself Becomes the “Crown of Glory”
This is royal imagery. Crowns symbolize:
- authority
- beauty
- honour
- victory
For the faithful remnant of Israel — those who turn back to God in repentance and remain loyal during judgment — the Lord Himself becomes their crown.
This is Jesus.
Revelation describes the Lamb returning in glory, crowned with many crowns. The New Testament repeatedly ties the crowns of believers back to Christ Himself as the source of their victory:
- He is their righteousness.
- He is their glory.
- He is their reward.
Isaiah 28:5 echoes this same truth: in the end, Jesus is the glory of His people.
2. “A Spirit of Justice” — Jesus the Judge
Isaiah says God will give “a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment.”
This mirrors Messiah’s role in Isaiah 11:
- “with righteousness He shall judge the poor”
- “He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth”
And Revelation 19:
- “in righteousness He judges and makes war”
This is Jesus returning as Judge, establishing justice where injustice filled the land.
The leaders in Isaiah’s day had corrupted justice.
The leaders in the last days will do the same.
But the True Judge comes to correct, restore, and rule.
3. “Strength to Those Who Turn Back the Battle at the Gate”
This is a picture of warfare.
In ancient Israel, battles were decided at the gate — the place of entry, authority, and decision.
This represents:
- the faithful remnant resisting evil
- God empowering His people during the final conflict
- Jesus strengthening those who stand firm under pressure
It echoes Revelation 12 (“they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb”) and Revelation 14 (“Here is the patience of the saints”).
Isaiah sees ahead to the days when God’s people will face overwhelming pressure — yet Jesus Himself strengthens them.
4. The Prophetic Flow: Judgment → Remnant → Restoration
The whole structure of Isaiah 28 mirrors the end times:
- corrupt leaders
- mockery of God’s word
- scoffing at the prophet
- false covenants for protection (like the covenant with death)
- swift judgment
- a purified remnant lifted up and empowered by the Messiah
Isaiah, Revelation, and Jesus’ teachings all align — the remnant survives the shaking, and Christ is revealed as their glory.