- Dec 19, 2017
- 3,485
- 1,045
- Country
- United States
- Faith
- Christian
- Marital Status
- Private
- Politics
- US-Others
Isaiah 2 is a controversial chapter that I believe is almost universally misunderstood to mean a future event. Partly because we live in a "instant gratification" society that can't see the forest for the trees.
But the "context" is the last days (which is the whole New Testament period according to scripture) and the establishment of God's kingdom (which was at the time of the cross), and the cessation of warfare (which is also of Christ, the Prince of Peace). The problem (as I see it) is that people continually err in trying to look at prophesy as a physical/literal narrative. Worldly wars to cease, earthly kingdoms and thrones, physical lands, it is usually always the same error. A lack of understanding that scripture interprets scripture and that God speaks in symbolism. We pick up the context from verse 1.
Isaiah 2:1-4
Acts 2:16-17
1. And he shall judge among the nations
To judge among the nations is illustrating that Christ will set up his Kingdom among all nations of the world, that it will no longer be primarily national Israel. Christ judges the nations as the sovereign ruler, governing all matters of God's law. Thus to judge among the nations means there will be a new dispensation, that Christ's kingdom will go to all, and He will sit as judge or ruler of all nations. Judgment is His rule of law, and rule is judgment. for example, even as the Judges God appointed in the Old Testament God were the rulers. Indeed it was for the purpose of executing this rule or judgment that Christ came. His Judging among the nations is in His establishing the kingdom that goes forth executing rule. And in order to do this, Satan, who rules over the nations, had to be defeated for man's sake.
Jeremiah 23:5-6
Revelation 20:3-4
John 12:31
Isaiah 42:3-7
Matthew 12:18
2. Rebuke many People
Too often today's puffed up Christians "full of themselves" look upon Biblical rebuke as an "attack" when it is often simply correction. By God's corrections, rebukes or warnings of judgment He brings the nations all over the world into subjection under His rule. Often how one reacts to this correction depends upon in what spirit they have received it.
Proverbs 9:8
2nd Timothy 4:2
Titus 1:13
Revelation 3:19
John 16:7-11
3. Beat their swords into Plowshares & Spears into Pruninghooks
God prophesies here that the law, the word of God, shall go out from the Holy City, and would judge the nations that these people would change their implements of war into implements of peace. A sword is an instrument used for war, and the plowshare is a type of hoe used for digging, and is an instrument for farming in agriculture.
1st Corinthians 3:7-9
4. Nation Shall Not Lift Up Sword Against Nation
Before we became saved, we were at spiritual war with God, nation against nation, Kingdom against Kingdom, and our instruments of warfare were spiritual. God's kingdom comes by the Spirit of Christ with the sword of the Word of God. And the nation at enmity with it comes by the spirit of Antichrist with the word of Satan. An epic battle between two nations that has been fought since the garden of Eden. Indeed, it is signified in
Genesis 25:23-26
Matthew 12:24-26
Matthew 12:28-30
1st Peter 2:9-10
Ezekiel 37:21-24
5. Neither Learn War Anymore
In Messiah's Kingdom reign, there shall be war no more. War is the opposite of peace, and is what we are when we are unsaved and at enmity with God. By the same token, when we are translated from the gates of the prison of darkness, into the Kingdom of Christ, our warfare is ended by the Prince of Peace. We are not battling with that nation anymore, we forsake such warfare governed by the Prince of Peace, with God. Even as prophesied.
Isaiah 40:1-3
Colossians 1:19-21
So Isaiah 2:4 has nothing whatsoever to do with pie in the sky ideas of the world becoming Christianized, or there being physical peace all over the earth because Christ sits on a throne in the Middle East, or the afterlife, etc. No, but it speaks of Christ's first advent, and the imagery is illustrating the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom of peace and safety, of building and planting, of salvation to the nations, through the church! It speaks to the calling of the Gentile nations and the spread of the kingdom all over the earth.
But the "context" is the last days (which is the whole New Testament period according to scripture) and the establishment of God's kingdom (which was at the time of the cross), and the cessation of warfare (which is also of Christ, the Prince of Peace). The problem (as I see it) is that people continually err in trying to look at prophesy as a physical/literal narrative. Worldly wars to cease, earthly kingdoms and thrones, physical lands, it is usually always the same error. A lack of understanding that scripture interprets scripture and that God speaks in symbolism. We pick up the context from verse 1.
Isaiah 2:1-4
- "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
- And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
- And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
- And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
Acts 2:16-17
- "But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
- And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:"
1. And he shall judge among the nations
To judge among the nations is illustrating that Christ will set up his Kingdom among all nations of the world, that it will no longer be primarily national Israel. Christ judges the nations as the sovereign ruler, governing all matters of God's law. Thus to judge among the nations means there will be a new dispensation, that Christ's kingdom will go to all, and He will sit as judge or ruler of all nations. Judgment is His rule of law, and rule is judgment. for example, even as the Judges God appointed in the Old Testament God were the rulers. Indeed it was for the purpose of executing this rule or judgment that Christ came. His Judging among the nations is in His establishing the kingdom that goes forth executing rule. And in order to do this, Satan, who rules over the nations, had to be defeated for man's sake.
Jeremiah 23:5-6
- "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
- In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
Revelation 20:3-4
- "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.
- 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."
John 12:31
- "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out."
Isaiah 42:3-7
- "bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.
- He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.
- Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:
- I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;
- To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house."
Matthew 12:18
- "Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles."
2. Rebuke many People
Too often today's puffed up Christians "full of themselves" look upon Biblical rebuke as an "attack" when it is often simply correction. By God's corrections, rebukes or warnings of judgment He brings the nations all over the world into subjection under His rule. Often how one reacts to this correction depends upon in what spirit they have received it.
Proverbs 9:8
- "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee."
2nd Timothy 4:2
- "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
Titus 1:13
- "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;"
- "These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee."
Revelation 3:19
- "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent."
John 16:7-11
- "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
- And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
- Of sin, because they believe not on me;
- Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
- Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged."
3. Beat their swords into Plowshares & Spears into Pruninghooks
God prophesies here that the law, the word of God, shall go out from the Holy City, and would judge the nations that these people would change their implements of war into implements of peace. A sword is an instrument used for war, and the plowshare is a type of hoe used for digging, and is an instrument for farming in agriculture.
1st Corinthians 3:7-9
- "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
- Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
- For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building."
4. Nation Shall Not Lift Up Sword Against Nation
Before we became saved, we were at spiritual war with God, nation against nation, Kingdom against Kingdom, and our instruments of warfare were spiritual. God's kingdom comes by the Spirit of Christ with the sword of the Word of God. And the nation at enmity with it comes by the spirit of Antichrist with the word of Satan. An epic battle between two nations that has been fought since the garden of Eden. Indeed, it is signified in
Genesis 25:23-26
- "And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.
- And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.
- And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau.
- And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them."
Matthew 12:24-26
- "But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
- And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
- And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?"
Matthew 12:28-30
- "But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
- Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.
- He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad."
1st Peter 2:9-10
- "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."
Ezekiel 37:21-24
- "And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land:
- And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all:
- Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.
- And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them."
5. Neither Learn War Anymore
In Messiah's Kingdom reign, there shall be war no more. War is the opposite of peace, and is what we are when we are unsaved and at enmity with God. By the same token, when we are translated from the gates of the prison of darkness, into the Kingdom of Christ, our warfare is ended by the Prince of Peace. We are not battling with that nation anymore, we forsake such warfare governed by the Prince of Peace, with God. Even as prophesied.
Isaiah 40:1-3
- "Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
- Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins.
- The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."
Colossians 1:19-21
- "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;
- And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
- And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled."
So Isaiah 2:4 has nothing whatsoever to do with pie in the sky ideas of the world becoming Christianized, or there being physical peace all over the earth because Christ sits on a throne in the Middle East, or the afterlife, etc. No, but it speaks of Christ's first advent, and the imagery is illustrating the establishment of the Millennial Kingdom of peace and safety, of building and planting, of salvation to the nations, through the church! It speaks to the calling of the Gentile nations and the spread of the kingdom all over the earth.