2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house
of the Lord shall be established
as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and
all the nations shall flow to it, 3 and many peoples shall
come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob,
that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of
Zion shall go the law, and the word of the Lord
from Jerusalem. 4 He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into
plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword
against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.
Most contemporary teaching sees this prophecy as being fulfilled in the
literal millennial kingdom. Many would agree with this commentator: "This points our attention to the
millennial future when Israel’s kingdom shall become a reality only during the
time when the Messiah shall rule after the church age." [1] To arrive at this conclusion is complicated;
and in my opinion requires a great speculation amount of fanciful speculation.
The Bible is clear.
Jesus the installed and reigning King of Israel, the Lord of the
Church, is today ruling from the "highest of mountains." The "highest" of mountains need to
suggest altitude but rather honor and glory.
In these latter days when people repent and turn to the Messiah they
indeed come to that mountain so prophesied by Isaiah. “But you have come to Mount Zion and
to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable
angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are
enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the
righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to
the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel” (Hebrews 12:22–24, ESV).
"Christ himself is
the ultimate “house” or dwelling place of God (John 1:14; 2:19–21). Through him
the church becomes a temple (1 Cor. 3:16; Eph. 2:20–22), and through Christ’s
exaltation the nations are drawn to him (Luke 24:47; John 12:32).[2]
This latter day of Isaiah is already here, yet not fully
culminated. Christ has a day that is
here and not yet here. He has inaugurated
His Kingdom upon the resurrection and ascension of His Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ. The Temple in Zion was and is
the hope of the world. It is the place
of righteous reign. To look for a
physical building on a physical hill would be vain. Look to Christ and His Church. They are real, literal and present. “The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of
your enemies!” (Psalm
110:2, ESV)
Paul informs us in Ephesians
1:20–23 (ESV),
20 that he
worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right
hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and
dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22
And he put all things under
his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23
which is his body, the
fullness of him who fills all in all. [Emphasis
Mine]
What must we expect before the end of all time? Paul answers the question clearly: “Then comes the end, when he delivers
the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority
and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet”
(1 Corinthians 15:24–25,
ESV).
Christ is and will continue ruling until all those oppose Him will be
defeated. He then will hand the Kingdom
over to the Father. Then the end.
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