As the world gets deeper into chaos, confusion, and conflict, people keep asking, “Who is in charge, the devil or the Lord?” Some are frustrated to consider Christian biblical propositions to address society’s evils. They often cite the continual deterioration in society which appears irreversible. Saved people are also influenced away by frustrated attitude towards God. They too began to consider the view of the unbelieving towards God and society.
So the whole world engages in continual search for solution to address the global troubles. They keep on searching for answers to climate change. They continue discussing how to defeat terrorism. Recently, they have been conversing to provide economic security to the global financial crisis.
In all these strivings to secure the globe from the impending problems, they are neglecting the word of God in the pursuit for answers. In such a case then, how can they resolve problems perceived only by fallible human beings? If humanity has learned from the past Great Depression of 1930s then why did it recur in this modern age? Many have specific answers to these troubles. First, this has recurred due to human fallibility. He really can not fully secure himself apart from God’s provisions. Second, without man’s recognition, the world is being prepared into the stage of the last days where the rule of the antichrist will take place. Third, after the reign of the antichrist, the King of Kings will reign supreme. This last event will transpire regardless of the world’s attitude towards Him. Whether they accept Him or not, He will come anyway and do His way.
For the saved, the current troubles the world faces are not unusual. We hear the great financial crisis surrounding the globe. So nations react by preparatory discussion on a global scale. We see terrible and massive loss of human lives through the criminal acts of religious Islamists. The nations involved spend resources to protect their respective boundaries against these perpetrators. They see the coming supremacy of their false religion via coercion and various threats. The Romanist flexed her religious muscles to get into the centerfold of global pursuits. She too does not want to be left behind. As always she wants to capitalize on the current world engagement to increase her gains. She seems yet unsatisfied with the existing wealth of her already wealthy city. So her solution is the pursuit of religious ecumenism. Our own president has joined the bandwagon of interfaith dialogue through the proposal of the political structure of the United Nations.
Even if these humanistic solutions prevail they still could not exact what the very rule Christ will have in the coming years. Christ will reign supreme in the spread of His word at His dominion. Then, He will exact the perfect rule upon the whole earth in His kingdom. This will be an incomparable reign. The strivings of nations and their rulers can not match this forthcoming perfect reign. Finally, as the world will fail to compel Israel on her knees, Christ will demonstrate His rule upon Israel and it shall be supreme. Only Christ could move her to go down on her knees before Him.
Our text is a prophecy of Isaiah on the forthcoming millennial kingdom. He discussed some of its aspects. Three of them are prophesied in this text. First, the supremacy of Christ’s words shall be felt globally (v.3). God’s words shall emanate from Zion, the city of God which is Jerusalem. Regardless of the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s denial of this city as belonging to the nation of Israel, this city shall be given to the people of Israel. God’s words shall unceasingly flow from this city. Christ will teach His words to His people. These include the saints of all ages including the people of Israel. And the saints shall live by these words of God. Moving back to verse 2, one could see that all nations will flock to the city of God- Zion. They will do this to hear and learn God’s words.
In the millennial reign of Christ, His words shall be perfectly spread throughout the globe. The center of its teaching and expansion is Jerusalem. There will be no other city where this great propagation of God’s words shall be declared. For us today who zealously promote God’s words, yet experience harassment from socialist states and left-leaning bureaucrats in the garb of democratic agencies, we can rejoice in this forthcoming victory. We don’t have to enter socialist bureaucracy to defeat suppression for we can not expect massive expansion of God’s word in this dispensation prior to the millennial reign. The smell of victory in the prophetic manner is very exciting. We are privileged in having a part in this victory. This is taught in Rev. 5:10. We are certain of this rejoicing while the unsaved is sure of defeat. For now the center of God’s words propagation is the local church and not any para-church institution. Christ has established this institution for this purpose. Let us keep on teaching, preaching, and publishing God’s words in and through the local church. We are not to be weakened by the magnitude of the propagation task, for God does not expect us to reach the world if it is beyond the God given available resources. We need to be content with His chosen institutional method of promoting God’s words.
Second, the supremacy of Christ’s authority shall be seen globally (v. 4). Currently, the world is not under the reign of Christ or under the words of Christ. The nations’ leaders and inhabitants keep rejecting His word and its impact upon various human pursuits. Almost all sectors of human pursuits have been decaying due to the heavy dominance of humanistic thought. God’s words are swept under its former dominance. However, when Christ reigns in His time all shall be subjected to His power. None could refuse submission. No nation could reject His embargo neither could neutralize His imposition of punishment. When He corrects an erring nation and ruler or people no one could question His judgment. There is no appeal to higher court. There is no charge of human rights violation. Christ’s judgment shall be swift and His penal system shall be powerfully perfect.
Ironically, the United Nations uses the phrase in this verse “…and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks…” to provide seeming Biblicist basis for their mandate. Examining however, the UN goals, processes, and programs, will show the opposite. It is planning and acting in an unscriptural manner. They deliberately forgot that such goal can only be achieved if Christ is the one reigning and not any human fallible leader. Thus, this is an example of deception, where an organization uses biblical propaganda to enlist the biblical followers into joining a seeming biblical institution! The reality is those who join will be terribly deceived.
The reign of Christ is supreme in that it will have no wars unlike what the world has faced many of all sorts, i.e., economic, religious, cultural, and political invasion. In the reign of Christ funds allocated for military defense shall be used for economic promotion and welfare of the inhabitants. No nation will go bankrupt due to overspending on military adventures. Resources allocated for economic intelligence and piracy will be realigned for greater causes. This is the best stewardship of God given resources!
In this era of the local church, we are taught to submit to Christ’s headship through the human leadership of the church pastor. God’s words shall be our rule as translated into domestic rules for implementation. We must submit to such biblical leadership entrusted to the church pastor who is tasked to rule the local church (1 Tim. 3:4-5; 1 Thess. 5:12,14; and Heb. 13:7,17). This practice is a demonstration of our belief and submission to the biblical norm. When the world rejects this practice it simply shows its repugnance to and replacement of God’s words with their best fallible alternatives. We are never to allow the supremacy of Christ over the local church to be clouded by any human replacement.
As saved people we must be desirous for the coming of Christ’s reign. We must long for this perfect system as we encounter the frailty of human system. The weaknesses of Christian rulers at our local churches should all the more move us to see the forthcoming reign of Christ.
Third, the supremacy of Christ’s people shall be demonstrated in this world (v.5). The prophet invites the people of Israel, via prophecy, to join him in the life of walking before the Lord. At the time of prophecy Israel was not pleasing before the Lord. She was not right in the Lord. The darkness of idolatry and its consequences were dominant in Israel. However, in the millennial period, she will be different. Israel will not only be supreme in politics and in other areas of human life. But she will be spiritual before the Lord. She will walk right before Him. The light of the Lord will be her guide in her conduct.
Presently, Israel is not walking in the Lord. She is in national rejection of the Lord’s authority over her. She even opposes God’s words’ influence upon her. She does not recognize the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah and the coming King of Kings, the Liberator of Israel from the power of antichrist. But there will be a change, as prophet Ezekiel prophesied. God is able to revive even dead bones, a picture of the spiritual condition of Israel. Her rejection will culminate at the antichrist’s deception over her as she desires national security in Palestine. When the antichrist succeeds to deceive her, the nations will think that they have triumphed. But only for a while, as the King of Kings will come to liberate her from such deception. Then Israel will be exalted into global prominence as God’s people. She will be shown to the world as supreme due to Christ’s power.
Consider that in this period, you and me as saved people are part also of Christ’s supreme reign on earth with His beloved nation Israel. This truth must be shown in the affairs of the local church. What a great privilege to share in the reign of the Lord Jesus Christ with His chosen people! The world may take all the power so long as I have the certainty of Christ’s reign both in spirit and on earth! The world may rob our cherished hard earned resources so long as we are certain of Christ’s rewards both in His judgment seat and at His earthly kingdom rule. The world may strip the local church of her earthly belongings so long as she is sure of Christ’s eternal garb. As we wait for the establishment of the Son of God’s millennial kingdom we must demonstrate His supremacy over the local church in every pursuit. Amen!
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