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IsaiahSurvey of the Old Testament: The ProphetsFall 2005 |
Table of Contents |
After Isaiah's prophecies of deliverance from exile and from their transgressions, the book's final six chapters conclude with a description of the final deliverance of Israel to future glory during the time of the Messianic kingdom. The time of this Messianic kingdom is sometimes referred to as the “Millennium,” due to its 1,000 year length predicted in Revelation 20:1-6.
There are a number of different ways that scholars look at the Messianic kingdom prophecies in the bible. These viewpoints all center around how one views the relationship between the nation of Israel and the church [1].
The a- in amillenialism means “no” or “not.” The amillennialist, then does not believe in a literal Messianic kingdom as predicted by the prophets. Instead, the Messianic kingdom is being fulfilled today in the present age of the church. Because Israel had rejected the Messiah, the promises given to her were transferred to the church. Predictions of peace and prosperity and the rule of Christ over the world are all figurative language referring to Christ's reign over the church. This is the viewpoint of most reformed and Catholic theologians.
The amillenialist still believes in the second coming of Christ, but it will take place as a single event which ushers in final judgment for the unbeliever and a new future glorious kingdom on the new earth.
The “pre-“ millennialist believes the Christ will return “before” the Messianic kingdom. The Messiah will then physically rule over the world from His capitol in Jerusalem for a literal 1,000 years. Israel will be the focal point of this Messianic kingdom, and Christ will bring gather all the Jewish people to himself where they will enjoy an unprecedented time of peace and prosperity.
Under the premillennialist viewpoint, the church has not inherited the promises given to Israel and those promises will be fulfilled literally by the Jews at a yet future time. After this time, Christ will usher in a time of final judgment for the unbeliever and create a new heaven and a new earth.
Premillennialist have varying viewpoints on the role the church plays in that age. One's viewpoint depends heavily upon whether one believes in a pretribulational rapture of the church. Either the church will reign with Christ in their post resurrection glorified bodies, or the church will be absorbed into the nation of Israel and represent the nations invited to participate with Israel in its future glory.
Postmillennialist believe that Christ will return only after the church has created by herself a time of peace and prosperity which fulfills the prophecies. This viewpoint was popular in the late 19 th and early 20 th century as the church took on a new emphasis for social justice and utopianism. Postmillennialism virtually died out after World War II and the realization that such a time of peace could not be achieved without Christ himself.
In my opinion, the events and circumstances surrounding the Messianic kingdom do not correlate with any time in history. Furthermore, the prophecies which have been fulfilled were fulfilled literally, not spiritually. Therefore, I believe it is appropriate to consider the Messianic kingdom as a yet-future event in which the promises given to Israel will be fulfilled literally by the Jewish nation.
The promise of the future kingdom for Israel begins with the gathering of the Jews from all the corners of the earth back to Jerusalem and the Promised Land (60:4). The Jewish people will come from afar bringing the wealth of the entire world with them (60:5b). However, it will not just be Israel that gathers in Jerusalem. The lord shall gather all the nations (66:18).
When Israel comes to the Messianic kingdom, no longer will the nation be subservient to the other nations. After years of abuse and terror at the hands of other nations, now Israel will rule as the lone superpower in the world, for Christ himself will be their king. Never again will Israel have to give up its produce as tribute to other nations (62:8-9).Nations will either donate generously to the rebuilding of Israel (60:10-11, 13), or they will be destroyed (60:12).
This will be a time of unprecedented prosperity for Israel and the entire world. Economically, values will be skewed upwards due to the abundance, as gold will be as plentiful as bronze and silver as plentiful as iron (60:17). This wealth will come as all the nations bring their tribute to Israel (60:16).
The rule of the Messiah will usher in a time of peace as unseen before (65:12). Violence will be unheard of in the kingdom (60:18). War will be abolished, because the Messiah will serve as the judge between the nations and His decision will be final and will be backed up with His power (2:4). This era of peace will not just affect nations, however. All creation will enjoy peace as predator and prey lie down together (65:25).
This time of healing and peace affect are not just spiritual, but will affect even the health of the people in the kingdom. People will live amazingly long lives (65:20), living as long as the trees (65:22). Furthermore, the population of God's people will grow, as even the smallest people group become as large nation (60:22).
The peace, health and prosperity will be physical. However, the Messiah will also bring about spiritual peace, health and prosperity. God's people will be made righteous and they will never again depart from following the Lord (60:21). All the world will see the righteousness of Israel and this will be her glory (62:1-2). The nation of Israel will no longer be a nation of rebellion, but will now be the Lord's delight (62:4). In the time of the Messianic kingdom, Israel and all humanity receives its final salvation and its final redemption (62:11-12).
The greatest aspect of Israel's future glory, however, is that Yahweh himself will dwell physically in Jerusalem. The glory of the Lord will be among the nation (60:1-3). This glory is so bright that no longer will it be necessary for there to be a sun or a moon, for God himself will serve as the literal light unto the nations (60:19-20).
In the first half of Isaiah, the arrogant nations were condemned for their pride and for putting themselves above the God. However, those who were humble were delivered from their plight. This theme is reiterated in chapters 60-66. It is the humble who will receive the coming kingdom, while the proud will be rejected.
In Chapter 61:1-2, the purpose of the coming of the Messiah is to bring deliverance to the afflicted, the broken hearted, and the captives.
Early in the ministry of Jesus, he read this very passage from a scroll in the synagogue in Nazareth, and then proclaimed, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:16-21). Indeed, much of Jesus ministry was one of brining deliverance and healing to the poor and the suffering. Ultimately, his death on the cross would bring salvation to those who were humble enough to accept it.
These same afflicted and broken hearted will be those who eventually will be received into the coming Messianic kingdom. After Isaiah eloquently describes the peace and prosperity of the kingdom in 65:17-25, the Lord reminds us that He is above all things (66:1) and that He created all things (66:2a). Those who humbly recognize these facts and are contrite of heart, they will be the person will participate in the glorious kingdom.
However, Jesus stopped reading after the first part of verse 2 [2]. The second half of verse 2 says that the Messiah will bring the day of vengeance of our God. This was not Jesus purpose in His first advent (John 3:17). But it will be a part of the second advent of the Messiah.
The Messiah will come marching in greatness and strength in His “dress uniform” (63:1) to bring judgment and exercise his wrath on the people (63:3, 6). Those who practice their religion with hypocrisy will be among the fist who receive the Messiah's judgment (66:3-4). The Messiah will usher in His kingdom by executing judgment and slaying those who have arrogantly opposed Him and His people (66:14-16). Thos who do not enter into the kingdom will face everlasting torture and judgment (66:24).
Isaiah's description of the coming kingdom is designed to bring comfort to Israel which is going into a time of captivity under Assyria and then Babylon. It is a reminder to the people that God has not forsaken them. He will bring judgment to the enemies of Israel and He will someday reestablish Israel as the center piece of the Messianic kingdom.
But to participate in this kingdom, Israel needs to trust in the salvation of Yahweh. Chapter 63:7-19, Isaiah leads the nation into a prayer of confession. It begins with a recognition of the grace granted the nation by Yahweh (63:7-8), and how their God had been their salvation (63:8). Specifically he remembers the Exodus, where God redeemed His people from slavery in Egypt and brought them into the Promised Land (63:11-14). But now the nation had forgotten their God. They had a hard heart (63:17) and in their rebellion became unrecognizable as children of Abraham and Israel (63:16). They had become as all the other nations (63:19).
Isaiah confesses the sinfulness of the nation (64:5-7), and then proclaims repentance and a willingness to do whatever the Lord demands (64:8). Then the Lord will end his wrath and forgive their sins (64:9).
But this call to repentance does not just apply to Israel. All the nations will come and see the glory of the Lord in the coming kingdom. The entire world will come up to the holy mountain of Zion and will bow before the Lord. In the coming kingdom Israel will realize it's calling to be the nation through which all humanity will come to know the true God.
"For I know their works and their thoughts; the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see My glory…. And it shall be from new moon to new moon And from sabbath to sabbath, All mankind will come to bow down before Me," says the LORD. (Isaiah 66:18, 23)
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