Isaiah 60:2,19
"...darkness will cover the earth,
and total darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will shine over you,
and his glory will appear over you.... The sun will no longer be your light by day, and the brightness of the moon will not shine on you.
The Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your splendor..."
Zion is the light in the darkness. And all the nations of the universe come to her. They flood her with their wealth and worship the King of the Universe there. Foreigners will rebuild Jerusalem's walls, gentile kings from all the nations of the earth.
Revelation 21:23-24
"The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God illuminates it, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it."
The purpose of the nation's coming into her will be to worship Yahweh who is the source of the light and the hope for all who follow Christ and look for the final triumph of God in Him.
In declaring Himself to be the Light of the world, Jesus has claimed that He is the exclusive source of all spiritual light. No other source of spiritual truth is available to mankind. He said, ‘I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the light of life.’ (John 8:12)
And just as He came as the Light of the world, He commands us to be “lights,” too in Matthew 5:14–16. Just as the moon has no light of its own, but is reflecting the light of the sun, so are believers in Christ who are reflecting the Light of Christ.
This prophetic scripture in Isaiah 60 is about the millennial age, and the kingdom come. The Millennial Kingdom of God and the celestial city which is the New Jerusalem. Some believe this occurs as a consequence of the successfully completed spread of the gospel throughout all the nations. It doesn't seem very likely based upon the historical evidence of the church age and the condition of mankind today.
Others believe the millennial kingdom is not literal. It's replacement theology, which concludes that the church has replaced Israel as the target for the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Again, a quick Look around at the state of the world should dispel any notions that the government of God is complete in "The Church".
And there are still some who believe that ethnic Israel is where God will fulfill the promises of the Abrahamic Covenant in a 1000-year millennial kingdom age. There Jerusalem will be the focus of worldwide governance and worship. And again, even in this case the theological efforts fail to account for the modern darkness of humanity.
What's missing in all of these is the transformative power of God. Each of these doctrines focuses on the importance and power of humanity and its relationship with God, nature, and the spiritual life.
What do we know to be true?
1. God will save his people, that's the theme of the entire Bible, but especially present in Isaiah 60-62.
2. God himself will give light to them, and they will reflect that light.
3. God he will share his glory with them, they will receive his righteousness and be his glory. It's all about His glory.
4. Zion will be like a magnet, the nations of the new earth will be drawn to what they see of God in Israel.
5. Zion will gather her children from all the nations and restore them to her. All her enemies will be brought down low and made subservient to her.
6. And they will bring their wealth to her and they will be her wealth in righteousness.
7. Zion will experience righteousness and exemplify the righteousness of God.
There is a process that must take place. We can see it if we have spiritual eyes. We can understand it if we understand that at the heart of all of it is the transformative power of God at work.
Isaiah 60:1-2 (emphasis mine)
“Arise, shine; for your light has come," (God did that in the incarnation, the begetting of Jesus, Son of the living God)
"And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you." (Jesus gave his life and takes it back up again, ascending into his glory. And the prophecy of Joel is fulfilled in the outpouring of God’s Spirit, in which he sends his Holy Spirit to bring resurrection remembrance and inspiration to all who believe)
"For behold, darkness will cover the earth," (the prophecy yet to be fulfilled, the coming pouring out of the wrath of God upon the earth, when sun goes dark and the moon turns red)
"And deep darkness the peoples;" (A great battle is coming, and all the enemies of God will war against the kingdom of God, led by the Beast and his antiChrist cohorts in the church.)
"But the LORD will rise upon you," (The king of the Universe will rise up and take up his people to be with him, and with a word he will destroy all the enemies of Heaven.)
"And His glory will appear upon you.” (The fulfillment of all the Bible promises comes in the coming of Zion, the new Jerusalem.)
Isaiah's prophecy anticipates a day when this process will be complete, and the salvation of the Gentiles becomes the means for the salvation of “all Israel.”
Israel is blinded from accepting this reality until such time as the grafting in of the gentile world is finished (Romans 11:25).
“And foreigners will build up your walls, And their kings will minister to you; For in My wrath I struck you,
And in My favor I have had compassion on you.” (Isaiah 60:10)
Isaiah’s vision merges the Millennium (the present earth restored to its pre-fallen state) with the New Heavens and the New Earth. In the fulfillment of his prophecy the best of what the nations have to offer will belong to Israel. This is God's word and promise to Israel. No matter how you feel today about the Nation of Israel, you'll never be able to take this away from them. It is beyond all human intervention. God has promised it, and nothing can change that.
“Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Isaiah 60:16b)
God is glorified by the literal fulfillment of all of His promises. Nothing is too difficult for God. He will usher us into a future that is beyond our wildest expectations and imaginations.
Revelation 22:1-5
"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever."
Amen.
Friends,
I pray for all who have seen these words that they be blessed and receive His forgiveness and mercy now and always as we keep watch for his coming and the completion of his promises. Look for me there...but I'll be very surprised if I'm dressed in a suit.
Revelation 22:20-21
"He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen."
#TheKingdomOfGod #Jerusalem #JesusIsKing