Much of what the prophets had to say was for the people of Samaria and Jerusalem in the 6th Century B.C.. We can take from these men, then, lessons about how God acts under certain conditions. We can say if God did this to Jerusalem because of this behavior or that behavior then He will likewise act in America should we have this or that behavior.
But it is important to note that not all which the prophets spoke was for the 6th Century. Some of what they prophesied was for a time far removed from the Divided Kingdom, Assyria, Babylon, or even the ancient world.
Many spoke prophecies which pertained to the coming of the one they called Messiah. Some of those prophecies were fulfilled when Jesus was born into the world at the turn of the last dispensation. Still others have gone yet unfulfilled. We are still waiting for their time to come. Today I would like to begin looking at some of these prophecies about what lies beyond even our present understanding of things. Let us look to what lies beyond, to that which Isaiah saw.
In Isaiah 24 the prophet begins by speaking about a time of ending for the nations of earth. This is an event which is yet in our future but I assure you is coming.
“Look! The LORD is about to destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland. See how he is scattering the people over the face of the earth. Priests and laypeople, servants and masters, maids and mistresses, buyers and sellers, lenders and borrowers, bankers and debtors–none will be spared. The earth will be completely emptied and looted. The LORD has spoken! The earth dries up, the crops wither, the skies refuse to rain. The earth suffers for the sins of its people, for they have twisted the instructions of God, violated his laws, and broken his everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse consumes the earth and its people. They are left desolate, destroyed by fire. Few will be left alive.” Isaiah 24: 1-6 NLT
There is coming a time of destruction such as the world has not known since the flood. Daniel and Revelation call it the time of the “tribulation” and “the great tribulation”. In those days most of the Earth’s population will be destroyed (most except those who are removed in the rapture but that is another post). Even the wicked angels who have plagued Earth throughout the history of mankind will be judged according to Isa 24:21.
It will be a terrible time and it is coming. But beyond that lies a time of glorious wonder and mystery called the thousand-year reign. It is named such in Revelation 18. Isaiah however saw much of it in his visions.
In that time:
Jesus will be king of Earth’s government.
“the LORD Almighty will mount his throne on Mount Zion. He will rule gloriously in Jerusalem, in the sight of all the leaders of his people. There will be such glory that the brightness of the sun and moon will seem to fade away.” Isa. 24:23 NLT
“the government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His ever-expanding, peaceful government will never end. He will rule forever with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David. The passionate commitment of the LORD Almighty will guarantee this!” Isa. 9:6,7 NLT
There will be a time of great peace for the thousand years.
“In that day of peace, battle gear will no longer be issued. Never again will uniforms be bloodstained by war. All such equipment will be burned.” Isa. 9:5 NLT
It will be a time of holiness. Sin and addiction will be unable to hold people captive any longer.
“But in the future, Israel–the branch of the LORD–will be lush and beautiful, and the fruit of the land will be the pride of its people. All those whose names are written down, who have survived the destruction of Jerusalem, will be a holy people. The Lord will wash the moral filth from the women of Jerusalem. He will cleanse Jerusalem of its bloodstains by a spirit of judgment that burns like fire. Then the LORD will provide shade for Jerusalem and all who assemble there. There will be a canopy of smoke and cloud throughout the day and clouds of fire at night, covering the glorious land. It will be a shelter from daytime heat and a hiding place from storms and rain.” Isa. 4: 2-6
Imagine a world with no political corruption, no war, and no addiction to any drug, sexual immorality, or co-dependent behavior. Whatever judgment or trouble is to come on this world the new world that Jesus will bring is worth waiting for. It is that world I have my eyes on not this morning’s headlines.
There is more! I cannot wait to tell you! Check back tomorrow!
Reinventing the We'll 