In the past, whenever I have read Isaiah 2:4, I have read it as a time when the Lord would live on this earth and "fix all its problems," specifically that he would bring about world peace:"And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
As I read it this year, something stood out to me: the verse doesn't say anything about the Lord establishing peace. He will "judge" and he will "rebuke," but it is the people that will abandon war, thus ushering in a time of unprecedented peace.
(Of course, the Lord's judgments and reproofs will undoubtedly play an important role in bringing about the necessary changes of heart.)
23 October 2006
Forcing Peace (Isaiah 2:4)
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2 comments:
Brian, even among evangelicals, there is difference of opinion about eschatology. But I clearly see that we need the Lord's direct intervention for ushering in the millennium
Todd Wood: thanks for stopping by. I certainly don't dispute your statement. My question is: when he "ushers in" the millennium, will we be "ushered out" because we are too war-loving, or will we have heeded his judgements and reproofs and put away our weapons of war and therefore be "ushered to" a front-row seat?
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