2020-10-06 “it shall come to pass in the last days”

Isaiah 2:2  “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

In Isaiah’s day, the Promised Land was divided between the Nation of Israel and the Nation of Judah.  After the death of Solomon, the nation was contentiously divided and remained so until the whole region was captured and subjugated by other nations.  The Nation of Judah consisted primarily of two Tribes, Judah and Benjamin.  It was known as the Nation of Judah because the Tribe of Judah was by far the largest and most powerful, and Jerusalem was the capital city of the Nation of Judah.  The national name “Judah” emphasizes the prophecy that “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” (Genesis 49:10).  Isaiah tells us that his prophecy in Chapter Two is “concerning Judah and Jerusalem” (Isaiah 2:1), not necessarily the entire world in all ages and in all circumstances.  However, the coming of our Lord and His establishment of His Church has pleasantly impacted the entire world.  He tells us that his prophecy “shall come to pass in the last days”; that is, in the “days” of the Messiah.  In this context, these “days” of the Messiah began with our Lord’s virgin conception and birth and will continue until this world is no more.  These “days” didn’t end when the Lord was Crucified nor when He ascended into Heaven, for even right now He supremely reigns as “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (I Timothy 6:15).  Peter affirms that we are right now in the “last days” (Acts 2:17).  Paul described the debauchery of “the last days” (II Timothy 3:1-5).  We are also told that God “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2); that is, Christ came into this world and revealed Himself to His people and taught them.  Peter also forewarns us of lust-motivated “scoffers”; telling us that “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts” (II Peter 3:3).  John positively affirms that “it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time” (I John 2:18).  Yet, even in the very midst of our present-day confusion, chaos, anger, and strife; the Lord has “established” “the mountain of the LORD’S house”.  Now, we rejoice, for the “established” “mountain of the LORD’S house” is where we find refuge from the storms, peace that overwhelms tumult, joy that overcome sadness, and hope that dispels despair.  So, we rejoice to hear “many people” “say” “Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD” (Isaiah 2:3)!