In the concluding portion of our series on the “Eschatological” significance of Nation of Israel to all keen Biblical Students, we come to the subject of the Millennial rule of Christ…
Supremacy…
“In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” (Isaiah 2:2-4)
Jesus in the Millennium would rule the World from Jerusalem along with Saints of the Old Testament and Christians of all ages (including the martyred ones of the tribulation). The ruled would comprise of the Jews and those Gentiles who had accepted Him during the tribulation and had survived it. The Gentiles would have come to trust in Jesus during the tribulation thanks to the unstinted efforts of:
a) Of the 144,000 evangelistic Jews (Rev 7:4)
b) Our Prophecies which they had not believed before the Rapture but would believe (during the tribulation) and be swayed by it, as everything would pan out as per those prophecies
c) Gospel proclamation by an angel flying in mid-air (Rev 14:6-7)
Today the United Nations Organization (headquarters in New York) the institution birthed to bring about peace in the World has in the vicinity of its gates, engraved part of the afore-referred Scripture portion: “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore” missing out on a key accompanying Scripture portion (more about it in the next paragraph).
Has the UNO succeeded in accomplishing the main purpose behind its institution? The answer is obvious…the Syrian carnage, Egyptian Civil War, Libyan unrest being flashed in the media today, besides all the wars fought between the Nations from 1945 onwards (year of its birth) till now, simply attest to the fact that it has miserably failed, so much so that a famous novelist, Alistair Maclean (of Where Eagles Dare and Guns of Navorone fame), wrote very bluntly (when I say bluntly, I mean really bluntly) in one of his novels: “The United Nations cannot stop a dog from peeing in front of its gates”.
However, when the Lord reigns from Jerusalem (this key captioned Scripture portion is missing in the inscription near the UNO gates), the story would be starkly different as the “Nations then will indeed beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore”. For most of the time, there would be universal peace.
Before the Saviour comes to reign, in this Grace age, let’s invite Him to reign in our hearts first. Did He not say that His Kingdom (Baselia in Greek — Matt 4:17) is very near…as near as our own hearts and mouths? If we believe in our hearts that He has died for our sins and confess it with our mouth, His “Kingdom” would enter our hearts (Romans 10:8-9). The apostle Paul talks about it in Romans 14:17 using the same word Baselia…“Kingdom of God is righteousness (right standing with God), peace and joy of the Holy Spirit”. Virtually, a foretaste of Heaven, Jesus promised elsewhere in the Gospels (John 7:37-38/John 10:10). Friends, rejoice in the living waters which would gush through your hearts. Take my word, I am speaking with the benefit of 31 years of experience of walking with the Lord and rejoicing in His presence every minute of the way (barring those moments, when I would foolishly disobey and lose out on His joyous presence and experience “a little Hell” on this side of the Eternity).
Little Israel eh…Boy, it packs a punch in the spiritual realm! Do not we owe it a Saviour, Salvation and Scriptures? Add to this fact that one of its cities (Jerusalem) would be the future World capital, and at once there is a ring of sanctity about this Nation. Even as we look forward to the imminent rapture of the Church, let’s pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the salvation of Jews, never missing out on an opportunity of speaking about the joys of walking with Jesus with them. It would make them jealous to have what we possess…the indwelling joy of the Holy Spirit by the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. While for Jews the Kingdom of God is an expectation, for Christians it is an experience (enjoying 24*7 the righteousness, peace and joy of the Holy Spirit) besides being a realistic expectation (the Millennial Kingdom).
Come Lord Jesus to reign in our hearts first in this Grace age and then the World from Jerusalem very soon (Rev 22:20)!
Prayer: Father, how our hearts long for “Your will to be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven“. May Your Son’s reign be established in this World, very soon. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Suresh Manoharan
An unworthy servant
J and SM Ministries
(To access the entire “God of a Small Nation” mini-series, please click here.)