Isaiah 2
THE first chapter showed that the coming day of blessing on earth would not be introduced without the punishment of the wicked.
The second chapter begins with a very important statement about Jerusalem, —that in the last days God’s dwelling place on earth will be there, and that all the nations shall flow unto it. This prophecy has not yet been fulfilled, and wars and rumors of wars continue as of old.
Before it can be fulfilled, several things must happen. The Lord Jesus must return to the world in power; the devil must be shut up; the world must be cleansed by judgment, there must be a change of nature both in the Jew and in the Gentile nations so that they will be lovers of God; Jerusalem and the Holy Land must again be the home of Israel.
That this prophecy is shortly to be fulfilled, is, we believe, certain. Recent years have seen the revival of the Jewish hope of a national home in the land of their fathers, and other changes have taken place, or are in process which lead to the conclusion that the day of the Lord is now not far off.
Before it dawns He will have called away all who now trust in Him, to be His heavenly people, His body and His bride. Then a new work will begin, centering in the Jews, some of whom will believe, and a new gospel message will go worldwide.
From verses 6, 7, 8 we gather that though, like the Church in Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-2214And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. (Revelation 3:14‑22)), the house of Jacob was rich and increased with goods that are valued in this world, they were desperately poor toward God. They were filled with what the east could provide; they used auguries (soothsaying) like the Philistines (see Deuteronomy 18:10-1210There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 12For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee. (Deuteronomy 18:10‑12), and 2 Chronicles 33:66And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. (2 Chronicles 33:6)); they allied themselves with the children of foreigners; their land was full of silver and gold and there was no end of their treasures; it was full of horses and there was no end of their chariots; also it was full of idols. They had forgotten that they were to be a separate people, and had joined hands with the world around, disregarding God and His Word given to them through Moses and Joshua (Deuteronomy 6 and 7; Joshua 23). The loss was great indeed.
Because of this, God will yet enter into judgment with the Jews. He gave them up to captivity under the Babylonians, but this chapter looks on to the coming day. In that day the Lord alone will be exalted; man will be humbled, and the false gods on which he has leaned, will be thrown away in the terror of the judgment scene. We know that the judgments will be poured out on Gentiles as well as Jews (Revelation 6:14-1714And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:14‑17)).
This is what the Scriptures promise concerning this world, and not the gradual conversion of all men by the spreading of the gospel. Meanwhile, the gospel is being received into human hearts, and thus the Holy Spirit is gathering out of the world a people for heaven.
Has that gospel found lodgment in your heart?
ML 03/26/1933