In the Last Days

This is what Isaiah, son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised 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 house 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. Come, O house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord. (Isaiah 2:1–5, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Think of the world as it is today. Then imagine someone able to “judge between the nations” to such an extent that “nation will not take up sword against nation.” A world no longer in need of armaments. As a result, “they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nor will they train for war anymore.” Not a Pax Romana. Not a Pax Americana. But rather a Pax Messiah.

It could have come much earlier. Before “the last days.” When the Messiah, Jesus, came the first time. He was willing. Longing, even. But other than a few followers, His people were not. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” (Matthew 23:37, NIV 1984).

To those few followers, and the ones who would come after, He left a different kind of peace. “Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26–27, NIV 1984). Peace in the midst of unrest and division. In the midst of “swords” and “spears.” In a world of “wars and rumors of wars,” where “training for war” is what nations do during the “peace” between wars.

Neither diplomacy nor appeasement has ever resulted in “peace for our time.” And the only conceivable “war to end all wars” is mutual assured destruction. A guaranteed MAD world until end of days when the Messiah returns, as He said He would. When “ the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.”

My Advice – “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. So, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Matthew 24:42, 44, NIV 1984).

Keep watch – “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.” (Matthew 24:23–24, NIV 1984). Including the most deceptive of all, the anti-Christ. He will appear shortly before Christ returns. Keep watch so you are not deceived.

Be ready – “The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come.” (Matthew 22:8, NIV 1984). You are invited. Make sure you are ready by accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is the only way you to “deserve to come.”