Isaiah: Thy Kingdom Come!

Isaiah 60

What was meant to be a fun day of celebration at the Nova Music Festival turned into a vicious and gruesome terrorist attack. In a surprise raid, Hamas-backed militants breached the Gaza-Israeli border. They targeted the festival, murdering 378 young people and taking forty-four as hostages. Several similar coordinated attacks occurred on October 7, 2023, leaving 1,200 Israelis dead and a total of 250 taken hostage.

Israel’s response to the carnage provoked impassioned and often destructive reactions around the world, opening the door to outspoken antisemitism. “From the river to the sea,” a phrase that calls for the annihilation of Israel, was chanted through city streets and on college campuses. The same universities that promoted special rights for transgender students allowed Jewish students to be harassed, kept from classes, and fearful for their safety.

This raises the question: Why is Israel—a country the size of New Jersey—making headlines every day and facing widespread criticism from many around the world? 

The answer to me is simple: Israel is God’s chosen people by whom he sent his Son, and God has a future for the nation. We also know that Satan is hell-bound to destroy God’s people, whether it be Israel or believers around the world.

In our study of the book of Isaiah, we have seen God’s interaction with Israel. He loves them as a father and thus disciplines his children. One day, he will gather them back together to establish his eternal kingdom.

In deducing the future, I hold to what is called a “literal-grammatical interpretation” of Scripture. My understanding of the end times unfolds as follows:

1. The Rapture of the Church. Christ will come and gather up all believers from the earth. The dead in Christ will also be raised to meet Christ (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-52).
2. The Tribulation. After the rapture, there will be a seven-year period of judgment and suffering on the earth (Rev. 6-18).
3. The Second Coming. Jesus will return physically and visibly to the earth with all the saints (Rev. 19). 
4. The Millennial Kingdom. Jesus will reign for 1,000 years in Jerusalem. Satan will be bound during this time (Rev. 20:1-6). 
5. Satan’s final rebellion. Satan is released and defeated forever (Rev. 20:7-10).
6. The Great White Throne Judgment. All unbelievers will be judged (Rev. 20:11-15).
7. The New Heaven and New Earth. This signals God’s new eternal order (Rev. 21-22).

There are many details within each of these seven events that I will discuss more fully when we consider the book of Revelation. Our team is willing to answer any questions you might have now, but keep in mind that we will be studying this more in-depth. I presented this end times overview because today’s passage is a prophecy concerning what I believe to be the millennial kingdom.

Here’s how Isaiah 60 begins:

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Isaiah reveals that it is time for Israel to shine. She is to display God’s glory to all the nations. Israel will be instrumental in purging spiritual darkness throughout the world.

Jesus has removed the spiritual darkness in the life of every believer; therefore, we are to be an instrument of light in the world as well (John 12:35-36; Acts 26:18; Rom. 2:19; Col. 1:13-14; 1 Peter 2:9). In that sense, the “kingdom” is already here. And…a physical kingdom is coming! That’s why we describe the eternal kingdom as “already, not yet.”

I mentioned earlier that many nations and peoples of the world desire to see Israel’s demise. However, Isaiah describes a day when the Jews will be regathered in Jerusalem (Isa. 60:4).

Other countries will also come to Jerusalem because the King is there, and they will honor Israel with gifts. Isaiah 60:5-11 provides examples of six countries that will assemble in Israel, bringing their treasures. They will come for “the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has made you beautiful” (Isa. 60:9).

God’s blessings upon Israel will be noted by the world during the thousand-year reign. Israel will hold prominent positions in the world’s political, economic, religious, and social structures.[1] Leaders around the world will desire to support Israel (Isa. 60:10); however, any nation that stands against them will be “utterly laid waste” (Isa. 60:12).

And note this: All the nations and peoples who have been chanting “From the river to the sea” will one day honor Israel because the King is with them.

Isaiah 60:14
The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 

Israel has been “forsaken and hated” (Isa. 60:15), but that day is over. God says, “I will make you majestic forever... and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (Isa. 60:15-16).

During the millennial kingdom, “violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise” (Isa. 60:18).

This passage will be our Anchor Point: 

Isaiah 60:19-20
The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. 

Humanity cannot, by any means, whether intellect, negotiation, treaties, military power, or financial superiority, usher in world peace. History gives sufficient proof of that. Yet God can and will! The millennial kingdom will be a taste of heaven on earth, until we live in the New Heaven and New Earth forever!

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Isaiah 60. Focus on our Anchor Point—Isaiah 60:19-20. 
What does it mean to you personally that Jesus is your everlasting light?  

Talking to God:  Thank God for the future he has for every believer. 

Have Questions?
Be sure to send your questions to our team. We are happy to assist you as we study God's Word together. Submit your question below, and we'll reply soon. Let us know if you’d like to learn more about a relationship with Jesus or need spiritual counsel.

Every day is a day of spiritual renewal as we follow hard after Jesus.