July 10, 2020

A Perfect Kingdom Is Coming

By Skip Heitzig

There's a wall just outside the United Nations building in New York City with an inscription of Isaiah 2:4 on it, which says, "They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore."

Can you, in our current climate, imagine a world like that? Well, all of that and more is exactly what the Bible predicts is coming in the millennial reign of Christ, when Jesus will return and set up His kingdom on earth for 1,000 years. Today I want to look specifically at what Isaiah the prophet had to say about this kingdom, focusing on three aspects of it from Isaiah 9:6-7:

1. A remarkable King—Jesus. In verse 6, we're told about His humanity, deity, and sovereignty. First is His humanity: "For unto us a Child is born." This is what we celebrate at Christmas: Jesus coming into the world as a baby, fully God but also fully man (see John 1:14).

Then there's His deity: "Unto us a Son is given." Saying that Jesus was given (see also John 3:16) suggests He already existed as God as the second person in the Trinity before He was born. And finally, there's His sovereignty: "The government will be upon His shoulder." One day, Jesus will come back and rule the earth as monarch, bearing the responsibility of the government on His shoulders.

2. His royal character. "And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (v. 6). These titles are indicative of the Messiah's royal character as King during the kingdom age.

First, He is a wonderful counselor (there's no punctuation between these words in the original Hebrew). Can you imagine having a counselor who knew absolutely everything before you walked in the office? That's Jesus. He's also the mighty God. This makes His role as counselor even more profound because it means only He has the power to change you.

He is also the everlasting Father. In the kingdom age, the Messiah will be like a father to His people, providing tender and compassionate care. And finally, He is the Prince of Peace. When Jesus returns, He will end all wars and set up a time of incredible peace.

3. His righteous kingdom. "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this" (v. 7).

This kingdom will be an eternal kingdom; it will keep on going and expanding, getting better, more peaceful, and purer. It will also be a historical kingdom, one that was promised historically to King David (see 2 Samuel 7:16; Luke 1:32). And finally, it will be an equitable kingdom, with one perfect ruler—our Messiah.

The one who created the world, lived in the world He created, and died for the world He created is the only one fit to rule—and rule one day He will. Aren't you glad of that? May that inspire you to pray even more fervently, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).

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For more from Skip Heitzig, visit ConnectwithSkip.com, and listen to today's broadcast of Connect with Skip Heitzig at OnePlace.com.