Series in Micah - The Glorious Promised Reign of Christ Jesus Pt.1

 

The Glorious Promised Reign of Christ Jesus Pt.1

Micah 4:1-4

There is much anticipation by some and apprehension by others over the topic of the Millennial reign of Christ Jesus which establishes and culminates in the restoration and exaltation of Jerusalem as the political, spiritual, and judicial capital of the world. For there are three major views on the Millennial reign of Christ. From those who hold to amillennial eschatology, that there is no future millennial reign by Jesus on Earth. They have taken the literal interpretation and symbolized and spiritualized the scripture through allegorical interpretation and teachings that Jesus already reigns in heaven for eternity and He reigns now in the church spiritually. They hold also to the teachings that the church has replaced Israel, replacement theology. It culminates with Jesus’ return at the last judgment to the earth, then a new heaven and new Earth.

 Then there is the post millennial interpretation that Jesus will return at the end of a thousand years for the jewish and gentiles by a great awakening. During this spiritual awakening on earth, the believers are to take dominion over the world’s political, economical, educational, social, family, entertainment, and the business aspects of the world. Once that is done, then the kingdom of God will be established on earth then Jesus can come and reign.

Last, there are the Tribulationist views of pre tribulation, mid tribulation, and post tribulation views of eschatology.  Hermetically, I myself hold to the literal historical grammatical interpretation of scripture, and I’m pre tribulationist. With the background laid of end times views, I want to stay within the context of the jewish prophecies pertaining to God’s promise to restore and exalt Jerusalem and the temple in the last days, the millennial reign of the Messiah King and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

So let us read the first portion of the text, “And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations.” (NASB 1995)

Micah wasn’t the first to proclaim the restoration of Jerusalem and the temple in the last days, king David had foreseen the appointed time of the restoration of Jerusalem for the sake of the Name of the Almighty. “But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity. The nations will fear the name of the Lord, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. For the Lord will rebuild Zion  and appear in his glory.” (Psalms 102:12-13 NIV) 

Jerusalem would be destroyed because of their rebellion, wickedness, transgressions, and harlotry towards the Lord God Almighty. Micah had seen the vision of the total destruction of Jerusalem, Israel and the World in an earlier oracle from God (ch.1) He has proclaimed and declared the immediate judgment on Israel and Judah into bondage and captivity. (ch. 2-3) Now God speaks through Micah of the future restoration of Jerusalem, as He did Isaiah and Hosea, His contemporary prophets of God. 

  Micah begins the new oracle with a familiar term used of the prophets, “the last days” Micah didn’t have a time frame but an indefinite promise from God that His appointed time would come to pass as He proclaimed. “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Num. 23:19)

Micah begins with the restoration of the temple mount and the established Temple that would be revealed to Ezekiel. (Ezk. 36-37;40-48) “the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains.”

Jerusalem was known as the mountain of God, and the dwelling place of His presence was the temple in Jerusalem. In the last days, an appointed time in the future, God would restore Israel back to life (Ezk.37) and He will establish Jerusalem as the chief mountain in the world ( the capital of the world). For mountains symbolized the authority and majesty in the world because of their stature and loftiness above all things.

Micah now proclaims that the world (peoples, nations) would stream, running and flowing to the city of God as it was proclaimed by God to Israel as well. The reason why they came was to see and hear the Lord first hand, to be taught by King Jesus of his ways and that they would learn to walk in His paths. “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.” (Isa. 2:2-3 NIV)

Jerusalem and the temple would be described in Ezekiel as the throne and seat of justice, instruction (Torah), and the law. This was not the old levitical law, but a new law based on the new covenant that was instituted and established by Jesus Christ, the focus will be a deeper understanding and the practices of God, and righteousness as was in the New Covenant taught by Jesus and His twelve apostles, the New Covenant will be written on the heart and in the mind of the jewish and gentile believers. ”This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (Heb. 8:10 NIV) 

“It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors…“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people…No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jer. 31:31-34)

Last, the law in the New Covenant will be the Word of the Lord Jesus, for He will judge from His throne in the temple in Jerusalem, he will judge with an iron scepter, with true justice, and render truth and righteous decisions amongst all the nations, near and far, small and great.

Application - It sounds like utopia, but it is still the old earth, and there are still those who have not received glorified bodies. Jesus Christ will reign on Earth for a thousand year period dispensing truth and justice. The mountain of God, the temple described Ezekiel (40-48) will be the capital of the world. 

Today, it is amazing to see Old Testament and New Testament prophecies being fulfilled in our lifetime. Israel, coming back (as if from the dead Ezek. 37), into their original homeland (1917, 1948). Then in 1967, Israel unified western and eastern Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Today, Jerusalem and Israel are in a battle for its existence, but God has His plans and appointed times and it will all happen as He spoke and purposes! 

But before the establishment of the millennial temple in Jerusalem, there will be the times of Jacob’s trouble prophesied by Jeremiah (37:4-7); Ezek. (5:1-4), Amos (5:16-17, 9:9); and (Daniel 12:7). In the New Testament this is called the Tribulation and Great Tribulation of the book of Revelation. At the end of the tribulation (Jacob’s Trouble and Daniel’s 70th week), Jesus will return to the Earth in His Shekinah glory with the saints and angel army, He will land on the Mount of Olives and defeat Satan and all the armies who defy God at Megiddo in the valley of Jezreel, this is the battle of Armageddon, the last battle before the Millennial reign of Christ Jesus. 

During this reign, Jesus will fulfill the prophecies declared by Isaiah (Isa. 9:6-7) and Micah 4:(1-8).

Next, Micah declares that there will be true peace and security in the world. So let's read the final portion of the text. “Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war. Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid,

for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.”

With the world totally decimated because of the judgment of God on the world (Mic. 1:3-4) God will rebuild the world after His tribulation judgments and all the peoples of the world will take their weapons of war, their technological battle armaments and destroy them of their original purposes and make them into articles for a pastoral lifestyle of farming, trade, and commerce. For the peoples of the world will be totally united under the reign of Jesus. No leader will take up the role of despot, or tyrant, for the people are under the watchful eyes of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. 

There will not be any fear of war, no training on how to invade another's property. All will rest in contentment, beast as well as man, secure, and in peace. “And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little boy will lead them. also the cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The nursing child will play by the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child will put his hand on the viper’s den. They will not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. ” (Isa. 11:6-9 NASB 1995)

They will live on the prosperity of their labor and the joint laboring of neighbors. They will rejoice in the presence of God the Holy Spirit, and in the established peace from the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ, as Isaiah foretold, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Isa. 9:6-7 NIV)

Application - What a time to be living in! Imagine the difference from a world of fear, insecurity, wars and rumors of wars, famines, plaques, viruses, hatred, murder and chaos. You can talk to your neighbor without fear of reprisals, malice, and judgment. Everyone will be directed by Jesus from His throne in Jerusalem. Everyone will know Jesus for no one will need to be taught, for His new covenant is written on the hearts of all men, women, and children, and in the minds of all. We will journey to Jerusalem and worship Jesus at the temple, and see and hear Him audibly. 

For a thousand years, mankind will reign with Jesus. “Blessed and holy is the one who takes part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6 NIV) 

And yet there is still more to come, until next week, God bless and Maranatha. 

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com