Yes, Isaiah 9:6 does call Jesus the “Prince of Peace.” (Remember? “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”)
The Kingdom of Heaven come to earth, when … as our King James Bible beautifully declares … “Neither shall they learn war any more.” Quoting Micah 4:3.
But when Jesus first descends from Heaven all the way to earth, with us (the Church) in His Wake, He interrupts the Battle of Armageddon! He defeats anti-Christ and his vast armies! He really, in two words, “reaps havoc!”
“Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? Wherefore art thou RED (BLOOD RED) in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I (Jesus) have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine ANGER, and trample them in my FURY; and their BLOOD shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.” Reprinting Isaiah 63:1-3 here.
At Jesus’ Second Coming … “These (wicked nations) shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Revelation 17:14, war!
“Havoc,” Preacher Bagwell? (Havoc historically means “widespread destruction, devastation.”)
You decide: “And the winepress was trodden without the city, and BLOOD came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” A lot of blood, Revelation 14:20!
Now to this morning’s Text, Isaiah 25:2-3.
New verses to me, honestly!
“For thou (Lord Jesus) hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.”
Our gentle Lord (unless you recall Him cleansing the Temple those two times, or rebuking the Pharisees so vehemently, or casting our demons) … doing what these two verses imply?
Making wicked cities into a “heap!” (A pile of trash, junk, useless clutter!) Cities of God denying men and women who have hated Israel for centuries, anti-Semitic to the core!
Even strong cities (well-fortified, defenced) now in “ruins?” Literally now “fallen” places. Their glory days being over!
The place where “strangers” (non-Jews, gentiles, heathen) once lavishly lived, now “no more, no city at all!”
Yes, this is havoc!
And apparently these places will never be rebuilt!
And the “Wrath of the Lamb” (alluding to Revelation 6:16) here will be so convincing … remnants (the few survivors) of those once strong cities will “glorify” Jesus! (Magnify Him, uplift Him!) And these “terrorizing” municipalities will “fear” (often a word for “worship” in the Old Testament) our dear Lord!
This is our Saviour setting up (initiating, establishing) His Kingdom, His Millennial Kingdom!
And guaranteeing the safety of Israel in perpetuity!
Goodbye, Jew haters!
Genesis 12:1-3 is true! God speaking to Abraham: “I will make of thee a great NATION (ISRAEL), and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: and I will BLESS them that bless thee, and CURSE him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
You can chart world history by using these verses as a template. The Nations who have blessed Israel, the Jews, have prospered. And those who have hated, cursed the Jews have plummeted, have fallen!
I close today with John’s description of this magnificent Return of Jesus to earth … us (the Church, part of those “armies” mentioned in this Text) with Him … “And the ARMIES which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should SMITE the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Revelation 19:14-15, but let’s add verse 16 as well: “And he (Jesus) hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Enough said!
Isaiah 25:2-3, I’m sure glad I “found” these Verses to add to my Millennial repertoire. In fact, I really think all that 25th chapter is Millennial, to tell the truth!
Read it again now … and see if things better fall into place. They sure do for this Preacher!
“For thou hast made of a city an heap; of a defenced city a ruin: a palace of strangers to be no city; it shall never be built. Therefore shall the strong people glorify thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear thee.”
What a “reversal!”
Amen.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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