“Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence … to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!” Isaiah 64: 1 and 2b

This Plea asks for aggressiveness on God’s Part! The verb “to rend” means “to tear in pieces!” And it implies a One-Time Event! That being the literal Second Coming of Jesus to earth!

This is not the Rapture, either. It beseeches the Lord to “come down,” all the way to the “mountains,” in sight of all the “nations.” That is, to the earth, not merely “in the air.”

And when God does this, “comes down to earth” (as at Sinai when the Law was given) the mountains are always impacted! See Exodus 19:18 here … “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.”

Wow!

Our Text also says God has “adversaries,” actually people who try to put God in a “tight place.” Attempting “to squeeze” Him out of daily life! Note the verb “attempting,” not succeeding!

This Return of the Lord is framed in a setting of judgment, too! A judgment of nations it appears! “Nations” (gentiles most often) who will “tremble” at Jesus’ very Presence!

This is the “Judgment of the Nations” as depicted in Matthew 25, in Jesus’ great “Olivet Discourse.”

“And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:32

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41

And this Scene (ending the Tribulation) introduces the Millennium!

Redeemed Israel and (it seems to me) a few saved gentiles (likely even “nations” or “remnants” of nations who have favored/protected the few Jews left alive on earth under Anti-Christ’s reign of terror) … enjoying life under the Domain of King Jesus!

A thousand years of peace!

Earth has never seen this in all history!

And don’t forget the Lesson title … a “Prayer is being voiced!” \

O Lord, “come down” please!

Parallel … “Thy Kingdom come!”

Parallel … “Even so come, Lord Jesus!”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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