Future Temple Site
June 13, 2020
Commentary
God gave Isaiah the gift of seeing the future. In this passage, Isaiah looks ahead to the time when God’s righteous kingdom (the millennium) will be established and the temple in Jerusalem will be the center for the worldwide worship of the Lord (vv. 1-3). Revelation chapter 21 depicts the glorious fulfilment of this prophesy. In Isaiah’s day, the temple of Solomon was still standing. In the last days this temple will be rebuilt. It will attract the attention of the nations, not because of its architecture and prominence but because of God’s presence and influence. God made a covenant (promise) with His people and will never break it. God’s faithfulness gives us hope for the future.
This describes a wonderful future of peace when instruments of war will be converted into instruments of farming (v. 4). It is also a time when we will be taught God’s laws and will obey them. Although we know that eventually God will remove all sin and thus the causes of war, conflicts, and other problems, we should not wait for Him to act before we begin to obey Him. This will be a time when God shall rule with a “rod of iron” and will compel all nations to practice justice toward one another (Rev. 2:27). Just as Judah was told, we should walk in Him right now (v. 5). This will be a time of complete international peace and safety unlike any other time in the history of the world.
Application
In the light of the future glory of God’s temple, Isaiah appealed to the people to “walk in the light of the Lord” (v. 5). As a Christian today I should have a similar motivation as I await the return of Christ in the rapture (l John 2:28-3:3).
Isaiah 2:1– 5 (NET)
1 Here is the message about Judah and Jerusalem that was revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz.
2 In future days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will endure as the most important of mountains, and will be the most prominent of hills. All the nations will stream to it;
3 many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the temple of the God of Jacob, so he can teach us his requirements, and we can follow his standards.” For Zion will be the center for moral instruction; the Lord’s message will issue from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge disputes between nations; he will settle cases for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will no longer train for war.
5 O descendants of Jacob, come, let us walk in the Lord’s guiding light.
Illustration: Temple to be Built Where the Mosque of Omar Stands
A few years ago my wife and I took a group of 46 young people to Israel to do evangelistic ministry. During this time we found it very interesting to visit places where furniture and harps are being made and stored for the third temple that the Jews hope to be able to rebuild on the temple mount very soon. The problem is that the Muslims control this site at the present time and have the Mosque of Omar, often referred to as “the dome of the rock,” standing there. If the Lord tarries it will be very interesting to see what happens in the future on this little piece of geography. (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).