“That a law will be established, which shall go forth to the nations for their ‘instruction in righteousness,’ resulting in the abolition of war to the ends of the earth; and the filling of the earth with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.” Article XXVII, Conclusion
The enlightenment of the peoples of the world in the ways of God will result in immediate and dynamic changes in global conditions. Wars and disputes between the earth powers will come to an end as the Word of God emanating from the new capital of the world, performs its miraculous change in men’s thinking. Isaiah foretells this revolutionary turnabout in terms which defy misunderstanding. After announcing the establishment of the Kingdom of God in the latter days, the prophet, like Micah, reveals the conversion of vast multitudes to the way of Truth, and the dramatic changes which will then occur in world policies: “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”
“Let us go up”
For the people to “go up to the mountain of the LORD” does not mean that they are literally to ascend to a higher elevation, as one would climb a hill. Rather, it depicts an upward trend in their thinking processes as they direct their intellectual and moral faculties to those things which are above (Col. 3:1-2). As Jesus declared, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:19-21).
There is also another way in which the nations are to “go up” to seek the LORD, which is explained in the same chapter of Isaiah. The nations, having been broken and defeated by Christ and the glorified saints, are said to be brought low. The pride and arrogance of the wicked shall be brought to the ground, as the Name of the LORD becomes elevated in the minds of mankind. Note how Isaiah speaks of this transformation: “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, and upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that art lifted up, and upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures. And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that (Isa. 2:11-17–see also Isa. 29:4, Lam. 2:1, etc.)
“Swords into Plowshares”
The prophet further relates the profound effect which the “word of the LORD“ and “the law“ will have upon the nations of the world. They are to cease in their international conflicts and in their advancement of war and hostilities among themselves. “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and 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 any more.” (Isa. 2:4) This has never taken place in the history of mankind. It is an event that belongs to the future, and will only come about when The Prince of Peace” has returned to this earth to sit upon David’s throne (Isa. 9:6-7).
It is noteworthy to understand that this great change in world policy will not be brought about through the gentle persuasion of gospel preaching. This is an idea that is quite popular among those religious bodies who lack an understanding of the nature of the Kingdom of God and of the purpose and reality of the return of Christ. Without being thoroughly convinced of the Bible teaching concerning the establishment of God’s Kingdom on the earth, it would be impossible for one to give a reasonable explanation of Isaiah’s candid enunciation. The prophet clearly states the cause which results in the abolition of war: “He shall Judge among the Nations and shall Rebuke many People.” The present proclamation of the gospel has an individual appeal — not national. There is now, no judging or rebuking of nations in connection with the preaching of the Truth. Men and women in this dispensation become persuaded of the saving gospel and voluntarily submit themselves to its requirements. They are attracted to its message because of the personal benefits it promises to bestow upon them. However, here in Isaiah 2, the prophet speaks of a compulsory edict going forth to the inhabitants of this world. This judging and rebuking of the nations involves not only persuasion, but, if necessary, the use of political and military forces. That this will become the expediency in some cases is evident from other parts of the Scriptures which deal with the same epoch. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the metallic image and the devastation wrought when it was struck by the stone cut out without hands illustrate the measure of force associated with the establishment of God’s coming Kingdom and the subjugation of the nations of the world. The Spirit’s explanation which follows in Dan. 2:44 gives the literal meaning of this vision (and it is literal because this verse is to explain the vision): “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, and it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.”
David, in the 110th Psalm likewise foretells the present position of the risen Christ and His subsequent return to the earth to reign in the midst of His enemies: “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies… The LORD at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries” (VV 1-2, 5-6). There are many other places in the Bible which set forth the same significant truth, such as Psa. 2:6-8, 46:8-9, 149:5-9, Rev. 2:26-27, 11:15-18, etc.
“Wars to Cease”
The eventual outcome of the judging and rebuking of the nations will be the complete and total termination of global conflicts. Implements of destruction and the machinery to manufacture them will be consigned to the smelting pots where they will be converted to tools and instruments of agriculture. How graphically does the Psalmist speak of this phase of Christ’s work as King over all the earth: “Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolation’s he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psa. 46:8-10).
The skill for waging war and destroying nations is achieved through military institutions, where the finest of the young men are trained in the art of warfare. Isaiah declares “neither shall they learn war any more.” These institutions and all like them will either be destroyed or converted to peaceful purposes in harmony with the policies of the Kingdom of God.
“The Knowledge of the Lord”
So wide spread will be the influence of Christ’s sovereign rule, that soon all the inhabitants of the earth will be knowledgeable of God’s will and purpose. In the 11th chapter of the book bearing his name, Isaiah speaks of the blessings which the LORD’s government of peace will bring to all mankind. Because the Spirit of God shall rest upon David’s greater Son, He will rule with equity and righteousness. The earth, no longer dominated and tyrannized by men whose ferocious nature is characterized as wolves, lions and bears, and whose sinister ways are depicted as serpents (VV6-8), will enjoy and thrive under the peaceful rule of the LORD’s anointed. His instruction and godly fear will bring all to a knowledge of the Truth, so that “in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one” (Zech. 14:9). Hence, Isaiah declares, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea” (V11). It will be observed that the earth is that which is to be “full of the knowledge of the LORD,” again illustrating the consistency of Scripture teaching on the location of God’s coming Kingdom.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One