Thursday, July 14, 2011

Kingdom of God (13) - Isaiah's Promise

Isaiah gave a wonderful promise.

Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not live out his years;
the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child;
the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.
They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands.
They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them.
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD (Is 65:20-25).
This prophecy is so splendid that most Christians assume it describes eternal life. This is not true. People still die, so it applies to life on this earth. The prophecy is a revelation of the wonderful world that the Holy Spirit will create on earth. This is characterised by:
  • Sickness defeated.
  • Long and full lifes.
  • Prosperous economy
  • Poverty gone
  • Productive capital for everyone
  • Secure and safe homes
  • No war
  • No crime
  • Blessed by God
  • Animal world transformed
  • Carnivorous animals become vegetarian.
  • Aggression replace by peace.
Sin is the only obstacle to this vision. Jesus dealt to sin on the cross, so it is natural that the Holy Spirit would roll back the effects of sin, and restore blessing on earth.

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