| | | | Isaiah Chapter 4 - The Branch of the Lord: Beauty in the Future As we go through this incredible book of prophecy, we're going to notice a pattern: Intertwined in the predictions of judgment are glimpses of a beautiful future! It's as if God understands that the message He's bringing to Judah is a bitter pill to swallow, and so He occasionally shares the fact that although there will be pain in the present, there will be beauty in the future!
That's what chapter four is: A glimpse into the future millennial kingdom, when Christ is reigning!
In that day the Branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious; And the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and appealing for those of Israel who have escaped. (vs 1-2)
The title "The Branch of the Lord" is found throughout the bible:
There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. (Isaiah 11:1)
"Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. (Jer 23:5)
'In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.
(Jer 33:15)
'Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, for they are a wondrous sign;For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH. (Zech 3:8)
…and you'll notice that ALL of these verses are describing the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ The idea behind this metaphoric description is fruitfulness, and life, as Jesus described himself as the source of spiritual life that will come through Him:
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)
In the Millennial Kingdom, the Branch of the Lord will be the source of life. Ezekiel chapter 47 paints a beautiful picture of a river that originates at the threshold of the new temple in Jerusalem, flows to the sea, and brings healing and life wherever it goes:
"This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. (Ezekiel 47:8-9)
Guys, we don't need to get to caught up in global warming... the bible is clear that the earth will get hotter:
Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and power was given to him to scorch men with fire. And men were scorched with great heat, and they blasphemed the name of God who has power over these plagues; and they did not repent and give Him glory. (Rev 16:8-9)
But when God makes a mess, He cleans it up! The earth will be healed; not by man, but by God Himself!
And it shall come to pass that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy—everyone who is recorded among the living in Jerusalem. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning, (vs 3-4)
This is a description of the Millennial Kingdom where those who are present after the Great tribulation will be called holy, and all sin will be purged.
Years ago I was in a motorcycle accident, and I had some serious "road rash" on my shoulder. When I arrived at the ER, the staff had to clean out all of the dirt and grit from my wounds using iodine and what looked like a kitchen scrubber! It was so painful I nearly passed out, but it was necessary to remove the dirt. And it was worth the pain; my shoulder healed without infection.
When the Lord Jesus Christ returns at the end of the Great Tribulation, He will cleanse the world, and it will not be pretty, but it will be worth it! The earth will be cleansed, and all of those in the Millennial Kingdom will serve the Lord God!
then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering. And there will be a tabernacle for shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for a shelter from storm and rain. (vs 5-6)
The Millennial Kingdom will be a place of protection, healing, shade, and life.
I don't know about you, but sometimes the evil and chaos of this world can bear down on my heart, and I wonder "will things ever get better? Will there ever be peace? Will there ever be security?" When those thoughts come, I can look to the word of God, and promises that He gives to us, His children, of the future that He has for us!
Pastor Clay
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