A future world at peace and without war is coming – Isaiah 2:4
The world seems to have a war happening somewhere. It has been like this century after century over the history of mankind. Someone is fighting someone else. The latest war in 2022 is the Ukraine-Russia war.
What about a world where there was no war anywhere in the world? All the nations were at peace with each other. God promises this will happen. There is coming a time on the earth when weapons won’t be needed or used – rather they shall be beaten into agricultural equipment – the plowshare (the main cutting blade of a plough) and pruning hooks. We can read what is promised in the key verse we are considering in this article – Isaiah 2:4
He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; 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 anymore. Isaiah 2:4
Will the weapons of war be literally converted into agricultural equipment? In part, some of it may be…,but the main point of the verses is that there will no longer be weapons of war and the earth’s resources will be used to produce things of peace that will help mankind. For example, agricultural equipment will be used to produce food to feed the world’s population.
Mankind at war
Over its history, mankind has been at war. There have been nations across the earth fighting each other. The reasons war breaks out varies. Sometimes it is to gain more land, sometimes for economic gain, sometimes for religious reason, or nationalistic reasons, or revenge, or a nation defending itself. Sometimes war breaks out within a nation – a civil war or a revolutionary war.
There have been many major wars across mankind’s history –the Trojan Wars circa 1200BC, Messenian wars involving ancient Greece circa 700BC, Greco-Persian wars (492 – 442BC), Punic wars circa 200BC, Crusades (1095-1291AD), Hundred Years (1337-1453), War of the Roses (1455-1485), French Revolution (1787-1799), Crimean War (1853-1856), American Civil war (1861-1865), World War 1 (1914-1918), World War 2 (1939-1945), Six Day war involving Israel (1967), Persian Gulf War (1990-1991). Recently there has been Afghanistan War (2001–14), Iraq War (2003–11), Syrian Civil War (2012– ) and Ukraine-Russia War (2022-). Unfortunately, the list goes on….the above is just a small selection of the wars that have taken place on this earth over its history.
War has been a concern for men and women not just now but for most of the history of mankind. A English newspaper in 1888 had these words: “The wars in which the nations of the civilised world have engaged during the last hundred years have resulted in the deaths of about four and a quarter million soldiers. The great war between this country and France at the end of the last century and the commencement of this is alone accountable for nearly two million lives.”
Wars can cause forced migration (displacement) of huge numbers of people, can lead to increased poverty, cause severe distress to many people with often long term effects, destroy infrastructure, destruction of the environment and the most terrible – the loss of life of thousands, in some cases millions. Men and women recognise that war has to stop yet…..it never does. There is always another war starting somewhere usually for one of the reasons listed above.
President John F. Kennedy recognised the seriousness of wars when he said “Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind”. He was no doubt thinking about nuclear war when he spoke these words when addressing the UN General Assembly in 1961. The invention of the nuclear bomb in the 20th century has made wars more deadly.
Will wars stop in this current world? The short answer is “No”. We know from Bible prophecy that there are more wars to come. However, God has promised that there will be time in the future where there definitely will be no more wars. This is a 100% certainty. This was predicted by the man of God known as Isaiah in the key verse we are considering in this article. His prediction was based on what had been communicated to him by God. Let’s consider his prediction by first looking at this man.
Isaiah – his background
In the Old Testament there were certain people who were appointed by God to speak and write His messages to mankind. The power of God (i.e. the Holy Spirit) guided these people. Even though they spoke or wrote in their own words, the resulting text was what God wanted them to say. Isaiah was one of these people who were being inspired by God. Like a number of others in the Bible, he was a prophet. He made predictions about the future. These predictions proved to the people that the prophet was being inspired by God. These words were written by the apostle Peter:
knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21
Peter is explaining that God chose holy or God-fearing men to make known His will. These men wrote down the message that they received from God. When these writings were combined they became the book known as the Bible.
Isaiah lived in the period from about 740 to 680 BC. He had wife and children in Jerusalem. He knew some of those high up in the government and was a friend and advisor to King Hezekiah.
Isaiah’s message was both stirring and majestic. When he prophesied he knew that only a remnant would listen and pay attention to the call to righteousness. Isaiah prophesised about his own time but he also looked far into the future. He, himself, would not know what will happen hundreds or even thousands of years into the future so it is clear that he was told by God. In other words, he knew what would happen through inspiration by God.
A future is predicted where there is no war
This brings us to the key verse we are considering in this article – Isaiah chapter 2 and verse 4. In this verse and the surrounding verses (2 to 5) Isaiah saw in the future a mighty saviour would come and at that time there would be universal worship for all mankind. His message was that all people should hear the guidance of God, turn away from their foolishness and worship the “Holy one of Israel”. This Holy one is the Lord Jesus Christ.
In chapter two Isaiah has a glorious vision of Jerusalem at the time when Christ returns to the earth. People will travel to God’s new Temple where they will be taught His laws. There will be justice across the world. This justice will be enforced so much that war will cease.
Judging and rebuking
Let’s look closely at the key verse for this article – here it is again:
He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; 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 anymore. Isaiah 2:4
As it says in the first part of verse four, there will be a “judging” and a “rebuking”. Jesus will judge the nations of the earth at that time, and he will rebuke the peoples of the earth who have evil intentions. This will result in the world of mankind abandoning war.
To judge and rebuke nations means that they will be forced to comply with what God wants. This is clear from other verses in the Bible. This probably means politically and military and perhaps using natural forces of the earth.
He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; 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 anymore. Micah 4:3
Note in this verse from Micah that he will rebuke strong nations from afar off. Nations across the world will be forced to comply.
The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters; but God will rebuke them and they will flee far away, and be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, like a rolling thing before the whirlwind. Isaiah 17:13
These nations that will come in force are identified elsewhere in the scriptures. What is clear is that the nations of men who come against Jesus as king in the future will be overcome.
The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! Psalm 110:2
You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ” Psalm 2:9
Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Revelation 19:15
Jesus as King will strike the nations that come against them. After the Nations of men have been suppressed and Jesus rules over the earth he will ensure that people worship God acceptably through education and guidance. Jesus will be inflexible in his demands and commands.
In summary…
A gathering of hostile nations against Zion will precede the peace of Jerusalem. We see these nations coming with the modern version of swords and spears (i.e. weapons of war). It is the sign that Jesus as King will soon “rebuke” them and reign victorious, and that as a result:
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. Micah 4:3-4
Following this, all nations will be subject to Christ’s rule.
Peace in the age to come
There is coming a time on the earth when weapons won’t be needed or used – “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks”.
Then will commence a glorious reign, it will be the most perfect government that has ever existed on Earth. One king at the head shall possess perfect wisdom—his mercy not blemished by selfishness or by weakness, and his supreme power used for the enforcement of his will. He will be an immortal King, with no fear of death troubling his court. There will be the joyous confidence of the rejoicing peoples who will thank God for his righteousness. The King’s government will be firm, direct, and absolute—no doubtfulness and indecision. This perfect government will give the world the complete peace that men and women long for.
His name shall be called.… the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; Psalm 46:9
He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, like showers that water the earth. In His days the righteous shall flourish, and abundance of peace, until the moon is no more. Psalm 72:6-7
The righteous and peaceful administration of Christ and his immortal brethren will endure for 1000 years. Christ’s rule will be like rain that will favour the righteous who will flourish because of the abundance of peace which endures like the moon.
Jesus as the “Prince of Peace” will truly bring the peace the world needs. He is the only one who can establish “on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:14). He is the only one who is morally fit and competent to do it. The peace he brings is “pure” and not affected by ulterior motives.
In Christ we have a fuller and yet more perfect peace, as it is the peace of reconciliation between God and man.
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1
The peace that Christ conveys is not just freedom from conflict; not merely peace of mind; but the riches of perfect harmony with our brethren and sisters, with the Master himself, and with the Father.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7
It is a peace, not as the world can give, but rather it is the gift of the peace of God and also of Christ, to an individual disciple. It will be a time where we can give glory to God, until the earth is full of glory to Him.
but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord Numbers 14:21
Things God wants you to know
In Isaiah 2:4 God gives us information that he wants us to know about the future. This world we live in has man fighting against man – nation fighting against nation. There has been war in this world throughout the history of mankind. The evil thoughts of some, leads eventually to pain and suffering for many people.
God gives us a reassuring message that wars will stop in the future. His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, will become king of the world and he will judge and rebuke nations of the earth. He will rule the world and ensure that weapons of war will no longer exist. Instead there will be a world of peace. We can be part of this future world of peace by firstly believing in God and His son, second getting baptised and then third living a life of obedience to God by following the example of Jesus.
