Future Temple Site

Isaiah 2:1–5
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

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).