When are the Last Days? (5) Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-5

So far, in considering this question about the last of latter days we see that in the Old Testament it refers to the later times in the nation of Israel.  This is not surprising as the OT is about God’s people Israel.  That is the earthly location of God’s work and presence.  And speaking of God’s presence, here are two matching prophecies that speak to that issue in the latter days.

·        Isa. 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-5: In the latter days, as part of the Messianic Kingdom, Jerusalem will be the center of worship not only for Israel but for the nations.

o   Why are there two identical prophecies?  The only difference is that Micah 4:4-5 adds the promise of prosperity for Israel in the Messianic kingdom.

§  Isaiah and Micah were prophets to the same Kingdom of Judah at the same time in history (cf. Isa. 1:1 and Micah 1:1).  Isaiah’s ministry began a little earlier, in the later years of King Uzziah; and Micah says his ministry was about Samaria and Jerusalem while Isaiah’s was concerning Judah and Jerusalem.  It was in the time of the Assyrian ascendency, the kingdom God used to bring down the NK of Israel. 

§  It is quite possible that one prophet quoted the other, or that God gave the same message to both prophets.  Neither of those scenarios is a problem.  In fact, both passages come after an indictment of Jerusalem for her sin and the influence of false prophets (cf. Isa. 1:21-31 and Micah 3).  So the message of God’s blessing on Jerusalem and the presence of the temple (the LORD’s house) is a message of hope in the face of judgment that will come upon Zion.

o   What is promised?  In the latter days, a temple will be built in Jerusalem.  Is this the New Jerusalem of Rev. 21-22?  No, it is not.  That is the heavenly Jerusalem whereas what is described here is a location accessible to the nations of the earth and that sits on the mountain of the LORD, Mount Moriah where Abraham brought Isaac and where the first and second temples sat.  This is consistent with other scenes in Zech. 14:16-21 and Ezek. 40-46.  We studied this recently (see our Saturday blog in March 2017), that in the Messiah’s earthly reign there will be a temple and temple worship, including the offering of sacrifices and celebration of feasts.  There is a simple equation, if you will, as Jamieson/ Brown/Fausset in A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory state (comments on Isa. 2:3):

If the curse foretold against Israel has been literally fulfilled, so shall the promised blessing be literal.  We Gentiles must not, while giving them the curse, deny them their peculiar blessing by spiritualizing it.  The Holy Ghost shall be poured out for a general conversion then (Jer. 50:5; Zec. 8:21,23; Joel 2:28).

In the latter days Israel, and especially Jerusalem, will be the people and city God had desired from the beginning.  By His grace under Messiah it will happen.