Micah chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Mic 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the
mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the
mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto
it.
This is a prophesy similar to the one in Isaiah.
Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the
LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be
exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.
This is our comfort, our joy and something to look forward to. It is the coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ to set up His kingdom. It will be literal and it will
be the 2nd coming of the Messiah of Israel, Jesus the Son of God.
This is the only way to have peace on earth and goodwill toward men. It is the
2nd coming that will bring in world peace. Until He returns visibly there will
be no peace. When He returns the mount of Olives will split. He will bring
judgment to the nations that persecuted Israel and the many martyrs of the true
faith in Jesus Christ. Those (in Christ) that were killed before this event
occurs will be with Christ when He reigns along with those that were alive at
the time of the rapture of believers who were spiritually ready at the secret
gathering together of all who believed in Jesus as Messiah and Lord. When this
occurs is not something I care to argue. Whether is it before the tribulation,
during or after is not my concern. I just know that He is coming. I sincerely
hope it is before the tribulation period and believe that it will be but it will
only be those that love His appearing and love Him with all their hearts. If we
are busy biting and devouring one another (beating our fellow servants), we
probably will not make the rapture.
Mic 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us
of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion,
and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
We see that now the word of the Lord is not coming out of Jerusalem. And no one
is going to Israel to learn of the ways of the Lord. Israel is surrounded by
many enemies that hate her. Israel as a nation has not yet received faith in
Jesus as their Messiah. That will occur at the time of the future tribulation
period but as yet this has not happened so I don't believe that the church is
implied here as the thing prophesied about the mountain of the house of the
Lord.
No one has beat their swords into plowshares since the beginning of creation.
That will only happen at the reign of Jesus Christ over all the earth. The
church or assembly of believers are the messengers to bring the gospel to the
world. We are not to use force, take over governments and force the gospel on
anyone. Only the spirit of God can make a true convert. We can't do it. We can
only be the messengers to bring people to Christ. We can't force it. We must be
careful not to exalt ourselves to the place where we think, we are the Christ
and we set up His kingdom. We preach the kingdom, He sets up the kingdom. Much
evil has been done by those who think it is our job to set up a righteous
kingdom. The kingdom of God is within each and every believer. The literal
kingdom will come when the literal Jesus Christ returns.
We must take heed not to believe in someone coming before Jesus and claiming to
be this messiah who will bring world peace. He will be the false one to come
that we call the anti-christ. Anti christ not only means against Christ but in
place of christ and in the name of christ so we have to watch the true fruits
and not be deceived. He will attempt to deceive the very elect of God. Elect
means any that are chosen of God for the purpose of bringing the gospel into the
world whether it is literal Israel or those Gentiles that believe in Jesus
Christ and are adopted into spiritual Israel. They never replace Israel but are
added to them awaiting the day when Israel recognizes Jesus as Messiah. Then
both Jews and Gentiles become one fold with one shepherd. Let us not boast, they
are only temporarily cut off from the vine. They will be grafted in again.
Many mistakenly believe, one fold and one shepherd means that all denominations
should join into one big church or return to the Catholic church. This is not
so. If we are true born again by the spirit believers in Jesus Christ we already
are in the body of Christ which is part of the fold with one shepherd which is
Jesus. We do not have to join any earthly body called the church to be part of
the fold, we already are part of that fold. Israel that has not yet received
Christ are not yet part of the fold. When they come to Christ they will become
part of the fold and then and only then will there be one fold with one
shepherd.
Much false doctrine is taught by confusing Israel with the church. Israel has a
place in the future kingdom of God and we do well to remember that. His promise
to Abraham was not a vain promise.
Mic 4:3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar
off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more.
This has not yet occurred and will not occur until the literal coming of Jesus
Christ. Until Jesus returns it is unsafe and unwise to get rid of weapons. As
much as I hate violence, as long as the world is still under the influence of
ungodly men and women and Satan still is going about loose and free, we
unfortunately need weapons. Trying to bring world peace ahead of time by getting
rid of weapons is dangerous. Remember Adolph Hitler and his confiscation of
weapons. Did it bring peace?
Mic 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree;
and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken
it.
One day there will be world peace. That day is coming. The ones that rebel and
refuse to obey God will be destroyed by the armies of heaven.
We as believers must not try to decide who is good and who is evil and destroy
anyone ourselves. Judgment must come from God.
This doesn't mean that we can't defend our families or our country. We have to
defend ourselves as much as we hate war. But as believers we must preach the
gospel not use force to make converts as some have done in the past middle ages.
We are not to judge men's consciences. God will do that. We have to have law and
order but we can't force religious conversions on anyone. True religion can't be
forced. True religion is faith in Jesus and conversion by the spirit of God that
changes a person from a lost condition to a saved, born again condition and
there is no way that can be forced upon any person. Each individual has to
choose for himself or herself whether or not to allow Jesus to save them from
sin. The spirit of God or the Holy Spirit, has to change the inner person. How
can any religion, church or group of people think that this is accomplished by
the use of force?
Mic 4:5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we
will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.
All those alive when Jesus returns will discover who God really is and walk in
His ways.
Mic 4:6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I
will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
Mic 4:7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off
a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from
henceforth, even forever.
When a nation repents and turns back to God, God protects and makes them, "Just
as if they never sinned." This is what the grace of God that comes to us through
faith in Jesus Christ does for us. When we believe in Jesus, we become, "Just as
if we had never sinned." The slate is clean, we are born again, we have a new
start.
No matter how powerful the enemies of a godly nation are, their power cannot
match the power of God. Jesus will return to judge the unrighteous nations. The
biggest judgments will be against nations that come against faithful believers
in Jesus Christ. Notice I didn't say believer is the Catholic church or the
Lutheran Church or the Pentecostal church. Faithful believers in Jesus Christ
may or may not be ones that attend those type of churches.
When a nation persecutes God's people whether they are the nation of Israel or
the faithful believers in Jesus, they will face severe judgment. The reason I
mention Israel is not because of how Israel is at this present time but God has
a purpose for Israel and Israel will one day recognize Jesus as savior. They are
still in blindness but one day they will be the most fervent followers of Jesus.
They were the first preachers of the gospel and will be among the last preachers
of the gospel. To persecute them is to persecute the future faithful believers
in Jesus Christ. 1000s are already coming to Christ from among the Jewish
people. No matter what religion we claim to be or what church we are affiliated
with, we do not replace or supplant the Jews in God's plan of salvation. If we
have believed and are following Jesus Christ, we will be part of the future
Israel by adoption but we never replace them.
Mic 4:8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of
Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come
to the daughter of Jerusalem.
God wouldn't mention Jerusalem so much if He did not have future plans for
Jerusalem. There will be a New Jerusalem but that is for the future when all
evil is put down by Jesus Christ. Jesus will rule from literal Jerusalem when He
returns a second time.
Mic 4:9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy
counselor perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
Mic 4:10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman
in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in
the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered;
there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
This had a fulfillment that is past but in the future Israel will travail worst
than ever in her history. God Himself will be their deliverer one final time. No
more will any nations harm her after that time. As God delivered them from the
oppression of Babylon, God will deliver them from the future armies of the anti-christ.
Mic 4:11 Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her
be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
In the past, in the present day (2006) and in the future, the enemies of Israel
surround her and hate her with passion. It may come a day when no one, not even
the United States will be able to help Israel. God Himself will send His Son
Jesus to return and defeat once and for all times, the enemies of Israel. That
is when Israel will look on Him whom their ancestors pierced and recognize the
Messiah that they sought, is the Messiah that came over 2000 years ago and died
for their sins as well as all Gentiles who believed upon His name.
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants
of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon
me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his
only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for
his firstborn.
God cannot lie. It will happen just as He said. Israel's many troubles are
because of unbelief and sin against God. God is allowing it for a season but the
day is coming when no more will God allow Israel's enemies to defeat them. Jesus
will return to deliver them and usher in the only worldwide peace that has ever
existed. The false messiah that will come first, will claim to do this but he
will not be able to do it.
Beware of any theology that teaches you to hate Israel or persecute Israel.
Beware of teaching of replacement theology. We do not replace Israel
because we believe in Jesus Christ. We are added to them or adopted to them but
the church has never replaced Israel.
Mic 4:12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they
his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
Mic 4:13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron,
and I will make thy hooves brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and
I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the Lord of
the whole earth.
Those that stand for God and His righteousness will prevail and rule the earth
with Jesus Christ. We all have a free will to choose this day who we will serve.
We must serve Him in love and humility, never boasting in ourselves and thinking
ourselves higher than we ought to think. We must depend upon Jesus. Our goal
should be to bring people to Jesus, not lord over people and use force to make
converts. We do not want converts to a religion of Christianity, we want people
to be born again by God's spirit and inherit eternal life whether they be Jews
or Gentiles.