The Coming Kingdom (2)

Intro:

AG:

TS: Last week, we explored the horrors of the Great Tribulation in Isaiah 24. Today, we get to examine the Glory of the coming Kingdom.

Timeline:

Antichrist arises and makes a treaty uniting the world, guaranteeing Israel’s safety, and “solving” all of its problems.

For 7 years God pours out His wrath and wickedness reigns on Earth. Massive numbers of people die.

Battle of Armagedon: Final showdown on Earth where Jesus returns with His saints and wins the war.

Revelation 19:11–16 ESV

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

THEN: What we examine today. The millennial Kingdom where Christ rules on Earth for 1,000 years.

This text is one of many which describe the Millennium. Today’s focus is the worship of God during the Kingdom. Isaiah Responds to God’s revelation of the judgment and coming Kingdom with praises.

RS: This is the “good stuff” of the Bible! This is the nirvana all people are seeking. They just don’t want to acknowledge it will take the power of God to bring it about.

1. The Promise

The judgment being poured out in ch 24 is contrasted with the glory of God’s coming Kingdom.

A. Joy and singing fill the earth

Isaiah 24:14–16 ESV

They lift up their voices, they sing for joy; over the majesty of the Lord they shout from the west. Therefore in the east give glory to the Lord; in the coastlands of the sea, give glory to the name of the Lord, the God of Israel. From the ends of the earth we hear songs of praise, of glory to the Righteous One. But I say, “I waste away, I waste away. Woe is me! For the traitors have betrayed, with betrayal the traitors have betrayed.”

The people will shout and sing for joy as they declare God’s majesty

B. God’s glory will outshine the Sun

Isaiah 24:23 ESV

Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the Lord of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders.

He will rule gloriously from Jerusalem.

2. The Praises

Isaiah now worships and exalts God.

A. His faithfulness

Isaiah 25:1 ESV

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

God promises wonderful things, and He accomplishes them!

B. His Salvation of Gentiles

(Isa 25:2-3

Isaiah 25:2–3 ESV

For you have made the city a heap, the fortified city a ruin; the foreigners’ palace is a city no more; it will never be rebuilt. Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.

V2 is reminiscent of Babylon’s foretold destruction.

v. 3 Strong nations will declare His glory, and ruthless nations will adore Him

All left on Earth will praise Him.

Salvation is coming to all nations as they acknowledge God.

C. His mercy

Isaiah 25:4–5 ESV

For you have been a stronghold to the poor, a stronghold to the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat; for the breath of the ruthless is like a storm against a wall, like heat in a dry place. You subdue the noise of the foreigners; as heat by the shade of a cloud, so the song of the ruthless is put down.

God upholds the oppressed

He is kind to the poor and needy

God gave us, individuals and churches, the mission of caring for the poor and needy.

James 1:27 ESV

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

You and I have an obligation and a blessing.

God expects us to take care of each other and those around us

Jesus credits us with serving Him when we do.

D. His provision

Isaiah 25:6–7 ESV

On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.

He will spread a feast for everyone and will remove the cloud of gloom hanging over the Earth.

God will remove the death veil for those at this feast. He provides the feast of celebration.

E. His Victory over Death

Isaiah 25:8 ESV

He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

He will swallow up death for ever!

1 Corinthians 15:54 ESV

When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

1 Corinthians 15:55 ESV

“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

He wipes away the tears of grief!

Jesus promised eternal life to all who trust in Him in repentance of their sins

The resurrection occurs i and results in ALL who died in Christ (OT or NT saints) restored to life.

F. His restoration of Israel

Isaiah 25:9 ESV

It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

Israel will rejoice in His salvation

Israel awaits this day and has for thousands of years.

Sadly, many missed the partial fulfillment of many prophesies in Jesus.

They still await the rest and Jesus is the One they await.

In the Kingdom, all will be fulfilled! The covenant will be completed at last.

G. His judgment of His enemies

Isaiah 25:10–12 ESV

For the hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dunghill. And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, but the Lord will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands. And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down, lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust.

God will destroy enemies and will end their evil works.

Moab here probably represents all nations (Many had been named previously)

CONC:

Today, we march ever closer to the Kingdom.

As the tribulation closes and the Kingdom opens, there is judgment.

Matthew 25:31–45 ESV

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’

Which will you hear?

If not certain well done, then fix that today!

1st be saved: repent of your sins and trust Christ alone for forgiveness

THAT gets you in the Kingdom

2nd Start serving Him

THAT gets you a well done

We who are saved have been told this by our Lord

Matthew 25:13 ESV

Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.