something which will come to pass, it is as good as accomplished, no matter how far distant its actual realization may be. When God speaks, the matter is certain; He cannot be untrue to His Word. Every prediction in the Bible is as sure of ful fillment as though it had already hap pened. “And the government shall be upon his shoulder” (9:6). Burdens are borne upon men’s shoulders. The imagery in this verse is employed to illustrate the re sponsibility of rulership which will be assumed by Christ when He comes the second time. This teaching is also ex pressed in Revelation 11:15. At His First Coming, Christ bore upon His shoulders the burden of a world’s sin and guilt. How mighty are the shoulders of the Son of God!
DECEMBER 21, 1947 THE PRINCE OF PEACE ISA. 9 :2 -7 ; R ev . 11:15; 15:2-4
mary reference is doubtless to the First Coming, but even greater glory will be realized when He comes the second time. In any age, men see the true light only when they see Christ. “For unto us a child is bom, unto us a son is given” (9:6). Why does the prophet use the present tense when referring to the Messiah’s birth? He speaks as though He were al ready present in the world at that time although His coming was more than seven hundred years in the future. By the Spirit of God Isaiah was given to see these things. When God reveals
O u tlin e cm d E x p o sitio n His P erson (I sa . 9 :2-7)
The darkness of God’s people will be lightened and the shadow of death (the “ deep darkness” ) will be dissipated by the Second Coming of the Prince of Peace. Then joyless hearts will rejoice as those who reap a full harvest. The yoke and burden of the oppressors will be broken as in the days of Midian. The cause for rejoicing is the coming of the Messiah. The Child is bom; the Son is given (Luke 2:9-11). He will as sume the reins of government and will be Wonderful in His person, a Counsellor incapable of error, the Mighty God who created all things, the Everlasting Fa ther of His own, and Prince of Peace, bringing and maintaining peace through out the universe. He will sit upon the throne of David, ruling over all Israel, exercising authority, and establishing the kingdom with justice and equity. The Word of God assures us that “ the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it.” This verse indicates an end of judg ments and the ushering in of the Mil lennium. Here is introduced the reign of the Prince of Peace, the final victory when all the kingdoms of earth shall be come one as the kingdom of our Lord. There will be no end to that kingdom on earth; it will last “for ever and ever,” the everlasting kingdom of the once re jected Lord Jesus Christ. His P eople (R ev . 15:2-4) This group will be victors over Satan, all of his associates and all of his power. Their song is not negative, merely cele brating victory over enemies, but it is a positive shout of praise to the One who sits upon the throne. The song celebrates the greatness and glory of the Lord God Almighty. It also rejoices in the future time when all na tions will bow before the Prince of Peace, and acknowledge Him as the ex clusive God and all-sufficient Saviour. Then will all nations unite in ascribing to the Prince of Peace, who reigns upon David’s throne, glory and honor and majesty and power. Points and Problems “ The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light” (Isa. 9 :2). This can refer only to the coming Messiah. He is the light of the world and anyone who looks upon Him sees the fullness of all light. A panorama of future days passed before Isaiah. He saw what would transpire in the day of Christ’s coming. Joy would fill men’s hearts; burdens would fall; peace would come. The pri- N O V E M B E R , 1 9 4 7 His K ingdom (R ev . 11:15)
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