Isaiah,
Israel’s greatest prophet and seer who prophesied for 40 years, whose
understanding of Jehovah was so vast and visions of future so daunting,
finished his book with an exhilarating end highlighting Jehovah’s mercy like no
other, on two counts:
1.
Recovering
ancient Israel that rejected Him in favour of idolatry: “I have spread out my hands all
the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good,
after their own thoughts, a people that provoketh me to anger continually to my
face; that sacrificeth in gardens and burneth incense upon altars of brick”
(Isaiah 65:2,3).
When
the Saviour appears for the second time, He will come among the distressed and
nearly vanquished sons of Judah who rejected Him as their Messiah and ‘their
nation will be born in a day’ (Isaiah 66:8). At the criss of their fate, during
the mighty battle of Armageddon, “when the hostile troops of several nations
are ravaging the city and all the horrors of war are overwhelming the people of
Jerusalem, he will set his feet upon the Mount of Olives, which will cleave and
part asunder at his touch.
“Attended
by a host from heaven, he will overthrow and destroy the combined armies of the
Gentiles, and appear to the worshipping Jews as the mighty Deliverer and
Conqueror so long expected by their race; and while love, gratitude, awe, and
admiration swell their bosoms, the Deliverer will show them the tokens of his
crucifixion and disclose himself as Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had reviled
and whom their fathers put to death.
“Then
will unbelief depart from their souls, and ‘the blindness in part which has
happened unto Israel (see Romans 11:25) be removed…..They will be baptised for
the remission of their sins, and will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and
the government of God as established in Zion will be set up among them, no more
to be thrown down for ever.” (Elder Charles W. Penrose, The Second Advent,
p 583)
When
in the clouds of glory You appear
To
save Judah distressed and all alone
Your
mercy will flow from the dreaded hill
Where
in times past they crucified their own.
When
on the Mount of Olives suddenly you meet
They
will know You
And accept salvation at Your feet.
2.
Ushering
in of the Millenial Era and gathering all nations unto Himself: The second advent of Jesus Christ will
not gather just Israel but also the Gentiles who will hear His gospel and
become His people also: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and
the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind…For by fire and by his
sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be
many…it shall come that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall
come and see my glory….and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles
(Isaiah 65:17-25; 66:15-19).
This
is the expectation on the horizon which will end the corruption, wickedness,
sickness, sorrow and hardship of this world we have created:
“Great
and marvellous though the changes will be incident to life during the
millennial era, yet mortality as such will continue. Children will be born,
grow up, marry, advance to old age, and pass through the equivalent of death.
Crops will be planted, harvested, and eaten; industries will be expanded,
cities built, and education fostered; men will continue to care for their own
needs, handle their own affairs, and enjoy the full endowment of free agency.
“Speaking
a pure language (Zeph. 3:9), dwelling in peace, living without disease, and
progressing as the Holy Spirit will guide, the advancement and perfection of
society during the millennium will exceed anything men have supposed or
expected. (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp 496-97).”
“And
it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath
to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord” (Isaiah
66:23)
When amidst the clouds of glory
You appear on Your trusted steed,
Our heads will bow,
Our knees will bend,
Our tongues be loosed to confess,
Your Sonship and Your Kingship,
Worlds without end.
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