A TRUTH WE WILL NOT IGNORE
Posted in: 2007By Tom L. Ballinger
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June 9, 2007
PLAINER WORDS... A TRUTH WE WILL NOT IGNORE!
Some Bible truths are overlooked. Some are by-passed. Some Bible truths are unheeded. In many instances, this is the result of being unable to recognize the importance which the truth might play in God's overall purposes. This is understandable and pardonable. However, when a Truth is made known in the Old Testament and, then, is repeated in the New Testament, it is altogether another matter. Especially, if the LORD (Yahweh) said it in the Old Testament; then, Jesus (Yahweh) repeated it in the New Testament. To overlook such an important passage is inexcusable. Such a passage doesn't go unnoticed-it goes ignored!
Notice what the LORD (Yahweh) said in Isaiah 42:1-4:
"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope" (NIV).
Moving into the New Testament, the scene in Matthew Twelve, we note that Christ went into a synagogue of the Jews. In front of the Pharisees, he healed a man with a withered hand. Immediately, the Pharisees withdrew and "held a council" against Him. They were in the process to exerting the power of the State and the machinery of the government to "destroy Him." Never forget that the State is shear power! The Pharisees were willing to use the sword of the State in order to protect their political place and position by having Jesus Christ killed at the hands of the State. The rage of the Pharisees was instantaneous. The Lord Jesus knew they were plotting His assassination; therefore, He withdrew Himself from their locality. He didn't want to be in the position of having to kill, or be killed. He was awaiting His appointed time at Calvary. Then, in Matthew 12:18-21, He said, quoting Isaiah 42:1-4:
"Here is My Servant Whom I have chosen, the One I love, in Whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on Him, and He will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear His voice in the streets. A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out, till He leads justice to victory. In His Name the nations will put their hope" (NIV).
These words speak of a great prophetic Truth. We will not ignore these twice-spoken words! When will these words find their fulfillment? They were not fulfilled during the First Advent of our Lord Jesus. Then, they must find their fulfillment sometime in the future. Some teachers and students, who are confronted with these words, will timidly suggest that they will be fulfilled at the Second Advent of Christ. They have written, very dismissively, concerning this prophecy and make no attempt to resolve the statements, such as, "He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets;" with "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout" (1 Thess. 4:16). Both of these statements cannot possibly refer to the same episode. We know, for sure, that the latter refers to the 2nd Coming, to wit, the Parousia of the Lord Jesus Christ. The former, therefore, cannot be a reference to His Parousia.
"A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out" speaks of an event in which no one is hurt, or injured. In "Figures of Speech Used in the Bible" (Page 161), it says, "He will strengthen the bruised reed and kindle to a flame the smouldering wick." This speaks of restoration. Restoration is the main theme of the Gospel of the Kingdom (Acts 3:19-21). Whereas, we find the Truth relating to the 2nd Coming speaks of destruction. We find in 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10 that Jesus Christ will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ. They shall be castigated with everlasting punishment from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power-the latter event of vengeance and punishment will be the result of Christ's Parousia. The former cannot be a reference to the Parousia. A good student, who desires to be an unashamed workman, must rightly distinguish between two future events; one being the beautiful prediction voiced in Isaiah 42:1-4 and Matthew 12:18-21, and the other being those things associated with the 2nd Coming (i.e., Parousia) of Christ.
For many years, we have searched the work of past and contemporary Bible Teachers, hoping to find an acknowledgement and an exegesis of this spectacular prophecy. We have searched in vain. We have concluded that this magnificent prediction is ignored because it will not harmonize with their scheme of theology-in fact, it contradicts the dispensational view they hold. On the other hand, there is one prophetic understanding in which it fits perfectly. It is the Truth that the next phenomenon to occur on God's Prophetic Clock is the sudden breaking-forth of the Divine assumption of the dominion of the governments of the world. In plainer words, the Kingdom of God becomes manifest upon the earth. The ignored prophecy will begin its process when the Lord Jesus Christ begins to judge the quick and the dead at His Epiphaniea, and His Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:1).
The process will consist of three elements: (1) He will proclaim justice to the nations; (2) He will lead justice to victory; and (3) In His Name shall the nations put their hope.
The prophecy we are considering sheds a great deal of light as to what is accomplished when the Divine Government, to wit, the Kingdom of God, comes upon the earth.
"Here is My Servant Whom I have chosen." We are called upon, as students of the Word, to pay close attention to what is said. These twice-repeated words demand that we give heed and consider who is the person Whom God calls,"My Servant,"and Whom God loves and delights in.
"I will put My Spirit on Him." God's Servant, Jesus Christ, will cause the Holy Spirit to take up residence in the earth. The Spirit will permeate every facet of life on earth. In connection with this, we read of His Spirit being poured out upon all flesh (Acts 2:17). The Kingdom of God will not be just meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). The Spirit will be so prominent during the Kingdom of God that we must mention John 16:7-13:
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
The Holy Spirit is so dominant during the Pre-Parousia Kingdom that Mr. Otis Q. Sellers said, "In fact, Divine Government is brought about by the second coming of the Holy Spirit, not by the second coming of Jesus Christ. He will never leave His position at the right hand of God until His enemies have become His footstool."
Indeed, it will be, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD" (Zechariah 4:6).
"He will proclaim justice to the nations. Justice," especially Divine law, will be openly made known to the nations. Christ will cause judgment, i.e., justice, to be heard from heaven (Psalm 76:8). His judgments (justice) will be in all the earth (Psalm 105:7). The Prophet Amos has a beautiful description of justice being proclaimed to the nations:
"But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:24) RSV.
The world knows not justice, nor equity. It's every man for himself. Justice and equity are commodities which are desperately lacking in the governments of the world. We acknowledge that the guiding force of this world system is Satan, the Prince of Darkness. The political elites of the world system are manipulated by the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2), and justice and equity are not the principle upon which they operate.
BUT... "in the last days it shall come to pass...He shall judge among the nations, and rebuke strong nations from afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Micah 4:1, 3-4). Isaiah, basically, predicts the same thing in Isaiah 2:2-4.
In the "last days" [the Pre-Parousia Kingdom], wars will cease. The study of how to wage war will also cease. Universal peace will triumph. The Lord Jesus will govern the world from God's Throne in the heavens (Acts 2:30).
All of these promises will come to pass when He proclaims justice to the nations. The nations will learn justice, even Divine Law, and they will govern accordingly.
"He will not quarrel or cry out." Historically, it seems that all nations had their beginnings amid clashes, disputes, fights, and even, wars. With the Holy Spirit replacing "the god of this world," the course of this new world order will take an altogether different direction. The leaders of the nations will either comply with the directions of the Lord Jesus Christ, or they will be dramatically replaced. Consider the demise of King Herod in Acts 12:23 which may, very well, have been a preview of things to come in the Kingdom age, "And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him [King Herod], because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost."
There will be no conflict, no quarreling between the nations. The nations will eagerly wait for God's Word.
The revelation of the Glory of the Lord will be achieved without Him shouting, or crying out. He cried out, at times, during the First Advent, "Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink" (John 7:37). Neither can the "ignored prophecy" have anything to do with His 2nd Coming, which is highlighted by a shout and the voice of the archangel as Christ, Himself, descends from heaven (1 Thess. 4:16).
"No one will hear His voice in the streets." The world will be dramatically changed, both in philosophy and character, without the voice of Jesus Christ being heard. All flesh shall see the glory of the LORD together and at the same time:
"And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it" (Isaiah 40:5).
Seeing the Glory of the LORD will be one of many factors which enlighten the world. The future Pre-Parousia Kingdom is ushered in with mankind being supernaturally enlightened regarding the Truth for the Day of Christ.
"His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled" (Psalm 97:4).
Seen in the 97th Psalm is the LORD's (Yahweh's) assumption of authority over the whole world which brings an end to corrupt and fragile, human government. Divine Government is instituted over the whole earth without a gun being shot, or a cannon fired, or a bomb being dropped. Nations form new governments which will be in harmony with Divine Rule. The Heavens will appoint the rulers of each nation (Daniel 4:25). It will all be accomplished without the Voice of Jesus Christ being heard in the streets of the capitals of the world. Political "rabble-rousers" rally crowds and demonstrate in the streets, but "His voice" will not be heard in the streets!
"For Thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: Thou art exalted far above all gods"
(Psalm 97:9).
This positions the Lord Jesus Christ "far above all the earth," sitting on the Throne of God as He assumes the Kingship of the whole-world. His Holy Spirit is instrumental in illuminating every living human being. Man will be enlightened. Most of mankind will rejoice in his new, enlightened understanding, but some will not like it, or rejoice in the Light that is forced on them. There will be the "Jannes and Jambres" (2 Timothy 3:8-9) of this world who will pass from the age of Grace into the Kingdom of God only to be found out and purged.
The enlightenment of the world is likened, by the Lord Jesus, to lightning
"For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of Man be in his Day" (Luke 17:24).
So shall it be as He enlightens the earth's inhabitants. This results in the earth being "full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea" (Isaiah 11:9).
John 16:7-11 declares that the enlightenment of the world will be accomplished by the Spirit of Truth [the Comforter] which will pervade the earth. He, the Comforter, "will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of the world is judged."
This is a work which belongs to the time when God governs the world. The work of the Spirit enlightening the world is, both, the initial work and a continuous process.
"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear (from God), that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come" (John 16:13).
The illumination of mankind is understood to be declared in Acts 2:17:
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh."
There will be wave-after-wave of enlightenment flowing forth from Heaven's Throne. The Spirit of Truth will carry It throughout the earth-to every square inch of terra firma. Yes, Truth will flow down like a mighty stream (Amos 5:24), accomplishing everything required for Christ to govern as the Only Potentate, and King of kings.
"A bruised reed He will not break, and a smouldering wick He will not snuff out."
As pointed out earlier, the idea, here, is that no one will be hurt, injured, or damaged when the Kingdom comes. The Lord will strengthen the bruised reed and rekindle the flame of smoldering wick. Acts 3:19-21's mention of the times of refreshing and the restoration of all things is a more precise way of expressing this truth.
"Times of refreshing" and "the times of restitution (restoration) of all things" will find their fulfillment during the dispensation which follows the Age of Grace-the Pre-Parousia Kingdom of God. The prophecy of Isaiah 42:1-4 and Matthew 12:18-21 finds its fulfillment when the Kingdom of God suddenly becomes a reality; when the Lord Jesus Christ begins judging the living and the dead AT HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM (2 Timothy 4:1).
"In His Name the nations will put their hope." The King James translates this as "in His Name shall the nations trust." Imagine, the nations trusting in Jesus Christ! What a wonderful time this will be. "The nations" means every nation, not just Western European and the North American nations or Australia, but all nations! All nations will trust, hope, and rely on the Lord Jesus Christ. This truth is repeated in Romans 15:12 and explains why they will be willing to give up their implements of war and convert them into peaceful ones.
As students of the Word, we should not ignore a twice-revealed prophecy!
Tom L. Ballinger
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