I would like to quote verse 4 first, for it is a very well-known verse that gives us a clue as to the time frame that Isaiah is speaking of in verses 1-3. The verse reads, “He (God) shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore” (NKJV). This wonderful prophecy is speaking of that glorious time when wars shall cease and there will be “peace on earth.” This verse was quoted by President Jimmy Carter when he mediated a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt (the “Camp David Accords”). Of course, the peace between those two nations hardly fulfilled Isaiah’s prediction, for as we read “nation shall not lift up sword against nation,” meaning that ALL NATIONS will be at peace when this verse is fulfilled. This prophecy awaits the Coming of the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will establishment His kingdom of peace and righteousness over the earth for 1,000 years. In that glorious “Millennial Reign,” weapons will be transformed into farming tools and all military academies will close up shop (for they “shall learn war no more”)!

Now let’s read verses 1-3, “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

In verse 1 we learn that the Center of blessing for all the earth will be in JERUSALEM. Jerusalem will be the capital of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom. In order for this to take place, Jews from around the world will be gathered back to the Land of Israel and they will be forgiven of their sins and born of God’s Spirit (see Ezekiel 36:24-28 and Jeremiah 31:31-34). In verse 2 we see that a new temple will be built on Mount Zion. You can read about this in great detail in Ezekiel chapters 40-43. Then we are taught that “all nations shall flow to it,” which simply means that people from around the world “will make pilgrimages to Zion for worship and for Divine instruction.”

Verse 3 expresses this truth in simple language: “Many people shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob’.” When we think of the tension in the Middle East right now and the growing anti-Semitism (hatred against the Jews), we can hardly imagine the glorious future that is in store for Israel. Yet God’s Word WILL be fulfilled and when God establishes His capital in Jerusalem the nations will indeed gather on Mount Zion. They will go there to LEARN of God, for our verse goes on to say: “He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” We saw in verse 4, “neither shall they LEARN WAR anymore”; instead men shall LEARN PEACE! The Lord Jesus is called the “Prince of Peace” (see Isaiah 9:6) and in that day He will teach men to love one another. Today people are characterized by what we see in Romans 3:15-17, “Their feet are swift to shed blood; destruction and misery are in their ways; and THE WAY OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.” But when the Lord becomes their Divine Teacher and they willingly sit at His feet to learn “His ways,” they will learn His lessons well and “walk in His paths.” What a day that will be! (282.7) (DO)