In order to trace the footprints leading to God’s coming King and His kingdom, we need once more to catch a glimpse of the view from the top. The Lord Jesus said it in His model prayer. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10). There is a coming kingdom where God’s will will be done on this earth as it is now being done in heaven. Heaven will come down and be joined to a renewed earth. Like most panoramic sights; hard climb but worth the view at the top.
The new Jerusalem will descend and settle on the highest hill. It will be the dwelling of the coming King and the capital city of His kingdom. Jerusalem – the city of peace – will be the city on the hill. The mountain of the Lord’s house will be established on the top of the mountains, and people shall flow into it. Many nations will come and say, “Come 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 the law shall go forth and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa. 2:3). The Lord will judge between many peoples and rebuke strong nations. Swords will be beaten into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. War will be no more, and people will dwell in safety under their own fig trees. The Lord will gather His remnant and reign over them in Mount Zion (Micah 4:1–5:5).
In the coming kingdom, the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the lame will walk, and the dumb will sing. The desert will flow with water, the mountains will be no more, and the clouds will be rolled back (Isa. 35:5–6). Everyone will know the Lord, from the least of them to the greatest. Their sins will be forgiven and remembered no more (Jer. 31:34). Everyone will have access to the King. In the latter days, all nations will flow to the Lord’s dwelling place to learn of Him and walk in His paths. His law will go forth from Jerusalem (Isa. 2:2–3). All the scattered and lost sheep will be brought home. The people of Israel have been dispersed throughout the world because of their disobedience, but the Lord will gather a remnant of His flock from all countries back to their own land. They will be fruitful and have every need met. They will no longer be afraid or dismayed or lacking.
The Lord will raise up from David a King to reign and prosper and execute judgment and righteousness. His name will be called the Lord Our Righteousness (Jer. 23:5–7). When the King sets up His kingdom, we will see Him in His beauty. Our eyes will see Jerusalem, a quiet home, a tabernacle that will not be taken down. No stakes will be removed, nor cords broken, unlike the tabernacle that was moved with the people of Israel as they journeyed through the wilderness. The Lord will be our lawgiver, our judge, and our King. Those who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity. We will finally be home (Isa. 33:17–24). The King will give beauty for ashes.
Isaiah declared that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him because the Lord had anointed Him to proclaim good tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and open the prison to those bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, and to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness—that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. The old ruins will be rebuilt, and the ruined cities will be repaired. God’s chosen people will be called priests of the Lord, servants of our God. They will eat the riches of the Gentiles and boast in their glory. Instead of shame, they will have double honor. Instead of confusion, they will rejoice in their portion. They will experience everlasting joy and an everlasting covenant with God. Their descendants will be known among the Gentiles and their offspring among the people. All who see them will acknowledge that they are the posterity whom the Lord has blessed (Isa. 61:1–11). The King will rejoice over His subjects. In that day, Gentiles will realize that Israel is God’s chosen people, and all kings will recognize her glory.
God will give Jerusalem a new name, a crown of glory, and a royal diadem. She will no longer be called forsaken or desolate but shall be called “Hephzibah” and her land will be called “Beulah.” The Lord will rejoice over her as a bridegroom does over his bride. God will set watchmen over the city to guard it night and day. No longer will the enemy eat her grain nor the foreigner drink her new wine. Those who gathered it will consume it and praise the Lord. The Lord will proclaim to the end of the world, “Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Surely your salvation is coming; Behold, His reward is with Him and His work before Him.’” His people will be called the holy people, the redeemed of the Lord, and they will be sought out in a city not forsaken (Isa. 62:1–12). The whole earth will be filled with the King’s glory.
The King will judge His people with righteousness and justice. There will be peace and prosperity. The name of the Lord will be feared forever. In His days, the righteous will flourish and enjoy abundance of peace until the moon is no more. Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before the King, and his enemies will lick the dust. The kings of Tarshish and of the isles will bring presents. The kings of Sheba and Seba will offer gifts. All the kings will fall down before Him. All nations will serve Him. He will deliver the needy, the poor, and the oppressed. There will be an abundance of grain in the earth. His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. Men shall be blessed in Him, and all nations shall call Him blessed. David, the psalmist, cried out, “Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, who only does wondrous things! And blessed be His glorious name forever! And let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen” (Psa. 72:18–20). A favorite glimpse of the kingdom is that of ten men from every nation will grab the sleeve a Jewish man saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” (Zech. 8:23). Wow! The Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man, shall be King over all the earth. “In that day, it shall be—The Lord is one, and His name one” (Zech. 14:9). The first small step on the path leading to this coming kingdom began with Noah’s prophecy, “Blessed be the LORD God of Shem” (Gen. 9:26). Blessings!