The Millennium, when does it take place? Part 3

In part 2 we left off at Daniel 2:44-45, let's continue from the end of part 2

Daniel 2:44-45 (KJV)

44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.45Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

The indestructible and everlasting Kingdom designates the rule of God Himself and particularly the medatorial rule of Christ, the stone cut without hands. Christ's medatorial rule began when He ascended into Heaven and sat down on the right hand of God the Father.

Remember, it was the event (Christ's ascension) that initiated Him being enthroned as King on David's throne. It was the same event which inaugurated Jesus millennial Kingdom. While Christ was coronated as King in heaven after His ascension, the Holy Spirit that He was anointed with from the Father, overflowed to the waiting disciples on earth. This was the day of Pentecost. On the same day Christ was given His Kingdom by the Father with the ceremony in heaven, the overflowing Spirit poured out on the disciples which inaugurated the Kingdom of Christ on earth.

Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar that Jehovah has revealed to him the summation of history from his time until the end (the end being the time of the Messiah’s first advent). “the interpretation thereof is sure”. It is trustworthy; the word “amen” is from the word “sure”.

In the days of the fourth kingdom (the Roman empire) the God of heaven would set up a kingdom which would never be destroyed, but would break in pieces and consume all the kingdoms and would stand forever

The kingdom came right on time. In the days of the Roman empire, John the Baptist and Jesus came preaching that the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God were "at hand." At hand - Within easy reach; near; close by.  

Luke 3:1-3 (KJV)

3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,

² Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

³ And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

Matthew 3:1-2 (KJV)

3 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

² And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4:17 (KJV)

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mark 1:15 (KJV)

¹⁵ And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Jesus said that "the time is fulfilled"; the days of the Roman empire were present and the promised kingdom was within easy reach. As a letter fulfillment of the prophesy of Daniel which said that "the God of heaven [would] set up a "kingdom”. The kingdom was called the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. There is absolutely no doubt that the kingdom of God was set up at the first coming of Christ.

Luke 11:20 (KJV)

²⁰ But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

The kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are the same thing. The phrase "kingdom of heaven" is exclusively used in the Matthew's gospel. The phrase "kingdom of God" is used a few times in Matthew and John, and extensively in Mark and Luke. A simple comparison of parallel verses in Matthew, Mark, and Luke show beyond question that the kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of God are interchangeable terms.  For example: The mystery of the kingdom of heaven/God.

Matthew 13:11 (KJV)

¹¹ He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Mark 4:11 (KJV)

¹¹ And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:

Luke 8:10 (KJV)

¹⁰ And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

The parable of the mustard seed.

Matthew 13:31-32 (KJV)

³¹ Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:

³² Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Mark 4:30-31 (KJV)

³⁰ And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?

³¹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

Luke 13:18-19 (KJV)

¹⁸ Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?

¹⁹ It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

The parable of the leaven

Matthew 13:33 (KJV)

³³ Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Luke 13:20-21 (KJV)

²⁰ And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God?

²¹ It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

It is obvious that these are two different names for the same kingdom: God is in heaven; therefore it is called the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. John the Baptist published the Kingdom in advance of the Messiah who would bring the Kingdom nigh at hand i.e. within reach to those He and His disciples encountered and the surrounding region. Jehoshua’s earthly ministry would bind the devil. Jehoshua’s death, resurrection and ascension would destroy the devil and spoil the principalities of darkness paving the way for the establishment of the Kingdom and His coronation as King on the Davidic throne on the day of Pentecost shortly after His ascension to Heaven.

Let’s look at this passage in Isaiah 2 that shows the arrival of the Messiah’s Kingdom. Many mistakenly attribute this to a future earthly reign of Jehoshua in earthly Jerusalem after His second advent. However, we will see that the chronology of this passage proves that the Kingdom spoken of is the current age we are living in meaning that the Church age from Messiah’s ascension to the second advent is the millennium.

Isaiah 2:1-22 King James Version (KJV)

1 The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

² And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

³ And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

⁴ And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

⁵ O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.

⁶ Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.

⁷ Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots:

⁸ Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:

⁹ And the mean man boweth down, and the great man humbleth himself: therefore forgive them not.

¹⁰ Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty.

¹¹ The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

¹² For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

¹³ And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,

¹⁴ And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,

¹⁵ And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,

¹⁶ And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.

¹⁷ And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

¹⁸ And the idols he shall utterly abolish.

¹⁹ And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

²⁰ In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;

²¹ To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

²² Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of ?

Verses 1-2, many mistakenly think the last days refers solely to the very end of time, however we know from scripture that the last days began at the exaltation (resurrection and ascension) of Jehoshua Messiah beginning in the new testament era.

Acts 2:17 (KJV)

¹⁷ And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

This was the day of Pentecost and Peter referred to this time period as the last days.

Hebrews 1:1-2 (KJV)

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

² Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Old testament revelation, though spoken through a variety of means, originated in Jehovah. His revelation in the old testament spanned several thousand years. “last days” Everything after Jehoshua’s resurrection and ascension are the last days.

With the understanding that we now have of the last days and that they began at the exaltation of Messiah, we can better understand Isaiah chapter 2.

Let’s go back to verse 2, Isaiah says that the mountain of Jehovah’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains and exalted above the hills. Now does this refer to a future earthly millennium in earthly Jerusalem or does it refer to the Church age? Remember the prophecy in 2 Samuel chapter 7 given to David?  Let’s revisit this promise by going to the chapter:

2 Samuel 7:11-17 (ASV)

¹¹ and as from the day that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel; and I ^[d]will cause thee to rest from all thine enemies. Moreover Jehovah telleth thee that Jehovah will make thee a house. ¹² When thy days are fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, that shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever. ¹⁴ I will be his father, and he shall be my son: if he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men; ¹⁵ but my lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. ¹⁶ And thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. ¹⁷ According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.

The above passage describes the sure promise given to David by Jehovah God that out of his seed, a King would arise and would be given a Kingdom and throne that would be established forever. David is also told that this King would come out his bowels would establish Jehovah’s House. This passage is referring to the Son of God Jehoshua. We have already shown that the fulfillment of this prophecy took place at Jehoshua’s ascension into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God the Father. This then proves that the building of His Father Jehovah’s House started at the time of His ascension just about coinciding with the day of Pentecost.

Let’s go to some new testament scripture that prove that we as individuals and as a Church body comprise the House of Jehovah:

Corinthians 3:16King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Paul says that we individual members of the body of Messiah are the temple of God. Remember, the Temple of Jehovah is His house.

1 Corinthians 6:19King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

Paul says that our body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, again this is a reference to individual members of the Church. The Temple of the Holy Ghost and the Temple of the Father (God) are one and the same because the Holy Spirit is the Father’s actual Spirit. The Spirit if the Father dwells in believers. Again, Jehovah’s House is His Temple.  In the old testament, it was the earthly tabernacle and also the two temples that were built for Him.  In the New testament, we are seeing that the Temple/House of Jehovah is not made of a brick and mortar structure but rather made of people.

Remember that in 2 Samuel chapter 7, David had a desire to build a house for Jehovah in order to have a dwelling place for the ark which symbolized His throne.  This house that David had a desire to build in one sense was fulfilled by his son Solomon.  This house was the temple. So we can see that Jehovah’s House equates the Temple.  This is important to understand in regards to Isaiah chapter 2 and also what constitutes the Temple of Jehovah in the new covenant. Of course, the ultimate fulfillment of David’s desire would be realized in Jehoshua the only begotten Son as after His ascension He was enthroned as King. Every King has a Temple and David was promised that his seed after him would establish Jehovah’s House forever. This wasn’t fulfilled in Solomon nor the temple he had built. Even the temple that was around in Jehoshua’s time came to ruin as Jehoshua had prophesied.  As we are now seeing that Jehovah’s temple is the Church individually and collectively, we can for certain say that Jehovah’s promise to David regarding His house being established forever was fulfilled in the Church and is still being fulfilled as the elect get added to it on a daily basis. Let’s go to more scripture to prove that we as the Church individually and corporately are the Temple of Jehovah God.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

¹⁵ And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

¹⁶ And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

¹⁷ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

¹⁸ And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Paul again states that we are the Temple of the Living God, and as God’s Temple we are to have nothing to do with idols. God dwells in us because we are now His Temple. He walks in us as His spiritual shekinah dwells in us as His literal shekinah dwelled in the old earthly sanctuary in the most holy place.  When Paul says “what agreement hath the temple of God with idols” he is referring to the individual believer as the temple of God. When Paul refers to the Temple of God he is meaning the Temple of the Father who is the one true God and the living God.  We know this because in verse 18 the person speaking is the Father who refers to Himself as the Lord Almighty.  The living God and the Lord God Almighty in the book of Revelation refer to the Father.  Verse 18 mentions specifically that the Father is the one speaking in reference to this admonition by Paul. The admonition is that if we stay away from the unclean thing, that we will be sons and daughters of the Father who will dwell in us as we are His Temple i.e. the Temple of the Living God. Remember, it is the Father that is the Living God (Matthew 16:13-20, Matthew 26:53, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, Revelation 7:3, 14:1). Paul cites Isaiah 52:11-12.

Ephesians 2:19-22King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

²¹ In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

²² In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Paul is speaking to Gentiles here in this passage and says that once they became converted that they became members of the Household of God. In verse 21, Paul equates this household with being the holy temple of God. Earlier in Ephesians 2 (verse 12), Paul refers to the household of God as the commonwealth of Israel that Gentiles were once aliens of. In verse 19, Paul says that converted Gentiles are now fellow citizens with the saints (Israelite believers) of the household of God. Obviously, from this passage we see that Paul is saying that both Israelite and Gentile believers make up the household of God which is also called the commonwealth of Israel and the holy temple of the Lord (Jehovah).

Is this house built of brick and mortar as so many suppose in an alleged future earthly millennium? No!  Paul says that the House of God is built upon the prophets and apostles, the last prophet before Jehoshua was John the Baptist. Jehoshua Himself was the last prophet (Hebrews 1:1-3) and is above all other prophets as he is the chief corner stone of the building. Notice that the House of Jehovah is His people not a pile of sticks on a pile of dirt. The beautiful thing is that we are also part of this building as Paul says in verse 21, that we are fitly framed together growing unto the temple in the Lord. Growing because every time someone is born again into the Kingdom they are added to the temple of Jehovah making it a little bigger in size. In verse 22, Paul says that we are builded together which speaks to our unity in the body of Messiah as scripture says there is one body not many. Also, Paul says that we as the Church are God’s habitation in which He dwells in through His Spirit which is His Holy Spirit. Clearly, the Church is the House of God not a geo-political nation or a brick and mortar building.

1 Peter 2:5King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Whereas the apostles and prophets are the foundation of Jehovah’s House and Jehoshua the Chief corner stone, we as the saints are the lively stones who complete the built up House.  We are a holy priesthood which offer up spiritual sacrifices to Jehovah God by Jehoshua. Do you see the pattern here in the new covenant?  The emphasis of the new covenant is spiritual not physical.  The Church is Jehovah’s Spiritual Temple whereas the old earthly temples were His earthly physical dwelling place.

1 Peter 2:9King James Version (KJV)

⁹ But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;

Peter says that we as the Church are a holy nation. He applies titles used of Israel to Christians (Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 4:20; 7:6, Isaiah 43:20-21). “Chosen generation” connects then with Jehoshua (v.4,6). “Peculiar people” a treasured people. “were not a people, but are now the people of God’ alludes to Hosea 1:6,9-10; 2:23). Peter uses exilic language to refer to God electing His people.

Acts 7:48-50King James Version (KJV)

⁴⁸ Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

⁴⁹ Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

⁵⁰ Hath not my hand made all these things?

Ultimately Jehovah doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands such as brick and mortar buildings. In other words, even though His shekinah glory would dwell in the most holy place of the Temple Jehovah’s presence and Spirit is not limited to man made buildings. Jehovah’s Spirit is omnipresent and He now dwells in human (believers) temples not brick and mortar temples. His Church is the new covenant temple.

Hebrews 12:28-24King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

¹⁹ And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

²⁰ (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

²¹ And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

²² But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

²³ To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

²⁴ And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

In context, this passage in Hebrews is contrasting earthly mount Zion with the heavenly Zion where Jehoshua sits as the king on a heavenly throne. Countless angels are seen dwelling in heavenly Zion. Just as Solomon replaced the temporary tabernacle service, symbolic of the far greater service of Jehovah in Jehoshua Messiah in replacing the earthly temple service with the heavenly temple service. In verse 18 of this passage in Hebrews, earthly Mt. Sinai is contrasted with heavenly Zion to compare the old covenant with the new covenant. The Mosaic covenant had a strictness and bondage about it compared to a glory and boldness belonging to the new covenant.  Mt. Sinai had a physicality that the Hebrews had a hankering after. In the new covenant, true believers look to heavenly Mt. Zion. This is the mountain of Jehovah’s house that Isaiah 2 talks about as being established in the top of the mountains. While many think Isaiah 2 is talking about a future earthly millennium we are seeing that it is actually talking about this present Church age as the Church represents heavenly Zion. The spread of Christianity throughout the Church age has been glorious despite the false system in Rome bringing reproach upon the name of Christ.  As the Church grows, heavenly Zion is glorified and it is established at the top of the mountains (earthly kingdoms). Remember Psalms 110:2 says that the Messiah would rule in the midst of His enemies.

Because Messiah rules in the midst of His enemies and not just when His enemies are vanquished, His Mountain which is Heavenly Zion is established in the top of the mountains which represent earthly kingdoms which are often the enemies of the Son of God. The Church on earth represents heavenly Zion which is the Mountain of Jehovah. Let’s make a comparison of the old covenant with the new covenant:

Old covenant – earthly temple which is a physical brick and mortar building; New covenant – earthly temple which is the individual believer and the Church as a whole.

Old Covenant – earthly sanctuary service and animal/drink/grain sacrificial system with earthly Levitical priesthood as the mediators; New covenant – heavenly sanctuary service with heavenly priest of the order of Melcisedec, once for all sacrifice made at the cross via the body and blood of Messiah. On earth, priesthood of all believers who offer up spiritual sacrifices to the Father through the heavenly mediator Jehoshua.

Old covenant – earthly king and earthly throne in earthly Jerusalem and earthly Mt. Zion; New Covenant – Heavenly King and Heavenly throne in heavenly Jerusalem in heavenly Mt. Zion.

Old covenant – Israel is an earthly geo-political kingdom; New covenant – Israel (the Church) is a Spiritual Kingdom which is ruled from heaven and is present on earth in the individual Messianic and in the local Church.

Brethren,

There are many today who want to go back to the Old covenant system and are looking forward to this in the present age and also in the age to come. These people completely ignore Hebrews 11 which says that even the patriarchs and heroes of old had hope in a coming heavenly city and country built by God’s hands not man. These people are totally wanting to undo everything Jehoshua did at the cross to bring in the far better hope of a new covenant which is a spiritual covenant which is far more glorious that the old covenant.

Hebrews 13:13-14 (KJV)

¹³ Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

¹⁴ For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Paul makes it clear that we as new covenant believers do not have ANY continuing city here and in context this is especially speaking of earthly Jerusalem. Paul says that we seek one to come which is heavenly Jerusalem. This confirms what even the old covenant saints sought (Hebrews 11).

^{Galatians 4:24-26 (KJV)}

²⁴ Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

²⁵ For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

²⁶ But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Paul says here that the old covenant lends itself to bondage and is represented by Mt. Sinai and earthly Jerusalem. He goes on to say that the new covenant is represented by new Jerusalem in heaven which brings freedom and is the mother of us all. New Jerusalem is the mother of the Church which is made up of believing Jews and Gentiles. There is only one Church not two (Ephesians 4:4-6). There is no separate dispensation for the Jew and Gentile.

Back to Hebrews 12, In verse 23 “general assembly and Church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven” denotes that the Church is headquartered in Heaven where the redeemed have their names registered in the book of life. The Greek word for general assembly here is used nowhere else in the bible. It carries with it the meaning of a festive joyous assembly whereas Sinai was a place of dread and heavenly Zion is a joyful festival. It makes you wonder why so many today are wanting to return to Sinai and the old covenant. When a name gets added to the Church registry in heaven, Zion rejoices as Satan’s kingdom has been spoiled of another subject (Colossians 1:12-14).  This how Zion i.e. the Mountain of Jehovah (The Church) is established above the mountains of the earth (earthly nations). The Kingdom of Jehoshua (Mountain of Jehovah) marches forth in victory every time someone gets translated into it’s marvelous light. Jehoshua established His Kingdom here on earth at Pentecost and it continues to conquer as the good news of the gospel goes forth spoiling Satan’s kingdom of it’s subjects and adding another lively stone to the Temple of Jehovah.

The Church of the Firstborn denotes the true begotten Sonship of Jehoshua. He is the eternal Son of God who is Jehovah’s firstborn Son begotten from His very substance (Proverbs 8:22-31, John 3:16, John 5:26). Verse 23 says that God is the judge of all.  The spirits of just men made perfect is a reference to those who have died in Messiah and are awaiting their resurrection. This shows that believers eternal destinies are settled at death as these just men are already made perfect a they endured to the end. They are awaiting their resurrection where they will then stand before the judgement seat of Messiah to receive their heavenly rewards. A believer’s destiny is settled at death where they will fall asleep only to await the coming of the Son of God to bring them to life. They have already been given eternal life at conversion and the bible says that believer’s do not come into condemnation which means they do not pass into judgment.  The only judgment awaiting a believer will be for rewards not whether they go to heaven or the lake of fire (John 5:24). Their spirits have already been made perfect due to their faithfulness unto death as they did not deny the Son of God.

Verse 24 of Hebrews 12, Jehoshua sprinkled his blood on the heavenly mercy seat in the most holy place when he went to heaven after His resurrection. The Messiah’s blood bridges the heavenly and temporal age. He is the mediator of a new covenant “blood of sprinkling”.

Back to Isaiah chapter 2, we have shown how the last days referred to here in Isaiah verse 2 refers to the time of the Messiah’s exaltation and ascension, beginning in the new testament era. All nations flowing to the mountain of Jehovah (The Church) was and is being fulfilled in the gospel being preached unto the Gentiles and them being added to the Kingdom of Jehoshua. In verse 3, we see that many will up to the Mountain of Jehovah to learn His ways as His law goes forth out of Zion and Jerusalem. This has and is being fulfilled as people get added to the Church (Jehovah’s Mountain) as the Church on earth represents Zion in heaven. The ultimate source of Jehovah’s law comes from heavenly Zion and heavenly Jerusalem. In verse 4, the gospel of the Son of God is called the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:15).  As the gospel has gone out into all the world, those who have received it among the different nations have turned their weapons of war into the weapons of the Holy Spirit. Only the Son of God’s gospel has been able to bring men and women of all nations, tribes and tongues into unity with each other.  Where they have formerly been at odds with each other due to geographical borders or being of a different ethnic group, these people now love each other and consider each other brother and sister.

Verse 5 of Isaiah 2, the prophet calls Israel to live in the light of Jehovah, this light is His Son Jehoshua.

Verses 6-22 speak of apostasy and the coming day of Jehovah at the end of the age. The progression of Isaiah 2 supports the amillennial position. The first few verses speak of the spread of Jehoshua’s Kingdom throughout all the earth which we have are showing began on the day of Pentecost and will continue until the second advent. Next we see apostasy for Israel (The Church) in verses 6-9 (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 1 Timothy 4:1-4).  These verses also speak of a general decline in spirituality in the world as a whole (2 Timothy 3:1-9). Verses 10-22 speak of the great and terrible day of Jehovah God which most acknowledge is the second advent of Jehoshua Messiah. This fits perfectly with the amillennial position as the Kingdom is presently now as it is established in the top of the mountains meaning Jehoshua the King rules from heaven over the mountains which symbolize the nations of the earth. Remember, in Psalms 110:2 it says that the Messiah rules in the midst of His enemies.

Psalm 110:2 (KJV)

² Jehovah shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

The Son of God is the rod of Jehovah and He rules in the midst of the nations of the earth, this is why we can rightly say that His Kingdom which is the Mountain of Jehovah has been established above all other kingdoms of the earth which are spoken of as mountains in Isaiah 2.

In verse 10 of Isaiah, we see similar language to Paul’s description of the second advent (1 Thessalonians 1:9). In verse 12, we see the term “day of the Lord (Jehovah)” A technical term referring to the direct and manifest interventions of God into the affairs of time for the purposes of judgment and salvation (Isaiah 13:6,9, 34:8; Joel 2:31), culminating in the great day at the end of the age (1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10).

Verses 13-15 of Isaiah 2, cedars…mountains…every Hightower. Symbols of every way in which man lifts himself up in pride and self-reliance instead of honoring Jehovah (2 Corinthians 10:4).

Verses 20-22 of Isaiah 2, when God’s judgment begins men’s idols are useless. “cease ye from men” Stop depending on mortal men (Psalm 146:3; Jeremiah 17:5-6); salvation is only found in Jehovah.

Psalm 48:1-2 (KJV)

48 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

² Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

Therefore, the church is the kingdom of God which is the great mountain which fills the whole earth. As we saw in Hebrews 12:28-24, the Church is called Zion. The city of our God (New Jerusalem), His Mountain of Holiness (Zion) and the Church are all interchangeable terms.

It is obvious that the two different names for the same kingdom i.e. Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are describing the same thing. God is in heaven; therefore it is called the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven.  If it was suspected that these were two different kingdoms, the fact that they are described in parallel passages demands that they are the same kingdom. (vi)Things that are both equal to something are equal to each other. (vii) This is a classic "double horn" argument, in that it proves that the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven are the same kingdom, whether it is at first conceded that the terms are synonymous, or whether they are at first held to be two different kingdoms which are then shown to be identical.Matthew himself uses the terms interchangeably. Also compare Mat 19:23-24 with

Revelation 20:5-6 (KJV)

⁵ But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

⁶ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Stay tuned for part 4