First of all, let me assure you that the kingdom passages from the Old Testament that prophecy a coming eternal kingdom are all fulfilled in the church.   There will be no future kingdom that will replace the church of our Lord, Jesus Christ. While the broader kingdom does exist in the heavenly realm, on this earth the church is that "dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed," Daniel 7:14.

Let's examine some Old Testament passages:

          Isaiah 2:1-4 (NIV) "This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: In the last days the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.   Many peoples 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, so that we may walk in his paths.   The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.   He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.   They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.   Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore' ".

          Isaiah wrote approximately 700 B.C.   This passage is definitely a kingdom passage.   It speaks of events that will take place at a future time.   The fulfillment of this passage is to be found in Acts chapter two.   The church is the "house of God" about which Isaiah spoke.   Notice the following explanation of Isaiah chapter two:

• To be fulfilled in the last days (Isa 2:2) -- The term "last days" speaks of the end of the time with the Mosaic dispensation ended and the Christian age began.   Far too many people think the last days refers only to the end of time.   While that might appropriately be called the last days, the time of which Isaiah spoke was the time the church began.   Let the Apostle Peter shed light on the meaning of this passage.   "These men are not drunk as you suppose.   It's only nine in the morning!   No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people," Acts 2:15-17.   Surely Peter would know the meaning of the prophetic phrase "last days" better than any of us.   Therefore we conclude that the last days refers to the event that began on the day of Pentecost, approximately 29 A.D. in the city of Jerusalem.   These events are recorded by Luke in Acts chapter two.

• The Lord's temple will be established (Isa 2:2) -- The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:16, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"   Clearly he taught that the church, the people of God, were his temple.   The same truth is taught in 1 Corinthians 6:19.   Since the church is the temple of God and since the church was established in Acts chapter two, then we conclude that Isaiah was speaking of the coming of the church, not some future event that would take place at the end of time.

• All nations will stream unto it (Isa 2:2) -- Just before Jesus ascended into the heavens, he spoke with his disciples concerning the kingdom of God, Acts 1:3. His Apostles even asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel," Acts 1:6. Actually, Jesus was speaking concerning the church.   He added the scope of this kingdom when he said, "you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth," Acts 1:8.   Clearly the church is intended for all nations.   Read Matthew 28:18-20 or Mark 16:15-16.   Paul wrote that the Gospel had been taken to all the world (to every creature under heaven) in his generation in Colossians 1:23.   Clearly Isaiah spoke of the church when he prophesied of the kingdom in Isaiah chapter two.

• He will teach us his ways (Isa 2:3) -- This portion of Isaiah confirms that those who are a part of the kingdom will have been taught the ways of the Lord. Isn't that the same truth taught by Jesus Himself in John 6:45, "It is written in the Prophets: They will all be taught by God.   Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me."   This passage is a reference to what Isaiah wrote in Isaiah 54:13.   God's people, in the church (kingdom) are a taught people.   See Matthew 28:20.

• The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem (Isa 2:3) -- The prophecy of Isaiah was to begin in Jerusalem.   That is exactly what we read in Acts chapter two.   The first sermon, the one that led to 3000 souls being baptized into Christ, occurred in the city of Jerusalem.   Just exactly like Isaiah prophesied.

• Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore (Isa 2:4) -- The entire fourth verse refers to the fact that the kingdom of God is peaceful in nature.   It is not speaking of world peace.   Due to sinful man, this world will be feuding and fighting until Jesus comes again.   But, the kingdom (the church) is peaceful in nature.   It is in every nation.   At least that is God's intent. Jesus is the prince of peace, Isaiah 9:6.   He came to give us His peace, John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.   I do not give to you as the world gives."   Paul wrote of the peace of God which transcends understanding in Philippians 4:7.   Therefore, Isaiah spoke of the peaceful nature of the church.   When God's kingdom is acting as it should, then it is not at war!

-- George Carman