Isaiah saw a Messiah who would judge among the nations. As we have already concluded, this did not mean every nation but rather individuals in all nations. Who then would the Messiah (Jesus the Christ) judge? We know that Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). Do all men obey Christ today? Where then is the extent of His authority? Would it not be in the realm where His authority exists? Jesus is the Head over His church (Col. 1:18). What else is He over? If He is over the life of an individual then that individual would be in the church which Jesus is the head of, would it not?
If one affirms that Jesus rules in their heart are they not saying that Jesus rules in their heart? We are to sanctify the Lord God in our hearts. We exalt Him to rule over our hearts. The reason being that when anyone would ask us about why we live the way we do, we would point to the One who rules over us that is Jesus the Christ (I Peter 3:15). Would He be ruling over our hearts if we fail to walk in the light of what He has revealed in the scriptures? John presents this argument. If we claim fellowship with God and walk in darkness, then we are lying (I John 1:6). Jesus by what Isaiah saw shows Him to be Judge. Him being Judge requires a realm in which He can judge the hearts of men.
Are we saved by grace? The scriptures teach, “yes” (Eph. 2:5). When Paul speaks about Jesus, he refers to Him as being the “…grace of God that has appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). That is not the end of the chapter nor the expression of truth. Paul continues in verse 12 by saying that the grace of God teaches us. Whatever Jesus has taught us it is required of us to put into practice what He said. We therefore live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. Is that not the same as saying, “walking in the light as He is in the light”? How then would the Messiah judge all nations? Why not let the Lord Himself answer that for us?
Jesus said that if a man rejects Jesus and receives not His word, then that man will be judged by that word (John 12:48). Using the word “and” we conclude that it brings together two things of like value. On one side is the rejection of Jesus and on the other side is the rejection of what Jesus said. Both carry the same meaning. You cannot reject Jesus without rejecting His Word. You reject the Word of Jesus, you, therefore reject Jesus. Jesus will use that Word to judge men in the last day. This gives us insight into how He will judge the nations.
The person who submits to Jesus will have a change in his life. Upon being raised from a watery grave of immersion the individuals seeks the things above and set his affections on those things above (Col. 3:1,2). He is not the same person that he was (1 Cor. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:17). Even those who were former friends will see the difference which could result in the Christian being made fun of by former friends (1 Peter 4:4). Let us see what else Isaiah saw as a result of the person changing their hearts by obeying the truth from God.
They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks. At the time of Isaiah’s writings there were two nations that made up the people of God. One was the northern kingdom called Israel and the other was the southern kingdom known as Judah. Nation would not rise against nation. The territories of Israel and Judah had been fought over for years in wars and bloodshed. Here the promise is that in the latter days, that practice would cease.
Why is that the case? Because they, the people of God in the latter days would learn war, against each other, any more. Isaiah saw a time when the “wolf and the lamb” would lie down together (Isaiah 11:6). The natural enemies would cease fighting against each other and come under the rule of the Prince of Peace. What Isaiah saw has happened. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. The church is established and those inside of it are at peace with God.