Isaiah 24 21-23, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth.  And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously."

As we begin this passage, we find the LORD has a problem with the leaders and kings of the earth.  Verse 21, "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth."  Leaders impact people and affect the laws of the land.  Man has done a great job of corrupting the earth and so God voices His disapproval of who they are because of what they have done.  He is going to round them up before He establishes his earthly kingdom. Verse 22, "And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited."  We are not told if they are visited in wrath or in mercy, but they will be dealt with by the LORD.

Verse 23 has language that is descriptive of the 1000-year reign of Christ (millennial reign) on the earth.  "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously." 

When all these things are accomplished, the enemies of God are humbled and incarcerated, and the Lord establishes His kingdom upon the earth, it will be evident beyond any shadow of a doubt that the Lord reigns, which is always true, but not always evident to us.

Also, it will be evident He reigns like none other, He is beyond comparison, as He reigns gloriously, in such brightness and luster that the moon shall be confounded and the sun ashamed. The smaller lights are eclipsed and extinguished by the greater.  Great men, who thought themselves to have as bright a luster and as vast a dominion as the sun and moon, shall be ashamed when God appears above them, much more when he appears against them.

He is coming back to establish His kingdom upon the earth after the Great Tribulation.  "...the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously."

I am filled with excitement and anticipation as I think about what God has planned in HIS return to this earth.

Have a joyful day in the Lord.

Your Friend and HIS,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1. Have there been times in your life when it seemed as though God wasn’t present with you? How did this make you feel? What Bible truth reminds you of God’s presence in your life?

2. What does it mean when the Bible says that God will reign “…before his ancients gloriously?”

3. How does the imminent return of Christ affect you today?