Isaiah 2:1-5

What does it mean for God to reign on earth?

1. It means only one religion can be valid.

• "the mountain of the LORD's house will be the highest of all -- the most important place on earth." The temple mount will be the center of all things. Religion and politics will come together as the One True God becomes the One True King.
• "It will be raised above the other hills..." -- does this mean that all other religions will be shown to be invalid? Worship of Yahweh God will be shown supreme over all others.
• "people from all over the world will stream there to worship." Religion will no longer be localized. People from the East will worship God, not Buddha. People from the middle-east will worship God, not Muhammad. People from the west will worship God, not themselves or money.

2. It means true understanding is available.

• God on earth is the ultimate source of truth. What he says is always right and always needful. There is no longer any need for debate or discussion about what is right and what is wrong. Everything we need to know can be learned from Jerusalem.
• Of course, we should take the same approach today. "Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD's house..." should be today, "Come, let us go to the Word of the LORD."

3. It means absolute peace is possible.

• "The LORD will mediate between nations." -- Whatever things men might find to fight about will quickly be settled as God will step in and intervene. The reason we lack peace today is not just because we disagree, but because we don't know HOW to disagree without violence.
• "They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks." -- Things that were once weapons of destruction will become tools for growth. What men used to kill one another, they will now use to feed one another. Weapons are no longer necessary, because war is no longer an option.

Conclusion: Come, let us walk in the light of the LORD!"

a) we must work to get everyone on the right side of the judgment so this reality will be theirs as well
b) this is the description of the culture of our kingdom, even though we are currently strangers and wanderers, we ought to live by this code even while we wait for our king to return.