Isaiah 9:6

A Child is Born

Isaiah 9:6,7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Since the promise of Genesis 3:15 there was an expected offspring, the Messiah, who would bring salvation. Notice the correlation between the titles here and how God revealed himself in the New Testament.

Wonderful Counselor	John 15:26 When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.
Mighty God	Luke 22:69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.
Everlasting Father	2 Corinthians 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever
Prince of Peace	Luke 19:38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Jesus Christ is of course the fulfillment of this prophecy, but it has not yet come to pass. For as in much of Isaiah this speaks not simply of his first coming, but rather the emphasis is on his Messianic rule which is yet to take place. But what is incorporated in this hope?

Post-Millenialism

As people of God we are frustrated with the injustice and unrighteousness inherent in human government. And yet it is written, "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Rom 13:1,2 Post-millenial theology, which used to be the predominant post-Biblical eschatology, had the concept that we are living under Messianic rule and as such God wants the church to change governments to conform to a Biblical standard. This was the primary philosophical basis for church-state governments in Western society, as well as the basis for colonial influence on foreign countries. There was a tendency to equate secular governments with the kingdom of God.

Post-Millenial theology has produced disasterous results and has largely proven to be a failure. In my opinion, ever since Constantine, making Christianity the state religion has neither edified the Church nor has done little better than the effects we see in Islam as a state religion in various countries today. It resulted in the dark ages, the crusades, the persecution and murder of Christians who didn't subscribed to every theological conviction of the proud bloodthirsty religious elite, Christians murdering Christians and non-Christians for unjust reasons. The combination of church and state made roles of religious authority extremely powerful, and as such attracted corrupt ungodly leadership figures, hypocrites out to make something of themselves, not unlike the bloodthirsty Islamic clerics of today. And just as Paul applied to the Jews, so can it not also be said of such versions of Christianity "God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you." Rom 2:24

Pre-Millenialism

But the 20th Century brought a change both in eschatology and in forms of government away from a state church concept to separated church and state. Pre-millenialism, which I think is Biblically correct, is the idea that Christ's second coming occurs before his Millenial reign, as it is written, "I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." Rev 20:4-6 But before that time comes, the world is Satan's kingdom.

Luke 4:5,6 The devil led Jesus up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to."
John 14:30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. (The devil)
John 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world."
1 John 5:19 "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."

History has abundantly proven this point. But the Messianic hope is for a time when Satan will be overthrown and God reign on the earth in righteousness. Such is not the case yet. Just prior to the Messianic reign it is written, "He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years."Rev 20:2 But he will be released again briefly after the 1000 years. "When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison."Rev 20:7 And will deceive many briefly, but "the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever." Rev 20:10 And following this is the final judgment and the destruction and renewal of the heavens and earth, and the coming of the New Jerusalem.

The Pre-Millenial perspective is futuristic. We are waiting for Christ's return in which He will rule on earth. But the Post-Millenial perspective attempts to force Christ to rule on earth as a civil authority over non-Christians right now. But it is written, "Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself." John 6:15 The Post-Millenial perspective views everyone in the world as being in the kingdom of God, whereas the Pre-Millienial viewpoint has a more Biblical us versus them mentality, reckoning a difference between Christians who are in the kingdom and non-Christians who are not. "They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us." 1John 4:5,6 "We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." 1John 5:19

The Berean Christian Bible Study Resources Jan 29,2022