Micah: Justice + MercySmakprov

The Highly Anticipated Kingdom

By Danny Saavedra

“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple 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 many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. 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. Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever."  Micah 4:1–5 (NIV)

Every year as a kid, I spent most of the year anticipating the best day of the year: Christmas! The thrill of knowing in just a few months, then weeks, then days, everything I asked and dreamed for would become a reality! 

In Micah 4, we read about something far better than my Christmas mornings: The ultimate exaltation of the Lord in Jerusalem. As David Guzik explains, “This will be fulfilled completely in the Millennium, when the peoples shall flow to a restored and redeemed Jerusalem as the capital of the millennial earth (out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem).” 

Interestingly, Micah 4:1–3 and Isaiah 2:1–3 are almost identical. Isaiah and Micah served as prophets around the same time, so it’s not surprising at all the Holy Spirit revealed the same word to these two prophets at the same time!

What’s being described here are the events that will take place after the second coming of Jesus when Jesus will establish and reign from Jerusalem for a thousand years on earth before bringing an end to everything and bringing about a new heaven and earth. It’s the time period referred to in Revelation 20:1–6. 

What will it look like? The Bible describes it as a time of peace with no war (Micah 4:2–4; Isaiah 32:17–18). There will still be conflicts between peoples and nations, but they will be justly resolved by King Jesus. It will be a millennium filled with joy (Isaiah 61:7, 10) and comfort (Isaiah 40:1–2), a time defined by four unique freedoms described here in Micah 4 . . .  

• Freedom from ignorance (“He will teach us His ways”)  
• Freedom from war (“Nor will they train for war anymore”)  
• Freedom from want (“Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree”)  
• Freedom from fear (“No one will make them afraid”)

Because of this, it will be a time of obedience (Jeremiah 31:33), holiness (Isaiah 35:8), truth (Isaiah 65:16), and knowledge of God (Isaiah 11:9, Habakkuk 2:14). Christ will rule as King (Isaiah 9:3–7; 11:1–10).

The Bible also explains only believers will enter the millennial kingdom—the Church of Christ which was raptured and returned with Christ, those who are resurrected after Christ returns, and both Gentiles and Jews who came to faith during the seven-year tribulation period. The best part all believers should look forward to with excitement, anticipation, and glee is “we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.” 

Imagine how this carried the faithful among the Jewish people during their most difficult times? Imagine how it sustained and filled believers with hope in the era of persecution? I pray it provides you with hope for what’s to come, for this beautiful era ahead of us!

Pause: Why are passages and prophecies like this so crucial for believers? 

Practice: Journal about your future hope in Christ and the kingdom that is already here spiritually but is yet to come physically. Write down how it encourages and comforts you today. 

Pray: Sovereign Lord, thank You for this hope of the future! Thank You because I know all this is for our good and Your glory. I pray You would ignite a greater fire in me daily to share the truth and beauty of the gospel with those who don’t know You and Your Word would continue to comfort and guide me in times of struggle. Amen.