O.T PROPHECIES OF ISRAEL’S MESSIAH RULING THE NATIONS

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God revealed to Israel, through Moses, before they went into the promised land their entire history, and as will be seen from this post that God revealed to all the O.T prophets the end of the story for Israel, that God would regather the Jews back to Israel and their Messiah would fulfil their destiny by ruling all the nations of the world from a magnificent new Jerusalem.

1. Moses

Moses foretells Israel’s future apostasy, scattering, and eventual restoration:

“When you are in distress… and you return to the Lord your God and obey His voice… He will not forget the covenant with your fathers which He swore to them.” Deut. 4:25–31

Predicts dispersion and end-time return

Deuteronomy 28:63–68; 30:1–10

  • Chapter 28: Details Israel’s scattering among the nations.
  • Chapter 30: Promises national restoration and blessing when they return to God.

“Then the Lord your God will gather you again from all the peoples… and will bring you into the land your fathers possessed.” Deut. 30:3

Numbers 24:17–19 (Prophecy of Balaam)

“A Star shall come out of Jacob; a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel…” Numbers 24:17
➡️ A direct Messianic prophecy — the coming King from Israel who rules over nations.

2. David, and possibly Ezra (Psalm 2)

Psalm 2:6–12

“I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill… Ask of Me, and I shall give You the nations for Your inheritance.” Psalms 2:6,8
➡️ Messianic reign over the nations — Christ’s kingdom centred in Jerusalem.

Psalm 72:8–11

“He shall have dominion from sea to sea… all kings shall fall down before Him; all nations shall serve Him.” Psalms 72:8,11
➡️ Messiah’s worldwide rule during the Millennial Kingdom.

2. Isaiah

“The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established… all nations shall flow to it… He shall judge between the nations...” Isaiah 2:2,4
➡️ Global peace and Messianic rule from Jerusalem.

“The government will be upon His shoulder… of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David...” Isaiah 9:6-7
➡️ Eternal Davidic-Messianic kingdom.

Isaiah 11:1–10

  • The righteous “Branch” from Jesse rules in justice.
  • Universal peace — even nature is transformed.

“For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” Isaiah 11:9

Isaiah 60–62

  • Israel glorified and restored.
  • The nations bring their wealth to Jerusalem.
  • Justice is swift on nations that do not serve.

“Nation shall not lift up sword against nation… For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish… the wealth of the nations shall come to you… your gates shall be open continually.” Isaiah 60:11,12

3. Jeremiah

Jeremiah 23:5–8

“I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall reign as King… Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely.” Jeremiah 23:5,6
➡️ The Messianic King over a restored Israel.

Jeremiah 30:3; 31:1–14; 33:14–26

  • Regathering out of all nations.
  • New covenant blessings.

“For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people… I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it. I will cause their captivity to return, and will build them as at the first.” Jeremiah 30:3

4. Ezekiel

Ezekiel 36–37

  • 36: Israel gathered back to their land and spiritually renewed.
  • 37: The “dry bones” vision — national resurrection.

“I will put My Spirit within you… and I will place you in your own land.“ Ezekiel 37:14
➡️ Modern regathering (1948) foreshadowed here.

Ezekiel 38–39

  • Armageddon-like invasion and divine deliverance of Israel.

Ezekiel 40–48

  • Detailed prophecy of the Millennial Temple and land divisions.
  • Messiah ruling from Jerusalem; God’s glory returns to the Temple (Ezekiel 43:1–7).

5. Daniel

Daniel 2:44–45

“The God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed… it shall break in pieces all these kingdoms.”
➡️ The eternal Messianic Kingdom on earth.

Daniel 7:13–14, 18, 27

“One like the Son of Man came… to Him was given dominion and a kingdom… the saints of the Most High shall possess the kingdom forever.”
➡️ Christ’s reign shared with glorified saints.

6. Hosea

Hosea 3:4–5

“Israel shall abide many days without a king… afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord… in the latter days.”
➡️ Long dispersion and end-time turning to God.

7. Amos

Amos 9:11–15

“In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen… I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up.”
➡️ Davidic rule restored; permanent restoration of Israel.

8. Micah

Micah 4:1–8

“Out of Zion shall go forth the law… the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth, even forever.”
➡️ Millennial reign from Jerusalem.

9. Zechariah

Zechariah 8:2–8; 12:9–10; 14:4–9, 16–21

  • Israel saved and restored.
  • Messiah personally appears on the Mount of Olives.

“Thus says the Lord: I have returned to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts, the holy mountain… Many peoples and strong nations shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favour of the Lord…And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn… The Lord shall be King over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one.” Zechariah 8:3,22, 12:9,10, 14:9
➡️ The climactic description of Jesus’ physical reign over the nations.

10. Summary Themes

ThemeScriptures
Scattering and regatheringDeut. 30:1–10; Ezek. 36–37; Jer 30:3
Messianic King (Branch of David)Isa. 9:6–7; Jer. 23:5–8; Zech. 6:12–13
Rule over nationsPs. 2; Ps. 72; Isa. 2:2–4; Dan. 7:13–14
Glorified saints reign with MessiahDan. 7:18, 27 (linked with Rev. 20:4–6)
Restored Temple & worshipEzek. 40–48; Zech. 14:16–21

OUR DESTINY IS NOT HEAVEN BUT ON A NEW EARTH

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Many in the church think that our final destiny is heaven. It seems like that’s what Jesus promised when He said, “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also” (John 14:3). But that is not the end of the story, because in Revelation, John declares that the place Jesus is preparing will ultimately come “down out of the new heaven from God to the new earth ” (Rev. 21:2) Scripture doesn’t conclude with God’s children floating on clouds up there, but with God living with His saints down on a new earth.

 

Image result for pictures of the new Jerusalem descending from heaven to the new earth

For the Jews, Jerusalem is:

1. The home of God on earth. David sings “praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion” (Ps. 9:11a). Asaph calls on God to remember “Mount Zion, where you have lived” (Ps. 74:2c) and God Himself concludes the prophecy of Joel with the cheer, “The LORD dwells in Zion!” (Joel 3:21).

2. The place where God will defeat the powers of evil. Zechariah prophesies that God will destroy all of His enemies at a climactic battle in Jerusalem (Zech. 12:1–9; 14:12–15). Joel prophesies “Blow the ram’s horn in Zion, sound the alarm on My holy mountain! All the inhabitants of the earth will tremble, because the day of the Lord has come, because it is near” (Joel 2:1). Amos adds, “The LORD roars from Zion and utters His voice from Jerusalem” (Amos 1:2a). Isaiah declares that “the Lord of Hosts (shall) come down to fight for Mount Zion, and for its hill” (Isa. 31:4c).

3. The source of blessing for the world.  Psalm 46:4 states, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling place of the Most High.” Ezekiel 47 adds that this river, which begins in the temple, runs from Jerusalem all the way to the sea. The sea then carries its new fertile, fresh water to the ends of the earth. He writes: “By the river upon its bank, on this side and on that side, shall grow all kinds of trees for food, whose leaf shall not fade nor shall its fruit fail. They shall bring forth fruit according to their months, because their water issues out of the sanctuary. And their fruit shall be for food and their leaves for medicine” (Ezek. 47:12).

God’s City

All of the O.T. prophets were shown Jerusalem would eventually be restored. Even before the carnage began, Isaiah announced that God would keep His promise. “Good news” would eventually come to Jerusalem, for “the glory of the LORD will be revealed” there—in a way that no one would expect (Isa. 40:1-11). God’s glory was revealed when the Son of God came to earth. Jesus recognised the importance of Jerusalem, and He was “steadfastly set to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). There, He defeated the powers of evil before the dwelling place of God. His death provided life-giving water for the world. John records Jesus saying, “He who believes in me, … out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.” John then explains, “By this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believe in him would receive” (John 7:38-39). The Spirit came to Jerusalem on Pentecost, where the life-giving water of the gospel bubbled up, streamed into Samaria and finally poured “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Those who are washed will join Jesus when He brings His new Jerusalem to the new earth.

New City

John’s Revelation consummates the biblical focus on the new Jerusalem. Its descent from heaven means:

  1. God is with us. John writes, “And I heard a loud voice from heaven, saying, “Look! The tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them. They shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God” (Rev. 21:3). Three times in this verse, John says that God will live with His people. The biblical story doesn’t end with God taking us up to live with him, but with God coming down to live with us. He is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matt. 1:23).
  2. Evil has been vanquished forever. Jesus will return and “wipe every tear” from our eyes. “Neither shall there be any more sorrow nor crying nor pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4b). This perfect bliss will continue forever, for “No unclean thing shall ever enter” the new Jerusalem (Rev. 21:27).
  3. The entire world flourishes under the blessing of God. In spectacular fulfilment of Ezekiel’s vision, John declares that a river of life will flow “from the throne of God and of the Lamb in the middle of its street” (Rev. 22:1b-2a). Its waters will nourish the tree of life, which bears monthly fruit, and leaves that heal the nations. Every nation bears the scars of their bloody attempts to achieve peace and prosperity. Their wars will continue until the end, when Jesus brings His kingdom of peace to earth and reigns over our world from the new Jerusalem. John closes his letter, and the entire Bible, with the only appropriate response: “Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20b).