Pure Worship Restored Through the Messiah

Pure worship first came under attack in Eden when Satan successfully influenced  Adam and Eve to disobey Jehovah.  To this day, Satan has not given up his goal of turning as many as possible away from God.  But Jehovah will never permit pure worship to vanish from the earth.  His name is involved, and he cares about those who serve him.  Hence, through Isaiah he makes a striking promise:  "It must occur in that day that there will be the root of Jesse that will be standing up as a signal for the peoples.  To him even the nations will turn inquiringly, and his resting-place must become glorious."  (Isaiah 11:10) Back in 537 B.C.E., Jerusalem, the city that David had made the national capital, served as a signal, calling a faithful remnant of the dispersed Jewish people to return and rebuild the temple.

However, the prophecy points to more than that. As already seen, it points to the rule of the Messiah, the one true leader for people of all nations.  The apostle Paul quoted Isaiah 11:10 to show that in his day people of the nations would have a place in the Christian congregation. Quoting the Septuagint rendering of this verse, he wrote: "Isaiah says: 'There will be the root of Jesse, and there will be one arising to rule the nations; on him nations will rest their hope.' "  (Romans 15:12) Moreover, the prophecy reaches even further-down to our day when people of the nations show their love for Jehovah by supporting the anointed brothers of the Messiah. -Isaiah 61:5-9; Matthew 25:31-40.
In the modern-day fulfillment, "that day" referred to by Isaiah began when the Messiah was enthroned as King of God's heavenly Kingdom in 1914.  (Luke 21:10; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Revelation 12:10)  Since then, Jesus Christ has been a clear signal, a rallying point, for spiritual Israel and for people of all nations who long for righteous government. Under the Messiah's direction, the good news has a powerful effect.  "A great crowd, which no man [is] able to number, out of all nations" is submitting  to the Messiah by joining the anointed remnant in pure worship.  (Revelation 7:9)  As many new ones continue to come into association with the remnant in Jehovah's spiritual "house of prayer,"  they add to the glory of the Messiah's   "resting place," God's great spiritual temple. -Isaiah 56:7; Haggai 2:7.

Next time: A United People Serve Jehovah

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, 2000