Jehovah Will Reign in Glory

Isaiah's prophecy now takes on a greater scope, pointing to the final outworking of Jehovah's purpose:  "It must occur in that day that Jehovah  will turn his attention  upon the army of the height in the height, and upon the kings of the ground upon the ground.  And they will certainly be gathered with a gathering as of prisoners into the pit, and be shut up in the dungeon; and after an abundance of days they will be given attention. And the full moon has become abashed, and the glowing sun has become ashamed, for Jehovah of armies has become king in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and in front of  his elderly men with glory." -Isaiah 24:21-23.

"The army of the height" may refer to the demonic "world rulers of the darkness, . . .the wicked spirit forces in the heavenly places."  (Ephesians 6:12) These have had a powerful influence on the world powers.  (Daniel 10:13, 20; 1 John 5:19)  Their goal is to turn people away from Jehovah and his pure worship.  How well they succeed in seducing Israel to follow the corrupt practices of the nations that surround them and thus merit God's divine judgment!  But Satan and his demons must answer to God when he finally turns his attention to them and to the rulers on earth, "the kings of the ground upon the ground,"   whom they have influenced to turn against God and to transgress his laws.  (Revelation 16:13, 14)  Speaking symbolically; Isaiah says that they will be gathered and "shut up in the dungeon." After an abundance of days," perhaps when Satan and his demons (but not "the kings of the ground upon the ground")   are temporarily released at the end of the Thousand Year Reign of Jesus Christ, God will bring upon them the final punishment  they deserve. -Revelation 20:3, 7-10.

This part of Isaiah's prophecy thus left the Jews with a wonderful assurance.  In Jehovah's due time, he would bring about the fall of ancient Babylon and restore the Jews to their homeland. In 537  B.C.E., when he demonstrates his power  and sovereignty in  this way in behalf of his people, it could truly be said to them: "Your God has become King!"  (Isaiah 52:7) In modern times, Jehovah 'became King' in 1914; when he installed Jesus Christ as King in His heavenly Kingdom.  (Psalm 96"10)  He also 'became king' in 1919 when he demonstrated the power of his kingship by liberating spiritual Israel from bondage to Babylon the Great.

Jehovah will again "become king" when he brings an  end to Babylon the Great and the rest of this wicked system of things.  (Zechariah 14:9; Revelation  19:1, 2, 19-21) Afterward, Jehovah's Kingdom rule will be so magnificent that neither  the gleaming full moon at night nor the glowing sun at high noon will match in  glory.  (Compare Revelation 22:5)  They will be ashamed, so to speak, to compare themselves to the glorious Jehovah of armies.  Jehovah will reign supreme.  His almighty power and glory will be manifest to all.  (Revelation 4:8-11; 5:13, 14) What a marvelous prospect!  At that time, the call of Psalm 97:1 will resound throughout the earth in its grandest fulfillment: "Jehovah himself has become king! Let the earth be joyful. Let the many islands rejoice."

Next time: Jehovah's Hand Become High,  Chapter Twenty-One

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