A Reign of Righteousness

KEY VERSE: “His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” —Isaiah 9:6

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 9:2-7; 11:1-3

THE prophecies of our texts are two of the most often used scriptures at Christmastime to emphasize the magnitude of the gift of God in giving his only begotten Son for the blessing of all the families of the earth. The prophecy in Isaiah 9:2-7 is especially helpful, in that while describing the character of Messiah, the King, it gives us an insight as to the mercy, justice, equity, and joy of the kingdom to be established here on the earth.

In the Bible, names and titles of people are especially meaningful, and so are the names that the prophet, by inspiration, ascribes to Jesus, the Messiah. The first title that is given to Jesus is Wonderful Counselor. The word counselor means ‘one who deliberates or resolves differences’, and when associated with the word ‘wonderful’, which according to Strong’s Concordance means ‘miracle, marvelous thing, or wonder’, we get some idea as to the standard of justice and judgments to be rendered in the kingdom. The Apostle Paul tells us that “in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” (Heb. 2:17,18) Associated with his training by experience is the wonderful provision of his ability to look upon the heart and not on outward appearances. It is no wonder that the Scriptures say, “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice … for he comes to judge the earth.”—I Chron. 16:31-34, RSV

Another title by which Jesus will be called is the Mighty God. The word ‘god’ in this instance is from the Hebrew word el, which has the meaning of ‘strength’ or ‘powerful one’. We know that in the kingdom Jesus will have the full authority of the Heavenly Father and be his representative and mouthpiece in all things. He is recognized now, by his true followers, as the mighty Lord, the mighty God, not as the Father but as the Father’s representative, the well-beloved Son, whom God hath clothed with glory, honor, and immortality, and given all power in heaven and earth. It is to Jesus that God has given the responsibility of bringing to a satisfactory conclusion the work of the Gospel and Millennial Ages.

Jesus will also be the Everlasting Father of the human race. Adam, their father, failed to give them everlasting life, but Jesus, when he provided the ransom-price for Adam, made it possible for the living and all who are in their graves to be resurrected and cleansed from Adamic condemnation, and given an opportunity to earn everlasting life under the terms of the New Covenant. The Apostle Paul likens Jesus to the second Adam, saying, “It is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul, the last Adam was made a quickening spirit [or lifegiver].”—I Cor. 15:45; John 5:28,29

Jesus, the world’s Savior, will also be the Prince of Peace. The wonderful song the angels sang in heralding the birth of Jesus stated, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:14) This promise will become a reality in the kingdom. In a prophecy concerning the kingdom, the Prophet Micah said, “It shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. … He will teach us of his ways and we shall walk in his paths. … He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”—Mic. 4:1-3

Jesus did not establish his kingdom at his first advent, but rather indicated that his kingdom was not of this world or age (John 18:36), the reason being that the great work of the Gospel Age of selecting and proving the church must be completed before the kingdom can be established. Because of the signs in the earth today, however, we have good reason to believe that the time is near at hand. Praise the Lord!

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