We truly live in a global world today. It is not just our neighborhood or our city. Whereas the world of the New Testament times was the "Roman world", the world of today is actually planet earth. Our global world is ever expanding in its technology, communication, as well as its population. It is estimated that the world’s population is approaching 6.8 billion people.

Thinking about the explosion in the world’s population reminds me of the advance of the kingdom of God in the earth. Estimates are that some 25,000 people are born again each day in China and it is now estimated that the church in China has reached beyond the 100 million mark. In 1900, Africa was approximately 4% Christian, but by 1990, Africa’s Christianity had grown to 40%. In both Africa and India, it is estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 come to Christ on a daily basis! The encouragement continues when one looks at the remarkable things taking place in Eastern Europe, South America, and Central America. Though we do not see those specific numbers, there is no doubt God continues to work amongst His church in the western world. There could be roughly 70,000 people who are born again in one day across the earth!

Hearing such wonderful news recalls to mind what Isaiah prophesied: "Now it will come about that in the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it." (2:2)

It might be good to take a moment to address the question of when are the "last days?" In Acts 2, after the Holy Spirit was poured out, Peter took his stand and declared: "This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘that I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind’" (Acts 2:14-17). Peter was proclaiming that Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled right in their hearing. Thus, if the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy had begun at Pentecost, then all generations since the initial outpouring of the Spirit have been a part of the "last days." We did not enter the last days 100 years ago or 10 years ago, nor are they a seven-year period before Christ returns. A healthy Biblical view recognizes the last days as beginning with the initial outpouring of the Spirit and continuing through the whole Messianic Age in which the Messiah would reign (Matt 28:18; Eph 1:18-23).

Next, it would be good to insert a note about biblical prophecy. One thing we need to remember about the poetic prophecy of Scripture is that it is not always fulfilled at one specific moment in history. Many understand that prophecy carries the aspect of double fulfillment, meaning that the prophecy will initially be fulfilled around the time it was spoken, but there is also a greater fulfillment to take place sometime in the future (e.g. Isaiah 7:14 and Matt 1:18-25). But prophecy can also have an aspect of cumulative fulfillment, meaning it would be fulfilled increasingly throughout history. This is somewhat like the relationship of a marriage. Though we initially commit at the ceremony (and even before) to love our spouse, the rest of our lives are spent seeing that love grow more complete.

So, when we come to Isaiah 2:2, it would be good to keep this principle of cumulative fulfillment in mind. Therefore, we find that what Isaiah prophesied is being continually fulfilled throughout this present Messianic age. God is remaining true to His promises! Even in the midst of tragedy and trial, we should not forget who is reigning as King. There will never be a day when Jesus is not reigning, and we know His reign is increasing more and more as the years pass. Oh yes, there is more to come and much more that God wants to accomplish on earth. But reading Isaiah’s words truly does remind us that "in the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains."

Copyright Scott Lencke

MA Theological Studies

Assistant Professor of Ministry Praxis

Visible School – Music and Worship Arts College