See, the Conquering Hero Comes

Churchill reports to Parliament after the Battle of Egypt. “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end; but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.” We live in times spiritually when we must take the long view.COUNCIL OF THE LORD: After pouring scorn on false prophets, the Lord says in Jeremiah 23:18: For who among them has stood in the council of the LORD to see and to hear his word, or who has paid attention to his word and listened? So what is the ‘council of the Lord? In text v.21, Isaiah hears God’s plans.
CATALOG OF SIN & EVIL: “We get enough of it just looking around at this election cycle [Clinton, Trump et al.] without having to read it in the Bible as well. But there it is!” Even in the church. WARRIOR: God sees. v.15 What does he see? What does he himself bring to bear? And against what enemies? Earlier Isaiah spoke of the surrounding kingdoms and tribes. But are they the real enemies? Ephesians 6:10-18. …against the rulers, against the authorities, …against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. THE ENEMY: As necessary as the commercial, social, legal and cultural powers are, they can become the aggregation of sin, monsters! THE END: The warrior comes at The End against all enemies. Meanwhile, are you in the battle? REDEEMER & MEDIATOR: Not just new birth as Christ’s offspring, but new bodies, new universe. Romans 8:22-23, the ultimate salvation. Do you fight your own sin? Do you battle for truth? Do you struggle to know God? Our relationship with God is emotionally deeper and more secure if we know him. THE END is known because Christ is risen. Other verses: Isaiah 6, Exodus 24:18, Revelation 4, Isaiah 52:13-53:12