Beating Swords into Plowshares, and Spears into Pruning Hooks

[Isaiah 2:2-4] “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

Micah 4:1-3 is essentially identical to Isaiah 2:2-4. In the days of rebuilding (referring to the time when the Lord Jesus returns to earth as King and the world enters the millennial kingdom), the Temple Mount will again be called the mountain of the house of the LORD. Although the Temple Mount is not high among mountains (Psalm 68:16), once God exalts it from the ruins, it will “tower above the mountains, and be lifted above the hills,” drawing all nations to stream to it. Zion will also become the starting point for humanity’s “way” and “path,” the center of God’s “law” and “word.”

The phrase “they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks” is widely quoted. However, the peace that the world pursues is merely a pipe dream. True peace will only come when the Lord Jesus returns, and the Messiah’s authority governs the entire earth, changing human hearts. This is genuine peace, the result of God changing hearts, and it can only be realized when everyone acknowledges God as King. Today, the world desires peace but rejects the God who grants peace. Humanity’s sinful nature remains unchanged, yet people believe they can solve development and environmental conflicts and seek peace through morality, politics, economics, technology, or diplomatic negotiations, apart from the “LORD of hosts.” This will inevitably be a fruitless endeavor, doomed to fail.