Prophecies of Christ: “The Wolf Shall Dwell With The Lamb”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesRegarding Isaiah 11:6-9, a querist asks, “When do these events take place on the earth?”
In Isaiah 11:1-10, the prophet directs his attention far into the future towards the Messiah’s kingdom (Christ is portrayed as “a Branch” – Isaiah 11:1). He describes a reign of peace among those who seek refuge in Christ. This reign of peace is graphically symbolized in the form of creatures that are natural enemies, e.g., the wolf and the lamb, the leopard and the kid, etc. live together in harmony (Isaiah 11:6). Even the normally carnivorous lion eats straw like the ox (Isaiah 11:7), and children play safely among the adders (Isaiah 11:8). These symbols portray for us the characteristics of Christ’s kingdom, the church (Matthew 16:18-19; Romans 14:17; cf. Gal. 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9).
Isaiah is showing the power of the gospel to change men’s hearts (“the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”) as they come into God’s “holy mountain” (Isaiah 11:9).
Underscore the phrase, “holy mountain” (Isaiah 11:9), look at Daniel 2:35,44 and observe how the narrative connects the “mountain” of verse 35 with the “kingdom” of verse 44. That “kingdom” is the church of the New Testament or gospel age – The Church Before Pentecost – In Prophecy (cf. Matthew 16:18-19; Colossians 1:13; 2 Peter 1:11).
Isaiah further notes (Isaiah 11:9) that the message of the gospel will flow throughout the entire earth (cf. Habakkuk 2:14; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). The premillennial claim that this prophecy has never been fulfilled is easily refuted by the testimony of the New Testament itself (cf. Acts 17:6; Romans 10:18; Colossians 1:6,23).
In Isaiah 11:10, the text asserts that in the Christian era, the “root of Jesse” (Christ) would function as a rallying banner, and unto Him would “the Gentiles seek” for a glorious rest. Now look at Romans 15:12. In this text, we see the apostle Paul applying Isaiah’s prophecy to the gospel age. Read Colossians 1 and note specifically Colossians 1:27-28 where Paul talks about “this mystery.” The “mystery” that was hidden and “revealed” to “the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit” is the gospel which includes all men (Ephesians 3:1-9).