{"id":23847,"date":"2020-07-15T15:54:54","date_gmt":"2020-07-15T20:54:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?page_id=23847"},"modified":"2026-03-27T11:53:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T16:53:34","slug":"the-house-of-god-versus-the-house-of-judah","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/bible-studies\/a-study-of-isaiah\/the-house-of-god-versus-the-house-of-judah\/","title":{"rendered":"The House of God versus the House of Judah"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

The House of God versus the House of Judah<\/h1>\n

Text:<\/strong>\u00a0Isaiah 2<\/p>\n

The Mountain of the House of God – Isaiah 2:1-4<\/h2>\n

This same prophecy is found, almost word-for-word, in Micah 4:1-3.<\/p>\n

The prophecy speaks of a time called “the last days.” In Daniel’s prophecy of the church, he states that it will take place in “the latter days,” which was the Roman Empire (Daniel 2:28). Referring to a prophecy in Joel 2:28-32, Peter said that the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the last days was taking place (Acts 2:16-21). Peter also stated that Jesus appeared on earth in “these last times” (I Peter 1:20). The writer of Hebrews said that the current times were the last days (Hebrews 1:2). Thus, “the last days” is a phrase referring to an era in which there will be no others following it. It doesn’t indicate how long or short this final era will be, only that it is the last one.<\/p>\n

In this last era, “the mountain of the house of God<\/em>” would be established. The city of Jerusalem was built on a mountain. The people of Israel were supposed to be holy, but they became corrupt. Yet, God prophesied that one day He would restore His people to His mountain (Zechariah 8:3). Mountains are seen as large, stable things that seem to last forever; thus, a mountain can represent a government, such as Babylon being called a destroying mountain (Jeremiah 51:25). Daniel prophesied that a stone that destroyed the Roman Empire would grow to become a mountain that filled the entire earth (Daniel 2:35) Daniel tells us that this mountain is a kingdom that will outlast all other kingdoms (Daniel 2:44-45). All these prophecies were fulfilled in the church (Hebrews 12:18-28), which is also called the house of God (I Timothy 3:15).<\/p>\n

This mountain will tower above the hills. It will dominate and will be conspicuous (Matthew 5:14). And people from all nations will flow into it. It would not be limited to a Jewish-only institution, as Mount Zion was under the Old Testament (Ephesians 2:11-22).<\/p>\n

People will invite others to join them in learning God’s ways. It is through the teaching of His word that God draws people (John 6:45), and thus, it becomes an essential part of Christianity (Matthew 28:19-20).<\/p>\n

Though this is a prophecy about the kingdom of God, the physical kingdom of Israel still has a minor role to play. It is from Jerusalem that the teaching of the church began (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8).<\/p>\n

As the word of God spreads, it will change the world. Nations at war with each other will be at peace within God’s kingdom (Ephesians 2:11-19). It is illustrated by saying that weapons of war, no longer needed, will be recast into farming implements.<\/p>\n

The House of Jacob – Isaiah 2:5-11<\/h2>\n

Isaiah encourages Israel to walk in God’s light so that they may be a part of this glorious future. But instead, what we find is that God is no longer dwelling in the House of Jacob.<\/p>\n

Israel has imported ideas and religions from the nations to their east. They have soothsayers like the Philistines to their west (Deuteronomy 18:10,14). They were striking bargains with the foreign nations around them. To all appearances, Israel was successful and gaining much wealth. But with the wealth came idolatry that filled the land, corrupting all the people from the least to the greatest, and God will not forgive them. The Hebrew word elilim<\/i>\u00a0in Isaiah 2:8 literally means “things of no value or worthless.” See Job 13:4 and Zechariah 11:17.<\/p>\n

God will come in judgment (“in that day”), striking terror in men. The proud will be brought low, and only the Lord will be exalted.<\/p>\n

Judgment Will Come – Isaiah 2:12-22<\/h2>\n

God will bring a day of reckoning against the proud, no matter how strong or mighty they might appear to be. Fortifications will not protect a person. Ships cannot provide an escape. This is not talking about the final judgment since Isaiah mentions people attempting to hide from the terror of God (Isaiah 2:19,21). Because their idols cannot protect them, they will be abandoned.<\/p>\n

Therefore, people should not fear men because they are just mortals like everyone else.<\/p>\n

Isaiah 2:17-22 forms a chiasm:<\/p>\n

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