Meditation on the Text of the Week

The Latter Days

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 it shall be lifted up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it
Micah 4:1

The prophet Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah. Both served the Lord in Judah towards the end of the eighth century BC. It was not a particularly auspicious time—in fact, it was downright depressing. The much stronger northern kingdom of Samaria had been crushed ruthlessly by the Assyrians, those ancient experts of total scorched earth war. Both Micah and Isaiah knew that a similar judgment was going to fall upon Judah. The city of the Lord and the mountain of the Lord faced impending doom.

Yet both were inspired by the Lord to speak of the latter days. Both delivered the specific prophecy of our text (Isaiah's version is in Isaiah 2:2). When the Bible repeats it is for emphasis. And so it is here. It was vital that Judah understood, despite the depressing times, that Zion's destruction was only so that it could be raised up more glorious than ever.


In the latter days, the mountain of the house of the Lord (Mount Zion) would be restored as the highest of the mountains. In the common metaphor of the time this meant that Mount Zion would be the most powerful of all other centres or places of power and influence. Consequently, all the peoples would pilgrimage unto it.

It is clear from the next verse (Micah 2:2) that the exaltation of Zion in the latter days would impact upon the Gentiles, for “many nations” would exhort each other to go on a pilgrimage to Zion. This would not be out of mere curiosity, nor out of a desire to be tourists: they would repair to Zion so that they might be taught the ways, the laws, and the paths of the Lord, because the Gentiles were committed to walk according to the Word of the Lord.

This “joint” prophecy of Micah and Isaiah is beautiful beyond description. It will be a time of peace and prosperity for those nations which have been converted to the Lord. They will hammer their swords into plowshares. (Micah 4:3) They will each sit under his fig tree in security and peace. (Micah 4:4). The question is inevitably begged: when? When are these “latter days” when this will come to pass?

As revelation progressed and as redemptive history unfolded more and more light was shone on these prophecies. They were also radically reshaped as the great redemptive works of Messiah upon the earth were completed. Here are the critical points.

Firstly, the new covenant revelation leaves us in no doubt that the latter days were inaugurated with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ—and that the last days refers in the first instance to the final days of the Old Covenant (AD 66-70) and of the Jewish commonwealth (AD 132-133). Both Christ and His apostles insist that they are living in the tumultuous and momentous last days. (Heb. 1:2; 9:26; I Cor. 10:11; I Peter 1:20; Acts 2:17. In other words the “latter days” does not refer to the end of human history, nor to the inauguration of heaven-upon-earth at the Final Advent—for human history as we know it clearly extends for the Gentiles [Micah 4:3-5]. Ironically, the clear insistence by our Lord and His apostles that they were all living in the last days has led many superficial commentators to argue that both Christ and the apostles mistakenly believed the Final Advent would happen in their day. They believed nothing of the sort. But all believed that the Old Covenant was in its last days. So, our Lord: “this generation shall not pass away until all these things take place. . .” Matthew 24:34.)

Secondly, the elevation of the mountain of the Lord to be over all others has taken place, not in Jerusalem nor Mt Zion of old—but from Jerusalem, and from Mt Zion into heaven. Thus the ascended Christ entered into a literal reign which is marked by universal authority over all kingdoms and nations. For the nations to pilgrimage to Mt Zion henceforth they have to approach Christ in heaven, where He now dwells. (Heb. 1:3; 10:12-13; 12:22—24; Psalm 2:6—10)

Thirdly, the geographical locus of God's Kingdom in Israel has been removed. The covenant is no longer a covenant of earthly pilgrimage. As a result of His ascension and His coming in God's Spirit at Pentecost, the mountain of the house of the Lord, has extended to every place over the whole earth, so that anyone anywhere who calls upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. (Matt. 18:20; 28:18—20.)

In other words we have seen and are seeing this wonderful prophecy of Micah and Isaiah falling out and coming to pass before our very eyes. Let us remember that this very week thousands more from around the globe will stream to Mount Zion and the mountain for the Lord for the first time. It is wonderful in our eyes.