Read Micah 4

The Church in God’s Eternal Plan

There are many in the religious world who see the church as a “plan B” instituted by God when the Jews rejected Jesus. There is ample evidence, however, that God had planned for the church all along. It was no mere afterthought but was a part of God’s eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:10). The fourth chapter of Micah’s prophecy conclusively demonstrates that the church, which is the kingdom, was planned long before Jesus took “the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:7).

There are multiple prophecies of the coming kingdom in the Scriptures. In addition to Micah, one can also look to Isaiah 2:2-4 and Daniel 2:44. Jesus equates the terms kingdom and church in Matthew 16:13-18, when He promised to build His church and give the keys of the kingdom to the apostles.

Notice some of the characteristics of the Lord’s church, as foretold by Micah. First, the Lord’s church would be superior to all earthly kingdoms. This is seen in the figurative language of the first verse, with the mountains and hills representing the world powers. “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills” (Micah 4:1).

Second, the Lord’s church would be made up of many peoples; it would not be limited to a certain race or ethnicity. “And peoples shall flow to it” (Micah 4:1).

Third, its growth would come from teaching, not conquest. Kingdoms of the world exert physical power over other kingdoms, but the Lord’s kingdom would be one of reasoning and learning. Micah says, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths” (Micah 4:2), and “Neither shall they learn war anymore” (Micah 4:3).

Every earthly kingdom that has risen to power will eventually fall, but the Lord’s kingdom will never be conquered. “For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever” (Micah 4:5).

Are you a citizen of His marvelous kingdom?