Another purpose for the coming of the Lord is to take command of every national government, to rule the people with an iron scepter. This is going to be very hard on those nations accustomed to a democratic form of government. Such citizens have deep roots of rebellion in them and will not submit quietly to a strong monarchy.

We have been so accustomed to picturing Jesus as the Good Shepherd of the Twenty-third Psalm that His coming to His Church as the Lord of Hosts of the Twenty-fourth Psalm is a bit unreal.

Who is this King of Glory that is asking us to open the everlasting gates of our heart? The King of Glory, the Lord of Hosts, is none other than the Commander in Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord of Hosts is as fierce as the Good Shepherd is gentle. Jesus is never half-shepherd and half-warrior. When He is the Shepherd He is as tender and gentle as a nursing mother.

When He is the Lord of Hosts, the King of Glory, the Rider on the white war stallion, He is fierce beyond belief. At one word from Him, from the sharp sword that comes from His mouth, the nations shall be struck down. No king of the earth has ever held the power to exercise judgment in any manner comparable to that of the Lord Jesus.

We have been crooned to sleep by today's overemphasis on the love of God. We have lost the fear of God in America. The coming of God's Commander in these days will wake us up in a hurry!

The name of Jesus Christ is often despised and mocked. At the return of the Lord the nations will tremble because of His vast majesty and glory. First, however, Zion, the Body of Christ, must come further toward maturity as measured by the stature of the fullness of Christ.

The nations will fear the name of the LORD, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. For the LORD will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. (Psalms 102:15,16—NIV)

The Lord Jesus will come and establish His government in Jerusalem. Then the law will go forth from Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

The saved nations will voluntarily come up to Jerusalem to be taught and blessed. The nations will observe the feast of Tabernacles by acknowledging the Presence of God in Christ in the saints. The nations will receive life and healing from the saints who by this time will themselves be trees of life and the light of the world. This is because Christ has been formed in them.

In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Isaiah 2:2-4—NIV)

When God comes to earth in Jesus Christ and His saints the peoples and the kingdoms will join together to worship the Lord.

The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death. So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem When the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the LORD. (Psalms 102:19-22—NIV)

To be continued.