Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. – Isaiah 60:1-3 ESV

Warrior;

Eschatology is the study of how God brings His creation, His people, and His purposes to their intended destiny. It is the completion of the divine design. Eschatology is the study of ‘last things’. This is NOT about doom and gloom, not about chaos, NOT cosmic panic.  It is the study of how Yahweh brings HIS STORY, History, to its intended outcome!  The word comes from the Greek ‘eschatos’ which means; “last, ultimate, final”. By last, we don’t mean ‘ending’.  It means purpose, completion, telos. This is NOT about ESCAPE; this is about fulfillment. LOOK UP, God is finishing the design He began in Genesis. It might not seem like it but God is restoring what was broken. God is bringing creation back to its blueprint. Eschatology is the moment the Architect steps back and says, “This is what I intended all along.” God is omnitelic! It is the completion of identity, purpose, and destiny for this KAIROS; for individuals, nations, and creation itself. This is what Paul meant when He said; Hear the Word of the Lord; But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9) This verse is so often misunderstood and tied to “gifts for believers’ from God.  This verse is not about blessings we have yet to receive, it’s about revelation we have YET TO SEE. When God unveils the fullness of His eschatological plan, the only response will be awe. “Wow- I thought I understood His plan, but His plan is infinitely greater.” It is written: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Leader, it can be discouraging right now.  Many, if not most of those who are TRUE followers of the Risen Jesus, are struggling, we are frustrated, things don’t make sense. Isaiah 60 is a WAR CRY; it is a WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT spoken to a people who feel like their story is over!  Are you tracking?  Do you feel overwhelmed, under-hoped and wonder DO YOU SEE ME LORD? Isaiah 60 is spoken into a future moment when Israel will feel crushed, scattered, dimmed and forgotten. This is about a time when people are discouraged and disorientated.  They are surrounded by forces more powerful than they are. They are asking the ancient questions; “Are you the ONE LORD?  Does our STORY, our FAITH still matter?” Can I get a witness?! ARISE, SHINE…is a BATTLE CRY! This is divine activation!  The Hebrew text is filled with imperatives; ‘GET UP, SHINE, LIGHT UP, Blaze forth!  The Time is NOW! This is the language of: mobilization, commissioning, identity reactivation. God saying: “Stand up. Step into who you are. The TIME IS NOW! Your light is not optional, it is commanded.” The Amplified Bible puts the verse this way: “Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the LORD]; for your light has come, And the glory and brilliance of the LORD has risen upon you.”

Conduit, things are dark, many believers are struggling financially, politically, morally, and emotionally.  And if you are not, I wonder if your passport is secure. Isaiah was writing to people that are sitting in despair, believing the darkness around them defined them. Isaiah confronts that lie polemically. God is saying through one of His greatest prophets, one of his MAJOR PROPHETS; “Darkness is real, but it won’t be victorious, it does not get the last word. You were made to rise. You were made to shine. You were made to rebuild.” Isaiah’s call is not poetic suggestion; it is a prophetic summons. “Arise, shine” is battlefield language. It is God shaking His people awake because the darkness is thickening and the hour is late. Eschatology isn’t fear mongering; it’s forecasting. Even astrophysics tells us the universe is winding down; entropy increasing, stars burning out. Scripture said it first: “The day of the Lord is near” (Joel 2:1). You were not placed in this generation by accident. Your spiritual DNA, your temperament, your scars, your victories, have all been engineered for this hour. God could have placed you in any century, but He placed you in the one closest to His return. Warrior, rise. The light has come and you were built for the darkness before dawn. Hear the Word of the Lord; And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the Lord for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation. He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord God will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove reproach of His people from all the earth; For the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 25:9,8) The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.” Maranatha, look up Warrior for the time of our redemption is near, ARISE, shine and FIGHT your GOOD FIGHT!