Will wild beasts be tamed in the kingdom?

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What’s Your Question? for Sept. 16, 2009

Isaiah predicted wild animals and reptiles would lose their ferocity in the “mountain of the Lord’s house” (Is. 11:6-9). Premillennialists ignore the context and other passages in Isaiah and conclude that these things would literally happen. The context shows those things would happen when the root of Jesse reigned and Gentiles were admitted into the “holy mountain” (Is. 11:10). Jesus is the root of Jesse (Rom. 15:8-12) and Gentiles can seek the Lord (Acts 11:1-18). Isaiah was talking about the effect of the gospel on the hearts of man, not on beasts and snakes. Later, he said in the Highway of Holiness, “No lion shall be there, Nor shall any ravenous beast go up on it” (Is. 35:9). Both are teaching that Christ’s kingdom is spiritual, and carnal means are not used to establish nor defend it.