Consider a belief of Jehovah's Witnesses!
The followers of the Governing Bodies Watchtower Society, will apply Isaiah 2:2-4 to their own Organzation, due to the fact, that they refused to have any part in the two World Wars of our Century. For all intents and purposes, it LOOKED LIKE they was the ones Isaiah was foretelling would be on the scene in the last days; and it LOOKED LIKE, their organization was God's Channel of Communication. Could it be, though, they was not, and are still not, getting the sense of what Isaiah predicted, and it didn't apply to them all?
What would cast serious doubt on their claims? Examine thoroughly this scripture in Isaiah 2:2-4 and we will learn, that it wasn't talking about thier Organization at all!
Is it even possible for this scripture in Isaiah to be fulfilled, before the great tribulation breaks out? Even before Armageddon is fought? That is what thier understanding indicates, is the case. Is it correct understanding, is the question? Look closely at what Isaiah has said here:
2 "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.
According to Isaiah, this heavenly Government, is already established at this time, being as it is raised up above the hills. Is CHEIF AMONG THE NATIONS -
So, it's actually operational at this time, and ruling over all of this earth, as the Psalmist predicted the case would be, when it was ESTABLISHED and ruling over all.
19 "The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all." {Psalms 103:19 NIV} This brings the words of the Prophet Daniel into play, where he foretold:
35 "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were broken to pieces at the same time and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth." {Daniel 2:35 NIV}
Obviously! This would have to be, of necessity, after the great tribulation has ended; after Aramageddon was fought and over. with. It would be at that time, these people would be on the scene, making this claim, "Let us go up to the Mountain of the LORD!" It would be THEN, that they'd beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; but not before Armageddon is fought and won, would they come on the scene. They could not go up to the mountain of the house of Jehovah, if that Mountain wasn't established as yet, and that would not occur until after the great tribulation was over! After Armageddon was over!
It is obvious that the Mount Zion mentioned here, is now, heavenly Mount Zion, as is Jerusalem, Heavenly New Jerusalem. From these two points, Law and the Word, go forth, to teach these people God's ways! To train them, that they can no longer take up weaponry, or train for War anymore. {Hebrews 12:18-24} {Revelation 3:12;21:10}
Just where now, do these ones, going up to the Mountain of the House of Jehovah, come from, as we read about them in the following, while considering what Zephaniah and Jeremiah will tell us, in their prophecies:
2 "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.
3 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 that we may walk in his paths."
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
4 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} Lets look at now at what Zephaniah has to tells us, that will shed much light on this subject! When Jehovah judges between the nations, and settles disputes for many peoples, now explained:
14 "The great Day of the LORD is near,
near and rapidly approaching.
Listen, the Day of the LORD—
there the warrior's cry is bitter.
15 That day is a day of wrath,
a day of trouble and distress,
a day of destruction and desolation,
a day of darkness and gloom,
a day of clouds and blackness,
16 a day of trumpet [blast] and battle cry
against the fortified cities,
and against the high corner towers.
17 I will bring distress on mankind,
and they will walk like the blind
because they have sinned against the LORD.
Their blood will be poured out like dust
and their flesh like dung.
18 Their silver and their gold
will not be able to rescue them
on the day of the LORD's wrath.
The whole earth will be consumed
by the fire of His jealousy.
For He will make a complete,
yes, a horrifying end
of all the inhabitants of the earth." {Zephaniah 1:14-18 HCSB}
Now for the words of Jeremiah, on this same subject at hand:
31 "The tumult reaches to the ends of the earth
because the LORD brings a case against the nations.
He enters into judgment with all flesh.
As for the wicked, He hands them over to the sword—
[This is] the LORD's declaration.
32 "This is what the LORD of Hosts says:
Pay attention! Disaster goes forth
from nation to nation.
A great storm is stirred up
from the ends of the earth."
33 Those slain by the LORD on that day will be [spread] from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like manure on the surface of the ground.
34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry out.
Roll [in the dust], you leaders of the flock.Because the days of your slaughter have come,
you will fall and become shattered like a precious vase.
35 Flight will be impossible for the shepherds,
and escape, for the leaders of the flock.
36 [Hear] the sound of the shepherds' cry,
the wail of the leaders of the flock,
for the LORD is destroying their pasture." {Jeremiah 25:31-36 HCSB}
As it says; Jehovah makes a horrifying end to ALL the inhabitants of the earth, at Armageddon, and, as Jeremiah predicted their dead bodies would cover this earth from end to end; someone explain to me, how it's even possible, for these ones Isaiah predicted to even survive this period of World destruction? Was all this inhabited earth to be brought to a horrifying end, there would be no body on earth left over to fulfill Isaiah's Prophecy? That should show us, that Isaiah's prophecy would have to see fulfillment, after the War of the great day of God the Almighty is fought at Armageddon; and those Isaiah was discussing would have had to all come out of the resurrection of all the human dead.
Once more,the Governing Body has done a mere cursory, superficial reading of the sciptures, and, as always, applied it to themselves, as they do so many others, while trying to convince people that, they are God's Organization! God's Channel!
So, when you consider their beliefs, and weigh those beliefs, with what the Bible tells us; we learn that, their beliefs, arn't worth their salt.
Verses 34-36 should serve the Governing Body quite a bit of interest, because those verses do not denote anything too good for them, I would say. Or for any other of Christendom's Religious leaders, as well.
Wannabe