Isaiah chapter eleven describes a time that is often referred to as the Millennial Kingdom or the thousand year reign of Christ. In the first five verses of this chapter, we see the description of The Branch or the Righteous Judge. This would be Jesus the Messiah when He sets up His kingdom to reign for a thousand years at the end of the tribulation, or the end of the period also known as “Jacob’s Trouble.” What kind of ruler will the Messiah be? Let’s take a look at these verses and see.
“1) And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2) And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (verses one and two) This Branch, or righteous Ruler, will be wise and understanding, full of the Spirit of the LORD, having counsel and might, and the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
What kind of judge will the Messiah be? A fair judge. People often complain today that they do not receive fairness or justice in the courts. In the days of the thousand year reign of Christ, there will be no such complaints. Let us consider verses three and four. “3) And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears: 4) But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.” Here we see that Jesus will judge with quick understanding. He will be fair to the poor and make sure that the meek are treated with equity (that is properly, or fairly). There will be no mercy on the wicked. Those who commit crimes and hurt other people will be smitten and slain.
When Jesus judges the earth, there will be no delayed trial dates, or long, drawn out trials. There will be no trial by jury. Jesus does not need these things because He knows everything about everybody. He does not need the eyewitness and the testimonies and the deliberation of juries. He already knows all. During the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, it was said of Him that “he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” (See John 2:24,25) Because Jesus is God the Son, He knows all things. He can see inside the heart and inside the thoughts. Jesus will judge by His word, and His word is powerful. The word of Jesus is the word of God and Hebrews 4:12 describes this word by which all will be judged, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
There will be no wondering if there is justice in the court systems, if there is brutality, if there is fairness. There will be only righteousness and faithfulness. Isaiah 10:5 says this about the Branch, “And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” The time of Christ’s reign will be a time of righteousness and faithfulness. His word will stand and whatever He decrees will be put into action without question. Revelation 2:27 says that, when Jesus rules the nations, “he shall rule them with a rod of iron.” No evil, no crime will be overlooked. No one will be able to argue their way out of a sentence or sue for unfairness. Everything will be fair, righteous, just, and faithful.
For those who come into the Millennial Kingdom believing in the Messiah, this will be a most wonderful time. For the saints that come to reign with Christ, this will be a most wonderful time. Sin and crime and persecution will be dealt with, and real peace will be known on the earth for a thousand years.