Chapter 4

A switch in time.  Instead of the immediate coming destruction, we hear about the ultimate establishment of Israel as the head of nations.  I think these verses are about the Millennial reign of Christ.  This is where the phrases "swords into plowshares", and "neither shall they learn war anymore" come from.

6, 7 seem to be about the return of the people from where ever they have been scattered.  This return is also a common theme.  This has to be about Israel, not about the church. 

2022 - Here are the first two verses:

"It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it," [Mic 4:1 ESV]

"and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." [Mic 4:2 ESV]

Something cataclysmic must happen for the mountain of the house to be THE highest of the mountains.  Lifted above the hills.  We could "interpret" this as highest authority, but why both mountains and hills if we are talking about authority?  Instead, we could just "translate" it, and say that it means what it says.

2022 - Next:

"He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;" [Mic 4:3 ESV]

This is the Millennial.  Christ reigning on the earth, over all the earth.  1000 years of peace.  No need for war, no war allowed is maybe a better phrase.

2024 - A little more context here:

4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. [Isa 2:4 ESV].  If we look at vss 2-4 here, it is quite certain that we are talking about the Millennial Reign.  This is a time when there will be no war in Israel.  They just won't have any need for weapons.  I think we can be quite certain that this time is still in the future.

10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, "I am a warrior." [Joe 3:10 ESV].  Also this:  14 Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15 The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining. [Joe 3:14-15 ESV].  Joel seems to be talking about an earlier time, as Israel arms itself for battle.  We can almost see 1948 in this description.  But I think it is about a still future time.  We can tie vs 15 to Revelation 6.   I think these signs accompany the rapture- shortly before or shortly after.  So...In Joel the plowshares are turned to swords at the beginning of the last 3 1/2 years, and in Micah, the swords are turned BACK into plowshares in anticipation of a thousand years of peace.  Copying this to Joel 3...

((NOTE 2024 - I added a LOT to this line of thought in Joel 3, under "2024 - Later" tags. Based on what is there, these verses in Micah are post 70th week, pre-Millennial judgment.  The argument is, I think, pretty strong.))

Note that this can go two ways, and both are mentioned.  In Isaiah, the first time we see this phrasing, we are going from swords to plowshares, from war to peace.

In Joel's description, we are turning farm tools to swords, so going to war. 

Then in Micah, back to peace.  Surely there is a study here! 

2022 - Then these two:

"but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken." [Mic 4:4 ESV]

"For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever." [Mic 4:5 ESV]

This instead of war.  Worldwide peace, safety, security of ones place and possessions. 

But vs 5...doesn't that seem to imply that even during this time, much of the world will still be going its own way?  That only in Zion will God be worshiped exclusively?  Maybe even uniquely in that place, while the rest of the world, though humbled and submitting to his power, worships as they choose?

10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies. [Mic 4:10 ESV]  This one verse covers 70 years of Babylonian captivity, and also prophesies that they will return from there.

The next verse tells how the nations of the world will view the fate of Samaria:

11 Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, "Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion." [Mic 4:11 ESV]

The whole world hates the US, because of our success, our riches, and now, because of our greed and shallowness.  They aren't out there praying that we will come to our senses.  They are rejoicing in our self-destruction.  This is the pattern!

And look at this verse:

12 But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. [Mic 4:12 ESV]

The reason behind the captivity:  so that the good ones could be separated from the stubble.  So that God could "concentrate" those who love Him, but who have been diluted by the greed of those in power.  God's reason for the next several hundred years revealed by one prophet in one verse.

I don't really see this, however, as God's plan for the US.  If we go down, I think we are down to stay.  Micah was not written about the US.  Patterns are recognizable, especially with we have the object lessons in the news every day.  But the whole scheme of God's plan here is about the promises to Abraham, the redemption of the Gentiles, and Christ on the throne of David.  That's what the plan is about.

2024 - Again, these two verses, together:

11 Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, "Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion." 12 But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. [Mic 4:11-12 ESV].  I see this now as a description of the final days before Jesus arrives on his white horse.  The whole world has identified Israel as the cause of all their problems - an idea certainly planted and nurtured by Satan through MoL.  They all gather at Megiddo and surrounding Jerusalem to rid themselves of all things Godly once and for all.  But they do not realize that God has just gathered and stacked them, concentrated his enemies, to make it that much easier for he and his armies to eliminate them at Megiddo, and then to judge them at Jerusalem. 

2024 - This also:

10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies. [Mic 4:10 ESV].  This could be Micah prophesying about the Babylonian captivity, but I don't think that interpretation will fit with vss 11-12.  I think the MoL will be based in Babylon and move his armies toward Megiddo.  At the same time, Israel will march out from Jerusalem headed for that same place.  Jerusalem has no King as they start this...but they come back home with one!  A King to sit on David's throne!!!  I think this interpretation makes everything fit together very very well.