Today, Darkness Covers The Earth

Today, darkness covers the earth, a thick darkness is over the peoples.

They are in a stupor of unbelief in the Word of God and His Christ, Jesus.

Yet, the Lord says to his Bride arise, shine, for your light has come

And the glory of the Lord rises upon you and His glory appears over you.

The people of the world 

Are intoxicated with the things their hands have made;

Their technology, their electronic devices, their movies their video games, etc.

They are intoxicated with their idols of movie stars, successful people, homes,

Automobiles, planes, vacations, religious gurus etc.

Yet, the world is financially bankrupt 

In their effort to create a utopia without Christ;

They are morally bankrupt because the only morality comes from Christ.

The world is speeding toward hell.

In the midst of this situation and in spite of it,

The Bride of Christ arises in the glory of Christ Jesus;

Those who love their great God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.

See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,

But the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Lift up your eyes and look about you:

All assemble and come to you;

Your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the arm.

Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy;

The wealth on the seas will be brought to you,

To you the riches of the nations will come.

Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah.

And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense

And proclaiming the praise of the Lord.

All Kedar's flocks will be gathered to you,

The rams of Nebaioth will serve you;

They will be accepted as offerings on my altar,

And I will adorn my glorious temple (the Bride of Christ).

Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests?

Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,

Bringing your sons from afar, with their silver and gold,

To the honor of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,

For he has endowed you with splendor.

Foreigners will rebuild your walls, and their kings will serve you.

Though in anger I struck you, in favor I will show you compassion.

Your gates will always stand open, they will never be shut, day or night,

So that men may bring you the wealth of the nations--

Their kings led in triumphal procession.

For the nation or kingdom that will not serve you will perish;

It will be utterly ruined.

The glory of Lebanon will come to you, the pine, the fir and the cypress together,

To adorn the place of my sanctuary;

And I will glorify the place of my feet.

The sons of your oppressors will come bowing before you;

All who despise you will bow down at your feet

And will call you The City of the Lord,

Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Although you have been forsaken and hated, with no one traveling through,

I will make you the everlasting pride and the joy of all generations.

You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts.

Then you will know that I, the Lord, am your Savior,

Your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Instead of bronze I will bring you gold,

Instead of wood I will bring you bronze, and iron in place of stones.

I will make peace your governor and righteousness your ruler.

No longer will violence be heard in your land,

Nor ruin or destruction within your borders,

But you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.

The sun will no more be your light by day,

Nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,

For the Lord will be your everlasting light,

And your God will be your glory.

Your sun will never set again

And your moon will wane no more;

The Lord will be your everlasting Light, and your days of sorrow will end.

Then will all your people be righteous and they will possess the land forever.

They are the shoot I have planted, the work of My hands,

For the display of My splendor.

The least of you will become a thousand,

The smallest a mighty nation.

I am the Lord; in its time I will do this swiftly. (Isaiah 60 NIV)

Zion, The City of God, The Bride of Christ, the Israel of God, will be glorious;

God will be Her everlasting light.

Her gates will always stand open,

And the nations will bring their wealth to Her.

Her walls will be Salvation and Her gates Praise.

God Almighty will bring this about swiftly, in a moment of time,

And this will be the everlasting condition of His Bride.