Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 2:4

4 And he shall judge among the nations , and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more .

Christ shall set up and use his Authority among and over all Nations, not onely giving Laws to them, as other Rulers do, but doing that which no other Powers can do, convincing their minds and Consciences, conquering and changing their Hearts, and ordering their Lives.

Either verbally, by his Word and Spirit reproving or convincing the World of Sin; or really, by his Judgments upon his implacable Enemies, which obstruct the Propagation of the Gospel.

He shall root out those great Animosities and Hostilities which were between the Jews and Gentiles, Eph. 2. 13, &c. and between several Nations, subduing Mens Pride, and Passions, and Lusts, which are the Causes of all Wars and Contentions; and working Humility, and Meekness, and Self-denial, and true and fervent Love to all Men, from whence Peace necessarily follows. This was the Design of the Gospel in all, and the Effect of it in those that rightly received it. And that War and Dissension which was occasioned by the Preaching of the Gospel, as was foretold Mat. 10. 21, 22. it was wholly accidental, by reason of Mens corrupt Interests and Lusts, which the Gospel opposed; and it was not amongst those who received the Gospel in the love of it, but between them and those who were either open Enemies or false Friends to them and to the Gospel. But if this Place [illegible: 1+ letters]e understood of an external and general Peace which was to be in the World in the Days of the Messias, this also may in due time be verified, when all Israel shall be saved, and the fulness of the Gentiles shall be brought in, and both Jews and Gentiles shall be united together into one Fold, under Christ their great Shepherd; all which is prophecied and promised Ioh. 10. 16. Rom. 11. and elsewhere. For it is not necessary that all the Prophecies concerning the Kingdom of the Messias should be accomplished in an instant, or at the beginning of it; but it is sufficient if they be fulfilled before the end of it. And some of them do manifestly belong to the last days of that Kingdom. And therefore there is no truth nor weight in that Argument which the Jews bring from this Place, against our Messias, because of those Wars that have hitherto been and still are amongst Christians; for this doth not prove that these Wars shall never cease, or that there shall not be such a Peace in the World as they understand, before the end of Christs Kingdom.

Marginal references: Psal. 46. 9. Hos. 2. 18. Zech. 9. 10.; Or, Sithes.