The Prince of Peace
Isaiah 9:6-7.
"6 For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and Peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with Judgment and with Justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will perform this"
(Isaiah 9:6-7). Already, we have been told that this special Child to be born would be Immanuel or God With Us, but would this just be naming a child "Jehovah is Salvation" or does this mean that the Child Himself would actually be God Incarnate in Human Flesh? Look at the evidence. The "government shall be upon His shoulder"
(Isaiah 9:6). Okay. He should rightly be expected to be the King of Israel. But, Herod the Great of the 1st century of the Christian Era could have been spoken of as the "King of the Jews"
(Matthew 2:2). Certainly Herod could not be called "Wonderful, Counsellor"
(Isaiah 9:6)! It should be increasingly apparent that the Messiah must be God Himself in human flesh, for Jehovah Himself authorized Isaiah to announce the Name of the Messiah to be "The Mighty God"
(Isaiah 9:6). Remember, Jehovah will not lightly allow anyone to take His Glory with such a Title or Name, unless the Messiah is "The Mighty God"! "I am the LORD: that is My Name: and My Glory will I not give to another, neither My Praise to graven images"
(Isaiah 42:8). Further, the Messiah would not simply be an everlasting father, but "THE Everlasting Father"
(Isaiah 9:6). "I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My Firstborn"
(Jeremiah 31:9). "But the LORD is the True God, He is the Living God, and an Everlasting King: at His Wrath the Earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide His Indignation" (Jeremiah 10:10).
As the "Prince of Peace"
(Isaiah 9:6), we are told in the Gospels of the Christian New Testament that the angel of the LORD appeared with a multitude of the Heavenly Host to testify to the Peace that would come to all men because of the Messiah's birth.
"8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the LORD came upon them, and the Glory of the LORD shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you Good Tidings of Great Joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the LORD.
12 And this shall be a Sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth Peace, Good Will toward men"
(Luke 2:8-14). And again, the Messiah would be a King with a government of which "there shall be no end"
(Isaiah 9:7). To this, Jesus affirmed that His Kingdom was in the hearts of men, i.e., "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you"
(Luke 17:21), but also that His Kingdom is already of Heaven, i.e., "Jesus answered, My Kingdom is not of this world: if My Kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My Kingdom not from hence"
(John 18:36). For this reason, no earthly manifestation of the Messiah's Kingdom has yet begun, until He Returns the Second Time for what the Ancient Jews understood to be the Judgment of the World. "For the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of His Father with His angels; and then He shall reward every man according to his works"
(Matthew 16:27). The clue now resonates down the corridor of time: The Messiah is not simply a man, but God Himself in human flesh!
"14 That thou keep this Commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the Appearing of our LORD Jesus Christ:
15 which in His times He shall shew, Who is the Blessed and Only Potentate, the KING of Kings, and LORD of Lords;
16 Who only hath Immortality, dwelling in the Light which no man can approach unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to Whom be Honour and Power everlasting. Amen"
(1Timothy 6:14-16). Very pointedly, the Messiah would be The Mighty God.