In Isaiah, chapter eleven, verse one, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” Isaiah gives a glorious picture of a future new world governed by a Branch, which is Jesus Christ. Jesus was called a Nazarene, as in Matthew two, verse twenty-three, “And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene,” which can mean either “a man of Nazareth” or “a man of the Branch.” He would come forth as a branch from the root of Jesse, David’s father, as in Isaiah four, verses two to six. Isaiah seven, verse fourteen, Isaiah nine, verses one to seven, and Romans fifteen, verse twelve, respectively. This Branch (Jesus Christ) would become Ruler of the world restored to peace, righteousness, and goodness.
The initial fulfillment of this prophecy came seven hundred years later when Jesus Christ was born, while its completion awaits the second coming of Christ. In this prophetic statement concerning the establishment of Christ’s reign from verses six through seven of Isaiah nine, no distinction is made between the first and second coming. Nowhere does the Old Testament clearly reveal that Christ’s rule on earth would involve a first and second advent in history. Likewise, in the New Testament, time gaps between end-time events are not always clearly distinguished.
Jesus explicitly states that His coming for the saints living before the tribulation will be at an unexpected time and without warning. Therefore, believers must strive to be part of the roots, which shall spring forth the tree of life, which is eternity in heaven. The way the world is right now is pointing to His coming.