Reading for the Day: Swords Into Plowshares

I seriously doubt that Isaiah was being apocalyptic when he wrote about the dominance of Jerusalem in the future. He says that all nations will stream towards towards Jerusalem and will be instructed in God's ways. Because of the undisputed role of Jerusalem, "One nation shall not raise the sword against another,
nor shall they train for war again". 

I guess this is part of Old Testament thinking where the God of Israel is pitted against the god of other nations. In this vision, the God of Israel dominates in the end and this leads to the end of wars and swords will be turned into plowshares.

I can't help but contrast this kumbaya vision with the conflict that Jesus said would be a result of his (continuing) presence. The way he says it, even families will be torn apart by people's belief in him. Swords are not turned into plowshares but are unsheathed. 

"Do not think that I have come to bring peace upon the earth. I have come to bring not peace but the sword.For I have come to set a man 'against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one's enemies will be those of his household.' Matthew 10:34-36

The only way Isaiah can be portrayed as speaking of something other than an earthly kingdom is if he was talking about heaven. But given the tenor of his piece, it seems it is better to attribute his thinking to incomplete/ misunderstood revelation.