“Draw near, O nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples! Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it. For the Lord’s indignation is against all the nations, and His wrath against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them, He has given them over to slaughter.” (vv.1-2)
Isaiah is drawing to a close the section of his book that emphasizes judgment. Here in chapter 34 he declares and warns, “The Lord is angry with all nations; His wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, He will give them over to slaughter.” Not a message I’d want to hear.
In the midst of this description (vv.3-5), he paints a picture of what is happening in the heavens simultaneously with this judgment. All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll. This sounds curiously similar to a re-creation of this world that is declared to come according to Revelation 21.
Whether this is a description of that day or not, Isaiah is clear in verse 8 regarding the eventuality of God’s judgment and its purpose, “For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause.” Vengeance. Retribution. He will fight for His people. It is what their enemies deserve and what we all have earned, if we are found to be outside of God’s grace.
But, they (Israel) were chosen. And we (gentile believers) were also chosen. Therefore, we have a defender who fights for us as well. God Almighty! Hallelujah!
The Truth: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)
Isaiah is drawing to a close the section of his book that emphasizes judgment. Here in chapter 34 he declares and warns, “The Lord is angry with all nations; His wrath is upon all their armies. He will totally destroy them, He will give them over to slaughter.” Not a message I’d want to hear.
In the midst of this description (vv.3-5), he paints a picture of what is happening in the heavens simultaneously with this judgment. All the stars of the heavens will be dissolved and the sky rolled up like a scroll. This sounds curiously similar to a re-creation of this world that is declared to come according to Revelation 21.
Whether this is a description of that day or not, Isaiah is clear in verse 8 regarding the eventuality of God’s judgment and its purpose, “For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause.” Vengeance. Retribution. He will fight for His people. It is what their enemies deserve and what we all have earned, if we are found to be outside of God’s grace.
But, they (Israel) were chosen. And we (gentile believers) were also chosen. Therefore, we have a defender who fights for us as well. God Almighty! Hallelujah!
The Truth: “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)
