The next 4 chapters, Isaiah 24-27 are referred to by biblical scholars as “Isaiah’s apocalypse”. The various prophecies of the judgment of the nations back in Isaiah 13-23 seem to pale in comparison to this prophecy of the judgement of all heaven and earth here in Isaiah 24. But God is intentional about this, for judgement precedes blessings whether in Isaiah’s time, our time, or at the final judgement. Isaiah proclaims that in the last days, God will remove all wickedness and sin before he pours out the universal blessings of the complete establishment of Christ’s kingdom.
Read Isaiah 24:1-6 NRSV
After describing the impending judgment of individual nations (Isaiah 13-23), Isaiah describes a future long ahead when the LORD will pour out a universal judgement on all the earth, stating that in that day, “The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled”, because humanity “transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, and broke the everlasting covenant.” (v.3 and v.5). This everlasting covenant refers to God’s universal laws of righteousness that all creation was created by God to function under. Thus the rebellion of humanity began when humans began to function outside of the purpose of which they were created.
Yet there is hope in the few people that Isaiah says will survive (v.6). This is an important verse in this chapter and even in the book of Isaiah as a whole. For it is a witness to us that the LORD is a just God who has no plans to erase the human race from the earth.
Read Isaiah 24:7-16 NRSV
Isaiah describes the suffering that humanity as a whole will experience with their joy and festivity erased by desolation. Yet even in the middle of doom and gloom there will still be heard the voices from the west that shout because of the majesty of the LORD (v.14). So a second time in this chapter of destruction we see evidence of a remnant who will not simply survive the judgement, but will praise God on that day for his righteous victory over wickedness. They will sing because they are shown mercy, which is indeed a good reason to praise God, but Isaiah says that even in the distant coastlands people will sing with a singular focus; to the Glory of the Righteous One (v.16).
Isaiah proclaims a future of joy for those who are spared in the judgement, yet his heart is in distress because he also proclaims a future of destruction for those who are not spared. Here Isaiah may have been embodying the Word of the LORD given in Ezekiel 18, that God does not take pleasure in destroying the wicked but rather feels pleasure when sinners turn from their wicked ways. Jesus reinforced this truth by teaching us that there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine people who don't need repentance (Luke 12:7).
Read Isaiah 24:17-23 NRSV
Isaiah continues to describe this final judgement by the wicked’s inability to escape it; those who run from it will fall in a pit, and those who are strong enough to escape that pit will be yet overcome by a trap that will surely catch them. And this is in agreement with John’s revelation, which states that the wicked called on the mountains to fall on them because there was no escape for them. (Revelation 6:16).
Isaiah also gives us the important truth that both heaven and earth will experience this universal judgement as he states that, “the host of heaven in heaven, and on earth the kings of the earth.” (v.21). Therefore the rulers, the authorities, the cosmic powers of this present darkness, and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places, of which the apostle Paul said all work against us in Ephesians 6:12, will all be destroyed at the final judgement. All this in addition to the judgement of the mighty leaders on earth, whom God will demote to prisoners in the tribulation (v.22).
By all this, Isaiah proclaims that at the final judgement, there will be no spiritual nor earthly power left to dispute that Jesus Christ is the rightful king in both the physical and the spiritual realm.
Reflection
In the prophetic writings, the theme of ‘Judgement Preceding Blessings’ is consistently seen, why don’t the blessings come first in this order?
In the text, amid all the words of violent destruction of the wicked, the songs and shouts of praise to the LORD God still linger amid his people. Yet while Isaiah proclaims those words he also speaks of his own anguish at the destruction God has shown him will happen. Is it possible that God’s final judgement could be a bitter/sweet occasion for those who do survive it?
The judgment of both heaven and earth are a witness to the universal completeness of the final judgement, in that there is not a single soul who will not be examined by the LORD. As someone who is not perfect, how do you hope to survive the promised judgement of a perfect God?
Prayer
Supreme Judge of every soul,
Although we are sinners, we can testify to the work of your Holy Spirit in us helping us to make better life choices and walk ever closer with you. As your final judgement draws closer with each passing moment, help us to continuously affirm and reaffirm our faith in the complete salvation that you have promised us through your Son. Give us spiritual confidence even in the current pandemic, so that we are not overcome with fear–knowing that our souls are already secure in Christ. Help us not to grow weary in spreading his Gospel and sharing his love, so that when your final judgement does come, we, our ancestors, our descendants, and all of your people will have no reason to flee, for we will be kept secure by you, in Jesus name. Amen!