I've read through the book of Isaiah many times, some before I was "saved" and many times since. I've always loved the book as it says so much about our savior and even of the gospel in ways that are readily and plainly understood. This morning while continuing my progressive reading through scripture, I reread chapter 13 for a 2nd day in a row as the Lord is clearly trying to teach me something important not just for me but for His remnant and the entire Earth.
The chapter is about "the day of the Lord" and the wrath of God poured out upon the nations. The passage is very clearly about the judgment upon Israel that was coming by way of the "Medes" and includes the destruction of Babylon. However, as the passage also refers to a judgment upon the whole Earth and a mighty host from the ends of the heavens, it also refers to the final judgments against "sinners" prior to the establishment of the millennial kingdom. In particular I would call your attention to Isaiah 13:3-9.
Since I'm not at all familiar with the original languages, I would welcome our resident scholars to provide an alternate translation of Isaiah 13:5, "they come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the Lord and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole land."
My last birthday fell on the 3rd of October, the first day of the feast of tabernacles, and because I have of late become a bit concerned about astronomical events being seen for the first time in history, I spent the evening from sundown on the 2nd to about 3:30 AM, lying out on my deck observing the night sky. I've very rarely heard that "still small voice" in my head that is unmistakably not my own thoughts, but that evening about midnight He said a number of things plainly to me, most of which I may not repeat. I did however commit myself to His purposes 100% and was promised a certain longevity (which I didn't really want) to see things through to their completion.
Now here's the really scarey part. Years ago, when the film first came out, I saw a science fiction movie called Independence day (ID4) and was very much struck by the biblical imagery of the movie. The same basic story was first told by H.G. Wells in his novel "War of the Worlds" and the theme has been repeated in many books and films up to this time. This morning it hit me like a sledgehammer, that the familiarity of the theme is found in Isaiah chapter 13 as well as in the other prophetic works up to and including the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Imagine if you will a terrible race of Heavenly beings that come to the Earth to steal our oceans as fuel for their "ships" as well as for their mineral salt content and entirely bent upon pacifying the Earth at the cost of every human life determined to resist them or determined to destroy one another. Imagine creatures able to read our thoughts and merciless toward malice, greed, and arrogance. Who would be safe other than those that have received the Spirit of Christ and those entirely humbled by fear? The mind boggles.
Now, I'm one who has taken oathes before God, to defend my nation and my country, but the Lord has expanded my territory so to speak to include all of His remnant, all who fear God. I'm not anticipating a great outcome for those who are like minded, given that resistance will be targeted, but I trust Him for the outcome. The Lord's will be done. Amen
Let the controversy begin.
The chapter is about "the day of the Lord" and the wrath of God poured out upon the nations. The passage is very clearly about the judgment upon Israel that was coming by way of the "Medes" and includes the destruction of Babylon. However, as the passage also refers to a judgment upon the whole Earth and a mighty host from the ends of the heavens, it also refers to the final judgments against "sinners" prior to the establishment of the millennial kingdom. In particular I would call your attention to Isaiah 13:3-9.
Since I'm not at all familiar with the original languages, I would welcome our resident scholars to provide an alternate translation of Isaiah 13:5, "they come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the Lord and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole land."
My last birthday fell on the 3rd of October, the first day of the feast of tabernacles, and because I have of late become a bit concerned about astronomical events being seen for the first time in history, I spent the evening from sundown on the 2nd to about 3:30 AM, lying out on my deck observing the night sky. I've very rarely heard that "still small voice" in my head that is unmistakably not my own thoughts, but that evening about midnight He said a number of things plainly to me, most of which I may not repeat. I did however commit myself to His purposes 100% and was promised a certain longevity (which I didn't really want) to see things through to their completion.
Now here's the really scarey part. Years ago, when the film first came out, I saw a science fiction movie called Independence day (ID4) and was very much struck by the biblical imagery of the movie. The same basic story was first told by H.G. Wells in his novel "War of the Worlds" and the theme has been repeated in many books and films up to this time. This morning it hit me like a sledgehammer, that the familiarity of the theme is found in Isaiah chapter 13 as well as in the other prophetic works up to and including the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
Imagine if you will a terrible race of Heavenly beings that come to the Earth to steal our oceans as fuel for their "ships" as well as for their mineral salt content and entirely bent upon pacifying the Earth at the cost of every human life determined to resist them or determined to destroy one another. Imagine creatures able to read our thoughts and merciless toward malice, greed, and arrogance. Who would be safe other than those that have received the Spirit of Christ and those entirely humbled by fear? The mind boggles.
Now, I'm one who has taken oathes before God, to defend my nation and my country, but the Lord has expanded my territory so to speak to include all of His remnant, all who fear God. I'm not anticipating a great outcome for those who are like minded, given that resistance will be targeted, but I trust Him for the outcome. The Lord's will be done. Amen
Let the controversy begin.
