ISAIAH 24-27Little Apocalypse

Chapters 1 - 39• Audience is primarily to the pre-exilic Israel in Judah.

• Under threat of invasion from Assyrian empire

• Israel and Judah relying on pagan religion and military strength for their salvation.

Fr. Harry’s Timeline

• Chapters 13-23 – series of judgment oracles against various nations.

• This sets the stage for worldwide judgment to usher in the Lord’s Kingdom on earth.

• Chapters 24-27 – unifying theme of pride; exalting self and failing to acknowledge God results in destruction.

• In the midst of announcements of doom, there are also announcements of salvation for Israel if she will trust Yahweh.

Isaiah 24-27 Little Apocalypse• Greek word – apocalupsis• Meaning – revealing, disclosure, take off the cover

• In Scripture – • Interpretation of the end of history• Revealed through heavenly beings or seers• Reveals how this present world will be replaced by another one.• Purpose is to instruct and encourage – not to confuse.

• Revelation – a truth that somebody shows us.• In Scripture – ultimate revealing of God.

Reading Isaiah 24-27 as apocalypse• Gives understanding to nature of the vision

• Highlights the message

• Learn what happened at the time

• As well as what will happen to whole earth at end time.

Unnamed city

City of desolation and City of joy.

• 24:10-13 – destruction and condemnation of the city of chaos.

• 25:2 – city demolished into a heap and the palace is not rebuilt.

• 26:1-2 – strong city defended with walls and bulwarks

• 27:10 – fortified, yet deserted and forsaken city.

Revelation and BabylonIsaiah 24-27 shows a link to Revelation

through the use of Babylon.• Babylon is a literal city on the Euphrates River• Gen. 11:1-10 – “was the seat of the civilization that

expressed organized hostility to God.” • O.T. – Babylon is associated with organized idolatry,

blasphemy, and the persecution of God’s people.• N.T. – the world’s system of the last days is characterized

both religiously and commercially as Babylon (Rev 17 & 18).

• “Babylon the great mother of harlots and of earth’s abominations” (Rev 17:5).

Babylonian Empire 700 – 681 B.C.

Around 609 B.C.

Chapter 24 -Dispersion and Judgment

• Isaiah is speaking – “See, the Lord is going to…”

• Verbs – lay waste, make it desolate, twist, scatter, despoiled

• Destruction is opposite to creation’s purpose – to love and care for one another and all things.

• Metaphors• Desolate• Earth• Scattering of inhabitants

No one excluded• Verse 2 – judgment is for all people.

• All will be treated alike, there will be no favored class.

• Verse 4, “the exalted of the earth languish.”

• “The Lord has spoken this word.”, verse 4

Personification• Earth mourns• World languishes• Heavens languish

Broken Laws• Defiled• Disobeyed• Violated• Broken

Everlasting Covenant• Genesis 9:16 – “the everlasting covenant between God

and every living creature.”

• Creation was made to be a place of interaction between God and man.

• Earth was created for abundance.

• God has judged the people and found them unproductive and unfaithful to covenant.

Normal Activities will cease• Merriment – song, wine, beer will cease.• Stilled, ceased, stilled – v. 8

• Contrast – gaiety of tambourines, revelers, joyful harp

– v. 8

• “They cry out for wine – v. 11 – drowning sorrows.• “Gate is battered” – v. 12 – city is defenseless

“On that day”• “On that day” is found in verse 24:21, 25:9, 26:1,27:1and 2. • Chapters 25 and 26 - day is one of joy and blessing.

• 25:9 those who trust him can rejoice and know of salvation.

• Chapters 24 and 27- referring to the day of wrath.

• The “day of the Lord” in Isaiah is not a single day of judgment but the season of judgment when the Lord sets things right.

• The “day of the Lord comes” shifts to Isaiah speaking in “prophetic tense” having in mind both a near fulfillment (day of judgment against Babylonian Empire) and the ultimate fulfillment (final day of judgment at the return of Jesus.)

Mt. Zion

Covering Removed

• “destroy the covering – v. 7

• A Revelation – covering is removed

• God is redeeming the people permanently.

• Wipe tears from all faces.

The Lord is the Rock Eternal• Lord is unchanging, like a

Rock

“forever” “eternal”

The Faithful will be Safe• The faithful will be kept safe “until his wrath is passed”

26:20.• The “Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the

people of the earth for their sins” 26:21.

• Reminiscent of:• Noah and the flood - Genesis 6:18• Israelites on the night of the slaying of the 1st born Egyptians –

Exodus 12:13

LeviathanA sea creature that symbolizes the forces of chaos that threaten the established order.

Isaiah applies this imagery to God’s eschatological victory over his enemies.

Revelation uses similar imagery in describing the emergence of the Antichrist (Revelations 13:1-4).

Leviathan References• These are only a few of the references of Leviathan found

in scripture.

• Job 3:8 – “I will rouse Leviathan.”• Job 41 – “Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?”• Amos 9:3 – “command the sea monster to bite them.”• Psalms 74:12-17 – “Shattered the heads of the sea

monster…crushed the heads of Leviathan.”

Asherah Pole• A sacred tree or pole that stood near Canaanite religious

locations to honor the pagan goddess Asherah, also known as Astarte.

Babylon’s Fall