ISAIAH CHAPTER 24 Judgments for the Earth, Joy for the Righteous, Glory for God

I. MAIN IDEA God’s ongoing judgment of human cities one after another culminates in the destruction of the final version of the rebellious “City of Man by the glory of Christ’s second coming (Davis). This is sometimes called “’s Apocalypse.”

II. BACKGROUND In the previous chapters God’s judgments were directed toward , then to the nations surrounding Judah. In the next chapters (24-27) God’s judgment is toward the entire earth followed by his glorious victory.

Figure 1 God's expanding judgments in Isaiah

The judgments taking place in Chapter 24 appear to be describing the horrific judgments which take place during the Tribulation Period described in Revelation Chapters 6-18, followed by the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (Rev. 19). See the figure below.1

1 The figure is adapted from Paul Benware, Understanding End Times Prophecy (Chicago, Moody, 2006), p. 201 as referenced in John MacArthur’s, Because the Time is Near (Chicago, Moody, 2007), 16. The timeline is based on the futurist view of Revelation. For various methods of interpreting Revelation see “What the Says about the Future” .

III. SUMMARY

A. The Judgments of God on the Whole Earth (24:1-6)

1. The whole earth is going to be devastated by God because it has been defiled by people who have “disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant” (24:5).

2. “Everlasting covenant” …There is no single covenant known as the everlasting covenant because the title applies to several different covenants. • The Noahic Covenant (Gen. 9:6) • The Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 17:7, 13, 19)2 • The covenant God made with and the priesthood (Lev. 24:8) • The Davidic Covenant (2 Sam. 23:5) • The New Covenant (Jer. 32:40; Heb. 13:20)3 • Verses 1-6 which describe man’s violations of the everlasting covenant seem to be reflected in Romans 1:18-32.

B. The End of Worldly Joy (24:7-12)

1. When the Lord brings these judgments during the Tribulation Period there will be no more “partying as usual.”

2. The days for "eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage," like the days in ’s time, will end when the Tribulation judgments take place prior to the 2nd Coming of Jesus (Matt. 24:38-39 NIV).

3. “City” (24:10, 12) represents all of human society.

4. Augustine distinguished between the eternal City of God and the temporal City of Man—two rival cities shaped by opposing loves and working toward different ends.4

CITY OF GOD CITY OF MAN • Based on love of God even to the • Based on love of self even to the contempt of self contempt of God • The greatest glory is found in and • Seeks glory from men with God • Delights in its own strength as • God is the source of its strength represented in the person of its rulers • Consists of those who live • Consists of those who live according according to God to man.

2 John MacArthur believes the “everlasting covenant is referring to the Abrahamic Covenant which contained devotion to God’s moral law and salvation by faith in him (MacArthur 787).

3 Guzik, Isaiah 24 < https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/isaiah-24/>. Accessed December 22, 2018.

4 Nevertheless, the dual divine command to love God and to love neighbor requires that we work for the common good of the City of Man, even as we are citizens of the City of God who proclaim the to our neighbors that they might become our brothers.

D. The Reactions of the Righteous (24:13-16)

1. Before the Tribulation, God will most likely remove all his people (Isa. 24:2; 1 Thess. 4:15- 17), but many people will come to trust in Jesus during the Tribulation, and these will praise him in the midst of judgment.5

2. These people (remnant) will praise God because even in his judgments they see his majesty, glory, and power.

E. Outside of Christ, Inescapable Judgment (24:17-22)

1. “People of the earth.” The which describes the Tribulation Period, makes constant reference to those who dwell on earth (Rev. 3:10; 6:10; 11:10; 13:12, 14). This is in contrast to those in heaven (Rev. 13:6) who are seated with Jesus (Eph. 2:6).

2. “The powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below” is probably referring to rebellious angels that are judged at the end of the age (Eph. 6:12), and to rebellious kings (leaders) of the earth.

F. The Finale: God’s Glorious City (24:23)

1. “The moon will be dismayed, the sun ashamed” … in the eternal state after Christ’s millennial reign, the glory of God and of the Lamb will outshine the moon and sun (Rev. 21:23).

2. “Reign in ” …John confirmed this clear prophecy of the Messiah’s future earthly reign in Jerusalem (Rev. 11:15-17; 19:6, 16; cf. Luke 1:31-33).

IV. APPLICATION

A. What is God doing? → He is telling mankind that all sin and evil will eventually be judged.

B. Why is he doing this? → Because he is a righteous God and all sin/evil must be punished.

C. What does this teach us about God? → God always gives plenty o time for man to repent before his judgments take place…while there is time, we are to get the good news out there!

5 David Guzik, Isaiah 24 < https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/isaiah-24/>. Accessed December 22, 2018.