Thursday - Isaiah 24 - When the Earth Staggers

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HIS is most obviously a chapter written to describe the troubles of the Tribulation (the 7 year period of time between the Rapture of the church and the 2^nd Advent of Christ). While we have wrestled with many very specific and local prophecies in the last number of chapters, we now arrive at a global perspective. The whole world will stagger weakly under the heavy influence of God's wrath (Isaiah 24:19-20). Isaiah saw an empty earth; he saw it wasted and turned on its head. He saw impartial destruction bringing misery to people from every walk of life; people from every corner of the world. Mourning, dwindling and suffering will be the lot of those who will be the last remnant of the kingdoms of this world (Isaiah 24:4-5). The curse that descended upon the earth after the Fall in the Garden of Eden will reach its full fruition, devouring the earth and bringing desolation (vs. 6). Happiness will be forgotten. Things that have brought fleshly pleasures to scores of generations of sinners will strangely lose their appeal (vs. 7-11). Albeit grudgingly, the international populace will finally surrender glory (I do not say either repentance or faith) to the Mighty God of heaven and earth. They will not be able to deny that the windows of heaven are the source of their judgment (vs. 18). The demonic energizers who have held sway over this earth for thousands of years will finally be gathered together for a long prison stay (vs. 21-22). And, when the shaking of the earth has stopped; when the dust has finally settled, the Lord Jesus Christ will be seen standing on the holy hill of Zion, ruling the world without opponent, surrounded only by His loyal followers. Thy kingdom come!