Isaías 13
Leon Morris · Citado em PreceptAustin
Isaías 13
Morris comments on Isaiah 13:10 that "This prophecy of fearful signs in the heavens (Matthew 24:29-note), with the darkening of the sun (Revelation 6:12), is to be fulfilled in the future days of tribulation judgment on the earth. As often the case in these prophecies of the Old Testament, the vision blends both precursive and ultimate judgments together. (Defender's Study Bible) Isaiah 13:11 Thus I will punish the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity. I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.: punish: Isa 14:21 24:4-6 Jer 51:34-38 Rev 12:9,10 18:2,3 arrogance: Isa 2:17 5:15 14:12-16 Jer 50:29-32 Da 5:22,23 GLOBAL PUNISHMENT IN THE DAY OF THE LORD The Psalmist emphasizes that the LORD exerts His sovereign sway over the entire world... The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty (Hebrew = malkut = royalty, reign, dominion, kingdom) rules (masal = reigns, exerts dominion) over all. (Ps 103:19) Thus I will punish (Remember that Jehovah is speaking) the world (earth) for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity - Jehovah's declaration of a global judgment leaves no doubt that the Day of the LORD involves more than the defeat of Babylon by the Medes in 539BC. As an aside, it is good for all of us to remember (in light of passages such as this one) that God promises vindication for all unjust treatment! If you have been mistreated or wronged or maligned (and who hasn't?), take heart from this passage and defer taking your own vengeance for the wrong committed against you. One aspect of the Day of the Lord is that "all books will be balanced", a truth which should comfort the afflicted and afflict the "comfortable!" The day of vengeance is coming, for the non-lying God says... VENGEANCE IS MINE. I WILL REPAY (cp Ro 12:17-note, Ro 12:18, 19, 20, 21-note, cp Is 33:1) Arrogance of the proud...haughtiness - Hubris (pride) is something that calls forth God's intense displeasure! Arrogance (01347) (ga'on from root meaning "to rise") describes arrogance as overbearing conceit or the boastful assertion of more than one has a right to (Used again in Isa 13:19, 14:11). The Lxx translates ga'on with huperephanos (from huper = over, above, + phaíno = shine) is the haughty person pictured with his head held high above others. This man who because of his feeling of personal superiority is puffed up with a high opinion of self, and regards others with contempt, as if they were unworthy. The noun huperephania is usually translated pride which is one of those sins which Jesus says proceeds out of a man's heart (Mark 7.22). The same sin of pride that led to Israel’s judgment (Isa 5:21; 9:9) will cause Babylon’s downfall (Isa 47:5,7,8; Rev 18:7). Proud (02086) (zed) conveys the basic idea of pride, presumptuous attitude or a sense of self-importance, often exaggerated to defiance and rebelliousness (Pr 11:2, Jer 49:16; 50:31, 32; Eze 7:10) Motyer - It is not only at the Last Day but also in every interim experience of divine anger that pride is a killer, leaving utter ruination and emptiness in its wake. (Ibid) Warren
Isaías 13
Morris notes that Isaiah records that he saw "these things, though they were all far in the future. Evidently, God gave Isaiah a series of visions, projecting him into the future, so he could see the events as actually taking place." Isaiah the son of Amoz - Isaiah in beginning a distinctly new section clearly claims authorship to abort those of liberal persuasion who would try to invoke a new author! Comparing Scripture with Scripture strongly supports Isaiah's authorship as we note the similarity in the following subjects... Israel is to become a remnant: Isa 10:21, 22 with Isa 17:4–6; 24:1–13. The return of the remnant: Isa 10:20, 21 with Isa 17:7, 8; 20:5, 6; and Isa 27:9. Cry of deliverance in darkness: Isa 9:1 with Isa 11:1 and Isa 24:14. Destruction of oppressor: Isa 10:16-19, 33, 34 w/ Isa 14:25; 16:4; 17:12-14; Isa 18:4–6. Regathering of Israel: Isa 11:11–16 and Isa 14:1 with Isa 27:13. Turning of the nations: Isa 11:10 with Isa 14:1b; Isa 16:1, 2; 18:7 Nations serve Israel: Isa 11:11 with Isa 14:2. Nations partly experience Israel’s rule: Isa 11:14–16 with Isa 14:29. Coming peace: Isa 9:4–6 and Isa 11:2–5, with Isa 14:1, 2, 7, 8, 29, 30; 16:4, 5. Redeemed sing hymns of praise: Isa 12:1-6 with Isa 24:14–16; 25:1–5; 26:1, 2. Young - Just as in Jeremiah and in Ezekiel the prophecies of the foreign nations are grouped together, so also in Isaiah. This section, therefore, may be compared with Jeremiah 46–51 and Ezekiel 25–32. The prophet speaks concerning Babylon, Assyria, Philistia, Moab, Damascus, Ethiopia, Egypt, Elam, Media, Arabia, Tyre, and then concludes the prophecies with a description of judgment of the world and of the last things (Isaiah 24–27). Concerning Babylon - We are at first surprised that this does is not read "concerning Assyria", for Assyria has been the subject of discussion in the preceding chapters as the major protagonist of Israel and Judah. In addition, at the time of this prophecy Babylon was by no means a threatening power and she did not achieve that status until almost a century later. Oracle (04853)(massa' from verb nasa' = lift up, carry, take away, see "lift up" in Is 13:2) literally describes a burden or something which is carried about and emphasizes the effort necessary to carry the item (Ex 23:5, 2Ki 5:17, 2Ki 8:9). Figuratively, in the prophets massa' indicates a divine prophecy with a message of judgment, a prophecy, analogous to a "heavy load" because it announces threat of heavy judgments. The other picture of "weight" is that the prophet is heavily laden with a message from God that he must deliver. It is a weighty or burdensome kind of message to deliver, an utterance which speaks chiefly of doom. Specific burdens deal with Nineveh Nah 1:1), Judah (Hab1:1), Damascus (Zech 9:1), Jerusalem (Zech 12:1), Israel (Mal 1:1), Zabad who murdered King Joash (2Chr 24:27), King Joram (2Ki 9:25). Figuratively massa' can also describe "iniquities...as a heavy burden" (Ps 38:4) or people being burden (Nu 11:11,17;Dt 1:12;2Sa 15:33;Job 7:20). Massa' is once used to describe delight or strong yearning in one's heart (Eze 24:25). In 2Chr 17:11 massa' describes a tribute which is a forced payment from a submissive nation to a superior nation. Massa' can describe a burden in the sense of an oppression or hardship, something that causes distress (Hos 8:10). Massa' - 29x in 25v in the NAS - burden(3), oracle(25), oracles(1). 2 Ki. 9:25; 2 Chr. 24:27; Prov. 30:1; Prov. 31:1; Isa. 13:1; Isa. 14:28; Isa. 15:1; Isa. 17:1; Isa. 19:1; Isa. 21:1; Isa. 21:11; Isa. 21:13; Isa. 22:1; Isa. 23:1; Isa. 30:6; Jer. 23:33; Jer. 23:34; Jer. 23:36; Jer. 23:38; Ezek. 12:10; Nah. 1:1; Hab. 1:1; Zech. 9:1; Zech. 12:1; Mal. 1:1 Massa' - 66x in 60v in the KJV = burden 57, song 3, prophecy 2, set 1, exaction 1, carry away 1, tribute 1; 66 Ex 23:5; Nu 4:15, 19, 24, 27, 31f, 47, 49; 11:11, 17; Deut 1:12; 2 Sam 15:33; 19:35; 2Kgs 5:17; 8:9; 9:25; 1Chr 15:22, 27; 2Chr 17:11; 20:25; 24:27; 35:3; Neh 10:31; 13:15, 19; Job 7:20; Ps 38:4; Pr 30:1; 31:1; Isa 13:1; 14:28; 15:1; 17:1; 19:1; 21:1, 11, 13; 22:1, 25; 23:1; 30:6; 46:1f; Jer 17:21f, 24, 27; 23:33f, 36, 38; Ezek 12:10; 24:25; Hos 8:10; Nah 1:1; Hab 1:1; Zech 9:1; 12:1; Mal 1:1 BRIEF EXCURSUS ON BABYLON Babylon (0894) (babel) means confusion. ." Babylon is the Greek spelling of the name which in Hebrew is uniformly Babel. The word occurs some 286 times and refers to an ancient city on the eastern bank of the Euphrates about twenty miles south of Bagdad, near the modern village of Hillah in Iraq. Genesis 11:9 gives the name as Babel (perhaps from balal "to confuse") but probably intended as a parody, a word play referring to what happened when the languages were confused. Even our derivative English word "babble" is an example of onomatopoeia, a word which imitates an actual sound, and thus is essentially the same in all languages. Babylon is mentioned more in the Scriptures than any other city except Jerusalem. Babel - 262x in 233v in the NAS -Ge 10:10; 11:9; 2Kgs 17:24, 30; 20:12, 14, 17, 18; 24:1, 7, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 20; 25:1, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 27, 28; 1Chr 9:1; 2Chr 32:31; 33:11; 36:6, 7, 10, 18, 20; Ezra 1:11; 2:1; 7:6, 9; 8:1; Neh 7:6; 13:6; Esther 2:6; Ps 87:4; 137:1, 8; Isa 13:1, 19; 14:4, 22; 21:9; 39:1, 3, 6, 7; 43:14; 47:1; 48:14, 20; Jer 20:4, 5, 6, 21:2, 4, 7, 10; 22:25; 24:1; 25:1, 9, 11f; 27:6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 22; 28:2, 3, 4, 6, 11, 14; 29:1, 3, 4, 10, 15, 20, 21, 22, 28; 32:2, 3, 4, 28, 36; 34:1, 2, 3, 7, 21; 35:11; 36:29; 37:1, 17, 19; 38:3, 17, 18, 22, 23; 39:1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13; 40:1, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11; 41:2, 18; 42:11; 43:3, 10; 44:30; 46:2, 13, 26; 49:28, 30; 50:1, 2, 8, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 28, 29, 34, 35, 42, 43, 45, 46; 51:1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 24, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 37, 41, 42, 44, 47, 48, 49, 53, 54, 55, 58, 59, 60, 64; 52:3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, 26, 27, 31, 32, 34; Ezek 12:13; 17:12, 16, 20; 19:9; 21:19, 21; 23:15, 17, 23; 24:2; 26:7; 29:18, 19; 30:10, 24, 25; 32:11; Da 1:1; Mic 4:10; Zech 2:7; 6:10 Babylon is transliterated into Greek and occurs 12x in 11v in the NT - Matt 1:11, 12, 17; Acts 7:43; 1Pet 5:13; Rev 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21. The first mention of Babel is in Genesis in which it was referred to as the kingdom of Nimrod, a leader who was a "mighty hunter before Jehovah" ("before" could also be translated "mighty against"!)... He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel (Hebrew = babel; Lxx = babulon) and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:9-10) The next mention of Babel is in Genesis 11 where we see man's rebellious heart and God's righteous response... And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they all have the same language. And this is what they began to do, and now nothing which they purpose to do will be impossible for them (See Tower of Babel or here and Images for tower of Babel). "Come, let Us go down and there confuse (balal) their language, that they may not understand one another's speech." So (TERM OF CONCLUSION) the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of the whole earth (Ed: Note that this "rebellious spirit" of Babylon now covered the earth!); and they stopped building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of the whole earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of the whole earth. (Genesis 11:6-9) Comment: Babylon clearly serves as a prototype or picture of man's rebellion against God and immediately precedes Genesis 12's introduction of God's plan to redeem fallen mankind through a man named Abraham who would be the father of the nation of Israel and ultimately of the Messiah (Gal 3:16). It is therefore not surprising that we see this conflict that begins in Genesis 11 (man's way of "salvation") and Genesis 12 (God's way of salvation) continuing to its final and dramatic culmination in the last book of the Bible, specifically in Revelation 17 and 18. Motyer - More than any other name, therefore, ‘Babylon’ typifies humankind’s will to be its own saviour. Babel refers to the ancient city on the eastern bank of the Euphrates about twenty miles south of Baghdad, near the modern village of Hilia in modern day Iraq. Its first occurrence in the Bible pertains to the Tower of Babel episode in which man in a titanic social revolt attempted to throw off the rule of God and achieve unity and peace without God (Ge 11:9). The symbol of their unity was the tower, and the strength of their unity was their common language. As a result, God judged them by confusing their speech. According to the Sumerian Enmerkar Epic, at one time men praised Enlil "with tongue," possibly a reflection in secular history of this event. Babylon was indeed one of the greatest of ancient cities - The splendor of ancient Babylon was spectacular, covering over 1000 acres surrounded by a double-walled system of defense that encircled the city. These walls were over 85 feet thick and 11 miles long, with the outer walls being approximately 25 feet wide and reinforced with towers every 65 feet (cp Jeremiah 51:12, 58). There were eight major city gates named after various Babylonian deities (e.g., the famous Ishtar Gate). The city was dominated by a seven-story ziggurat, 288 feet high, known as the Tower of Babylon. It was constructed from nearly 60 million fired bricks. On the top of it stood the temple of Marduk (Jer 50:2). The Greek historian Herodotus claimed that it contained a solid gold statue of Marduk weighing 52,000 pounds! Whereas King Nebuchadnezzar envisioned the proud city that usurped Jerusalem's headship as a head of gold (Da 2:32-note, Da 2:37-note), Daniel saw its true bestial character as a lion (Dan 7:4-note). Daniel based his prayer for Israel's release on Jeremiah's prediction that the captivity would last seventy years (Jer 25:11-12; Jer 29:10; Dan 9:2ff-note). But whereas Jeremiah predicted the length of the captivity, Isaiah foresaw the way of Israel's exodus from Babylon through the conquest of Cyrus (Isa 41:1, 2, 3, 4; Isa 43:14; Isa 44:28, 45:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, Isa 46:11 ["bird" = King Cyrus]) Resources on Babylon: Babylon - Dr Tony Garland What is the Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17-18 - Dr Andy Woods Revelation 052 – Babylon: The Bookends of History (Part 1) - Dr Andy Woods Revelation 053 – Babylon: The Bookends of History (Part 2) - Dr Andy Woods Babylon - Bible Dictionary (part 1); Bible Dictionary (part 2) As one reads the OT prophecies concerning Babylon especially prophecies that state "Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans' pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah." (Isa 13:19), the question arises is this "Has Babylon ever been destroyed to the extent that it became like Sodom and Gomorrah?" The historical evidence strongly supports the premise that Babylon has never been completely destroyed which in turn supports the interpretation that Babylon will be rebuilt and will suffer a literal future destruction. As of 2011 Babylon is an insignificant place in Iraq, but is anything too difficult for God? (Ge 18:14, Jer 32:17, 27, Isa 46:9, 10) Is it too difficult for Him to cause/allow Babylon to arise from the ashes to become the leading metropolis of the world? I think not! It follows that the prophecy in Isaiah 13 has never been fully fulfilled and is yet future to our time. It is fitting that Babylon which has been called “the seat of the civilization that expressed organized hostility to God” (Tenney) in Genesis, should meet its final and utter demise in the book of the Revelation as recorded by the apostle John... And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her (the city of Babylon), will weep and lament over her (the great city) when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' (Rev 18:9, 10, 16-19+) Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her (Babylon)." And a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. (Rev 18:20,21+). Comment: Note carefully how a literal reading of John's description indicates that Babylon is an actual city, a rebellious city which will finally receive her just judgment from God and will finally be completely destroyed forever just as was Sodom and Gomorrah (Isa 13:19)! Dr John
Isaías 13
Morris comments: Babylon had a large Jewish population, and Peter had gone there to evangelize and make disciples among them since his special calling was to the Jews, as Paul's had been to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:7). Some have speculated that Babylon was a mystical name for Rome, but no basis exists for this idea, with no indication that Peter had ever been there. Paul wrote a letter to Rome about this same time and had no hesitancy in calling the city by name (Romans 1:7). (Defender's Study Bible) J
Isaías 13
Morris - The Revelation Record) The current situation in regard to the literal city of Babylon reminds us of the position of many earlier interpreters concerning the predictions of the OT in regard to Israel. Prior to her reestablishment in 1948, it was difficult for many to believe that unfulfilled passages concerning a people who had been dispersed for nearly 2,000 years could ever be taken in a literal fashion as pertaining to a physical nation yet future. Today, we thrill to read those interpreters who held to a literal understanding of Israel over the many years when Israel seemed but a dusty recollection of history. May we be found among a similar cadre of interpreters in our own time concerning the city of Babylon! (See topics defending the interpretation that "Babylon is Babylon": Old Testament Context; A Literal City; Back to Shinar) As noted above, the most concentrated use of the name Babylon in the New Testament is found in the book of the Revelation (Rev 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21). It behooves the diligent Berean (Acts 17:11) student to observe these uses, paying careful attention to the uses in Revelation 17 and Revelation 18. You might want to take a moment to read those chapters before you look at the chart below which compares those two chapters. IDENTITY OF BABYLON REVELATION 17 & 18 Revelation 17 Revelation 18 THE DESIGNATION The name is the same BABYLON THE GREAT Rev 17:5-note Babylon the great Rev 18:2-note Babylon the great The identity is the same THE GREAT CITY Rev 17:18-note The woman is the great city Rev 18:10-note Woe, woe, the great city THE DESCRIPTION The "clothing" is the same PURPLE & SCARLET Rev 17:4-note the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold and clothed in fine linen and precious stones and pearls Rev 18:16-note Woe, woe, the great city, she who was purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls Both hold a CUP Rev 17:4-note Having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations Rev 18:6-note In the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her THE DEEDS Relationship to kings' acts is the same COMMITTED IMMORALITY Rev 17:2-note With whom the kings of the earth committed of immorality Rev 18:3-note And the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her Relationship to the nations is the same DRUNK WITH IMMORALITY Rev 17:2-note Those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality Rev 18:3-note For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality Relationship to believers is the same BLOOD Rev 17:6-note And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus Rev 18:24-note And in her was found the blood of...saints and of all who have been slain on the earth THE DESTRUCTION Means of destruction is the same FIRE Rev 17:16-note These will hate the harlot… and will burn her up with fire Rev 18:8-note She will be burned up with fire Source of destruction is the same GOD Rev 17:17-note For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose Rev 18:5,8 God has remembered her iniquities…for the Lord God Who judges her is strong THE CONCLUSION "Babylon" in Revelation 17 and 18 describes the same literal city Comment: Notice how the metaphor or symbol of a "woman" is not left to your imagination but is specifically stated to be "the great city" in Rev 17:18-note. The allegorical interpretation of this passage began in the second century AD and has been promulgated and passed down from one generation of commentators to another. The challenge and difficulty for the diligent student of Scripture to disregard what they have been taught regarding Revelation 17 and 18 and to objectively interpret the passages with a normative, literal reading, paying careful attention to the context and comparing Scripture with Scripture (Revelation 17, Revelation 18, Isaiah 13). When one is prayerfully allows the Spirit to illuminate the text using these simple guidelines, there is little doubt that these two chapters describe a great literal city of Babylon that will exist in the end times. This is the same Babylon which will finally and fully fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah 13 of a great city which God will make a desolation and from which God will exterminate...sinners (Isaiah 13:8) Other Resources that Discuss the literal City of Babylon in the end times: Watch the question/answer session I recorded on the Identity of Babylon Part 1 What is the Identity of "Babylon" in Revelation 17-18? Andy Woods (excellent) Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17-18 - comparison of Scriptural similarities The Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17-18 Pt 1- BSac 144:575 - Dr C. Dyer The Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17-18 Pt 2- BSac 144:576 - Dr C. Dyer Joel Rosenberg wrote the following article in 2009... Largely overlooked by the Western news media...was an enormously significant story. The government of Iraq is moving forward with plans to protect the archaeological remains of the ancient City of Babylon, in preparation for building a modern city of Babylon. The project, originally started by the late Saddam Hussein, is aimed eventually at attracting scores of "cultural tourists" from all over the world to see the glories of Mesopotamia's most famous city. What's more, the Obama Administration is contributing $700,000 towards "The Future of Babylon Project," through the State Department's budget. Officials hope Babylon can be revived and made ready for a rich future of tourism, with help from experts at the World Monuments Fund (WMF) and the U.S. embassy," reports the Reuters news agency. "'The Future of Babylon' project launched last month seeks to 'map the current conditions of Babylon and develop a master plan for its conservation, study and tourism,' the WMF says. 'We don't know how long it will take to reopen to tourists,' said Mariam Omran Musa, head of a government inspection team based at the site. 'It depends on funds. I hope that Babylon can be reborn in a better image.' The Bible prophecies in Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Revelation that indicate the ancient city of Babylon in Iraq will, in fact, be rebuilt in the "last days" of history and become the wealthiest and most powerful city on the face of the planet....Iraqi Finance Minister Ali Abdul Ameer Allawi told me in 2006 at the peak of the insurgency... Cultural, religious, archaeological, and biblical tourism is a big opportunity for Iraq. I think rebuilding Babylon is a wonderful idea, as long as it is not done at the expense of the antiquities themselves. The rebuilding of Babylon (seems) like a far-fetched idea....But skeptics and cynics take note: now that the insurgency is dying down, the Shia-led government of Iraq is actually moving forward with this historic and prophetic project. They say Babylon will be "reborn." And they're right. It will be. (See related article by Joel Rosenberg - Is Babylon once again rising from the ashes?) Isaiah 13:2 Lift up a standard on the bare hill, raise your voice to them, wave the hand that they may enter the doors of the nobles.: Lift up: Isa 5:26 11:12 18:3 Jer 50:2 51:27,28 Hill: Jer 51:25) Wave: Isa 10:32 11:15 Enter: Isa 45:1-3 Jer 51:58) Remember that Jehovah is speaking in this section. Lift up (05375) (nasa') means to lift up literally or figuratively, to bear or carry (especially the guilt of sin - Ge 4:13, Lev 5:1, 17, Nu 5:31, Lev 16:22 scapegoat = "bear") and finally to take or to take away (as in forgiveness - Ex 34:7, Nu 14:18, Mic 7:18) On the bare hill - A lofty, conspicuous spot which could easily seen by the army. Standard (signal) (05251)(nec/nes) generally refers to a rallying point or standard the purpose of which was to draw people (soldiers) together for some common action for communication of important information (war). People would rally together around a nec for various purposes, one of the most important being the gathering of troops for war. We have already seen nec used in Isaiah 5:26 where it pictures God raising a standard among the nations, signaling Assyrian warriors to muster against sinful Israel. As in the present passage, the standard was usually raised on a mountain or other high place (Isa13:2; 18:3; 30:17). Isaiah 11:10 (cp Isa 11:12) personifies nec describing Israel's Messianic King to be lifted up (compare Jn3:14; Php 2:9) so that all men might rally around Him. Nec - 21v in the NAS - NAS = banner(2), distinguishing mark(1), sail(1), signal(4), standard(12), warning(1). Ex 17:15; Nu 21:8, 9; 26:10; Ps 60:4; Isa 5:26; 11:10, 12; 13:2; 18:3; 30:17; 31:9; 33:23; 49:22; 62:10; Jer 4:6, 21; 50:2; 51:12, 27; Ezek 27:7. Nobles - These are those in power who will overtaken and destroyed in the Day of the LORD. Isaiah 13:3 I have commanded My consecrated ones, I have even called My mighty warriors, My proudly exulting ones, to execute My anger.: I have commanded: Isa 23:11 44:27,28 45:4,5 Jer 50:21-46 Mighty: Jer 51:20-24 Joe 3:11 Rev 17:12-18 My proudly: Ezr 1:1-11 6:1-22 7:12-26 Ps 149:2,5-9 Rev 18:4-8,20-24 19:1-7 EL ELYON: THE MOST HIGH GOD SOVEREIGN OVER THE NATIONS I have commanded - This pronoun is emphatic, indicating that it is Jehovah Who is speaking. As we begin Isaiah 13-27 which deals primarily with specific judgments against the Gentile Nations, it behooves us to remember that the Sovereign and Supreme God is in complete control of the rise and fall of all nations (America, are you listening? And beloved child of God, what is there in your life over which you think He has no control or even no interest? Remember He is near [Heb 13:5, 6-note] and He is in control and able to control = Omnipotent!). (Daniel speaking to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon) O king, and this is the decree of the Most High (See study of El Elyon: Most High God - Sovereign Over All), which has come upon my lord the king: that you be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and seven periods of time (seven years) will pass over you, until (When doing your inductive Bible study , always take note this important expression of time) you recognize that The MOST HIGH is Ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever He wishes. (Daniel 4:24, 25) (Daniel continues) "While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from heaven, saying, 'King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the beasts of the field. You will be given grass to eat like cattle, and seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever He wishes.' (Daniel 4:31, 32) (Listen to Daniel's prayer prompted by God's revelation of King Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2) Daniel answered and said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, (Why?) for (term of explanation) wisdom and power belong to Him. And it is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. (Daniel 2:20, 21 22) He (The Sovereign, Omnipotent God) made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined (prostasso = issued an "official directive" or command testifying to God's providential care and supervision of history [All "history" is His-story!]. Prostasso is in the perfect tense = God issued this order at some point in time in the past and it stands or remains in place.) their appointed times ("Allotted periods", "Epochs" - See study of kairos), and the boundaries of their habitation, (Why?) that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope (pselaphao = feel around for something as those who is spiritually blind seek to know God through natural and moral revelation apart from special revelation [The Bible - the Word of God]. Pagans struggle to know God but conscience alone is not enough!) for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His offspring.' (Acts 17:26, 27, 28) I have commanded - The sovereign God issues this command underscoring the fact that He is in control of all the events on earth. How does this interact with free will? This is a mystery but both doctrines are true, whether I can understand them or not and even whether I believe them or not! TRUE HOLY WAR ORDAINED BY THE HOLY ONE Consecrated (06942)(qadash) means to set apart for a specific use. In the present context qadash has no moral connotation and thus does not refer to believers, for the Medo-Persians did not believe in Jehovah God. Nevertheless they were set apart by the Holy God to do His holy work and execute His good and acceptable and perfect will, much like an inanimate vessel might be set apart for some religious purpose. My consecrated ones - In context this refers to the Medes (Isa 13:17), whom God ordained to overthrow Babylon in 539 BC (Da 5:30,31). While the Babylonians were feasting and mocking God, the Persians were entering the city through the channel of the Euphrates River, which they had diverted. As a result the Persian caught the Babylonians completely unprepared, for they were so vainly confident that their great walls could not be breached by any enemy. In a sense they were correct. The Persians didn't go over the walls but entered under the walls! As the ESV Study Bible says "The enemies of Babylon do not consecrate themselves to God; he consecrates them to His own purpose. (cf. Isa 10:5–15; 45:1).: My proudly exulting ones - Literally "My exulting ones of arrogance." As Motyer says "These warriors exult in their own self-confident arrogance but (unknown to themselves) they have been claimed by the Lord for his purposes." I have even called My mighty warriors - God is sovereign, even though men are responsible. It is a mystery. The army referred to in these verses is clearly God’s because He said He summoned His warriors to carry out His anger against Babylon; that is, they would do His bidding. This army was a great multitude.... like an amassing of entire nations. Coming for war they would assemble from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens. This is not a specific geographical description as much as a way of saying that his great army would include soldiers from many places. Though Isaiah was writing about the military strife in his day, a similar mustering of vast armies will occur just before the millennial kingdom (Rev. 17:12-16-note). Mighty warriors (01368)(gibbor cp related verb gabar = be strong, accomplish, excel, prevail) is from a root which is commonly associated with warfare and has to do with the strength and vitality of the successful warrior. And thus this adjective means powerful, strong, brave, mighty. Warrior. Hero. Mighty man (cp "mighty [gibbor] men of David" - 2Sa 23:8). Vine writes that "In the context of battle, the word is better understood to refer to the category of warriors. The gibbor is the proven warrior (eg "valiant warriors [gibbor]" Josh 1:14)." To execute My anger - These consecrated ones are God's instrument in the day of vengeance and righteous wrath of the Holy God. Anger (nose, nostril, wrath) (0639) aph from anaph = to breathe hard, to be angry) is a masculine noun meaning nose, nostril, snout (pigs - Pr 11:22), face (2Sa 25:23) and anger. Swanson on why aph describes anger - anger, wrath, resentment, formally, nose, i.e., have a strong feeling of displeasure over a person or a situation, as a figurative extension of the nose as an area that can change color when blood rushes to it while one is angry. Isaiah 13:4 A sound of tumult on the mountains, like that of many people! A sound of the uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathered together! The LORD of hosts is mustering the army for battle.: Sound: Isa 22:1-9 Jer 50:2,3,21-46 51:11,27,28 Eze 38:3-23 Joe 3:14 Zec 14:1-3,13,14 Rev 19:11-21 Like: Joe 2:4-11 Rev 9:7-19 Lord: Isa 10:5,6 45:1,2 Jer 50:14,15 51:6-25 Joe 2:1-11,25 Rev 18:8) NATIONS GATHERED BY GOD FOR BATTLE Though Isaiah was writing about the military action that would be carried out by the Medes against the Babylonians in his day, this passage looks forward to another mustering of vast armies that will occur just before the return of Christ to establish His millennial kingdom (Rev 16:12-16-note). In Rev 17:12ff-note we see a description of the 10 kings and beast (Antichrist) that will hate the harlot (the rebuilt city of Babylon) turning on her, making her desolate, eating her flesh and burning her up with fire. A sound of tumult on the mountains - See Joel's similar description (Joel 2:2, 5) of the Day of the LORD. Motyer on tumult on the mountains - Mountains: historically, Jerusalem often heard the sound of gathering forces on the hills around. This is the picture here: it will be pre-eminently the case on the Last Day (Ed: Aka "the Day of the LORD") (Ezek. 38:14-23). Like that of many people - See terms of comparison = simile Of nations gathered together - As discussed more fully below, this description is related to the specific time known as the Day of the Lord (Isaiah 13:6). This cannot refer only to the historic defeat of Babylon by the Medes, because this passage indicates more than one nation is gathered for battle. While one cannot be dogmatic about the "gathering" of the nations for battle, we know that John describes the greatest gathering of the nations in the history of the world in the Revelation... And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon (Armageddon). (Rev 16:16-click for notes and a picture of Megiddo) Comment: Note that Armageddon is commonly referred to as a battle, but that is actually not an accurate designation. Armageddon is the place in Israel where the demon spirits will gather the nations of the world in preparation for the battle most likely in the Valley of Jehoshaphat (see Joel 3:14-commentary). LORD of hosts - See study of Jehovah Sabaoth, LORD of armies. Muster (06485) (paqad) in this context means to draw up troops for marching or for battle. This verb includes the ideas of counting, numbering, listing, recording. Muster in English = the act of assembling troops for formal military inspection and preparation for duty (war). The LORD of hosts is mustering the army for battle - Isaiah again emphasizes that even in the midst of the chaotic sounds of coming war, God is in total control and it is He Who is mustering the armies. Army (06635)(tsaba) from tsaba = to go forth to war, to wage war, to serve) is a masculine noun meaning troops or army (2Ki 5:1) and so has to do with war or warfare in many of the OT passages. The TWOT says the root verb tsaba "has to do with fighting, e.g. Israel warring against Midian (Nu 31:7). It has also a wider use in the sense of rendering service." And so in a group of uses in Numbers (Nu 4:3, 23, 30, 35, 39, 43, 8:24-25) tsaba has to do with service related to the Tent of Meeting (or Tabernacle). So one might say tsaba is used in contexts of warfare or worship! Tony
Isaías 13
Morris - Tyre was a great city of the Phoenicians, noted as the home port of a great fleet of merchant ships. Its decline and eventual destruction were foretold by both Isaiah and, much later, Ezekiel 26-28. Criswell - Tyre, one of the most famous cities of the ancient world, was known for its mariners. It may symbolize the international trade and commerce whose leaders do not seek to serve God or humanity, but seek only the selfish accumulation of wealth.) Isaiah 52:5 "Now therefore, what do I have here," declares the LORD, "seeing that My people have been taken away without cause?" Again the LORD declares, "Those who rule over them howl, and My name is continually blasphemed all day long. Isaiah 65:14 "Behold, My servants will shout joyfully with a glad heart, But you will cry out with a heavy heart, And you will wail with a broken spirit. Jeremiah 4:8 "For this, put on sackcloth, Lament and wail; For the fierce anger of the LORD Has not turned back from us." Jeremiah 25:34 "Wail, you shepherds, and cry; And wallow in ashes, you masters of the flock; For the days of your slaughter and your dispersions have come, And you will fall like a choice vessel. Jeremiah 47:2 Thus says the LORD: "Behold, waters are going to rise from the north And become an overflowing torrent, And overflow the land and all its fullness, The city and those who live in it; And the men will cry out, And every inhabitant of the land will wail. Jeremiah 48:20 "Moab has been put to shame, for it has been shattered. Wail and cry out; Declare by the Arnon That Moab has been destroyed. 31 "Therefore I will wail for Moab, Even for all Moab will I cry out; I will moan for the men of Kir-heres. 39 "How shattered it is! How they have wailed! How Moab has turned his back-- he is ashamed! So Moab will become a laughingstock and an object of terror to all around him." Jeremiah 49:3 "Wail, O Heshbon, for Ai has been destroyed! Cry out, O daughters of Rabbah, Gird yourselves with sackcloth and lament, And rush back and forth inside the walls; For Malcam will go into exile Together with his priests and his princes. Jeremiah 51:8 Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; Wail over her! Bring balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed. Comment - Cyrus did not destroy her suddenly! Jeremiah’s prophecy in chap50,51 focuses on the suddenness of Babylon’s destruction. However, this was not the case when Babylon fell to the Medes and Persians. Rather than destroying Babylon, Cyrus helped rebuild portions of the city that were in a state of decay. In fact the city was made a provincial capital in the Persian Empire. The actual destruction of the city was a gradual process over several centuries. Ezekiel 21:12 "Cry out and wail, son of man; for it is against My people, it is against all the officials of Israel. They are delivered over to the sword with My people, therefore strike your thigh (= physical action = part of an expression of grief. cp Jer 31:19). Ezekiel 30:2 "Son of man, prophesy and say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Wail, 'Alas for the day!' Comment: In Ezek 30:1-9 the DAY OF THE LORD has a DISTANT fulfillment, and in Ezek 30:10 on it has a NEAR fulfillment. Hosea 7:14 And they do not cry to Me from their heart When they wail on their beds; For the sake of grain and new wine they assemble themselves, They turn away from Me. Joel 1:5 Awake, drunkards, and weep; And wail, all you wine drinkers, On account of the sweet wine That is cut off from your mouth. 11 Be ashamed, O farmers, Wail, O vinedressers, For the wheat and the barley; Because the harvest of the field is destroyed. 13 Gird yourselves with sackcloth And lament, O priests; Wail, O ministers of the altar! Come, spend the night in sackcloth O ministers of my God, For the grain offering and the drink offering Are withheld from the house of your God. Amos 8:3 "The songs of the palace will turn to wailing in that day," declares the Lord GOD. "Many will be the corpses; in every place they will cast them forth in silence." Micah 1:8 Because of this I must lament and wail, I must go barefoot and naked; I must make a lament like the jackals And a mourning like the ostriches. Zephaniah 1:11 "Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar, For all the people of Canaan will be silenced; All who weigh out silver will be cut off. Zechariah 11:2 Wail, O cypress, for the cedar has fallen, Because the glorious trees have been destroyed; Wail, O oaks of Bashan, For the impenetrable forest has come down. Related Resources: Day of the Lord Isaiah 2:11 Commentary Is near - Beloved, let us seek to continually ponder this time phrase, so that we might live in the light of the nearness of the return of the LORD (Second Coming), and might make daily choices to discipline ourselves for godliness (1Ti 4:7, 8-note). Why? Because in the light of the "length" of eternity, the Day of the LORD is always near, and each passing day brings it even nearer! Near speaks of Imminent/Imminency. We see a parallel in Ezekiel although this passage has a near fulfillment in the Babylonian invasion of Egypt (Ezek 30:5), which is a foreshadowing of the final (eschatological) Day of the LORD when He comes to pour out His righteous wrath on all the godless Gentile nations... "For the day is near, Even the day of the LORD is near (qarob); It will be a day of clouds, A time of doom for the nations. (Ezekiel 30:3) Three times in Joel the Day of the LORD is described as being near... Joel 1:15-note Alas for the day! For the day of the LORD is near, And it will come as destruction from the Almighty. Joel 2:1-note Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near, Joel 3:14-note Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. Other prophets also warn that this dread Day is near.. Obadiah 1:15 “For the day of the LORD draws near on all the nations. As you have done, it will be done to you. Your dealings will return on your own head. Zephaniah 1:7 Be silent before the Lord GOD! For the day of the LORD is near, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice, He has consecrated His guests. Zephaniah 1:14 Near is the great day of the LORD, Near and coming very quickly; Listen, the day of the LORD! In it the warrior cries out bitterly. Amos 6:3 This time expression in Isaiah reminds us of John's (and his record of Jesus') words of the end times in the Revelation... Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Rev 1:3-note) (Jesus) 'I am coming quickly; hold fast (present imperative - Keep on holding fast - make the choice daily to hold fast. Enabled by grace and the indwelling Spirit, make this your lifestyle in a world that is rapidly going in the opposite direction!) what you have, in order that no one take your crown. (Rev 3:11-note) And he said to me, "These words are faithful and true"; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must (not "may" but must!) shortly take place. (Jesus now speaks) "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds (Beloved, we must not just hear with our ears, but heed with our hearts!) the words of the prophecy of this book." (Rev 22:6-note, Rev 22:7-note) (Jesus) "Behold, I am coming quickly (Note how Jesus repeats this truth for emphasis to those who have ears to hear!), and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (Rev 22:12-note, Rev 22:13-note) Near (close, soon) (07138)(qarob from the verb qarab = to come near) is an adjective meaning near, close by, closely related. Qarob refers to nearness in time or space: something is about to happen, is near at hand, e.g., judgment, calamity (Dt. 32:35) or something that is not near at hand, referring to its prophetic fulfillment as in Balaam's prophecy "I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob." (Nu 24:17). In this passage qarob conveys the sense of Imminent/Imminency. A day of destruction - The Hebrew word for destruction shod conveys the primary sense of that which is destroyed by violence. Hosea prophesied to the northern kingdom using this same verb in explaining God's reason for their destruction (Hos 7:13) Destruction (devastation, violence)(07701)(shod from shadad = to deal violently with, despoil, devastate, ruin) is a masculine noun meaning violence, destruction, desolation, robbery, spoil, wasting. The primary meaning of shod is violence or destruction and is used to describe an "act of violence or oppression." In Job the idea is not to fear coming violence - "And you will not be afraid of violence when it comes" (Job 5:21). Shod is used in Ps 12:5 to designate a reason for God's arising to protect the weak. Isaiah weeps over Israel (reminiscent of Jesus' words in Mt 23:37, Lk 13:34-note) - "Therefore I say, “Turn your eyes away from me, Let me weep bitterly, Do not try to comfort me concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.” (Isa. 22:4). Shod was also used by Jeremiah and Amos to describe violence and havoc as social sins (Jer 6:7; Amos 3:10). The primary meaning of destruction was used by Hosea and here by Joel to express God's reason for the coming Day of the LORD which will bring destruction on His Chosen People (Hos. 7:13 = "Woe to them, for they have strayed from Me! Destruction is theirs, for they have rebelled against Me! I would redeem them, but they speak lies against Me."). Oswalt rightly observes that "It is a day when human strength will be helpless, when creation itself will tremble, when the almost boundless capacity for human cruelty will be unleashed." Motyer sums up the Day of the LORD - The Day’ is the culmination and termination of history. Step by step Isaiah depicts its seven aspects: it is the Day when the Lord implements his wrath (Isa 11:2–3), marked by worldwide mutual destruction (Isa 11:4–5) from which there is no defense (Isa 11:6–8); it is cosmic in its effect (Isa 11:9–10), moral in its motivation (Isa 11:11); it reverses the work of creation (Isa 11:12–13); there is no escape, only horrific suffering (Isa 11:14–16). It will come as destruction from the Almighty - There is no question of Who is bringing this time of great destruction on the world. Only God could deliver such a blow. The Almighty (Shaddai - see related study EL Shaddai - God Almighty) is the One Who initiates and carries out this devastating day. Day of the LORD - Is 2:11, 12, Is 2:20, 21, Is 13:6, 13:9, 34:8, 61:2 Jeremiah 30:7, 46:10 Ezekiel 13:5, 30:3 Joel 1:15, 2:1, 11, 31, 3:14 Amos 5:18, 20 Obadiah 1:15 Zeph 1:7,1:8,14, 15, 18, 2:2, 3 Zech 14:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 Malachi 3:2, 4:5 John MacArthur on the Day of the Lord in the book of Joel - The theme of Joel is the Day of the Lord. It permeates all parts of Joel’s message, making it the most sustained treatment in the entire OT (Joel 1:15; 2:1; 2:11; 2:31; 3:14). The phrase is employed 19 times by 8 different OT authors (Isaiah 2:12; 13:6,9; Ezek. 13:5; 30:3; Joel 1:15; 2:1,11,31; 3:14; Amos 5:18 [2x], Amos 5:20; Obad. 1:15; Zeph. 1:7,14 [2x]; Zech. 14:1; Mal. 4:5). The phrase does not have reference to a chronological time period, but to a general period of wrath and judgment uniquely belonging to the Lord. It is exclusively the day which unveils His character—mighty, powerful, and holy, thus terrifying His enemies. The Day of the Lord does not always refer to an eschatological event; on occasion it has a near historical fulfillment, as seen in Ezekiel 13:5, where it speaks of the Babylonian conquest and destruction of Jerusalem. As is common in prophecy, the near fulfillment is an historic event upon which to comprehend the more distant, eschatological fulfillment. The Day of the Lord is frequently associated with seismic disturbances (e.g., Joel 2:1–11; Joel 2:31; Joel 3:16), violent weather (Ezekiel 13:5ff.), clouds and thick darkness (e.g., Joel 2:2; Zeph. 1:7ff.), cosmic upheaval (Joel 2:3,30), and as a “great and very terrible” (Joel 2:11) day that would “come as destruction from the Almighty” (Joel 1:15). The latter half of Joel depicts time subsequent to the Day of the Lord in terms of promise and hope. There will be a pouring out of the Spirit on all flesh, accompanied by prophetic utterances, dreams, visions (Joel 2:28,29), as well as the coming of Elijah, an epiphany bringing restoration and hope (Mal. 4:5,6). As a result of the Day of the Lord there will be physical blessings, fruitfulness, and prosperity (Joel 2:21ff.; Joel 3:16–21). It is a day when judgment is poured out on sinners that subsequently leads to blessings on the penitent, and reaffirmation of God’s covenant with His people. (Introduction to Joel) Day of the LORD in the NT - Acts 2:20 1Th 5:2 2Th 2:2,2:3,2:4 2Pe 3:10-note The day of the Lord is a familiar Old Testament image for the ultimate day of God’s judgment, His final day in court when He settles the injustices of the world. From the above Scriptural references (and others) one can piece together the following portrait of the Day of the Lord. Even a cursory study indicates that this day is not a reference to a single 24 day but to an extended period of time as illustrated in the diagram which will be explained below. Reginald E. Showers - The Day of the Lord refers to God's special interventions into the course of world events to judge His enemies, accomplish His purpose for history, and thereby demonstrate who He is--the sovereign God of the universe. (Maranatha, Our Lord Come. Bellmawr, NJ: The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, 1995, 38) The IVP Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms defines the Day of the LORD as A biblical phrase prevalent among OT prophets who pointed to a future event or era (not necessarily a single twenty-four-hour day) during which God would visit judgment on Israel or the world. The NT authors interpreted the phrase in a futuristic sense but saw in Jesus Christ the beginning of the fulfillment of the Day of the Lord. For believers in Christ the Day of the Lord is an anticipation of hope; for unbelievers it holds only judgment leading to damnation. (Grenz, S., et al. Page 34. Downers Grove, Ill. IVP) Richard Mayhue in his article on the Day of the Lord (DOL) explains that... The DOL is a biblical phrase used by God’s prophets to describe either the immediate future or the ultimate eschatological (Ed: eschatos = last - refers to prophesy) consummation. It is not a technical term in the sense that it always refers only to one event in God’s plan. It may designate a divinely-sent locust plague (Joel 1:15) or the providential fall of Babylon (Isa 13:6) or of Jerusalem (Zeph 1:14, 15, 18; 2:1); and in one given context it may describe first a judgment and then a corresponding deliverance (compare with the above prophecies Joel 3:14, 18 and Zeph 3:8, 11, 16; cf. also Obad 15, 17; Zech 14:1, 9, 10, 11). (from Payne, The Imminent Appearing of Christ) DOL is used to describe several events and is limited only by its mention in biblical revelation. Each appearance of DOL must be interpreted in its context to determine whether the prophet expected the immediate historical act of God or Yahweh’s ultimate eschatological visitation. (Ladd, The Presence of the Future, 74.) DOL is not bound to a definite time duration. It could last only for hours or it could continue for days. Only context can determine DOL longevity, and even then only general approximation can be made. (The Prophet’s Watchword Day of the Lord -- By Richard L. Mayhue Grace Theological Journal 6:2 Fall 1985) The Day of the Lord is so unique and significant that it is also referred to that day. As is often the case with Old Testament prophecy that day usually has a two fold fulfillment, near and future. For example in Isaiah that day is mentioned repeatedly, referring to a time of God's judgment, the near fulfillment usually (but read the context) predicting Babylon's coming conquest of Judah and the far future (but surely not far from where we are beloved, living in the 21st century!) similar to events before he second coming of Christ. If you are intrigued by "that day" I would encourage you to study the following 45 uses of the phrase that day in Isaiah, taking care to read the verse in context so that you might interpret the passage correctly as a few of the passages do not appear to refer directly to the day of the LORD. Enjoy! (Click for the 45 uses of that day in Isaiah). Below is a "sampling" of uses of that day from Isaiah to encourage you to take some time and study this important time period of God's "calendar"...may this awesome truth not just inform you but transform your innermost being so that if you are not living expectantly, you might, like the saints of Thessalonica, begin to eagerly look forward to the return of God's Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, Who delivers us from the wrath to come. (in the "Day of the LORD")" (1Th 1:10-note) Isaiah 2:11, 17, 20 11 The proud look of man will be abased, and the loftiness of man will be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 12 For the LORD of hosts will have a day of reckoning against everyone who is proud and lofty, And against everyone who is lifted up, that he may be abased. 17 And the pride of man will be humbled, and the loftiness of men will be abased, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. 20 In that day men will cast away to the moles and the bats their idols of silver and their idols of gold, which they made for themselves to worship In that day the Branch of the LORD (the Messiah) will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth will be the pride and the adornment of the survivors of Israel (the believing remnant of Jews - see below). Now it will come about in that day that the remnant of Israel (click discussion of remnant) ), and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them, but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. 21 A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. As an aside it is worth noting that Isaiah provides more information on the future Day of the Lord and the Millennial Kingdom than any other OT prophet and many of his descriptions are not found anywhere else in Scripture (see note Millennium 3) A TIMELINE OF THE DAY OF THE LORD Heaven & earth fled away (Rev 20:11-note) || V Pre-Tribulation Rapture The Tribulation 70th Week of Daniel (Da 9:27-note) (2) Day of Lord 2Pe 3:10-note > Great White < Throne (1a) Day of the Lord begins > Mid-Tribulation (1b) Day of Lord begins v 1000 Years The Millennial Reign of Christ (Rev 20:4,5,6-notes 4; 5; 6) New Heaven New Earth (Rev 21:1-note) 3.5 Years 3.5 Years When does the Day of the Lord begin? You will read descriptions in some commentaries that state the Day of the Lord follows the rapture of the church (1a) ("pre-tribulation rapture"- see discussion of when the rapture occurs) (1Th 4:13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18-see notes 1Th 4:13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18), the event which most evangelicals feel immediately precedes the last seven years of Seventy Weeks of Daniel, and is popularly known as the Tribulation, although nowhere in Scripture is this seventieth week of 7 years specifically designated "the Tribulation" (let me know if you find a passage that contradicts this conclusion - remember that "the Great Tribulation" only refers to the last three and one-half years of this seven year period). The alternative inception date is Mid-Tribulation (1b). First, we must understand the basic timing of this last "Seven Year Period" (Daniel's Seventieth Week) which can be divided into two 3.5 year segments, a conclusion based upon study of Da 9:27 (see notes). Daniel records the following prophecy he received from the angel Gabriel in answer to fervent prayer... And he (the Antichrist) will make a firm covenant with the many (the Jews/Israel) for one week (one seven year period), but in the middle of the week (after 3.5 years) he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering (in the rebuilt Jewish temple) and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate." (Da 9:27-note). The Lord Jesus quoted from Daniel 9 as He explained the timing of the events immediately preceding His triumphant return because He wanted the Jews (and all mankind) living during the tumultuous time of Daniel's Seventieth Week to have an easily identifiable event that would indubitably signal the beginning of the the Great Tribulation which represents the final outpouring of God's wrath during the last 3.5 years of the Seventieth Week of Daniel... Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION (referring to the Antichrist or some desecrating action he makes) which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet (reference to Da 9:27-note, also in Daniel 11:31, 12:11), standing in the holy place (indicates the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt, cf Re 11:1, 2-see notes Re 11:1; 11:2) (let the reader understand)...there will be a Great Tribulation, (a specific 3.5 year period synonymous with the "Time of Jacob's Distress" in Jer 30:7 - click other synonyms) such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever shall...but immediately after the tribulation (the Great Tribulation) of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken, and then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky (Sign = the Lord returning on the clouds), and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other." (Matthew 25:15-31) Now keeping in mind the timing of this dramatic event (the abomination of desolation) described by Daniel and Jesus, read Paul's second letter to the saints at Thessalonica where he addresses the false teaching that the persecution the Thessalonians were now experiencing was part of the great tribulation. He references the same crucial historical event as Daniel and Jesus in order to assure these fearful saints... Now we request (plead, implore, beg of) you, brethren, with regard to the coming (parousia) of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him (Paul links the coming with the gathering which is compatible with his description of the rapture in 1Th 4:13, 14-note, 1Th 4:15, 16-note, 1Th 4:17, 18-note), that you may not be quickly shaken from your composure (literally "mind") or be disturbed (frightened) (false teaching about the Rapture and the Day of the Lord appears to have had a devastating impact on the Thessalonian saints) either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy (a very specific presumably identifiable time of rebellion against God) comes first, and the man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) is revealed (apokalupto = literally has the veil removed exposing to open view what he had before hidden regarding his evil character. The aorist tense points to a definite time, a specific historical event), the son of destruction (apoleia = ruin not annihilation), who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God (which Jesus referred to as "standing in the holy place"), displaying himself as being God." (2Th 2:1, 2, 3, 4) When does Paul state that the Day of the Lord will begin? First, he says the apostasy will occur. Then he states when and where the man of lawlessness will be revealed. Specifically he states that the revelation of the Antichrist must precede the Day of the LORD. Although many favor the Day of the Lord beginning at point (1a) in the above diagram (after the pre-tribulation rapture), when one compare Scripture with Scripture, there is certainly support for considering the beginning for the Day of the Lord at the midpoint of the 7 Year period of Daniel (1b). Related Resources: More on the Day of the Lord Lecture on Revelation, part 4 The Day of the Lord by Jeff Miller The Day of the Lord by A C Gaebelein (1907) The Day of the Lord by Tony Garland When Does the Day of the Lord Dawn? by Tony Garland Day of the Lord charted with Other Prophetic Days - Clarence Larkin WHAT WILL THE DAY OF THE LORD LOOK LIKE? Summarizing some of the descriptions in the OT references, we see that this Day is coming, cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; and He will exterminate its sinners from it (Isaiah 13:9), "a day of vengeance, so as to avenge Himself on His foes...a slaughter for the Lord GOD of hosts" (Jeremiah 46:10), "a day of clouds, a time of doom for the nations" (Ezekiel 30:3), "near, and it will come as destruction from the Almighty" (Joel1:15), "surely it is near" (Joel 2:1), "great and very awesome, and who can endure it?" (Joel 2:11), "the great and awesome day" (Joel 2:31), "near in the valley of decision" (Joel 3:14), "It will be darkness and not light" (Amos 5:18), "even gloom with no brightness in it" (Amos 5:20), "(a day when) your dealings will return on your own head" (Obadiah 1:15), "near and coming very quickly...in it the warrior cries out bitterly, a day of wrath is that day, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness" (Zephaniah 1:14,15), "the day of the LORD'S wrath and all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, for He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, of all the inhabitants of the earth" (Zephaniah 1:18), "the day of the LORD'S anger" (Zephaniah 2:2), "His coming...is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap" (Malachi 3:2), "the great and terrible day" (Malachi 4:5), "will come just like a thief in the night" (1Thessalonians 5:2), "it will come about in that day that there will be no light; the luminaries will dwindle. For it will be a unique day which is known to the LORD, neither day nor night, but it will come about that at evening time there will be light. And it will come about in that day that living waters will flow out of Jerusalem, half of them toward the eastern sea and the other half toward the western sea; it will be in summer as well as in winter." (Zech 14:6, 7, 8) Notice that the Day of the Lord is frequently associated with seismic disturbances (Joel 2:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,11; 2:31; 3:16), violent weather (Ezekiel 13:5, 5, 7, 8), clouds and thick darkness (Joel 2:2; Zeph 1:7, 8, 9, 10), and cosmic upheaval (Joel 2:3,30). Joel tells us that as a result of the Day of the Lord there will also be physical blessings, fruitfulness, and prosperity (Joel 2:21, 22, 23, 24; 3:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21). In short the Day of the Lord results in judgment poured out upon sinners and blessings for repenters! This Day also brings about the fulfillment of all God's promises (especially to the promise of the Land - Ge 15:18) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, this fulfillment being consummated in the Millennial Kingdom on earth. To do away with the "millennium" as many do is to make it impossible for God to fulfill His Covenant with the remnant of believing Israel. The preceding Scriptures on the Day of the Lord are only a sampling of descriptions, beloved. This Day will be so awful that men's hands will hang limp, they will writhe like women in pain, their faces will be red hot because of what is happening. This day is the day when the wrath of God inextricably exterminates sinners and sin forever from earth in preparation for the new heavens and new earth in the Day of God. WHAT SHOULD BE OUR RESPONSE TO THE TRUTH ABOUT THE DAY OF THE LORD? The Day of the Lord is coming, and it will come suddenly and will be an awesome and terrible day. It is a day of gloom and of destruction from the Almighty. It is a day which includes Christ's Second Coming to defeat the Antichrist (Re 17:14-note, Rev 19:11, 12, 13, 14,1 5, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 - see notes Re 19:11ff) and to reign and rule on earth for 1000 years (Millennial Reign) as King of kings and as Lord of lords (Re 20:4, 5, 6-see notes Re 20:4; 5; 6). And finally Peter tells us that it is the day in which the world as we know it will finally and irrevocably come to an end. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. (2Peter 3:10-note, cp Rev 20:11-note "no place was found for them") On the basis of these awesome events Peter exhorts us... Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for (prosdokao in the present tense = continually as your lifestyle, with great anticipation and expectation) and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking (prosdokao in the present tense) for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for (prosdokao in the present tense) these things, be diligent (spoudazo; aorist imperative = Command issued with a sense of urgency!) to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless (2Pe 3:11, 12, 13-note; 2Pe 3:14-note) Comment: Note Peter's emphasis on "looking!" Notice also that Peter clearly teaches the study of prophecy is not simply to satisfy our curiosity for the sensational but to radically impact our lifestyle as God's Spirit gives us hearts to see the things of eternal importance (2Co 4:18-note). Beloved, what (Who = Jesus) you are looking for will (should) affect what (Who) you are living for! Those who enjoy studying prophecy should (theoretically) be the most holy and godly among us! And if they are not, their purpose for studying prophecy is misguided! Dear reader, if you are not a believer, let the doctrine of the Day of the Lord awaken in you a sense of urgency to Seek the LORD while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near (Isaiah 55:6). And as Isaiah records elsewhere (in the King James translation): Look unto me, and be ye saved, All the ends of the earth For I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22) Seek Christ's righteousness through faith in His atoning sinless sacrifice. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be rescued from eternal loss and separation. There will be no excuses in the Day of the Lord. No second chances. No bribing the Righteous Judge. SUMMARY OF DAY OF THE LORD IN ISAIAH Mayhue has an excellent summary of the Day of the Lord (DOL) in Isaiah... Isa 2:12 is the first mention of DOL in Isaiah’s prophecy. This chapter emphasizes the future establishment of God’s kingdom (Isa 2:2, 3, 4 ), the present sinful state of Israel (Isa 2:5, 6, 7, 8, 9), and the future day of reckoning (Isa 2:10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 ). The prophet appears to look beyond the near to the far future in the judgment emphasis of Isa 2:10-22 , just as he had looked to the eschatological kingdom in Isa 2:1-4. There are several indicators of millennial conditions in Isa 2:1-4 (cf. Rev 20:1-6). Mt. Zion will be the world capital and all the nations will come to it (Isa 2:1, 2) in order to seek God’s word (Isa 2:3). God will judge between the nations and war will be no more (Is 2:4,5). This eschatological emphasis in Isa 2:2, 3, 4 makes it reasonable to conclude that eschatological judgment is in view in Is 2:10-22 , rather than to God’s chastisement of Judah by Assyria and Babylon. DOL is described by Isaiah as a time of universal humiliation for all who are proud (Is 2:11, 12, 17). In contrast, the splendor of God’s majesty (Is 2:10, 19, 21 ) will be displayed and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day (Is 2:11, 17). Isaiah’s portrayals of DOL here should be interpreted as referring to that time immediately preceding the establishment of Christ’s kingdom on earth. It is a day when God’s majesty will be outwardly manifested (Is 2:10, 19, 21), and the population will be driven in terror to caves for protection (Is 2:21 , cf. Re 6:16, 17). The timing and terminology of Is 2:21 are strikingly similar to the description of the sixth seal in Re 6:16, 17. If these passages are correlated, it can be concluded that the sixth seal is a part of DOL and occurs at the end of the Tribulation. The correlation also confirms that Isa 2:12 refers to the far future. As will be noted later, Zec 14:1 and Mal 4:5 also emphasize only the far eschatological implications of DOL. Isaiah 13 is the next chapter to be considered. It is an oracle concerning Babylon. Is 13:1-8 deals with God’s use of Babylon as his instrument of indignation for the destruction of Israel (Is 13:5, 6 ). This reminds one of Habakkuk’s dismay that God would do such a thing (Hab 1:2, 3, 4). The DOL was near in the mind of Isaiah (Is 13:6), although it would not come for over one hundred years. It would be a day of destruction, terror, and pain (Is 13:8). There is little doubt that this refers to the near eschatological event fulfilled by Babylon from 605-586 B.C. However, there is good reason to believe that Isa 13:9-16 speaks of DOL implications for the far future. The near emphasis returns in Isa 13:17-22 where the end of Babylon is described. That the far future is described in 13:9-16 is shown by the cosmic disturbances (Isa 13:10, 13 ; cf. Matt 24:29; Rev 6:12, 13; Joel 2:31) and the universal judgment of mankind (Isa 13:11 ; cf. 2:11, 12 ). Ladd accurately describes the interplay of the near and far views: These two visitations, the near and the far, or, as we may for convenience call them, the historical and the eschatological, are not differentiated in time. In fact, sometimes the two blend together as though they were one day. Isaiah 13 calls the day of the visitation of Babylon the Day of the Lord. The Lord is mustering a host for battle (Isa 13:4-6), he will stir up the Medes against Babylon (Isa 13:17). Therefore, men are to “wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come!” (Isa 13:6). This historical Day of the Lord is painted against the backdrop of the eschatological Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord will bring disaster to the earth and a disruption of the heavenly order (Isa 13:9-13). Judgment will fall both upon the world of nature and upon men (Isa 13:7) when God punishes the world for its evil and the wicked for their iniquity (Isa 13:11). Here is a picture of universal judgment. The Day of the Lord is the eschatological judgment of mankind; but the two are seen as though they were one day, one visitation of God. Isa 13:6, 9 is therefore similar to other passages previously noted which portray the DOL in one context as both a near historical and a far eschatological happening. (The Prophet’s Watchword Day of the Lord -- By Richard L. Mayhue Grace Theological Journal 6:2 Fall 1985 ) Isaiah 13:7 Therefore all hands will fall limp, and every man's heart will melt.: All hands: Isa 10:3,4 37:27 51:20 Jer 50:43 Eze 7:17 21:7 Na 1:6 Every: Isa 19:1 Ex 15:15 Na 2:10 EXAMPLES OF HOW DREADFUL WILL BE THE DAY OF THE LORD All hands will fall limp - The hands emphasize the place where their human power resides. They will be demoralized from fear and astonishment at the divine judgments they are witnessing and experiencing! Before the unrestrained wrath of God men's hands will fall down utterly helpless, impotent and unable to resist the enemy. These descriptions paint a picture of destruction and terror which is almost unimaginable. Beloved, this should prompt in the heart of every believer a Spirit led boldness to share Christ with those in our sphere of influence, so that they might escape this dread day by placing their faith in "Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come." (1Th 1:10-note) Every man's heart will melt - Courage would vanish form their hearts (Isa 19:1; Ezek. 21:7; Nah. 2:10). In Shaddai's presence the mountains themselves dissolve (Ps 97:5; Isa 34:3; Mic 1:4) and the nations are powerless before Him (Nah 2:11; cf. Jud 15:14). Motyer - Hands...heart: the organs respectively of personal action and reflection. The terror of the Day brings total personal paralysis. (Vol. 20: Isaiah: An Introduction and Commentary. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press) Isaiah 13:8 They will be terrified. Pains and anguish will take hold of them. They will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look at one another in astonishment, their faces aflame.: Pains: Isa 21:3,4 26:17 Ps 48:5,6 Jer 30:6 50:43 Da 5:5,6 1Th 5:3 Faces aflame: Joel 2:6 Na 2:10 TERROR IN THE TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD Terrified...pains and anguish...writhe...astonishment...faces aflame - Observe how Isaiah piles up descriptions to try to convey the horror of the coming Day of the LORD. Terrified (0926)(bahal) means dismayed, disturbed, terrified. Bahal can also mean to hasten (2 Chr 26:20, Eccl 8:3). Bahal usually means to tremble inwardly, to become agitated, to palpitate, to make alarmed. In the first use in Ge 45:3, bahal describes the dismay (Lxx - tarasso) of Joseph's brothers when he revealed his true identity. Psalm 2:5 says God will "terrify them in His fury." (cf Ps 2:6). Bahal is used in the context of the terror of the Day of the LORD here in Isa 13:8 and in Zeph 1:18 where God says " will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth." The Septuagint (Lxx) translates bahal in Isaiah 13:8 with the verb tarasso which means to stir up, to trouble, to disturb with various emotions such as fear, to shake or agitate like water in a glass sharply jarred, to cause inward commotion, to take away his calmness of mind, to disturb one's equanimity (Mt 2:3) Gilbrant writes that bahal "describes the result of some terrifying event, something which impacts the emotional and reasoning capacity of people, also causing physical manifestation. For instance, in Job 21:6, thinking about his situation causes Job to shake. It is an experience that also strikes people in a corporate sense. Abner's death in Hebron terrified all Israel (2 Sam. 4:1). (See also Jer. 51:32; Pss. 48:6; 90:7; Ex. 15:15. In contexts where the word describes the result or consequence, the causes vary. For example, one can be terrified over supernatural manifestations. In 1 Sam. 28:21, the word described Saul's reaction to the episode with the witch at Endor. Saul was disturbed at his situation (28:15), but he became even more so when Samuel informed him of God's judgment on him. At this point, the witch came and found Saul "greatly disturbed." This usage is found in Psalm 6, where the word is used both for the plight of the Psalmist and his enemies. In v. 3, the psalmist was in anguish because of the pain of his bones. He calls on God to avenge him before his enemies. He prayed (v. 10) that they would be terrified. God is another cause for terror. In quite a number of references, people were afraid of, or terrified by, God. God in his wrath terrified the nations (Ps. 2:5; Exo. 15:15). "Terror" seized a person when God turned away his face (Ps. 30:7; 90:7; 104:29). In Job, humans are terrified of being placed in the hands of an arbitrary God (Job 4:5; 21:6; 23:15). Further, God brings "terror" on people as punishment/judgment. This punishment comes upon individuals (Job 22:10) and groups (Ps. 6:10) who are usually Israel's enemies (though the noun form is used for God's "terror" on Israel in a few places, e.g., Jer. 15:8). This judgment on Babylon, when seen and heard by the prophet, caused him to be terrified. Bahal is used with some frequency for the day of Yahweh—it will be sudden, unexpected, and terrible (e.g., Isa. 13:8; Zeph. 1:18). Bahal is used to describe terror or fear which came between people as well. For instance, in Gen. 45:3 Joseph's brothers were terrified of him when they discovered his identity. The position of Joseph, along with what they had done to him, caused this great anguish. "Terror" occurred when people were faced with great political, ethical, or social conflict. For example, it is the case when the Israelites in war turned on the Benjamites in Judg. 20:41 (cf. also Ezra 4:4; 2 Chr. 32:18; 2 Sam. 4:1). The verb in the wisdom texts takes on additional meanings. One of these refers to action that should not be rash or hasty, i.e., action that should be preceded by careful and thoughful reflection (Ecc. 5:1). Another meaning which takes on ethical overtones is in Ecc. 7:9, where it refers to a person who should hold his or her anger. (Complete Biblical Library Hebrew-English Dictionary) Bahal - 38x in 37v - dismayed(12), disturb(1), disturbed(2), eager(1), hastened(1), hastens(1), hastily(1), hasty(1), hurried(1), hurriedly(1), hurry(2), quickly(1), terrified(7), terrifies(1), terrify(3), terrifying(1), tremble(1). Gen. 45:3; Exod. 15:15; Jdg. 20:41; 1 Sam. 28:21; 2 Sam. 4:1; 2 Chr. 26:20; 2 Chr. 32:18; 2 Chr. 35:21; Est. 2:9; Est. 6:14; Est. 8:14; Job 4:5; Job 21:6; Job 22:10; Job 23:15; Job 23:16; Ps. 2:5; Ps. 6:2; Ps. 6:3; Ps. 6:10; Ps. 30:7; Ps. 48:5; Ps. 83:15; Ps. 83:17; Ps. 90:7; Ps. 104:29; Prov. 20:21; Prov. 28:22; Eccl. 7:9; Eccl. 8:3; Isa. 13:8; Isa. 21:3; Jer. 51:32; Ezek. 7:27; Ezek. 26:18; Dan. 11:44; Zeph. 1:18 All men will tremble inwardly when confronted with the Day of the LORD, which bring something unexpected, threatening and disastrous! This will be the reaction of all those who live as if the Day of the LORD will never occur. They will writhe like a woman in labor - Not a picture of fruitful labor pain but a picture of pain that leads to an inescapable outcome! The image of the woman in travail is used in Scripture to describe a time of judgment (Isa 21:3; 26:17; Jer 6:24; Micah 4:9–10; Mt. 24:8, where “sorrows” is “birth pains”; 1Th 5:3-note).(Isa. 21:3; 26:17; Jer. 4:31; 6:24; 13:21; 22:23; 30:6; 48:41; 49:22, 24; 50:43; Micah 4:9-10). Usually, it was the suffering of Israel, but here it pictured the misery of Babylon. They will look at one another in astonishment: be in consternation: be amazed, be astonished, marvel. The root meaning is "be astounded, dumbfounded, bewildered, " with an element of fear, whether because of an amazing or fearful sight or a terrifying sound. Frightening or bewildering events may cause people to look at each other in amazement (Ge 43:33) The historic fulfillment of this prophecy against Babylon is recorded by Daniel during the reign of Belshazzar... Suddenly the fingers of a man's hand emerged and began writing opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace, and the king saw the back of the hand that did the writing. Then the king's face grew pale, and his thoughts alarmed him; and his hip joints went slack, and his knees began knocking together. (Da 5:5, 6-note) Their faces aflame (Literally = their faces are faces of flames) - This Day will be so awful that men's faces will be flushed and red hot because of the events that occur in the Day of the LORD. They may also be flushed by the embarrassment at their sins against such a Holy God, although Jeremiah tells us hearts of men can become so callous that they even forget how to blush! (Jer 6:15, 8:12) Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD is coming, cruel, with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation; and He will exterminate its sinners from it.: Cruel: Isa 13:15-18 47:10-15 Jer 6:22,23 50:40-42 51:35-58 Na 1:2,6 Mal 4:1 Rev 17:16,17 18:8 19:17-21 He will: Ps 104:35 Pr 2:22) Behold (02009)(hinneh) is an interjection meaning behold, look, now; if. Hinneh generally directs our mind to the text, imploring the reader to give it special attention. In short, the Spirit is trying to arrest our attention! And so hinneh is used as an exclamation of vivid immediacy (e.g., read Ge 6:13)! . The idea is "listen closely" to the following description of the dreadful day.