These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- Burden of Tyre…
- TYRE [צֹר] – 42x in OT – was the greatest city of the PHOENICIAN empire [Lebanon]
- They were NOT a military power – they were a maritime ECONOMIC power…
- Trading from Egypt all the way to Spain [and perhaps even England]
- They would be a major economic power through FOUR kingdoms…
- Conquered by Assyria – Babylon – Greece – and Rome [Carthage]
- Destruction of Tyre…
- The nations who traded with TYRE could do NOTHING to help when the city fell…
- Tarshish [Spain] would wail – Sidon [sister city] would be silent – Egypt would be in pain…
- But it was God who chose to humble the once mighty city because of her PRIDE…
- God had made the RICH – and He had the power to take it away…
- But He would TEST them – by HUMBLING them for SEVENTY years [Babylon]
- Yet in the end they would return to their HARLOTRY [spiritually]
- They would NOT repent – so they would be DESTROYED – Matthew 11:21
- 1st – The Apocalypse… vs. 1-12
- 1st – The Tribulation… vs. 1-3
- Scattered… vs. 1
- Behold the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it waste.
- Distorts its surface and scatters abroad its inhabitants!
- Isaiah spent ELEVEN chapters giving the BURDENS [מַשָּׂא] of the nations…
- Addressing individual kingdoms – pronouncing JUDGMENT upon them…
- Even Jerusalem [Valley of Vision] was NOT exempt from wrath of God…
- But he now expands to address the whole EARTH [הָאָרֶץ]
- For the LORD will make the earth EMPTY – and DEVASTATED…
- He will TWIST [piel] the earth – so that all those who live there are SCATTERED [hiphil]!
- Isaiah is now looking forward to the Day of the LORD…
- The TIME leading up the RETURN and Jesus – and JUDGEMENT of the whole world…
- We call it the APOCALYPSE [ἀποκάλυψις] or REVELATION of Jesus Christ!
- Matthew 24:21 – “There will be great tribulation such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time – nor ever shall be.”
- Everyone… vs. 2
- It shall be: as with the people so with the priest. As with the servant so with his master.
- As with the maid so with her mistress. As with the buyer so with the seller.
- As with the lender so with the borrower. As with the creditor so with the debtor!
- [Sequential] – in the Day of the LORD it will be [וְהָיָה]
- What happens to the PEOPLE – will also happen to the PRIEST [כֹּהֵן]
- What happens to the SERVANT [male and female] – will also happen to their MASTERS [אדֹנָי]
- What happens to the LENDER – will also happen to the BORROWER [3x ways emphasis]
- If we were to RANK those who are successful in this life…
- We would put the PRIEST above the lay person – the MASTER above the servant…
- We would certainly put the LENDER above the one who borrowed…
- But in the Day of the LORD it will make NO difference – EVERYONE will be JUDGED!
- There are different views about the timing of the Day of the Lord…
- POST – the church is RAPTURED after the SEVEN years of Tribulation…
- But the RAPTURE will happen like a THIEF in the night – I Thessalonian 5:2
- And we can count 3.5 YEARS – from the Abomination of desolation – Daniel 9:27
- Or 42 MONTHS – Revelation 13:5 – or 1260 DAYS – Revelation 12:6
- Therefore we would KNOW the exact day the RAPTURE of the church would take place!
- MID – we are RAPTURED in the MIDDLE – at the SEVENTH trumpet – I Thessalonians 4:16
- But the WRATH of God is NOT limited to certain people [everyone is effected]
- And it is NOT limited to the last 3.5 years of the Tribulation…
- One quarter of the earth dies with the first FOUR seals [four horsemen] – Revelation 6:8
- By the time SIXTH trumpet is blown – 50% of the world has perished – Revelation 9:15
- Therefore we will NOT be here – even for the first 3.5 years of WRATH!
- I Thessalonians 1:10 – “Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
- Spoken… vs. 3
- The land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered for the LORD has spoken this word!
- The EARTH [הָאָרֶץ] will be completely [niphal] EMPTIED [2x for emphasis]
- And the EARTH [הָאָרֶץ] will be completely [niphal] PLUNDERED [2x for emphasis]
- The reason is because [כִּי] the LORD had spoken [perfect] this WORD [singular]!
- The conclusion of the Day of the LORD – will be the JUDGEMENT of every man…
- The earth will be EMPTIED – every person GATHERED [plunder]
- So that they can stand before the JUDGEMENT seat of Christ – Revelation 20:12
- How the story ENDS is NOT a secret – the LORD has given us His WORD [singular]
- We know that one day we will ALL have to stand before the JUDGEMENT seat…
- But there are TWO options as to HOW we will be JUDGED…
- We can come before the BEMA [βῆμα] seat of Christ – and receive eternal life with God…
- Or we will come before the JUDGEMENT seat of Christ – and be cast from His presence!
- I Peter 4:5 – “[We] will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead!”
- 2nd – The reason… vs. 4-6
- Pride… vs. 4
- The earth mourns and fades away. The world languishes and fades away.
- The haughty people of the earth languish!
- The EARTH [הָאָרֶץ] will MOURN as it FADES away…
- Those in the WORLD [תֵּבֵל] – will become very [pual] WEAK…
- The HIGH [arrogant] people – will become very [pual] WEAK!
- If you asked me to SKY dive – I could sound BRAVE as long as my feet were on the ground…
- But once I was THOUSANDS of feet in the air my confidence would fade!
- When we stand before the JUDGEMENT seat – there is NO pride…
- Men who were so ARROGANT on earth – will suddenly become WEAK…
- They will be SILENT as they kneel before their Maker – Matthew 22:12
- Defiled… vs. 5
- The earth is also defiled under its inhabitants because they have transgressed the laws.
- Changed the ordinance. Broken the everlasting covenant!
- The ARROGANT people will be WEAK…
- Because as they stand before the JUDGE of the earth [Jesus] – John 5:22
- They know they are GUILTY of POLLUTING the earth [three ways]
- FIRST – [כִּי] Because they SINNED against the LAWS [תוֹרֹת] of God…
- People are GUILTY because they have passed by [עָבַר] the LAW…
- God gave us the STANDARD and they IGNORED it – Galatians 3:24
- SECOND – they CHANGED the statutes [חֹק]
- Those who did LISTEN to the LAW still did NOT obey it…
- They tried to CHANGE it to match their LIFESTYLE – Isaiah 5:20
- THIRD – they BROKE the everlasting PROMISE [בְּרִית]
- There are several everlasting COVENANTS [promises] in the Old Testament…
- But this is likely the COVENANT given to Abraham [3x] – Genesis 17
- The promise to CUT away the sinful nature [circumcision] – live for God – Colossians 2:11
- People have NOT changed – they still POLLUTE the earth the same way today…
- Some try and IGNORE the rules – act as if there is NO judgement…
- Others try and CHANGE the rules – to make themselves look good…
- But the problem is people have NOT cut off their sinful nature!
- Cursed… vs. 6
- Therefore the curse has devoured the earth and those who dwell in it are desolate.
- Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men are left!
- Therefore [כֵּן] – there are under the CURSE that has consumed the earth…
- We were all born into SIN – we all have the CURSE of Adam- Romans 5:12
- And [sequential] those who DWELL on the earth are GUILTY [אָשַׁם]
- Therefore [כֵּן] – those who DWELL on the earth will be BURNED [second death]
- And there are going to be VERY few men who are left!
- Galatians 3:13 – “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.”
- Only through Jesus can we escape the CURSE…
- But very FEW people are willing to turn to Christ…
- Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life – and FEW there are who find it – Matthew 7:14
- 3rd – The end… cs. 7-12
- Of parties… vs. 7-9
- The new wine fails – the vine languishes. All the merry-hearted sigh.
- The mirth of the tambourine ceases. The noise of the jubilant ends. The joy of the harp ceases.
- They shall not drink wine with a song. Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it!
- The VINES will wither [pual] – and there will be NO wine…
- Making [niphal] those who look to alcohol to have fun GROAN…
- All of the fun MUSIC [tambourine and harp] will come to an END…
- There will be no more DRINKING to the music – not even HARD liquor!
- Many people try and live by the POWER of alcohol to get through the day…
- They drink to forget their PROBLEMS – they drink so they can LAUGH and have FUN…
- But ALCOHOL is NOT the answer – being DRUNK cannot SAVE [ἀσωτία] us…
- We would be better to use our time to be FILLED with the SPIRIT!
- Ephesians 5:18 – “Do not be drunk with wine which [cannot save] – be filled with the Spirit.”
- Of cities… vs. 10-12
- The city of confusion is broken down. Every house is shut up so that none may go in.
- There is a cry for wine in the streets. All joy is darkened – the mirth of the land is gone.
- In the city desolation is left – and the gate is stricken with destruction!
- The CITY [place where men gather] is EMPTY – it has been shattered [collapsed into chaos]
- Every house is SHUT [pual] – so that no one can go inside…
- People are in the STREETS desperately crying out for WINE [escape]
- ALL of the JOY of the city has gone DARK – there is NO joy on the earth [הָאָרֶץ]
- The CITY is left DESOLATE – the gates are BROKEN [hophal]!
- CITIES in the Bible are a picture of REBELLION – men uniting…
- They built CITIES [Babel] in defiance of the command of God – Genesis 11:4
- Cities where men gather so they can and validate their ideas and ignore God…
- Where all of the trees are manicured – and lights wash out the beauty of creation at night…
- And where many of the most heinous crimes take place – because God has been forgotten!
- In the Day of the LORD – it does NOT matter how many CITIES men gather in…
- Tokyo [37 million] – Delhi [33 million] – Shanghai [30 million]
- Looking at the top TEN cities in the world today [over 250 million]
- It is estimated that as few as 3% in them are Bible believing Christians [cities are Godless]
- But God does NOT care about MAJORITY opinions [not a politician]
- God will come to JUDGE the world according to the TRUTH – Romans 3:4
- 1st – The Tribulation… vs. 1-3
- 2nd – Judgement of God… vs. 13-23
- 1st – Glory to God… vs. 13-16
- Harvest… vs. 13
- When it shall be thus in the midst of the land among the people.
- It shall be like the shaking of an olive tree – the gleaning of grapes when the vintage is done!
- Yet in the midst of the destruction – there will be a REMNANT…
- Like [כְּ] – the small clusters of overlooked grapes that are left after a harvest…
- Like [כְּ] – the handful of olives left on the highest branches when the tree is SHAKEN…
- So also will there be a FEW left over from JUDGEMENT of the earth!
- Singing… vs. 14-16
- They shall lift up their voice – they shall sing.
- For the majesty of the LORD they shall cry aloud from the sea.
- Therefore glorify the LORD in the dawning light.
- The name of the LORD God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea.
- From the ends of the earth we have heard songs: Glory to the righteous!
- The REMNANT that is left will SING of the EXCELLENCE [גָּאוֹן] of the LORD…
- Therefore [כֵּן] – even in DISTANT lands [coastland of sea]
- They will [piel] GLORIFY [כָּבַד] the name of the LORD God of Israel…
- To the ENDS of the earth the song is HEARD – glory to the RIGHTEOUS one [Jesus]!
- In the midst of the APOCALYPSE – the Day of the LORD…
- It is good to remember there will be a REMNANT from all over the world!
- Revelation 5:9 – “For You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”
- Woe is me… vs. 16
- But I said: I am ruined – ruined! Woe to me!
- The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously.
- Indeed the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously!
- As much as we might think the REMNANT would make Isaiah happy…
- He instead cried out [2x for emphasis] – that he is made LEAN [not enough are saved]
- WOE unto him [אוֹי לִי] – because the world was DECEITFUL [2x for emphasis]
- This is the SECOND time Isaiah would use these words – Isaiah 6:5
- The FIRST time was when he saw the LORD – who sent him to give the MESSAGE…
- To a REBELLIOUS people [fat heart] – who would NOT listen!
- We are NOT called to go out and SHARE the Gospel with a HUNGRY world…
- We go out to a REBELLIOUS people who do NOT want God…
- But just because MOST will NOT listen – should NOT stop us from sharing!
- 2nd – No escape… vs. 17-20
- Be afraid… vs. 17-18
- Fear and the pit and the snare are upon you – O inhabitant of the earth.
- And it shall be that he who flees from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit.
- And he who comes up from the midst of the pit shall be caught in the snare!
- Isaiah turns to those who DWELL on the earth [הָאָרֶץ]
- If they try to ESCAPE from the voice of FEAR [judgment of God]
- They will end up FALLING into the PIT [hell]
- And when they come up out of the PIT – they will be caught in the SNARE!
- People who try and AVOID the WORD of God in this life…
- Will end up going to HELL – they will fall into the PIT…
- But they will NOT stay there – HELL is NOT their final destination…
- They will come out only to have to stand before Jesus [snare] – Revelation 20:12
- All because they were NOT willing to listen to the VOICE of God!
- The flood… vs. 18-20
- For the windows from on high are open and the foundations of the earth are shaken.
- The earth is violently broken. The earth is split open. The earth is shaken exceedingly.
- The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard and shall totter like a hut.
- Its transgression shall be heavy upon it and it will fall – and not rise again!
- Because [כִּי] God is about the JUDGE the EARTH again…
- He will OPEN the WINDOWS of heaven [like the flood of Noah] – Genesis 7:11
- And the foundations of the EARTH will shake – it will SPLIT open…
- The whole planet will wobble like a DRUNK man – shake like an unstable HUT…
- For the weight of SIN upon the world will cause it to FALL – and it will NOT get back up!
- When God judged the world the FIRST time [flood]
- There were EIGHT people who survived – and life continued – II Peter 2:5
- But when God judges the SECOND time – it will be by FIRE – II Peter 3:10
- And NO one will survive – it will be the END of this world!
- 3rd – White Throne… vs. 21-23
- Stand together… vs. 21-22
- It shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will punish on high the host of exalted ones.
- And on the earth the kings of the earth. They will be gathered together.
- As prisoners are gathered in the pit – and will be shut up in the prison.
- After many days they will be punished!
- [Sequential] – it will happen in THAT day [בַּיּוֹם] – the Day of the LORD…
- God will PUNISH the Host [צָבָא] of the High ones [satan and his angels] – II Peter 2:4
- God will PUNISH the KINGS [מֶלֶךְ] of men [הָאֲדָמָה] upon the earth [הָאֲדָמָה]
- They will be GATHERED [pual] as PRISONERS and shut up [pual] in the PIT [hell]
- Then after MANY days [after the millennial kingdom] they will be [niphal] PUNISHED…
- They will all stand before the WHITE throne – Revelation 20:12
- And they will be cast into the Lake of Fire – which is the SECOND death!
- If even fallen angels and kings cannot escape the judgement…
- Then we know that EVERYONE will have to kneel before the LORD – Romans 14:11
- Reign… vs. 23
- Then the moon will be disgraced and the sun ashamed.
- The LORD of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem – before His elders gloriously!
- The end of the story is the LORD will reign on Mount Zion…
- There will be NO need for a SUN or MOON [ashamed]
- Because the GLORY [כָּבוֹד] of the LORD will be the LIGHT of the NEW Jerusalem!
- Revelation 21:3 – “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.”
- God will create a NEW heaven and a NEW earth [new Jerusalem]
- And the REMNANT will live forever with Him – that is the END of the story!
- 1st – Glory to God… vs. 13-16
- 3rd – Praise to God… vs. 1-12
- 1st – Wonderful things… vs. 1-5
- Faithful… vs. 1
- O LORD – You are my God. I will exalt You. I will praise Your name.
- For You have done wonderful things. Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth!
- Though the APOCALYPSE of Isaiah was heavy [woe to me]
- The conclusion made him EXALT [pual] and PRAISE the name of the LORD his God…
- Because of the WONDERS [פֶּלֶא] He had done [perfect]
- His PURPOSE from the beginning had proven to be FAITHFUL and true!
- City of ruin… vs. 2-3
- For You have made a city a ruin – a fortified city a ruin.
- A palace of foreigners to be a city no more. It will never be rebuilt.
- Therefore the strong people will glorify You. The city of the terrible nations will fear You!
- God had torn down the CITY [singular] of men…
- The place where FOREIGNERS [not saved] gathered to REBEL against the God of heaven…
- And it would NEVER [לֹא] be rebuilt [niphal] again…
- Therefore [כֵּן] – the strong will give Him GLORY [piel] – and the NATIONS [גּוֹיִם] will fear Him!
- Refuge… vs. 4-5
- For You have been a strength to the poor. A strength to the needy in his distress.
- A refuge from the storm. A shade from the heat.
- For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
- You will reduce the noise of aliens – as heat in a dry place.
- As heat in the shadow of a cloud. The song of the terrible ones will be diminished!
- BECAUSE [כִּ] the LORD has been [perfect] a STRONGHOLD [מָעוֹז]
- Like the SHADE of a cloud on a hot day – or a SHELTER in the storm…
- The LORD protected the POOR – and the NEEDY in their time of trouble…
- But humbled the NOISE [songs] of the FOREIGNERS [not saved]!
- We will NEVER lose if we CHOSE to give our lives to the LORD…
- Those who are in the world are going to LOSE in the end [city will fall]
- But when we have HARD times – God will always be with us…
- He is FAITHFUL to His WORD – He will NEVER leave us – Hebrews 13:5
- 2nd – Victory… vs. 7-8
- Wedding Feast… vs. 7
- In this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces.
- A feast of wines on the lees – of fat things full of marrow- of well-refined wines on the lees!
- [Sequential] the Lord will make [prophetic perfect] in this mountain [Zion]
- A GREAT feast for ALL [כֹּל] the people [best food and drink]!
- Revelation 19:9 – “Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!”
- MARRIAGE [γάμος] 16x in NT – 8x in the Parable of wedding feast…
- Where the MASTER put out the invitation for ANYONE to come to the WEDDING!
- Matthew 22:9 – “Go into the highways – and as many as you find – invite to the wedding!”
- Jesus left heaven to come to earth to propose to His BRIDE…
- The price He had to pay for His Bride was the CROSS – He gave everything…
- EVERYONE is welcomes to accept His invitation – Romans 10:13
- No more death… vs. 8
- And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people.
- And the veil that is spread over all nations.
- He will swallow up death forever and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces.
- The rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth. For the LORD has spoken!
- [Sequential] on that same MOUNTAIN [Zion] – the Lord will CONSUME [piel]
- The SHADOW [veil] that has covered ALL [כֹּל] of the NATIONS [גּוֹיִם
- He will consume [piel] DEATH – and give ETERNAL life – I Corinthians 15:55
- The Lord [אֲדֹנָי] GOD will wipe away every [כֹּל] TEAR – Revelation 21:4
- And the DISGRACE of His people [their sin] He will take away from the earth!
- SIN – is what causes DEATH – Romans 6:23
- SIN – that causes us so much SORROW and TEARS…
- SIN – that causes PAIN – because we continually battle it – Galatians 5:17
- But When we get to the NEW Jerusalem – where Jesus will LIVE with us…
- We will NO longer have to deal with SIN – it will be WIPED away…
- The person we used to be BEFORE [πρῶτος] will be gone – and we will be a NEW creation!
- Revelation 21:5 – “He who sat on the throne said: Behold I make all things new!”
- 3rd – Our God… vs. 9-12
- Salvation… vs. 9
- And it will be said in that day: Behold this is our God.
- We have waited for Him and He will save us. This is the LORD – we have waited for Him.
- We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation!
- [Sequential] – it will be said in THAT day [בַּיּוֹם] – LOOK this is our GOD [אֱלֹהֵינוּ]
- We WAITED [piel] for Him – and He will cause [hiphil] us to be SAVED…
- This is the LORD [יְהֹוָה] – we WAITED [piel] for Him…
- And we will be really [cohortative] GLAD – in His SALVATION [יְשׁוּעָה] – Jesus!
- The key word is WAIT [2x] – it will NOT happen today…
- Living for the LORD is about LOOKING to the future [end of the story]
- If we do we will be VERY happy – as we get to behold Jesus [יְשׁוּעָה]!
- Hand of God… vs. 10-13
- For on this mountain the hand of the LORD will rest.
- Moab shall be trampled down under Him as straw is trampled down for the refuse heap.
- And He will spread out His hands in their midst as a swimmer reaches out to swim.
- And He will bring down their pride together with the trickery of their hands.
- The fortress of the high fort of your walls He will bring down.
- Lay low and bring to the ground – down to the dust!
- BECAUSE [כִּי] – the HAND of the LORD will be upon this mountain [Zion]
- AND [Sequential] – He will CRUSH [niphal] the people of MOAB like [כְּ] a dunghill…
- Why MOAB – they represent a people who REJECTED the LORD…
- Like [כְּ] a SWIMMER moves his hand through water…
- He will move His hand to HUMBLE their PRIDE…
- Their fortresses – high walls – He will bring to the GROUND [into the dust]!
- The APOCALYPSE of Isaiah presents a BINARY choice [two options]
- We can either stand with MEN [city] – and face the WHITE throne…
- Or we can stand with God [יְשׁוּעָה] and enjoy the New Jersualem!
- 1st – Wonderful things… vs. 1-5