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Overview

Isaiah 34 is about a global judgment against the nations. It seems that Edom (Israel’s lifelong neighbor and enemy) represents all of the nations who will stand before God. It will lie in waste. All the nations will be brought to their knees in this future apocalyptic judgment. 

Isaiah 34:1-2

Draw near, O nations, to hear, and give attention, O peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that fills it; the world, and all that comes from it. For the Lord is enraged against all the nations, and furious against all their host; he has devoted them to destruction, has given them over for slaughter.

Why would the Lord be angry at the nations? God is holy and people are rebellious. Divine judgment is hard for many humans to accept. But this is often from a place of ignorance and unbelief. God is the Creator. He sets the rules. He is good and just. But we also must remember that God has been patient for centuries, “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). 

Isaiah 34:4

All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.

This verse is quoted in Revelation 6. It is interesting that the context is the sixth seal, which I believe is not part of the Great Tribulation, but unlocks the scroll that contains the contents of the Great Tribulation within it. There will be a catastrophic unfolding of the universe right before the end. The earth will literally be shaken by the omnipotent arms of the Creator. It will be a grave time in human history. No dystopian novel can paint the extent of the devastation. Even the vision is just a foretaste, a foreshadowing. The reality will be far worse. 

Isaiah 34:8-10

For the Lord has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion. And the streams of Edom shall be turned into pitch, and her soil into sulfur; her land shall become burning pitch. Night and day it shall not be quenched; its smoke shall go up forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; none shall pass through it forever and ever.

It is hard to determine what “the cause of Zion” is referring to. There are those who would say this refers to future national Israel and that YHWH is defending His people. Others would widen this to include the church, which currently holds both Jews and Gentiles. Whatever the right interpretation is—God will defend the elect, those whom He has chosen as His own. 

But we also read that it is bleak for the inhabitants of Edom. Edom here represents the nations of the world. Edom represents those who willfully choose to shake their fist in rebellion towards God. Furthermore, notice the language Isaiah uses—”not being quenched”, “smoke goes up forever”, “it shall lie waste forever and ever”. The destiny of the wicked is clear: Eternity without God. 

Today there is still time. Don’t delay. Make a call. Send a text. Write an email. Tell them of God’s mercy. Tell them of His patience. But tell them the whole truth—a day is coming where all of us stand before God. No one escapes from the final roll call of the mysterious Book of Life.