Isaiah 15-25
Death Swallowed Up
Judgment on 11 Countries 15-23
Judgment on The World Is 24
Death Swallowed Up Is 25
Intro: End of the World
Hollywood is fascinated with the end of the world
They love to produce movies that predict and show the demise of planet earth
Often times they will choose to use a child to be the one who saves the earth
Somehow, someway this kid is smarter than all of the scientists in the world and comes us with a solution
I always like the movies that have to do with a comet racing towards earth
The thought that somehow someway we have the means to alter nature and divert a huge rock hurtling towards us gives us some comfort
It also takes our minds off the thought that God will someday judge us
The fact is that the world is going to end someday
Not in the way that hollywood depicts it but with the coming of a king
Death will be swallowed up and we will live forever
The question is how are you going to live in eternity?
Will you be in paradise or in perpetual torture
Interestingly enough that became a possibility because God sent a child, his son, to save us from His judgment
One day God will sit on the throne judging the world
Those who are covered by the blood of Jesus will enter into paradise
Those who rejected Jesus and thought another path would lead to heaven will in a for a big surprise
But in the End death will be swallowed up and God will reign forever
Read Isaiah 24:1-6
Transition:
God’s record of his judgment on 11 nations around Judah
God is sovereignty is
Assyria was a major military power bearing down to bring judgment
They will inflict a lot of damage but will pull back
This will bring on the Babylonians who will capture Judah and destroy Jerusalem
After that is done God will start to judge the nations around Judah
We saw Babylon last week
Today we are going to look at the rest
We will focus three primary countries; Moab, Syria, & Judah
Yeah God throws them in there because they are no different than the others
Then we will see God’s judgment on the rest of the world, known as the tribulation
Finally we will see God’s plan of restoration
Judgment on Judah’s Neighbors Isaiah 15-23
The burden against Moab.
Isaiah spends two chapters on the country of Moab
The founder of the people of Moab was the son born of the incestuous relationship between Lot and one of his daughters, when his daughters made Lot drunk, after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:30-38).
The Moabites settled in the plains to the south-east of Israel, in what is modern-day Jordan.
At times, the Moabites were great enemies of Israel.
It was the Balak, king of Moab, who hired Balaam the prophet, hoping that he could curse Israel (Numbers 22-25).
During the time of Saul and David, Israel established a firm control over Moab, but later kings of Israel were not always able to keep them under Israeli dominance.
At the same time, there was a Moabite connection with Israel.
First, they were related to Israel because Lot was Abraham’s nephew.
Because of this, God told Israel in Deuteronomy 2:9 that they were not to destroy Moab and take their land.
As well, David, Israel’s greatest king, was one-quarter Moabite.
His paternal grandmother Ruth was from Moab, and David entrusted his father and mother to the protection of the king of Moab when he was a fugitive from Saul (1 Samuel 22:3-4).
For these reasons, there is a great deal of sadness and empathy on Isaiah’s part as he describes the coming judgment on Moab.
Syria & Israel
Next we see in chapter 17 an oracle against Damascus
Damascus is one of the great cities of the ancient world, and the capital of the nation of Syria.
Syria is positioned to the immediate north-east of Israel, and the northern tribes, around the Sea of Galilee, had constant contact and interaction with Syria.
Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, and it will be an ruinous heap: Damascus was one of the most beautiful cities of the ancient world, but the coming Assyrian judgment would reduce it to a heap of ruins.
The fortress will also cease from Ephraim: As is often the case, the northern kingdom of Israel is referred to by its dominate tribe, Ephraim.
At this time, Israel and Syria were closely aligned against Judah. Since they are such close friends, God will announce His judgment against Ephraim, against Israel, at the same time He speaks to Syria!
Why did the LORD bring this judgment on Israel?
Because you have forgotten the God of your salvation.
Satan does not need to make us bank robbers or murderers to destroy us.
It is quite enough to simply make us forget.
We can forget because of sleepiness, we can forget because of a lack of attention, we can forget because we are distracted.
Satan doesn’t care much about how he does it, but he does want us to forget the God of our salvation.
Jerusalem
“It is strange to find a prophecy against Judah and Jerusalem in a section that deals with the nations. But since Judah had chosen to behave like her neighbors and to desert the Lord, she deserved to be judged.” (Wolf)
Why was Jerusalem judged?
1. A joyous city
2. No deliverance
3. Wrong preparation
You gathered together the waters of the lower pool … to fortify the wall: When Jerusalem was faced with this subsequent attack, they prepared the city for battle and for siege, strengthening the wall of the city and making sure there was adequate water for a siege.
But none of this would matter, because He removed the protection of Judah. The best thing Jerusalem could do for her protection was turn her heart toward the LORD, But you did not look to its Maker, nor did you have respect for Him who fashioned it long ago.
In that day the Lord GOD of hosts called for weeping and mourning: Instead of preparing Jerusalem for an attack, they should have turned their hearts in humble repentance to the LORD. Instead of humbly seeking the LORD, the people of Jerusalem had both a confidence in their own preparation (joy and gladness), and a fatalistic outlook toward the future (“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”).
For this iniquity there will be no atonement for you: What is this sin that can’t be forgiven? The sin of ignoring God, of refusing to humble yourself before the LORD and repent. Jerusalem was doing everything except the essential thing they had to do to prepare for the attack, and because they rejected the LORD, there would be no atonement for them
The Great Tribulation Isaiah 24
Judgment isn’t going to stop just with these 11 countries
Eventually the whole earth will experience God’s judgment in what we know as the Great tribulation
This is laid out in great detail in Rev 6-19
The Lord will empty the earth and make it desolate
If you look at the 7 trumpet judgments you dee how this comes to fruition
God hits 1/3 of water, the sun, and living plants
This will cause the earth to feel desolate and empty
Lack of sun and water will create panic and desperation
Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the land a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it.
Vs. 2 And it shall be with the people
No one is going to escape this judgment
Isaiah uses a literary form to cover everyone
vs. 14-16
Even in the midst of all of this tribulation there will be people who praise him
God will take the church before the tribulation starts
But during the tribulation there will be those back slide saints that come back to Christ as well as a whole new batch of believers
They will praise God in the midst
But woe to those who still reject God during the tribulation
Isaiah 1:20 but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
vs. 21 The Lord will punish the host of heaven, the kings of the earth
Satan and all his demons will be punished along with everyone on earth
No one will be spared
Death Swallowed Up Isaiah 25
Vs. 1-5 Singing God’s Praises
After God’s judgment death will be swallowed up
There will be no pain or sorrow
We will be left with God and three things will happen
First we will sing God’s praised
vs. 1 I will exalt you, I will praise your name
Worship gives us a wonderful feeling but first and foremost it must be a choice
Psalm 29:2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
Knowing Jesus is our God makes us want to praise Him
Vs. 6-8 Enjoying God’s Bountiful Feast
The second event that will happen is a great feast
Rev 19:9 calls this the marriage supper of the lamb
This is a victory banquet for the believers
The final battle is over and now we can celebrate all that has been done
Jesus is looking forward to this banquet
Matt 26:29 Jesus says he will not drink of this fruit of the vine until I drink with you in My Fathers Kingdom
Ps 63:5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,
Vs. 9-12 Expressing Trust in God
Ps 27:14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
Closing:
