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Isaiah, Chapter 24
[13] When thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the people, there shall be as the shaking of an olive tree, and as the gleaning grapes when the vintage is done. [14] They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for the majesty of the Lord, they shall cry aloud from the sea. [15] Wherefore glorify ye the Lord in the fires, even the name of the Lord God of Israel in the isles of the sea. [16] From the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! the treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously. [17] Fear, and the pit, and the snare, are upon thee, O inhabitant of the earth. [18] And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. [19] The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean dissolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. [20] The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall be removed like a cottage; and the transgression thereof shall be heavy upon it; and it shall fall, and not rise again. [21] And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. [22] And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited. [23] Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously. |
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What is being prophesied in verses 13-16?
It appears that these are describing the restoration of the gospel and our current day. The shaking of the olive tree in verse 13 can be seen as the gospel being restored while the gleaning of grapes is the harvest of some souls during this period of time. Verses 14-15 and the beginning of verse 16 describe our current-day worship of the Lord. What does the last part of verse 16 mean?
It appears that it’s Isaiah observing how few people there are serving the Lord (the leanness of the flock) and he laments over the treachery that has pulled so many people away (which can equate to all of the opposition that is often faced when people follow the precepts of the Lord). What is being prophesied in verses 17-20?
Clearly, these verses are describing some type of destruction upon the earth. Based on the sequence of events in this chapter, this could be either the destruction prior to Zion or destruction prior to the millennial reign (the official Second Coming of Christ). Based on the rest of the chapter, it appears more likely that it’s the destruction prior to the millennial reign. What is being described in verses 21-22?
When Jesus returns, war will be waged between the forces of good and evil. The defeated legions of the devil and the defeated world leaders will be gathered in a bottomless pit and imprisoned for 1,000 years. “God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment.” (2 Peter 2:4) “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.” (Revelation 20:1-3) What is happening during the time of this imprisonment?
The Lord establishes His millennial kingdom and reigns from His throne in Jerusalem. His glory will be so bright that there will be no need for the sun or the moon. “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.” (Revelation 21:23) This series of articles on the Book of Isaiah is an outgrowth of a series of lessons presented at a branch level and is being offered as a study tool for all readers. The interpretations offered are not intended to represent an official position of The Church of Jesus Christ, however they have been reviewed by members of the ministry and can be considered a reliable supplement to any reader’s study of the Book of Isaiah.
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