Isaiah is nearing the end of his ministry as a prophet. It is thought by some that he died in 660 B.C. This is at a point in history that is a short plus for end-time prophecy. We at ahabiblemoments conclude that this chapter is one of those dual-time prophecies. Why? Because of verse 13:5. “They come from a far country, from the uttermost part of heaven, even Jehovah, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.” Who are THEY? The enemies of Israel’s ten northern Tribes of Israel? In End-Time it is basically the world powers. Chapter 13 and forward is about the land and people in all Israel AND end time. Some studied theologians feel the topic of Chapter 13 goes through Chapter 23. Whatever it is, Judah’s (southern kingdom) time is also in the cross-hairs. It may be another 80 plus years until Babylon and the Medes destroy Jerusalem but it was coming.

The burden (v1) against Babylon (as symbolic of then and end time). It will continue into chapter 14. We must make note that at times the name Babylon is the nation itself and at other times it is a synonym for many other nations as a whole. Plus …even though the Kingdom of Judah was not overrun until 586 B.C. they were under tribute to Assyria, before Judah’s 70 year captivity. Recall that very few Babylonian captives opted to return to their native Promised Land after Cyrus the Great released them.

V2: “Lift up a banner on the high mountain, raise your voice to them; Wave your hand, that they may enter the gates of the nobles.” This was prophesied long before Babylon even became a powerhouse. We must go back to Daniel 5 to read about this fall of Babylon.

V3: Sanctified ones? This can easily be confusing due to the word sanctified. This is similar to Nebuchadnezzar and/or others who God uses to carry out his will even though they are not one of his followers. Even the mightiest empires are not beyond His control and are ultimately instruments of His will. It was true then and remains true today (see Daniel 2:21 and Psalm 75:7).

V4: Woe! Here is verbiage that takes us into a future tense not yet seen. Why? “…the noise of a chaos of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together!” At this point in scripture we are talking about Assyria, Babylon, Judah, and Israel. This sentence is much larger in its scope. This reminds us of Ezekiel 38–39; Zechariah 12 and 14. The plurality of this sentence goes far beyond the THEN.

V5: “They come from a far country.” How far is far? One of the Hebrew translations for this verse and words, the word for country is ‘erets. This means the earth itself. The next sentence in verse 5 is …”From the end of heaven–“ ‘erets, Heaven? This doesn’t take a scholar or theologian to conclude. It goes far beyond the principle of Babylon. “to destroy the whole land?” It is global.

V6: “…the day of the LORD is at hand.” This phrase or something similar to it is used over 200 times in the Bible. Each time it refers to an ultimate time.

V7: Again we must visit the meaning of words used in any specific scripture. The words “all” and “every” in this verse 7 when using the American Standard Bible and many other translations is from the Hebrew “KOLE”.  It simply means there are no exceptions. “Therefore shall all hands be feeble, and every heart of man shall melt.” It isn’t to be thought of as referring to a specific group, but the all (kole) of mankind.

 V8: Verse 8 reaffirms the previous verses. Scripture at this point is speaking globally but includes this time in history (His-story).

V9: “…and he (God) will destroy the sinners from it.” Isaiah is prophesying the return of Jesus (yeh-ho-vaw’ ) to earth to judge and to rule. This is NOT the time of the Tribulation. It is after it. It is far more than just dealing with Assyria or Babylon. But it does include the rule of Babylon and Assyria in THEIR TIMES. It includes and is mostly about Israel in both time periods.

V10: “For the stars of Heaven (our earthly sky/heaven…) will not give their light. The moon and sun will not give their light.” Such a statement appearance is found in books like Isaiah, Joel, Matthew, and Revelation, where it symbolizes a time of divine judgment.

NOTE: Yes, this passage is speaking mostly of the fall of Babylon, but it is also defining the happenings in end-time. See Revelation 6:12.

V11-14: Here one reads of what God will do to his created earthlings and his created earth and heavens… Even man will be made “rare” on earth (eritz). The Tribulation is not about the brave and might of man. It is about the judgement of God on man. “…the earth will remove out of its place.” Examining the Hebrew, this does not mean the earth loses its orbit, but it is more like an unbalanced tire on a vehicle or worse. Earth will be experience a global earthquake. One can only imagine.  It will move in and out of its rotations like an earthquake (Revelation 6:12). Matthew 24:29 may help one better grasp the finality of the end of “end time” i.e. the Tribulation. This verse includes the powers of the heavens that will also be shaken.

At verse 15, Isaiah returns to his narrative and prophecy of this time in and around Jerusalem/Israel. It will be a time of absolute brutality for Israel. Check a Middle East history book about the brutality of the Assyrians. The Medes and Persians treated them just as and greater than did the Assyrians did to their captives. Next article will begin at the kickoff of the rest of chapter 13 which is verse 15.

Rev. Dr. Jstark – 2025