March 21 - In that day

March 21 - In that day - Isaiah 24:1-23

After Isaiah finished dealing with all of the nations that associated with God's people, he needed to ensure that we fully understand the scope of God's punishment for sin. Whether you are wealthy or poor, have status or have nothing, it will not matter. Everything will be laid to waste. (Isaiah 24:1-2)

The Lord has spoken this word.

I want to take you on a roundabout journey right now. We'll make it back here, I promise. Let's start with John 1:1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning."

Now, back to Genesis 1:1-3a, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said ... And God said ... And God said ..."

Jesus Christ was the act of Creation. I know that this is a strange leap to take for some, but when you realize that Jesus was the Word of God - spoken to bring life into existence, you begin to comprehend the immense power of God!

I'm not done yet. Turn to Revelation 1:16b, "...out of his mouth came a sharp doubled edged sword." Don't get hung up here too long, because I want you to see Ephesians 6:17b, "...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Whew! That should be enough to get my point across. Jesus was the spoken word of creation made flesh. But ... at the end, He is the sword that will bring the end of all nations and devastate the earth.

For you and for me, this should be an immense comfort. We have no greater advocate before the throne in heaven than Jesus Christ. He went to the cross for us! But, it will be Jesus that wields the sword - the word of the Lord - to lay waste to the earth.

Jesus Christ IS the Word of God. The living, active Word of God.

As you read Isaiah 24:4-13, 16b-20 you will see this devastation.

In Isaiah 24:14-16, we see the remnant - those who continued to trust in the Lord. They understand that in His righteousness, He brought judgment to earth.

In Isaiah 24:21-22, Isaiah prophesies about the 'powers in the heavens above.' We might know these better as the unholy trinity found in Revelation 13 ... satan (the dragon), the antichrist (the beast from the sea) and the false prophet (the beast out of the earth).

Isaiah says that they will be herded together and after many days will be punished. (Isaiah 24:21-22) John's vision of them being imprisoned and then released only to be thrown in the lake of burning sulfur to be tormented forever and ever seems to reinforce the truth of this prophecy. (Revelation 20)

Revelation 21:23-24 says "The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it."

Isaiah's words in Isaiah 24:23 are "The moon will be abashed and teh sun ashamed; for the Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders, gloriously."

Do you doubt the Word of the Lord? As I read these prophecies, I can only pray "Lord, come quickly."