Isaiah 24 reminds me of a crude science experiment we did when the kids were little. I poured salt into water and asked each for an idea of how to get the salt out. One suggested a filter, one to let it settle to the bottom and one said to boil it. We tested the results by tasting the samples. Some worked a little to make it less salty, but only one thing really worked to remove all of the salt. The only pure, drinkable water came from allowing the steam to rise, condense on the lid, and run into a cup set off to the side. Isaiah begins, “The LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it“. He is no longer talking about countries and kings; this is the worldwide destruction in the last days. He is very clear there is no protected class, “it will be the same for priest as for people, for the master as for his servant… for seller as for buyer, for borrower as for lender… The earth will be completely laid waste“. Maybe you are still hoping you will somehow be judged worthy because of your good works, or because of the trials you have already endured. Romans 3:10 says, “There are none righteous, not even one“, not even you. Why is God doing this? “The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant… its people must bear their guilt“. The corruption of sin has tainted everything and sin will be judged. Revelation 9 says that one third of the earth’s population will be destroyed. Have you noticed things getting more salty in this world?
Isaiah describes a place that is awful for those that do survive the first round. “The earth dries up and withers… vine withers; all the merrymakers groan… The ruined city lies desolate“. “So will it be on the earth and among the nations, as when an olive tree is beaten… gleanings are left“. Once again, God will keep a remnant. I believe that there will be some that will come to Christ during this time. “They shout for joy… they acclaim the LORD’s majesty… exalt the name of the LORD, the God of Israel… From the ends of the earth we hear singing: ‘Glory to the Righteous One’.” For the rest of the inhabitants of Earth, “With treachery the treacherous betray! Whoever flees at the sound of terror will fall into a pit“. Has settling left you unsatisfied?
The chapter closes with Isaiah describing Armageddon. The final battle on Earth in which the antichrist will be defeated and Satan is bound. “The floodgates of the heavens are opened… The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder… so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls never to rise again… the LORD will punish the powers in the heavens above and the kings on the earth below… herded together like prisoners… They will bound in a dungeon; they will be shut up in prison and be punishedafter many days“. Maybe you have been trying to filter out the sin in your life. You might even be a lot less bitter. Friend, you will not be able to make yourself pure. Jesus Christ paid the price for your sin and mine. By His sacrifice on the cross, He made a way for all unrighteous to be forgiven. Only the Holy Spirit of God can replace sin with the presence of God Himself. So will the forgiven be judged? I believe that all that have been made clean by faith in Christ will escape judgment because that sin has already been paid. “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again… According to the Lord’s word… we… who are left until the coming of the Lord… will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thessalonians 4). Just like our steam experiment, the pure will be set aside out of the judgment. The chapter ends with this promise, “LORD Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders with great glory“. Have you reached the boiling point? Maybe it is time to be purified by Christ.