They are coming from a far country, From the farthest horizons, The Lord and His instruments of indignation, To destroy the whole land.

 Is 13:1 – 5

            1          The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.

            2          Lift up a standard on the bare hill,

Raise your voice to them,

Wave the hand that they may enter the doors of the nobles.

            3          I have commanded My consecrated ones,

I have even called My mighty warriors,

My proudly exulting ones,

To execute My anger.

            4          A sound of tumult on the mountains,

Like that of many people!

A sound of the uproar of kingdoms,

Of nations gathered together!

The Lord of hosts is mustering the army for battle.

            5          They are coming from a far country,

From the farthest horizons,

The Lord and His instruments of indignation,

To destroy the whole land.

 

This sounds like Revelation with judgment on Babylon. Did Isaiah actually see what John saw and wrote about? As mighty as Babylon will be, God will bring it to dust. We will see in Revelation just had destructive God’s judgment is. You don’t want to be on the wrong side of it.

 

8.         If we could hear God speak, He would probably say: “No matter how big you think you are, you will be but dust in the wind, a forgotten blip on the viewscreen of life without Me. Enjoy your fleeting comfort now, for an eternal reckoning is soon coming.”

And destruction about which you do not know will come on you suddenly.

 

II          Destruction

Is 47:8 - 15

            8          “Now, then, hear this, you sensual one,

Who dwells securely,

Who says in your heart,

‘I am, and there is no one besides me.

I will not sit as a widow,

Nor know loss of children.’

            9          “But these two things will come on you suddenly in one day:

Loss of children and widowhood.

They will come on you in full measure

In spite of your many sorceries,

In spite of the great power of your spells.

            10        “You felt secure in your wickedness and said,

‘No one sees me,’

Your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you;

For you have said in your heart,

‘I am, and there is no one besides me.’

            11        “But evil will come on you

Which you will not know how to charm away;

And disaster will fall on you

For which you cannot atone;

And destruction about which you do not know

Will come on you suddenly.

            12        “Stand fast now in your spells

And in your many sorceries

With which you have labored from your youth;

Perhaps you will be able to profit,

Perhaps you may cause trembling.

            13        “You are wearied with your many counsels;

Let now the astrologers,

Those who prophesy by the stars,

Those who predict by the new moons,

Stand up and save you from what will come upon you.

14        “Behold, they have become like stubble,

Fire burns them;

They cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame;

There will be no coal to warm by

Nor a fire to sit before!

            15        “So have those become to you with whom you have labored,

Who have trafficked with you from your youth;

Each has wandered in his own way;

There is none to save you.

It’s one thing to be upset about what may be coming (distressed), it’s quite another to see everything in shambles (destruction). You cannot help yourself, much less loved ones. No matter what you put your trust in – self-worth, abilities, or sorceries and other demonic forces, there is nothing you can do to stop or minimize the destruction. It is total – there is none to save you.

7.         If we could hear God speak, He would probably say: “I tried to tell you, but you would not listen – like a child not listening to his/her parents. There is nothing you can do; there is no way to recover. I am coming like a thief. You won’t know when or where. Surrender your life to Me now.”

There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek

 Rom 2:9

    9      There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek

 

It’s not just for some, but for everyone.

6.        If we could hear God speak, He would probably say: “You can run, but you can’t hide. Your money, power, intellect won’t save you from the distress to come. Only I can.”

For behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it

Jer 30:3-9, 22-24

    3      ‘For behold, days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The Lord says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.’ 

            4          Now these are the words which the Lord spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah:

            5          “For thus says the Lord,

‘I have heard a sound of terror,

Of dread, and there is no peace.

            6          ‘Ask now, and see

If a male can give birth.

Why do I see every man

With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth?

And why have all faces turned pale?

            7          ‘Alas! for that day is great,

There is none like it;

And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,

But he will be saved from it.

            8          ‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the Lord of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves.

            9          ‘But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

            22        ‘You shall be My people,

And I will be your God.’ ”

            23        Behold, the tempest of the Lord!

Wrath has gone forth,

A sweeping tempest;

It will burst on the head of the wicked.

            24        The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back

Until He has performed and until He has accomplished

The intent of His heart;

In the latter days you will understand this.

 

More terrible things happening: Of course, we would be distressed; wouldn’t you be? But that is not the result God is expecting out of us. Why? Because God says He will save us from it. We might not understand now, but He promises we will in the latter days. Many Christians believe now are the latter days. Even though Daniel heard something about them, the angel told him the words would be sealed up – until the end.

 

5.         If we could hear God speak, He would probably say: “You hear a sudden sound and want to hide. What if you heard of all the horrors that are coming. Wouldn’t you want to hide too? But that is not My will for you. I want you to stand firm and show the world what confidence in your God looks like.”