The judgment of the world
Isaiah 24
Scripture reading: Genesis 6:1-8; 7:11-23; 8:12-22.
How many of you have seen or heard of the following movies? Armageddon, Deep Impact, The day after tomorrow.
What are these movies about? The end of the world!
Dozens of movies and hundreds of books have been produced and written about the end of the world. Many doomsday theories exist as to how the world may cease to be: meteors, nuclear war, viruses, a series of huge natural disasters, aliens. Over the course of the centuries 1000’s of individuals—some outright crackpots, others highly esteemed- have stepped up and ‘prophesied about the end of the world. Last year Liberal party supporters seemed to predict that if the Conservatives won that the world would end. Go online and you’ll discover that there are folks who have declared that this year the world will end.
Because of the over abundance of messages about the end of the world and the sinfulness of peoples hearts, the Bibles message about “the judgment of the world” is being drowned out, scoffed at, and foolishly ignored. See 2 Peter 3.
The Bible has a very clear message as it pertains to the judgment of this world: A day of judgment for sin is coming. Prepare yourself by being reconciled to God.
My inspiration for this message comes from Isaiah 24. Please turn there now.
In Isaiah 13-23 God’s judgment is announced upon a number of nations and cities: Tyre, Jerusalem, Babylon, Arabia, Edom, Egypt, Cush, Damascus, Moab, the Philistines, and Assyria. In Isaiah 24, Isaiah concludes this series of judgment notices by proclaiming that not only will these cities be judged for their sins but the whole world will be judged because of her rebellion against God.
In case you are wondering, this is not the only text in the Scriptures that speaks of God judging and punishing the world for her sins. Such is spoken of in Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Malachi, the Gospels, the Pauline epistles, 2 Peter, and the book the Revelation—just to name a few.
READ ISAIAH 24
I. ASPECTS OF THE JUDGEMENT OF THE WORLD
Key things to note:
1. No date has been set—many foolishly set dates. The Bible forbids it. Even Jesus said "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” Matthew 24:36
2. The judgment here announced is not of Isaiah’s invention for in verse 3 it says “The LORD has spoken this word.”
3. The surety of this Day of Judgment is a given. As verse 3 says “The LORD has spoken this word”
4. The Lord will be the author of the destruction of the world- not aliens, not us, not nature, not global warming, but God.
5. Many aspects of the judgment that Isaiah describes are elaborated upon in the book of Revelation chapters 6-21.
6. This announced judgment will finally come after the incredible patience of God is exhausted. As 2 Peter 3:8-9 says “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
7. When this prophesy comes to pass, there will be a small group of people on the earth who will raise their voice in joy, worship, and praise of the Lord v.14-16 (READ).
Who are these people? They are the saints, the followers of Jesus, who will live through in the last days. They will be happy and rejoice in the Lord because they will see with their own eyes the just punishment of the wicked. This sentiment is often expressed in the book of Revelation.
Specific aspects of the coming judgment that Isaiah speaks of
a. The world will be laid waste, ruined, plundered, and devastated by God. The effect will be that the cities lie in ruins v.1,12.
b. There will be no escape. Regardless of how much money, education, what job you have, what color you are, where you live, etc, all who are on the earth will be affected v.2,18.
c. The tone of the peoples of the erath will be one of doom, gloom, and despair. People will wish they were dead. In Revelation 6:12-17 John says in relation to the judgments to come “I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13 and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14 The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16 They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17 For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"
d. Most of the inhabitants of the world will be burned up v.6. In 2 Peter 3:5-7 Peter says “But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
e. The peoples of the world will finally put away their party gear v.8-9
f. A giant series of earthquakes will hit that will devastate the cities of the entire world. In Revelation 16:17-21 John says “The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.”
g. The very sun and moon will be affected v.23. See also Revelation 6:12; 8:12; 22:5 and Matthew 24:29
h. God will punish not only those on the earth but also the angels who rebelled against him v.21-22. See 2 Peter 2 and Revelation 20:1-8
i. For the most part, people will not repent. Instead they will curse God. Revelation 16:8-9 “The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was given power to scorch people with fire. They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
HOW OUGHT WE TO RESPOND TO THIS MESSAGE THAT THE WORLD IS GOING TO BE JUDGED?
1. If you are a follower of Jesus, you should not be afraid. You are the children of God. As Romans 8:1 says “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,”
2. If you are not a follower of Jesus, you should be greatly distressed. You are in grave and eternal danger. The time to repent is now.
3. If you are a servant of Jesus you should warn people of the danger they are in.
-Noah was a preacher of righteousness 2 Peter 2:5. During the time he built the Ark and prepared for the judgment of God that came, he warned people of the coming judgment.
-As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:20 “We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God”
-we ought to deliver this message confidently, boldly, but not with any sense of arrogance, but with concern and love for those who are perishing in their sins.
II. WHY GOD IS GOING TO JUDGE THE WORLD
In 2 Peter 2:3 Peter says of the wicked “Their condemnation has long been hanging over them.”
In Isaiah 24:5-6 we are clearly told why God is going to judge the world.
“The earth is defiled by its people; they have disobeyed the laws, violated the statutes and broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a curse consumes the earth; its people must bear their guilt. Therefore earth’s inhabitants are burned up, and very few are left.”
Let’s break down the reason for the coming judgment of the Lord.
a. We have defiled the earth “The earth is defiled by it’s people”
It’s rather curious that there are many who would agree with this statement, but with a major twist. Most would say that we have defiled the earth, but what they mean is that we have wrecked it by not being environmentally responsible. This is not what this text has in mind. By our vileness, by our wickedness, by our selfishness, by our hearts given to rebellion, we have defiled this world and polluted it with our sinfulness. In the beginning this earth was pure and undefiled. In the garden God walked. Then Adam and Eve sin. They defiled the earth by their sin and we with them. Hence this is a rather unholy place- primarily devoted to the doing of evil, not to doing what is holy and right in the sight of God.
b. We are guilty of disobeying and violating the laws and statutes of God. In short, we are covenant breakers.
By the words of Isaiah 24:5 our attention is drawn to what is called the 10 Commandments. When the Israelites were in the wilderness at the base of Mount Sinai, God called Moses up to the top of the mountain. While their God inscribed in stone the 10 Commandments. When Moses, after getting the second copy, came down from the mountain a covenant between God and the people was struck. A covenant is a binding agreement between 2 or more parties. The conditions of the covenant that was struck at that time was this: Obey me and my laws and I will bless you. Disobey me and I will curse you. Moses and the people agreed to these terms.
The 10 Commandments and the covenant that was made at that time were not just for the Jews. The 10 Commandments and the conditions that God set down apply to all people.
According to the Word of God, we are all law breakers. We are all guilty of breaking the commands of God. We are all covenant breakers and if apart from Christ, under the curse of God. As it says in Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. It also says in I John 1:8-10 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”
While the law proves us to be sinners, the law also leads us to Jesus (Galatians 3:24), who in his coming and life perfectly kept the laws of God and so qualified to act as our Savior. In Jesus alone one can be forgiven of their sins and law breaking ways. This is God’s great and merciful provision for us sinners.
c. People are refusing to seek out the Lord for the forgiveness of their sins. Hence Isaiah says “its people must bear their guilt” v.6
What does one mean when they speak of a person having died in their sins?
It means that they died refusing to turn to Jesus for their forgiveness of their sins.
Forgiveness and peace with God can only be found in Jesus. As the Scriptures teach in 1 Timothy 2:5-6a “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all men” As Jesus said of himself “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
To not turn in faith and repentance to Jesus, calling upon him as Savior and Lord is to remain in ones sins. In practical terms it means that said person is in line to be punished for their sins. Their guilt remains because. Hence if such a person was to die today they would go to Hell to be punished for their sins.
The amazing thing is that God has graciously provided for the forgiveness of people. His provision is Jesus and his sacrificial death upon the cross—for when Jesus died upon the cross he took upon himself the sins of the world and the wrath of God for it.
When a person refuses to acknowledge their sin, when a person refuses to live in the manner that God lays out, when a person refuses to turn to Jesus- who is the only Savior, what do they deserve? What do they have coming?
They have the judgments of Isaiah 24 coming their way.
CONCLUSION
There are lots of scoffers who deny that God is going to judge and destroy this world. Don’t fall for their lies. God’s word is going to come to pass as sure as the sun is going to come up tomorrow.
How are we to live as this day approaches? The Apostle Peter asks this question in 2 Peter 3:11-13 saying “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
Those who will be judged will deserve what they get. God’s sword of eternal judgment will not fall upon the righteous but the wicked.
For those of us who are in Christ, we have nothing to fear
For those of us who call ourselves the followers of Christ we have a job to do that requires courage and commitment from us: the task of warning people of the coming judgment of God.
In view of today’s subject of the world I need to ask you, are you right with God? Have you asked Jesus to be your Savior? Have you made a commitment to following Jesus Christ? Have you been born again? Have you renounced what the Bible defines as sin and purposed in your heart, by the strength of Jesus, to live in a manner that pleases God?
