Tanak Foundations-Concepts in Isaiah-Chapter 13

Isa 13.1-22 begins pronouncements and prophecies against the nations and this chapter will deal with the fall of Babylon (eschatologically the USA). The day of the Lord begins on Rosh Ha Shanah, year 6001 from creation and the Natzal (or “rapture”) will occur. This chapter alludes to this event along with Babylon’s destruction. It will also speak of the birth-pains (tribulation). There will be many other chapters in Isaiah that will also deal with the destruction of Babylon, the Natzal, the birth-pains and eschatology, and we will point them out as we move along. Get to know these concepts because they will be in other books of the Scriptures as well. It is significant to notice that the prophecies against the nations begins with the destruction of Babylon at the beginning of the day of the Lord.

v 1…The oracle (prophecy) concerning Babylon (meaning “confusion” and this is literal Babylon, but it alludes to the USA, and these verses have not been fulfilled yet), which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.

v 2…Lift up (John 3.14-15) a standard (a banner or “nes” which is a term for Messiah-Isa 11.10; Exo 17.15; Isa 18.3) on a high mountain. Raise your voice (“Hebrew “kol” or shout-1 Thes 4.13-18; Eph 5.8-14; Isa 51.9-this is Yom Teruah or Rosh Ha Shanah) to them; wave the hand that they may enter the doors of the nobles (Num 10.1-9, Psa 47.7-9; Psa 81.3, Psa 16.3, Isa 26.2; Isa 57.1-3, Isa 21.5; Rev 4.1-this is the Natzal on Rosh Ha Shanah-Isa 26.19-21).

v 3…I have commanded my consecrated ones (k’dashay or “holy ones” or set apart ones, the righteous; but literally the Medes and Persians who will be used to destroy Babylon), I have called my mighty warriors (Medes and Persians), my exulting ones to my anger (Hebrew “aph” or nose because when a person is angry his nose flares. This is linked to Rosh Ha Shanah because of the terms being used. It is also linked to the resurrection-Isa 18.3. Natzal means to “pluck up” in Zech 3.2. Rosh Ha Shanah is the marriage or “nisuin” and this word is linked to “banner” because “nes” is the root. It means “uplifted” and the bride will be “uplifted” to the Messiah on Rosh Ha Shanah for the marriage).

v 4…A sound of tumult on the mountains, like that of many peoples! A sound of the uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathered together; the Lord of hosts (Yehovah Tzavaot or armies) is mustering the army for battle (the Medes/Persians with Cyrus, but it also alludes to the birth-pains when Yehovah will muster the Russians to attack the USA).

v 5…They (literally Medes/Persians) are coming from a far country (Persia-Jer 51.27-but in the “sowd” or hidden level it will be Russia/Gog and Magog) from the farthest horizons. Yehovah and his instruments of indignation (Jer 50.28), to destroy the whole land.

v 6…Wail (howl) for the day of the Lord is near (the timing of the destruction of Babylon will be within the first week of the day of the Lord. The word “near” is “karav” and it means “here now” or in your face. It is the root for “korban” or the offerings in the Temple-Zeph 1.14-18; Rev 4-5; Jer 30.3; Joel 2.1-2), it will come as destruction from the Almighty (shaddai-with a 360 day year coming about after the destruction of the USA as in v 13, and the cleansing of the earth, which was done to the altar at the beginning of every day weekly Sabbath, or Lord’s day, in the Temple. Look at the adjectives being used in v 6-9).

v 7…Therefore all hands will fall limp (at the news that Babylon has fallen), and every man’s heart will melt.

v 8…And they will writhe (in pain) like a woman in labor (the context here is the birth-pains-Matt 24.8; Jer 30.4-7; Isa 26.16-18), they will look at one another in astonishment, their faces aflame .

v 9…Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, cruel with fury and burning anger, to make the land a desolation (Jer 50.3), and he will exterminate its sinners from it (the time of Jacob’s trouble-Zech 13.8-9; Rev 6).

v 10…For the stars of heaven and their constellations will not flash forth their light; the sun will be dark when it rises, and the moon will not shed its light (this will happen numerous times in the birth-pains, such as when Babylon falls in Isa 24.1-23, and with Gog and Magog).

v 11…Thus I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud, and abase the haughtiness of the ruthless (Babylon and the nations will be punished in the day of the Lord).

v 12…I will make mortal man scarcer than gold, and mankind than the gold of Ophir (noted for purity but rare).

v 13…Therefore I shall make the heavens tremble, and the earth shall be shaken from its place (causing a 360 day year-this could be as the result of a nuclear attack on Babylon/USA or just by the will of God-Isa 24.7-19, 47.9; Rev 18.8; Rev 6.12-17; Hag 2.21; Isa 13.6) at the fury of Yehovah.

v 14…And it will be that like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, they will each turn to his own people, and each one flee to his own land (Jer 50.16-Jews and non-Jews will come out of Babylon/USA before the destruction comes).

v 15…Anyone who is found will be thrust through, and anyone who is captured will fall by the sword.

v 16…Their little ones also will be dashed to pieces (Psa 137.9) before their eyes; their houses will be plundered and their wives ravished.

v 17…Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them (Babylon-this is said two hundred years before it happens), who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold (no offer of silver or gold will persuade them, they just hate and will take everything).

v 18…And their bows will mow down the young men (“nearim”-warriors), they will not even have compassion on the fruit of the womb (child in the womb will be ripped apart), nor will their eye pity children.

v 19…And Babylon (literally, but also alludes to the USA and the false harlot religions), the beauty of the kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans (Americans) pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah (no one will live there, and people do not even know where they were anymore).

v 20…It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; nor will the Arab pitch his tent there, nor will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.

v 21…But desert creatures will be lie down there (the desert or wilderness was seen as the habitation of demons-Luke 11.24; Matt 12.13. Azazel, mentioned in Hebrew in Lev 16, is a type of the False Messiah and Ha Satan. This goat was released to the wilderness and the dry places. The animals mentioned here are seen as demonic figures in the Jewish literature-Rev 18.2; Isa 24.10), and their houses will be full of owls, ostriches also will live there, and shaggy goats will frolic there.

v 22…And hyenas will howl in their fortified towers (abandoned and destroyed military installations) and jackals in their luxurious palaces (desolate homes and mansions), her fateful time also will soon come and her days will not be prolonged (These verses have not been fulfilled yet in Babylon, but those days were coming soon; also eschatologically-Jer 50.4; Rev 17-18).

Posted in All Teachings, Articles, Idioms, Phrases and Concepts, Prophecy/Eschatology, The Festivals of the Lord, The Tanak, Tying into the New Testament

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