Judgment of the Faithless and Blessings of the Kingdom Isaiah 34-35

 One vision / two sides  Isa 34: judgment of those who oppose Faith  Edom – the world  Isa 35: restoration of the faithful, and their reward  Israel – Church of God  The preceding chapter (33) completes the series of visions (ch ) on the siege of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Assyrian armies.  These ( ) two chapters are visions which see all of Zion's enemies destroyed (chap 34) and the future introduction and exaltation of Zion (chap 35).

Isaiah 34  Judgment of the Faithless  1-4: General summon  5-15: Destruction of Edom  15-17: Testimony of the fulfillment of the prophecy

General Summon  Isa 34: 1-4  Summons for all the faithless nations to listen as the Lord speaks  He reveals the destruction of an evil kingdom (Edom)  Hoping that the rest of the nations will repent

General Summon  Fierce battle (v 3)  Battle between good and evil (v 4)  “And the heavens shall be rolled up like a scroll”  Holy Scriptures – Word of God  St. Augustine:  It will be closed/sealed for them  They will not understand  They can not enjoy the power of heaven  Origin:  Scripture written by Holy Spirit  Has hidden messages  revealed correctly only through the church  Those outside can not comprehend it – closed to them

General Summon  Heaven (soul), earth (flesh) of man  Evil corrupts both  Although the flesh may look strong (mountains) but the are filthy (melted with their blood)  Like a heaven void of its angels  Appears strong, but full of weakness within:  “having a form of godliness but denying its power…” (2 Timothy 3:5)

Destruction of Edom  Isa 34: 5-15  Edom: Esau  And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom. (Genesis 25:30)

Edom

Edom’s Kingdom  They dwelt in the rocks and were proud:  The pride of your heart has deceived you, You who dwell in the clefts of the rock, Whose habitation is high; You who say in your heart, ‘Who will bring me down to the ground?’ (Obd 1:3)

Edom’s Kingdom

Edom Mistreated His Brother  Obadiah 1:  God’s wrath fell on him  "Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goes by it shall be astonished." Jer. 49:17.  "Edom shall be a desolate wilderness." Joel 3:19.

Edom Today: Desolate Wilderness

Destruction of Edom  God’s sword to slaughter the ungodly, as sheep, but not as a “burnt offering” but “for judgment” (5)  The sword devours all: “The wild oxen … the young bulls with the mighty bulls” (7)  Everyone will be punished  The reason: avenge His people  For it is the day of the LORD’s vengeance, The year of recompense for the cause of Zion. (8)

Destruction of Edom  Edom burning – now and in eternity (9-10)  Desolate (11-13)  It shall become a dwelling for wild animals (demons) (14-15)

Edom – Faithless Soul  Fire – hell within – no one can quench (save/have mercy) it  Desolate – loses any balanced logic  Dwelling for wild animals - evil thoughts, sins and demons  Dry – fruitless  Darkness – lack of light of Faith

Isaiah 35  Blessings of the Kingdom – fulfilled by the coming of the Messiah  1-4: Transforming the wildness into paradise  5-9: Fulfilling the needs of the faithful  10: Kingdom of joy

Transforming the wildness into paradise  Isa 35: 1-4  By the coming of Christ and the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the heart, the barren land (soul) become a fruitful paradise:  “My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.” (Ps 143:6)  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering…” (Gal 5: 22)

Transforming the wildness into paradise  Communion of the faithful (3)  Members of the body helping each other:  “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body” (1Cor 12:12-13)

Fulfilling the needs of the faithful  Isa 35: 5-9  “He will come and save you…”  Christ came and healed the sick  Christ referenced this prophecy when the disciples of John came to question him:  “Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.” (Lk 7:22)

Fulfilling the needs of the faithful  Christ is the Living Water (7)  Christ is the Way (8-9)  The lion (Satan) can not touch those who walk in the Way  “…Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (1Pet 5:8)

Kingdom of joy  Isa 35: 10  “There will be true rest where there is no pain nor sadness… nor pain, and lamenting, and torment… rather will be found the fear of God which is full of joy” (St. Saint Chrysostom)

Judgment of the Faithless and Blessings of the Kingdom The faithless will be punished The faithful will be rewarded Empty - Lose the Word of God Filled - Quenched/watered Barren - Body and soul will be corrupt Fruitful Destroyed - Burned, desolateHealed Miserable - and dwelling for evil Joyful