72.
The high places of Aven. Temples to their idol gods were located in elevated places. Their worship was not only false but empty and in vain. Among the several meanings of the name Aven is that of, strictly nothingness. A good translation for the whole of idol worship. The sin of Israel, idolatry, will be utterly abolished by the Lord. Hos. 10:8 A restored temple and it form of worship would be idolatry. The first Covenant (the Law) has been replaced by the second Covenant, redemption through the Lord Jesus. The Law was but a shadow, Christ is that which is real and eternal. The shadow cannot save. The one casting the shadow is the Savior. Consider Heb. 8:1-10 Are we satisfied with the mundane or are we wise enough to earnestly seek after that which is the absolute best.
Thorns and thistles to spoil the results of such worship. In difficulties, distresses no response to be had from their false gods. No comfort, no solace to be found. Their altars to be destroyed. The next statement of the prophet is an end time happening. The cry to be hidden and to escape facing the judge is like the voice of those who will face the great day of His wrath. Isaiah spoke of a day when the pride of men would be totally destroyed. The Lord only, being exalted in that day. The idols totally destroyed. The Lord at that day,will create an earth quake the likes of which the world has never seen. The entire earth will shake at one and the same time. Here all false worship will be cast aside as mankind recognizes the Sovereignty of the Lord. When they behold the glory of His majesty they will dash for the caves and the holes in the earth and call for them to implode upon them that they might be hidden or covered. Isa. 2:17-21.
The cataclysmic events introduced by the opened sixth seal give us an insight to the ultimate meaning of their cry. It is called the great day of His wrath. It is the most fearsome day of all, for in the process of fulfilling all the events which have been scheduled, the sun will go dark, the moon turned into blood and the stars will fall from heaven. Just imagine the extreme terror which will grip the hearts of men at that time. The heavens will roll up, be terminated, like a scroll. The entire topography of the earth will be completely altered. The entirety of unsaved humanity will seek that hiding place with the request to die rather than face the Lord in all of His glory and splendor. Rev. 6:17 It is evident that there will be a quaking of the universe and not only the earth. Also, the very fact of such a horrendous catastrophe demands an extremely different appearance of this world during the Millennial reign of Christ. There is no possibility of any of what exists now to be found in that age. Peter writing about that day declared that the heavens would pass away with a great noise, the elements melt at the fervent heat and the works of men burned up. 2 Pet. 3:10.