SPECIAL JUDGMENT FOR THE CITY. The city purposed here is not difficult to identify. Isa. 24:10-12 History will reveal to us that the desolation of that city has happened before. The wall was penetrated and the army and the king fled the city. 2 Ki. 25:4 Jerusalem experienced a great destruction as the house of the Lord was burned as well as the houses of the prominent citizens. 2 Ki. 26:9 Jesus prophesied of a similar event that would occur because they did not acknowledge the day of their VISITATION. Luke 19:44 Jesus made another statement that is certainly worthy of our consideration at this time. He said; Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Luke 21:24 Has this really been accomplished? The point of contention today, is Jerusalem. The Mosque of Omar sits on the Temple site. Does Israel really control Jerusalem? Not until the very heart of Jerusalem, the Temple site is in their hands. Their Most Holy place is not theirs nor will it be until the last half of Danielís Seventy Week prophecy is instituted. The Times of the Gentiles only then will come to a climax. Even then the city will not be the Crown Jewel of the earth as many anticipate. Isaiah called it the city of confusion. That is an apt title for it. It is called Holy, yet it is antichristal. Its name means peace, yet it is constantly at war. It is called Jerusalem but God calls it Babylon. Note the similarities between the statements of Isaiah and the book of Revelation. to be destroyed Rev.1:21 No music, no rejoicing. Rev. 21:22-23 The identification of this city and why it will be utterly destroyed. There is no other city that fits these qualifications. Prophets were slain in her as they rejected their message. Saints were slain in her, in particular the Lord Jesus. The judgment of blood is upon her. A tremendous responsibility. This is written without any prejudice whatsoever. The Lord will establish a witness of the law and the prophets, in Jerusalem during the last half of the seventieth week. Rev.11 These two witnesses are killed by the very people that they came to help. Not at all unusual for the inhabitants of that city. Their bodies are to lie in the city streets for three and one-half days. The city is called, spiritually, Sodom and Egypt. In other words they are spiritually bankrupt. The identity is sealed when it is said that this is where our LORD was crucified. Rev. 11:8 May the Lord have mercy on the inhabitants of the city, both now and when these things shall be fulfilled. Judgment is certain.
IN THE MIDST OF CATASTROPHE, A SONG. A song of the redeemed, in particular the bride. Their song will proclaim the MAJESTY and GLORY OF THE LORD. He will be exalted, His praise shall be heard from the east unto the west and in the islands of the sea. Songs extolling the great glory and righteousness of the LORD and HIS NAME. Isa.24:14-16
AN AWAKENING TO HAVING BEEN BETRAYED. The sinners. having been misled by Satan will come to a realization that they had been deceived by that evil one. A change is taking place. There is a passing from the tribulation period to the Millennium. Suddenly, they face the judgments of God and the accompanying destruction. My leanness, I am famished, they are reduced to abject spiritual poverty. They have nothing. The fraud is now very evident. What bitter disappointment. What complete desolation they will feel at that time. Isa. 24:16 None of the frightening experiences that we may have had in life can in any way compare to their fear. It is a heart stopping fright that reaches to the very depths of the soul. The pit and the snare are inescapable. There is absolutely no place to hide. No place to run to. v.17-18 Noise of fear, the sound of fear would be that which would be made by those who are in fear as they become knowledgeable of the judgments they are facing. Or the sound of terror {NIV}, of this there will be a great sufficiency. Of the throne of the Lord it is revealed as a place of lightening, it is plural, therefore there would be the constant crackling of lightening. Plus there are thunderings with their booming and roaring and then voices, which are often described as sounding like the roaring of many waters. An awesome and fearsome time. Rev.4:5 The Lord is merciful and will warn the world of coming events in a very drastic way. Before the sounding of the seven trumpets there will a manifestation of these noises plus one massive earthquake. Surely this would bring men to their senses, but no, they are living under a delusion perpetrated by Satan. Rev. 8:5 The voice of the Lord Jesus will be heard like the mighty roar of a lion while at the same time the seven thunders will simultaneously sound their loud and mighty roaring. Rev. 10:3 The sounding of the last trump, the seventh will loose the sound of great and mighty voices. They will proclaim the Kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ. Rev. 11:15 Now the heavenly temple is opened and again there are those supernatural noises plus an earthquake and great hail upon the earth. Rev. 11:19 Then we come to the great climax where once again there will be the same evidences of the extreme power of the Lord, in His wrath and anger. Here will be found the greatest of all earthquakes. The topography of the earth will be completely altered. No identifiable features will remain. Rev. 16:18 With all this in store for the world in the end of the age men have a good reason to fear. Today men mock such statements from the Word. But, rest assured these are events that many who live today will participate in. Run to Christ now, or from Him in the future.