There is a hymn that I hope is still sung despite all the inferior stuff that today passes as church music, and here is the first stanza:
God, whose almighty word
Chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight:
Hear us, we humbly pray,
And where the gospel-day
Sheds not its glorious ray,
Let there be light!
In those words, we pass from chaos in “Chaos and darkness heard” to end in light. Our God reigns supreme over chaos. We live in chaotic times. There is no dispute about that from discerning people. The undiscerning who live for this life only and follow their life motto, “Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die,” either don’t care less or use an expression we have in Australia, “She’ll be right, mate.”
In the NASB, the word “chaos” is used on only one occasion. It is used here – Isaiah 24:7-12, “The new wine mourns, the vine decays, all the merry-hearted sigh. The gaiety of tambourines ceases, the noise of revelers stops, the gaiety of the harp ceases. They do not drink wine with song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. The city of chaos is broken down; Every house is shut up so that none may enter. There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All joy turns to gloom. The gaiety of the earth is banished. Desolation is left in the city, and the gate is battered to ruins.”
Chapter 24 of Isaiah is a comprehensive chapter. This expression, “The city of chaos is broken down,” is a reference to Jerusalem years before the event actually happened, but that’s no problem for God, who knows the end from the beginning. The destruction that was to come on Jerusalem was that of Nebuchadnezzar’s invasion, and in Isaiah’s message, there was hope the people would listen and turn from their evil ways; no doubt, the same attitude Noah had in 120 years of preaching a coming destruction.
I said chapter 24 is a comprehensive chapter. The events covered in the description go way beyond Jerusalem or Judah. Consider these verses to see the worldwide extent of the judgment that is described and that is coming:
Isaiah 24:20 “The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard and it totters like a shack; for its transgression is heavy upon it, and it will fall, never to rise again.”
Isaiah 24:1-4 “Behold, the LORD lays the earth waste, devastates it, distorts its surface and scatters its inhabitants…. The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled; for the LORD has spoken this word. The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away.”
The description Isaiah gives is of a worldwide judgment on the earth, one causing destruction, and the setting for that is definitely in the Tribulation to come. It is in what the Bible calls “The Day of the LORD/Jehovah.” It will be a terrible time, and the events of it are contained in Revelation chapters 6 to 19. If any non-Christian reads this, do not delay because that day will suddenly be on the earth once the Lord removes His own people from this world. Repent and give your life to the Lord, for He welcomes you. Do it before it is too late.
It is common in prophecy to give an immediate application, but in the context, it can extend way beyond that specific reference. As an example, I will do this. The king of Babylon is being addressed, and this is how it begins – Isaiah 14:3-5, “It will be in the day when the LORD gives you rest from your pain and turmoil and harsh service in which you have been enslaved, that you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon and say, ‘How the oppressor has ceased, and how fury has ceased! The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of rulers…'”
However, in the description in this taunt, it goes way beyond the king of Babylon, and the one to whom it must then be applied is Satan:
Isaiah 14:10-17, “They will all respond and say to you, ‘Even you have been made weak as we. You have become like us.’
“Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol. Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you, and worms are your covering. How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will make myself like the Most High.’
“Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit. Those who see you will gaze at you. They will ponder over you saying, ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms, Who made the world like a wilderness and overthrew its cities, who did not allow his prisoners to go home?'”
What we have covered so far is the “city of chaos” that will extend to the whole earth. Chaotic times are ahead for this world. However, are these chaotic times already here? The answer is “Yes” and “No.” YES – this world is descending into chaos daily, ALL of man’s making! No – the chaos that is coming to this world will be from God and will not be released until the Church has been translated to glory, and then God’s wrath will come from Revelation chapter 6 onwards. Then men will live in unspeakable chaos on the world sent from God, but all of man’s making as he goes deeper and deeper into sin.
I want to return to Isaiah chapter 24 yet again. Now we will look at the reason why judgment came on Israel and is coming on the world. Consider this verse – 24:16, “From the ends of the earth we hear songs, ‘Glory to the Righteous One,’ but I say, ‘Woe to me! Woe to me! Alas for me! The treacherous deal treacherously, and the treacherous deal very treacherously.'”
The world may pay sanctimonious tribute to God, but the genuineness is mere hypocrisy. Men and women are treacherous, some more than others. I think it is an extreme blessing when I am with my fellow believers and I know everything is honest and above board. How terrible is treachery. Biden must be made to know that, for the way he betrayed Americans and Christians in Afghanistan is treachery.
It says the treacherous deal treacherously, and that is the logical outcome, of course, for a dog will always do what a dog does. It is bad, but it is greatly more corrupt when the treacherous deal VERY treacherously/corruptly.
This year in my state of Queensland, our wicked Government legislated for abortion for any woman right up to the day of birth when the baby is removed and put to death. And by law, Christians cannot intervene in any way under legislated great penalties. That is murder instigated by him who was a murderer from the beginning. It is treachery against God. However, a few months later on, that same Government is going to bring in voluntary death for anyone over the age of 18 who wants to end his/her life. That is acting “very treacherously.” It is dangerous, for if the elderly have to be on specialized equipment to help them survive, then the Government can decide who can no longer be allowed to live. It has not reached that stage yet, but it is but one small step once the euthanasia program is running.
There is one more reason why the Isaiah 24 judgment is coming. It is in this verse: Isaiah 24:5, “The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant.”
There you have it; they are transgressors (sinners and lawbreakers – break the laws of God). They violated God’s statutes, such as the right to life and proper marriage, and the care/gender of children, and the list is almost endless. They break God’s covenants, beginning with the first in Genesis 9, the one given to and through Noah. This was the condemnation upon Judah.
THE CURRENT WORLD
We have looked a little at the chaos found in this world, but it is worse than what I mentioned. When you consider “the earth also polluted by its inhabitants,” what do you see in examination?
[1]. We see governments incapable of decent and correct decisions. All over the world, the laws being passed range from utter stupidity to outright evil of the worst kind. Money and resources are squandered. In Romans 1, because the human race insisted on the pursuit of wickedness, three times we read, “God gave them over.” In other words, God allowed mankind to run after the evil it desired, and as a result, we reap what we sow. The minds of politicians generally, and of public/civil servants and advisors, are so scarred by God-rejection, humanism and demonic influence that they are incapable of knowing the mind of God in decency, honesty and moral effectiveness. We all suffer by decisions of evil men. These godless decisions bring chaos into the community.
[2]. Ineffectiveness of Governments to do what is right by the people. This type of thing has been painfully obvious in recent times by the way the American government (Biden in particular) handled the Afghanistan situation, leaving behind utter chaos. China, Russia, and terrorist groups consider the USA to be weak and leaderless. Biden’s stupidity left 85 billion dollars worth of military equipment in Afghanistan, now in the hands of terrorists, and this will feed world terrorism. It is the greatest tragedy and stupidity in America’s military history and the greatest boost terrorism has ever had. The Taliban now have a very strong air force.
For what it is worth, I do not know why the USA and other western countries ever go into Moslem countries for conflict. You never win in the military sense against Islam. It does not matter how oppressed the people may be; if you liberate them, their loyalty is still to Islam.
[3]. Militarism is polluting the world. Deviant nations are flexing their muscles. The world faces great danger because of Russia, Iran, and especially China. China thinks it is undefeatable and is making moves even now, building up bases on the reefs it took for itself in international waters in the South China Sea. All China’s neighbors are concerned because they are threatened with the loss of their islands and takeovers. Taiwan is in great danger. China is moving towards Kashmir to overcome it and then wants to encroach on Indian territory. They are bold now because the USA has become very weak in their eyes. China has threatened to bomb Australia. That claim was made by their top military man. They want Australia for the coal, uranium, iron ore, and large open spaces.
China will create more and more chaos for the world. China has made a statement that the United States will not defend Taiwan, and that is most ominous.
I think it is unlikely that Americans know what the ANZUS Treaty means. It was a treaty formulated after World War 2 between “Australia – New Zealand – United States” that meant an attack on one of those countries would see immediate response from the other two. That is why Australia has been with the USA in every single war and conflict since WW2. There was a question as to whether Obama would honor that Treaty, and no one now has any confidence in Biden to do so.
[4]. The place of the Chinese virus. This virus is from man but allowed by God. It was a SARS virus strain modified and biologically engineered in a Wuhan laboratory as a biological weapon by China, but it either escaped or was released. What is the purpose of it in God’s ultimate purpose? Well, it has weakened the world to bring chaos into the nations. It is going to help organize the world into one as governments subdue their people more and more under the guise of keeping them safe.
People from the USA have mentioned to me the articles they have read about Australia in their News. Yes, these are mainly true. People are locked down, and this has happened even when there have been just a couple of cases. The State socialist Governments are wanting zero cases, and people have had their freedoms greatly restricted. Sadly, it has so enhanced the powers of the police that a few States have become police states. 5.2 million dollars of fines have been issued since March this year because people have been outside their homes or without a mask. This is a great tragic destruction of a nation. Suicides are rising, an unbelievable number of businesses have gone broke, and people have lost jobs, all because of a “zero tolerance” by governments for the virus.
[5]. Other matters lumped together. Some observations I have noticed. The world’s moral code is corrupt. Without proper functions of a proper morality, people’s lives are thrown into chaos, and there are fractured and meaningless lives. The stock market is currently rising, but is this artificial? Realism will hit the world soon, and chaos will reign in financial markets, I suspect (as I read it – my opinion only). The debt of the USA is unsustainable, and at some point, it must totter.
LASTLY, A WARNING TO CHRISTIANS:
Be very sensible in modern conditions. It is going to be hard for everyone but especially Christians, because we will be rejected and despised by the world. It will not be easy, but the Bible warns us about the last days.
Also, be very careful about interpreting signs in the world wrongly, as I have seen some do. For example, the Afghan situation is NOT Gog and Magog. It has nothing to do with it. Again, hurricanes, floods, fires and other natural disasters have nothing to do with Matthew 24 (or so-called Climate Change – don’t get on that humanism bandwagon) and can’t be interpreted as signs of the last days or the last days of the Church age. There have always been weather events, often much worse in the past in all those categories. There have always been wars.
The problem is that when something a bit different happens, some Christians try to relate it to the Bible and strain to find something that might be connected with it. Don’t do that. Be moderate. There are no signs to happen before the Rapture, not even in the Middle East. There may be hints beginning, such as the drug culture that is in Revelation 9:21 (sorcery is drugs) and the growing power of Iran.
How do we overcome chaos? There is one certain way – Colossians 3:15, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful.”
I have one verse I want to finish with, and it takes us back to the chapter we began with, to Isaiah 24:21; “It will happen in that day, that the LORD will punish the host of heaven on high, and the kings of the earth on earth.” Yes, “in that day” – which is always the prophetic expression for the time of the Tribulation, usually right at the end of it and the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom – The Lord (Jehovah) will punish the host of heaven and the kings of the earth. The kings of the earth are dealt with at Armageddon in Revelation 19, and the host of heaven (demonic host) will be punished at the same time or in the uprising after the Millennial Kingdom. Both groups end up in the lake of fire at the end.
The last line of the hymn stanza I quoted at the top – “Let there be light!” – PRAISE THE LORD, that after all the chaos has run its course and kingdoms rise and fall and become the kingdoms of the Lord and Saviour, then His light, as described in Zechariah 14, will shine forth through the earth when the Messiah reigns as King over all the earth.
EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS!