Introduction
Isaiah 24 which is commonly referred to as the “Little Apocalypse” is considered to be a scathing future judgement by God of all the nations. The question at hand is whether this message from the prophet is addressing one group of peoples or is addressing the whole world. My contention is that we are looking at the future judgment of the world where we will see devastation as such in the end of times.
Everlasting Covenant While many look at Isaiah 24:27 (NIV) as a covenant that was made between God and humankind at creation there are those with differing opinions. According to Sheldon Greaves, the Isaiah 24-27 is” often identified as the Great Apocalypse because of the scenario of cosmic judgement, in which the earth itself
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It does appear that this covenant in question is made for all of God’s people as John Oswalt proclaims, “thus while the eternal covenant may have specific reference to the Noachic covenant in Gen. 9-1-17, with its prohibition of bloodshed, its broader reference is to the implicit covenant between creator and creature, in which the Creator promises abundant life in return for the creatures living according to the norms laid down at creation.”[4] In this sense we are looking at God’s final judgement on His creation. Professor Yates video presentations are most helpful where he asserts that in “Isaiah 24: 25 God is going to judge the earth and all inhabitants for they have violated the everlasting covenant. This is not a covenant with Israel exclusively, it becomes clear this holds the nations accountable for their blood shed. This covenant is also the basis for judgement of the nations in Amos chapters 1 and 2.” [5]. It is everyone’s dismal failure not to bear responsibility for God’s final judgement. The remaining section of Isaiah 24-7 is where the Prophet moves from oracles to citing the displeasure of God. Sweeney states that, Isaiah 13-23 “catalogues the burden of the nations, including Israel and chapters 24-27 bring this section to a climax.”[6] They explain how the final, universal judgment will come upon the world. As Sweeney
Because of a decision made out of complacency—not driving the Canaanites out of Israel—four-hundred years were spent in a cycle they could not escape, or perhaps, weren’t willing to. In Judges 2:3, God tells the Israelites that the remaining inhabitants would be a “thorn in your sides” and that “their gods share be a snare to you.” The Israelites should have expected this, they knew the land was for God’s nation and His people alone. A single disobedient choice made by the people haunted their natio...
Covenant according in bible's point of view is a promise made by God to man. According to the book of Genesis, Chapter 6 Verse 13, as a result of human's disobedient and evil ways on earth, God had planned to put an end to humanity with flood. The covenants between God and Noah was established in Genesis Chapter 9 Verse 11. God promised Noah and his descendants, never again would he destroy the earth by flood of water because of the pleasant sacrifice offered to God by Noah. God also confirmed his covenant by putting up signs in the sky in the form of a rainbow. The reason Noah and his family weren’t destroyed in the flood was because Noah found grace in God's sight. What this means is that God do not establish any kind of covenant with just anyone. Clearly Abel, Noah and Abraham were unshakable, upright and obedient towards God’s command.
Scholars agree that the words in this oracle speak prophetically, words from the mouth of God at a time yet to be where people stand before God as He holds them accountable for their actions and intentions. This prophetic nature of this psalm is one characteristic that Delitzsch says distinguishes it as Asaphic. John Phillips goes so far as to pinpoint this prophecy being fulfilled “after great tribulation, after the battle of Armageddon, prior to the judgment of the nations in the valley of Jehoshaphat”. This seems ambitious, speaking with such specificity, since this judgment has yet to take place and exists in a literary genre full of figurat...
How could a loving God command the killing of the Canaanites? In order to be able to answer this question there are certain causes that need to be considered and that are very important to take into consideration. Let’s look at the situation from God’s point of view in the matter of the destruction of the Canaanite race. Most of my evidence will be found within the Bible and historical record.
When people hear the word Armageddon, a scene of horrific devastation may come to mind. The word holds different meaning for different people. The classical definition of Armageddon form the Bible is from the book of Revelation 16:16 speaks of a final, climactic battle at the time of the Second Coming that is centered at a place in the land of Israel called Armageddon. Because of this, the term Armageddon has come to be used as a shorthand way to label the period of conflict in which the human and spiritual forces of evil on Earth resist Christ as He returns to set up His Millennial Kingdom. (BibleStudy.org, n.d., p. 1) While the contemporary definition is any catastrophically destructive battle as in the first World War was called Armageddon.(WordNet Search , n.d., figure 2) The most wildly accepted definition is that of the Bible but no matter which version you believe in, one thing is for sure. Armageddon is not taken seriously until God shows us just how insignificant we really are.
Isaiah was written before Messiah came, and wanted the people to be ready for when Messiah did come. I believe this passage fits in context with the book in that it serves as both an encouragement and a warning to the people. First, the people should be encouraged that Messiah is indeed coming to save the people. However, I believe Isaiah wrote this passage to warn the people that they needed to prepare themselves for the coming Messiah. Isaiah wrote this knowing that Jesus would be despised by many, and I believe he was trying to tell the people to be in expectance of him, in hopes that they would not turn against their Lord.
In the passage quoted from Jeremiah above, the prophet is predicting that a new covenant would be formed between God and his people, an agreement that would supersede the pact made between Moses and God upon Sinai and at the Red Sea. The first covenant, Jeremiah indicated, would become null and void because of the sins of the Jewish people. The new covenant would absolve these sins and reaffirm God's fidelity to his people.
After God abandons Assyria as His rod at the end of Isaiah chapter 10, in the beginning of Isaiah chapter 11, God will raise up a shoot from the stump of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1). This shoot from the stump of Jesse is personified as He and this Person is endowed with the Spirit of the Lord in Isaiah 11:2. He will provide justice for all. His reign will be characterized with righteousness and faithfulness (Isaiah 11:3-5). This reign of righteousness and faithfulness leads to many profound impacts and drastic changes to the whole creation. The hostilities between predators and preys, b...
...o I have created…’” (Gen. Ch 6, line 12) God tells this to Noah, explaining that he will end the lives of all in order to cleanse the land. The Hebrew belief that their god had the power to end all forced the people to be fearful and respect their covenant with the lord.
...edge of Good and Evil did indeed produce the lustful Fall of Man, but it was in Christ that God fulfilled the covenant. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (King James Version, 1 Cor. 15.22).
The Christian Apocalypse, also known as the end of the world is described in great detail by the Book of Revelation. Revelations is one of the most famous End of the World stories. The book itself is the last book in the bible, and is described as a scroll with seven wax seals. In the myth as the scroll unravels, a series of events unfolds. This begins with many wars, famines, diseases, and other heavenly signs to alert the world that the apocalypse is here. After series of natural disasters, a political ruler called the Antichrist will appear and will take control over the entire earth.
An everlasting covenant is a promise from God that is characterized as eternal. Charles Spurgeon describes the significance of a covenant as, “the only ladder, which reaches from earth to heaven.” Covenants have historically connected to many passages all throughout the Old Testament; however, eternal covenant is mentioned in the New Testament as well (NIV, Hebrews 13:20). The reason eternal covenant is only mentioned once in the New Testament is because the Blood of the Lamb is the only needed element, as the work of the cross covers all sins for all people. An example of an Old Testament covenant is the Noahic Covenant , which is still significant today, is God’s promise to never flood the earth again (NIV, Genesi...
Even though God saw people as evil, he wanted to show his grace. He wanted to separate certain people in the world as His chosen people. “He wanted a chosen people: 1. To whom He might entrust the Holy Scriptures. 2. To be His witness to the other nations. 3. Through whom the promised Messiah could come” (Mears 47). This covenant is made between God and Abram. This covenant marks the beginning history of Israel, God’s chosen people.
The Bible has a large amount of stories about war and destruction. Some of the stories are historical writings, but not all. God of the bible is omniscient and God uses this to give humanity a unique look into our future. The stories of destruction that this paper will look at are some of the future visions given to humanity by God. The apocalyptic literature are the recorded visions given to believers and they are used to warn people of the impending doom of the world. The bible takes different approaches to the same topic in order to make the message fully know.
Covenant has a central place in the Christian religion. It is a relationship between us and God created by a pledge in which part has defined responsibilities. The type of covenant we are in with God is suzerainty. This simply means that God is our master and we are his slaves. Too many there might be a bad connotation in the master-slave analogy. However, I embrace the fact that god is my master and I am His slave. He will never do anything to harm me, knows my needs, will provide for me, and He loves me unconditionally. That is way different compared to the way slaves were treated by their human masters.