Other Passages from the Old Testament    115 

     The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled; for the L

ORD

has spoken this word. The earth mourns and withers, the world languishes 

and withers; the heavens languish together with the earth. The earth lies 

polluted under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated 

the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant.  (Isaiah 24:3 5). 

    After describing the utter desolation which will come upon the earth, God 

explains the reason: because people have sinned so very much. When people 

are holy, not only they, but also other people and the environment around 

them benefit. But when people sin, many people suffer and even nature is 

harmed. 

     Therefore a curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their 

guilt; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched, and few men are 

left.  (Isaiah 24:6). 

    The people suffer because of their sins. Clearly, Holy Scripture is saying 

that these sufferings are a punishment from God. 

     They lift up their voices, they sing for joy; over the majesty of the L

ORD

they shout from the west. Therefore in the east give glory to the L

ORD

; in 

the coastlands of the sea, to the name of the L

ORD

, the God of Israel.  

(Isaiah 24:14 15). 

    In the middle of this vast suffering, punishment, and desolation is a bright 

spot: true holiness and joy to God. Thus there will be, even during this time 

of grave evil, a remnant of holy people who have remained faithful to God 

without compromise. They sing for joy at God's holy plan for His people. 

    The great punishment which will come upon the earth is an act of God's 

Justice. Praise be to God for punishing the wicked and the merciless! When 

God visits His Justice on the unrepentant, it is a blessing of mercy on the 

faithful. 

     The earth is utterly broken, the earth is rent asunder, the earth is 

violently shaken. The earth staggers like a drunken man, it sways like a hut; 

its transgression lies heavy upon it, and it falls, and will not rise again.  

(Isaiah 24:19 20). 

    The earth will be torn, broken, and shaken. The comparison of the earth 

to a staggering drunken man and a swaying hut means that the earth will 

wobble on its axis. The spin of the earth will become uneven. This will cause 

great changes and turmoil in nature and among men. 

    Now, when we observe the stars, they appear to travel across the sky in 

arcs or circles because of the spin of the earth. In that future time, because of 

the uneven spin of the earth, the stars will appear to travel in uneven, 

wandering paths across the night sky. 

    This uneven spin of the earth will cause the oceans to shift their positions 

drastically. Huge areas of land and entire countries will be deluged and