Isaiah 24:1

Maketh the earth empty. Like all of Isaiah’s prophetic messages, that of ch. 24 was originally addressed to literal Israel and describes the manner in which God would have laid the earth desolate and vanquished the enemies of Israel had the latter proved faithful. But in view of Israel’s unfaithfulness, this prophecy, like others originally made with respect to that nation, will be fulfilled to God’s people today (see pp. 30-36). In Rev. 20 John applies the description of the earth, here given, to its desolate state during the millennium. Isaiah has dealt at length with the judgments of God upon individual nations (chs. 13-23). Now his prophetic vision is lifted to the broad horizon of history as a whole, and in chs. 24-28 he describes the great closing scenes, when God’s people are to be delivered and their foes vanquished. In ch. 24 Isaiah presents a graphic picture of this earth after its kings have been subdued (vs. 21, 22) and before the Lord of hosts reigns “in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem” (v. 23). Turneth it upside down. Literally, “disconcerts its face.” This is a striking description of the terrible convulsions that shake the world at the second coming of Christ (see Ps. 46:1-3, 6, 8; Rev. 6:16; 16:18-20).