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(Rev. 16: 16). The terrible conflict upon earth will be echoed by confusion in the
heavens.
"And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together
as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from a vine, and as a
falling fig from the fig tree" (Isa. 34: 4).
The unprecedented nature of such an event precludes repetition and it therefore
follows that the parallel passages in Matt. 24:, II Peter and Rev. 6: must refer to the
same prophetic period.
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the
moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the
heavens shall be shaken; and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven"
(Matt. 24: 29, 30).
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens
shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth
also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Pet. 3: 10).
"And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great
earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as
blood; and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely
figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is
rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places . . . . . for
the great day of His wrath is come" (Rev. 6: 12-17).
Isa. 34: is a revelation of the day of the Lord, a day of the sword of vengeance and
of indignation.
The word "vengeance" (Heb. naqam) occurs six times in Isaiah. The occurrences are:
A | 34: 8. Idumea and Bozrah.
B | 35: 4. Millennial. Weak, feeble and fearful comforted.
C | 47: 3. Vengeance upon Babylon.
C | 59: 17. Redemption to Zion.
B | 61: 2. Brokenhearted, captives and mourners comforted.
A | 63: 4. Edom and Bozrah.
It is evident that this "day of vengeance" in prophecy is one. We find Jeremiah using
the term with much the same emphasis and precision but introducing the expression "the
vengeance of His Temple". Associated with the word "vengeance" is the word
"recompense". "The year of recompenses for the controversy of Zion" is the extension of
Isa. 34: 8. "Even God with a recompense" is the amplification of Isa. 35: 4. "The
Lord God of recompense shall surely requite", comments Jeremiah at the overthrow of
Babylon (Jer. 51: 56).
The whole prophecy of Isaiah could be threaded upon the name of Zion. Zion is seen
in its desolation, sin and uncleanness (Isa. 1: 8; 3: 16; 4: 4), but it is also seen
glorified, reigned over by the Lord, and saved (Isa. 4: 5; 24: 23; 62: 11). The
language with which the Prophet was inspired to describe the day of judgment in