Verse

Isaiah 24:23

ESV Then the moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, for the Lord of hosts reigns on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and his glory will be before his elders.
NIV The moon will be dismayed, the sun ashamed; for the Lord Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders—with great glory.
NASB Then the moon will be ashamed and the sun be put to shame, For the Lord of armies will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders.
CSB The moon will be put to shame and the sun disgraced, because the Lord of Armies will reign as king on Mount Zion in Jerusalem, and he will display his glory in the presence of his elders.
NLT Then the glory of the moon will wane, and the brightness of the sun will fade, for the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will rule on Mount Zion. He will rule in great glory in Jerusalem, in the sight of all the leaders of his people.
KJV Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
NKJV Then the moon will be disgraced And the sun ashamed; For the Lord of hosts will reign On Mount Zion and in Jerusalem And before His elders, gloriously.

What does Isaiah 24:23 mean?

The Lord's future judgement (Isaiah 24:1–5) will reach a moment of absolute triumph. His defeat of the demonic powers of the heavens and the evil kings of the earth will be without exception. As the rebels await their final punishment in prison, the Lord will bring peace by taking the throne as king of all (Isaiah 24:21–22).

Isaiah's reference to the sun and moon is not another phase of God's wrath. Rather, this uses poetic language to note that even the most glorious lights in the sky will not be able to compare with the glory of the Lord as He appears on earth. His light will outshine all the celestial lights in the sky.

Many scholars and traditions understand this to be the beginning of the Messiah's millennial kingdom. This is a time during which the Messiah will unite the world. In peace, He will rule from Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Isaiah has described this glorious future kingdom repeatedly in his book (Isaiah 2—9) and will return to the subject again (Isaiah 60–66).

Finally, Isaiah speaks the Lord's glory and His "elders." Revelation refers to elders in heaven giving praise and honor to God (Revelation 4:4; 20:4). These will join the Messiah in His throne room on earth, as well.

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