Isaiah 24:23 - Printer Friendly

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.

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.

Isaiah 24:17–23 clarifies that nobody will escape the terror of God's judgment in the end times. Massive earthquakes will bring an end to it all. The Lord will gather all who stood against Him and lock them up before beginning His rule as king on earth.

Isaiah describes terrible judgment the Lord will bring on the earth during the final days. The Lord will twist the surface of the earth, scattering the people. All will suffer equally regardless of status, and the earth will be fully emptied. Everything will wither and languish. The Lord will do this because of human sinfulness against Him. Few will survive, and there will be no wine, music, or gladness. The only exception to this will be the singing of those who praise the Lord. Massive earthquakes will destroy the earth, and the Lord will lock up all who stood against Him before beginning His reign as king.

Chapter 24 follows the oracles of Isaiah against the nations in chapters 13–23. However, this prophecy is against the entire earth. Here, we find the description of the judgment of the Lord on all humanity during the last days. God will destroy the world in response to human sinfulness. He will ruin the face of the earth, causing people to scatter. Few will survive. Wine, music, and gladness will disappear. Earthquakes will destroy the earth. The Lord will gather the powers from heaven and earth and lock them up together before beginning His reign on earth.

Isaiah is among the most important prophetic books in the entire Bible. The first segment details God's impending judgment against ancient peoples for sin and idolatry (Isaiah 1—35). The second part of Isaiah briefly explains a failed assault on Jerusalem during the rule of Hezekiah (Isaiah 36—39). The final chapters predict Israel's rescue from Babylonian captivity (Isaiah 40—48), the promised Messiah (Isaiah 49—57), and the final glory of Jerusalem and God's people (Isaiah 58—66).