Ｉ. Listen you nations (Vs. 1-4)
First let’s look at verses 1 to 4. Please read verse 1. “Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples! Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it!” (1)
Here the Lord is speaking to all the nations, not just Judah. He is speaking an important message that all the people of all the nations need to hear. The message is in verses 2 to 4.
“The LORD is angry with all nations;
His wrath is on all their armies.
He will totally destroy them,
He will give them over to slaughter.
Their slain will be thrown out,
Their dead bodies will stink;
The mountains will be soaked with their blood.
All the stars in the sky will be dissolved
And the heavens rolled up like a scroll;
All the starry host will fall
Like withered leaves from the vine,
Like shriveled figs from the fig tree.”
There will come a time when the Lord will be “angry with all the nations” (2) and his wrath will be “on all their armies.” (2) That will be during the tribulation which the end of the world will bring. It is when God’s wrath will be poured out upon the world of sin which rejected Christ. The detailed account of this is in Rev. 6 to 19. “He will totally destroy them, he will give them over to slaughter” (2) was in Isaiah’s age God’s judgment upon Assyria. However, at the same time it refers to the final war of mankind at the end of the world. In Hebrew the place where this is will occur is called Armageddon and in Hebrew, the hill of Megiddo so it is called the Battle of Armageddon. The Lord’s army will totally destroy” (2) all the evil forces that oppose him. Then in the end the Lord will “totally destroy” (2) His enemy, Satan and will have victory. Then “their slain will be thrown out, their dead bodies will stink; the mountains will be soaked with their blood.” (3)
That’s not all. Please look at verse 4. “All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll; all the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.”
“All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll.” (4) This is an interesting expression. Before in World War II when the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, it looked like there was a mushroom cloud in the air and high in the sky it was rolled up like a scroll. The heaven will be “rolled up like a scroll.” (4) In the war that will be on a world wide scale that will come in the course of time such nuclear bombs will probably be used. Such mushroom clouds may occur. “All the starry host will fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.” (4) This may mean that planets and or meteorites will fall. At that time many different things will shrivel and “fall like withered leaves from the vine, like shriveled figs from the fig tree.” (4)
All this will come about because man sinned. According to Genesis 3:17 when the first man, Adam and Eve sinned this world was cursed. Because they sinned the whole world including nature was cursed. Therefore, of course, it is important that we work for global environment, but for this earth to be restored to its perfect condition God had to solve this problem of sin and recreate a completely new environment. This will be at the Lord’s second coming when the new kingdom of God is established, the Millennium. Romans 8:19 says, “For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” This is at Jesus’ second coming. “Creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.” (Romans 8:19) because at that time, the world that is dirtied by sin will be innovated, and a completely new world will be created.
All nations, all peoples must hear this message. This is a warning of God to all those who oppose God. Therefore, you as God’s people must humble yourself before the sovereign ruler, the creator of the entire world, and worship only Him, giving Him all the glory and praise, and thanksgiving. For you what does it mean to throw away your own thinking and follow the will of God?

II. God’s judgment on Edom (Vs. 5-15)
Next let’s look at verses 5 to 15. I will read verse 5. “My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens; see, it descends in judgment on Edom, the people I have totally destroyed.”
Here is talking about God’s judgment on Edom. The Edomites are the descendants of Esau. Esau was the older brother of Jacob’s twins. Esau was the older brother and Jacob was the younger brother. The area that they lived in was called Edom. God’s wrath is poured out upon Edom. The reason is given in verse 8, “For the LORD has a day of vengeance, a year of retribution, to uphold Zion’s cause.” Edom was an enemy of God’s people, Israel. The retribution is to uphold Israel’s cause. As you know Esau was the eldest son, but his heart was absorbed with fleshly things. He gave away his rights as the eldest son to his younger brother, Jacob. For only one bowl of soup, he sold his important rights as the eldest son. He himself renounced God’s blessings. As a result, God says, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (Romans 9:13) Since Esau, the Edomites, became God’s enemies. They became the enemies of Israel. In the age that Isaiah lived too, the Edomites invaded and attacked Israel. Also in the New Testament the story of King Herod who was an Idumaean, in order to kill Jesus who was born as a king of Judah, slaughtered all Jewish boys under the age of 2 living in Jerusalem appears. In reality Idumaeans were Edomites. Edomites later came to be called Idumaeans. He tried to kill Christ. He opposed God. The Edomites while being a relative of God’s people, Israel, they opposed them. In other words, Edom is a pronoun for those who oppose God. Towards such an Edom God says that he is going to take “vengeance”. (8)
How God is going to take “vengeance” is written in verses 9 and 10. “Edom’s streams will be turned into pitch, her dust into burning sulfur; her land will become blazing pitch! It will not be quenched night or day; its smoke will rise forever. From generation to generation it will lie desolate; no one will ever pass through it again.”
Edom is geographically located in present day northern Saudi Arabia so there is enormous amount of crude oil there. However, if the pipeline that brings the crude oil broke then it would really be a sea of fire. “It will not be quenched night or day.” (10) We will see a really fearful situation with our eyes.
Moreover, if you look at verses 11 and 12 you will see that it will become completely wasteland. “The desert owl and screech owl will possess it. The great owl and the raven will nest there. God will stretch out over Edom the measuring line of chaos and the plumb line of desolation. Her nobles will have nothing there to be called a kingdom, all her princes will vanish away.” It will be completely ruined.
That’s not all. Verses 13 to 15 say, “Thorns will overrun her citadels, nettles and brambles her strongholds. She will become a haunt for jackals, a home for owls. Desert creatures will meet with hyenas, and wild goats will bleat to each other; there the night creatures will also lie down and find for themselves places of rest. The owl will nest there and lay eggs, she will hatch them, and care for her young under the shadow of her wings; there also the falcons will gather, each with its mate.” Jackals and owls are representative of animals that live in ruins. What a dismal change sin makes; it turns a fruitful land into barrenness, a frequented city into a wasteland. “Wild goats” are also representative of animals that live in ruins. They were also worshipped as idols and were associated with demons. Therefore, this is a prophecy that Edom will not only be completely ruined, but evil forces and demons will make their home there. This all happens because they opposed God. Those who oppose God and those powers will become like Edom. They will be completely ruined.
God will take vengeance upon all who oppose God. Therefore, we must not oppose God. If we oppose God we will become like Edom. In Genesis 12:3 God promises to bless those who bless Abraham and curse those who curse Abraham. Therefore, let’s bless Abraham. We must never curse him. We must not be like Esau and for our own desires love the things of this world. We must love God and love God’s people, Christians.
Romans 8:31-34
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) The important thing is whether we are on God’s side or not or if God is on our side or not. That must always be our biggest concern. If God is on our side, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) We have nothing to fear.
Therefore, what we should be concerned about is how we can be for God, how we can always follow God’s will. To follow God is to follow the will of God. To do that we must look to the Bible. Read the Bible. Moreover not only just keep reading, but it is important to apply it. When we follow the Word of God, live the Word of God, we are for God. Also we can have assurance that God is on our side.

III. The reliable Word of the Lord (Vs. 16,17)
Lastly let’s look at verses 16 and 17.
Verses 16 & 17
“The scroll of the LORD” (16) is the Bible. It is o.k. to say that this is especially the Prophets. It says to “look in the scroll of the LORD and read.” (16) If you “look in the scroll of the LORD and read: None of these will be missing.” (16) You will realize that nothing is missing. You will see that entire prophecy is fulfilled with nothing missing. That is because “it is his mouth that has given the order, and his Spirit will gather them together.” (16) Man didn’t write it, but the Lord gave the order and it was written. In other words, it is the Word of God. In reality the prophet Isaiah wrote it, but he didn’t just write it by himself. He wrote it by God’s powerful leading and with the Holy Spirit’s strength. It was not by his own wisdom and knowledge, but by the Lord’s order he was given inspiration and wrote it.
II Peter 1:20, 21

“No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.” (II Peter 1:20) They “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (II Peter 1:21) Therefore, we believe that the Bible is God’s Word. It is the center of the Protestant faith. Within the church it’s o.k. for there to be various differences, but there is one thing that can’t be different. That is that the Bible is the Word of God. Therefore, the Bible is the guidepost of our faith. For us what is important is what is written in the Bible, what the Bible is saying. It is not important what someone said or what you think, but what is important is what the Bible says, and what that means.
Every time I read the Bible especially when I read Isaiah I think that no matter how you look at it man definitely didn’t write it. Morally and logically the same type of things are written in some degree in religious books and various sacred books, but when it comes to prophecy, you can see something that you definitely can’t see in other religious books and sacred books. Even if you can see it, it proves to be wrong. December 21st of last year was by the Maya calendar the last day of the world. Because of that there was chaos in the world, but unfortunately this prophecy was wrong. The Bible wasn’t written by man. It is the Word of God. It is by men who “spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (II Peter 1:21)
There are some people that don’t believe in the Bible or think it is a made up story, but such people in fact haven’t read the Bible. Even if they have read the Bible they haven’t really looked at it well。If they had read it well, they would be without fail taken back by the amazing content of the prophecy and also by the fact that until now in history that word has definitely been fulfilled. They would give the assurance that this is really the Word of God.
In fact, after this in Isaiah 36 to 39 the historical realities that occurred during Isaiah’s age are recorded. Isaiah is all together 66 chapters, but chapters 36 to 39 that close the first half record the historical realities. This is to show that what Isaiah prophesized really occurred. In other words Jerusalem was completely surrounded by Assyria, but by God’s supernatural intervention in one night 185,000 people fell. What Isaiah said was really fulfilled. This shows that the things that are to occur at the end of the world will really be fulfilled. He said at the end of the world there will be tribulation, the battle of Armageddon, and the Millennium will be established, but for those who don’t know the Bible this is mere wind. They can’t believe it at all. However, these things will definitely occur. The prophecy of the Bible will definitely be fulfilled. Nothing “will be missing”. (16) Therefore, we must “Look in the scroll of the LORD and read.” (16) We must read the Bible in detail.

This year let’s read the whole Bible. Using devotional guides and attending Sunday services and prayer meetings are also helpful. If you use such things and read the Bible in detail, you will be able to realize the deepness of the Biblical meaning many times over.
Of course if you think you already know the Bible very well, you will be in a stand still so you won’t be able to move forward. No matter how much you have studied, it is important to always have an attitude of freshly listening to the Word of God, humble yourself, and follow the Lord.
I Peter 1:23
This “seed” (I Peter 1:23) is “not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God..” (I Peter 1:23) This Word will give you life and you will changed into a new life.
Do you know the Oga lotus flower at the Chiba Natural Memorial Museum? The flower was a seed from a lotus of 2000 years ago which miraculously sprouted and bloomed. 2000 year ago is an incredibly long time. When it was found, it was like a hard rock. It was thought that it didn’t have any life in it. 2 of the 3 seeds failed, but 1 seed sprouted, bloomed and bore fruit. There was life in the seed. When the environment is right it will sprout and grow and the flower will bloom and it will bear fruit. That is what Shinichiro Oga discovered so it is called Oga lotus flower. Now it is being sold as a seed that carries happiness to people.
Peter understood that we “have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable.” (I Peter 1:23) The reason that Christians have eternal life is because God’s seed, the Word of God has life. The seed is planted in man, and it sprouts. How great! To be born again is like this. It is “through the living and enduring word of God.” (I Peter 1:23) If we “Look in the scroll of the Lord and read” (16) if we read in detail, in the course of time the seed will sprout, and flowers will bloom abundantly.
It’s possible that that sprout hasn’t sprouted in you. Maybe you still haven’t seen any change. However, in the course of time that seed will definitely sprout, a beautiful flower will bloom, and you will bear fruit. That’s because it is “through the living and enduring word of God.” (I Peter 1:23) Therefore, let’s “Look in the scroll of the Lord and read” (16) Let’s read in detail. The Words that were spoken by Isaiah will definitely occur. Let’s read in detail the Word’s that God spoke and seek to walk in the will of God.