Isaiah 24:1

24:1–27:13 This section is often referred to as the “Little Apocalypse” because of its similarities to the book of Revelation. In these chapters Isaiah takes readers out of the present into a vision of the future world. The universal imagery of the Little Apocalypse makes it difficult to assign the events described to any precise historical situation. That means that these chapters cannot be used to outline a sequence of events or create a historical blueprint for the future. Instead, the imagery is intended to create an impressionistic drama of an unfolding world that is both like and unlike the present. The combination of aspects of the old era with aspects of the new era (for instance, people of Zion will all be righteous [new], but still long for their redemption [old]) is consistent with the New Testament concept of the future age breaking into and overlapping with the present evil age (2 Cor 4:4; Gal 1:4). Peter, for example, wrote of believers as living in the last days (1 Pet 1:12; 2 Pet 3:3) even though the last day remains yet future (2 Pet 3:10). 24:1-23 Here the judgments described in chs 13–23 are extended to the creation at large. 24:1 destroy the earth and make it a vast wasteland: There is a play here on the Hebrew words baqaq (destroy) and balaq (make a wasteland). The devastation will begin with Judah and be extended to the whole world (see 1 Pet 4:17). • All the earth will be destroyed, the people as well as national political structures.