Isaiah Chapter 13    

“burden.” The word of the Lord can be a burden to the prophet, and then, when it is spoken, can be a burden to the people. It might have been more clear in English to say “burdensome message” instead of “burden,” but the Hebrew word is “burden.” [For more information on “burden,” see commentary on Malachi 1:1].

“the day of Yahweh is coming.” The Day of Yahweh (“the Day of the LORD”) in this context is also called the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:21; cp. Mark 13:19; Luke 21:22). The Bible speaks of a time coming in the future when people, and even the earth itself, will suffer the consequences of all the sin that has occurred since Adam (Matt. 23:34-35; Luke 11:50-51). This time of great wrath on the earth was spoken about by Jesus Christ (Matt. 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) and is described in much more detail in the book of Revelation. It will be a time of terrible trouble and will end with the Battle of Armageddon, and most of the people on earth will be killed.

According to the prophets, it will be a cruel day, with people becoming scarce as gold (Isa. 13:9-13). The earth will be laid waste with very few people left (Isa. 24:1-23; cp. Isa. 34:2-8). The slain will lie like refuse on the ground, and the leaders will not escape (Jer. 25:29-38). It will be “Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7), and a time of doom for the nations (Ezek. 30:1-3), and a time of distress such as has never been seen before on earth (Dan. 12:1). It will be a time of darkness and gloom (Joel 1:15; 2:1-11). Woe to people who think they are righteous and long for the Day of the Lord as if it would vindicate them because it will not (Amos 5:18-20). People’s evil deeds will return on themselves (Obad. 1:15-16). God, in anger and wrath, will take vengeance on the land and on nations, and destroy witchcraft and idols to the end that there will be no more idolatry (Mic. 5:10-15). It will be a day of wrath, distress, and anguish; a day of trouble, ruin, gloom, and darkness. No one’s wealth will be able to deliver them. God will make a terrible end to the people who dwell in the land. God will sweep away humans, animals, fish, and birds—everything—from the face of the earth (Zeph. 1:2-18). God will shake both the heavens and the earth (Hag. 2:6-7), and that Day will burn like a furnace (Mal. 4:1).

Scripture supports that the Administration of Grace, the Christian Church, will end with the Rapture, and quickly after that the Great Tribulation will begin and last seven years, ending with the Battle of Armageddon and Satan being imprisoned (Rev. 19:11-20:4). Then Jesus Christ will establish his kingdom on earth and will reign from Jerusalem for 1,000 years. At the end of the 1,000 years, there will be a great war and the final judgment (Rev. 20:7-15).

[For more information on the Tribulation, see commentary on Dan. 12:1. For more information on the Rapture, see commentary on 1 Thess. 4:17. For more information on Jesus’ future kingdom on earth, see Appendix 3, “Christ’s Future Kingdom on Earth.” For a basic timeline of End Times events, see commentary on Matt. 25:32.]

“will not give their light.” Revelation 8:12 states that part of the tribulation that comes on the earth in the Last Days will be a time when the sun and stars are darkened. In the biblical culture there were no easy or reliable artificial light sources, and not having light to see by was a disaster, not to mention that without enough light a lot of crops will not grow or grow well.

“punish.” The word is also translated “visit,” but here “punish” is the clearer translation.

[For more on “visit,” see commentary on Exodus 20:5.]