“Immediately After the Tribulation”
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Would you say this language was talking about something that was literally done in a materialistic way, or would you say that the language is symbolical and represented in celestial language something that would take place? Isaiah 34 is a chapter of symbolical language depicting in principle the awful judgment of God, and illustrated by at least two places to be affected— Idumea and Bozrah (vss. 5–6). God’s anger is against all nations, and His judgment is pictured in this chapter. That it is symbolical language is shown by “the mountains shall be melted with their blood” (vs. 3). In verse 4 God says: And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree (vs. 4). This is identical language as that given in Revelation 6:13–14: And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. It has previously been thought that this passage in Revelation refers to a time in our future, but evidently it does not. It must apply to the judgment and destruction of Israel years ago in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy. Notice the next two verses: And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb (Revelation 6:15–16). How like that passage is what Jesus said in Luke 23:28–30: