Isaiah 13:13Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Thus, He will arrive to dismantle all things for you to comprehend His majesty, revealing that He could have chosen to come in the same manner previously. If the ends of the earth are within His control and as He gazes upon the world, it trembles (Psalm 103:32), what astonishment should we expect when He returns to transform all creation? The fury of the Lord of hosts will be felt by souls, as they encounter His wrath.

This is because creation, too, rises up against the unhinged, acting in concert when the Lord is dishonored; all things are under the ultimate authority of God, and there is nothing in existence that does not, albeit unwillingly, comply with divine commands.

The divine wrath of heaven can be understood through the terrifying celestial occurrences that will befall the condemned: when the stars will dim, the sun will lose its light, the moon will cease to shine, when flashes of lightning will strike, thunder will roar, and the sky will darken above, unleashing relentless anguish upon those destined for wrath. The creation, serving the Creator, bears the strain of the punishment of the wicked, yet it draws strength from the grace extended to those who have faith in Him. This stems from the intensity of the Lord's anger. Scripture frequently refers to this divine wrath as a type of incense, representing the consuming fire of punishment for evil actions. The earth will tremble at its very core. The prophet indicates that this earthquake will not be minor or commonplace, as is typical with regular tremors; rather, it will fundamentally shake the foundations of the earth and alter the very structure of the world. These foundations are beyond human comprehension, as the Lord illustrates to Job, asking him: Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare it, if you possess understanding. Who determined its measurements, or who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its bases set, or who laid its cornerstone? (Job 38:4-6).

Is it not consistent with the notions of the worldly wise that the Lord established the earth's foundations at the center of the world so that the earth, equidistant from the heavens in every direction, stands securely and is balanced? If the earth is firmly anchored, then its displacement from these foundations would evidently signify its removal from its support. Since it is characteristic of sentient beings to become incensed, some have speculated that heaven possesses a form of consciousness and can become angry alongside the Lord. However, this notion is a fabrication. The Scriptures often refer to heaven and heavenly beings with varied names, similar to how we speak of a city collectively. For instance, we say the whole city came out and the city approached the leader—this reflects our understanding of the residents of the city. Likewise, the heavens are said to be incensed when the celestial Powers recognize the reality of God's wrath. Just as there is rejoicing in heaven when one sinner repents (cf. Luke 15:10), so too is there mourning and sorrow over those who, through their sins, have turned away from the Creator.

In addition, it is declared that I will cause the heavens to be agitated, and the earth will be unsettled. The Septuagint states that the heavens will rage, and the earth will be moved from its base. When humanity holds more value than gold, even than the purest gold, and when it is fulfilled what is written, "Do you think that the Son of man will come and find faith on earth?" then both heaven and earth will be shaken. For heaven and earth will pass away, not of their own accord or free will, as many assume, thinking of them as animate beings, but because of the wrath of the Lord of Hosts and the day of His fury that causes the earth to tremble. Hence, the expression in the Septuagint stating that the heavens shall be enraged should be understood metonymically, referring to the inhabitants of heaven, similar to saying that the entire city cried out or the entire city went forth to meet the judge.

As for the foundations of the earth, we find in Proverbs that God established it with wisdom (Proverbs 3:19), and the Lord asks Job, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?" (Job 38:4) — this is not to imply that the earth has a physical foundation buried deep within a solid mass, but rather that the divine will and power of God, which sustains all things, should be recognized as its foundation. He has established it upon the seas, set it upon the rivers, and suspended it upon nothing (Psalm 23:2; Job 26:7).