Isaiah 24:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The prophetic word has provided insight into the fate of each of these nations; foreigners, Moabites, the inhabitants of Damascus, Egyptians, desert dwellers, those from Azotus and Idumea, along with Tyre, all fell under the weight of divine wrath. Ultimately, Babylon and the entire region of the Chaldeans faced similar devastation when Cyrus, son of Cambyses and Mandana, incited the Assyrians and Medes against it. The blessed prophet, recounting the calamities that befell each nation due to divine anger, presents a concise overview of all that transpired, equating the ruin of many nations to the destruction of the world itself. Thus, he states: "Behold the Lord will scatter the universe, and will make it desolate, and will open its face." Not merely one or two cities have succumbed, but entire countries and peoples have been lost in this manner. Therefore, he proclaims that he will scatter and desolate the universe, obscuring its face.

As long as the Almighty remains patient and defers His judgment, the lives of the wicked appear concealed, effectively covering the essence of each individual's existence. However, when He unleashes His anger and administers just punishment, then the reality of the punished will be unveiled. Their folly will become evident, confirming the belief that God rewards each one according to their actions. I find it necessary to elaborate on this matter. When the prophet referred to the universe, foretelling its scattering and desolation, some believe this message transcends specific nations, indicating a broader judgment against all creation, predicting the events of the world's end.

Thus, agreeing with the interpretations of such commentators, we must consider a dual understanding of the statements made. He asserts that the universe will be scattered and desolated, with its true state revealed when every individual's deeds—good or bad—are brought to light. This will lead to the devastation of those who inhabit it. If this thought pertains to the nations, it implies that when the referenced countries experienced ruin, their inhabitants were either scattered or taken captive and enslaved by their conquerors, often leaving their homeland for distant lands. Conversely, if it relates to universal judgment, the destruction of those who dwell upon the earth would imply a separation among them, as the Savior clearly articulates: "When the Son of man shall sit upon the throne of his glory: then shall he set the sheep at his right hand, and the goats at his side" (Matt. 25:31, 33). In this context, the prophet's use of "will waste" conveys the meaning of separating those who dwell on the earth.

Initially, it reveals the torment awaiting the unrighteous. According to the Gospel and the Apostle, both heaven and earth, along with the form of this world, shall pass away (Matt. 24; 1 Cor. 7), and the wicked will be led to eternal separation from God (Ps. 30). Of these sinners, it is written that they will descend into the abyss, delivered into ruin, and be numbered among the unworthy (Ps. 62:10). The fate of individuals will mirror their status, whether priest or layman, servant or master, maid or mistress, buyer or seller, lender or borrower, and whether they give or receive interest.

Next, as the Father assigns various mansions based on merit, the saints will be caught up on clouds to meet the Lord in the air, remaining with Him forever (Jn. 14:1-4). Instead of the earth being emptied, the LXX offers the translation that the cosmos is corrupted; and rather than striking its surface, it speaks of uncovering it, allowing the dead to rise from their graves, revealing the hidden deeds of all. Its inhabitants will be scattered, destined for either reward or punishment.

At that time, distinctions such as noble versus ignorant, priest versus layperson, master versus servant, or rich versus poor will hold no significance. All will stand equally before the judgment of Christ, with no favoritism from God (Rom. 14; Col. 3). Job similarly states: “The small and the great are equal, and the servant is free from his master” (Job 3:19). This truth is confirmed by the Savior, to whom all judgment has been entrusted, who elaborates on this in the Gospel.

The earth shall lie in desolation, and through plunder, it will be laid waste, for the Lord has decreed it. Consequently, the land will be devastated, and all earthly deeds will come to nothing, so that when the image of the earthly is destroyed, only the image of the heavenly will remain. For the first man was made from the dust of the ground, and the second man is the Lord from heaven. Just as those who are earthly are of the earth, so those who are heavenly are of heaven. Therefore, let us also wear the image of the heavenly, as many as are clothed in the image of the earthly (1 Cor. 15:47-49).

Thus, the same Apostle expresses that “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Cor. 15:50), not implying that the physical form will be annihilated, but indicating that this decay will be replaced by the incorruptible, and this mortality will be robed in immortality. All these prophecies shall come to fruition, for the Lord has spoken these truths through His prophets.