After the Lord judges the Edomites, the Desert Animals will flourish.
The day after the coming judgment, the desert animals will begin to retake control of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom.
All of Bible prophecy converges into one major point of conflict. This chapter is a summary of that conflict point. All the prophets and prophecies point to this outcome. I could ignore it and talk about daisies and butterflies but that would be unfaithful to the text of God’s Word. We find that the day of the Lord is written about throughout the Bible, it’s unavoidable if we are honest. Some people want to keep talking about daisies, butterflies, or other topics that make everyone feel good. But there are many of us who are willing to face the cold hard facts. The Bible tells us about a dreadful ending to this trainwreck. It’s been a great ride, we’ve ridden through some beautiful scenery, but there is a crash coming at the end of the tracks.
The coming train wreck
At the end of this chapter, the writer challenges the reader to make an investment in themselves. He tells the reader to check the facts and see if what he is saying isn’t exactly what the Bible has been saying all along. The end is coming. We’ve had a 6,000-year warning if you prefer the Bible’s timeline. If you like Darwin’s timeline the warning is stretched out to about 4 billion years.
Whatever calendar you use you have been warned, and so have I.
I covered the first ten verses of Isaiah’s summary of the day of the Lord in a previous article. (See here.) In the opening portion of this chapter, Isaiah paints a very ugly picture, in graphic words, of the coming apocalypse. Just below, we see the last three verses of that section.
Isa 34:8-10
For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion. Its streams shall be turned into pitch, and its dust into brimstone; its land shall become burning pitch. It shall not be quenched night or day; its smoke shall ascend forever. From generation to generation it shall lie waste; no one shall pass through it forever and ever.
Isaiah was describing the time that many scholars call the great tribulation. The Bible refers to this time using several different phrases. We see it called the Day-of-the-Lord or the Time-of-Jacob’s-trouble, or the day-of-vengeance. Whatever words we use, it will be a time of unbelievable devastation. The book of Revelation describes a series of devastating events. The seals, trumpets, and bowls of God’s wrath are unleashed upon the inhabitants of the world. Follow these links to take you to the trumpets and bowls. (Revelation 8 and 16).
Isaiah 34:11 Pelican, screech owl, hedgehog, it’s all the same.
“But pelican and hedgehog will possess it, And owl and raven will dwell in it, and He will stretch over it the line of desolation And the plumb line of emptiness.”
I won’t try to pinpoint the particular desert animals these verses refer to. I’ve provided a few pictures for guidance but most Bible scholars and translations vary widely as to what animals are correctly identified. Suffice it to say that much of the desert will return to a wild animal kingdom. Humans will be an afterthought once the fires of God’s wrath die away. The animals that can survive in the harsh climate will slowly return.
Isaiah 34:12 The people of Saudi Arabia are the descendants of Esau
“Its nobles– there is no one there Whom they may proclaim king– And all its princes will be nothing.”
The royal family, the Shieks of the desert kingdom of Saudi Arabia will pass into the dustbowl of history. The descendants of Esau will pay a heavy price for never giving up their hatred of the Jewish people. They have recently begun to negotiate peaceful relations with Israel. But that isn’t because they love the Jews. No, the real reason is that they fear the Persians. That’s Iran. Saudi Arabia fears the reach of Iran and their military might. Israel, by far, is the strongest nation in the region. Israel’s best friend is the United States. Saudi Arabia is playing the smart hand by cozying up to Israel and the United States.
Things will change in the future. Iran will suffer a crushing military defeat. (see here.) Another problem will arise after the defeat of Iran. (see here.)
Isaiah 34:13 The towers will be left to the weeds
“Thorns will come up in its fortified towers, nettles, and thistles in its fortified cities; It will also be a haunt of jackals And an abode of ostriches.”
The towers and the fortresses they guarded will become overwhelmed by thorns and weeds. Today we can equate those towers with the city of Riyad and the military equipment supplied by the United States, Europe, and Russia. It will be left in ruin and the animals will live there.
Isaiah 34:14 A night monster will settle in the desert.
“The desert creatures will meet with the wolves, The hairy goat also will cry to its kind; Yes, the night monster will settle there And will find herself a resting place.”
Creatures, wolves, goats, and something known as “the night monster,” will populate the regions of southern Jordan to the lower regions of Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Most of the animals mentioned in these verses are a little hard to decipher in the original languages and the available manuscripts. The topography and climate haven’t changed much in the previous several thousand years. The wildlife is essentially the same. We can expect that the animals pictured here will be the kings and queens of the Saudi desert in the future. The desert is a harsh climate now. The day of vengeance will make it extremely harsh. Humanity will find it too harsh and leave it for the animals.
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Isaiah 34:15 Desert animals like the hawk and snake will gather.
“The tree snake will make its nest and lay eggs there, And it will hatch and gather them under its protection. Yes, the Hawks will be gathered there, Every one with its kind.”
The snakes will lay their eggs and hawks will gather. The Edomite descendants, primarily from Saudi Arabia, currently rule the deserts of Edom. Their rule will end after the time of judgment the prophet described in the first ten verses of this chapter.
Isaiah 34:16 Look in the Book of The Lord.
“Seek from the book of the LORD, and read: Not one of these will be missing; None will lack its mate. For His mouth has commanded, And His Spirit has gathered them.”
Look for your Bible if you can find it. Where does the Bible rank among your things of importance? It should rank high. I must be honest regarding this question. My Bible is close at hand, but I use online Bibles and resources more often when I’m doing my research and articles. But Isaiah challenges us to get our Bibles out and look these things up for ourselves.
Not one of the Bible’s prophecies will fail to come true. The Lord commanded and His Spirit directed. The prophets wrote the words. It’s our responsibility to read and respond.
Isaiah 34:17 The lots have been cast.
“He has cast the lot for them, And His hand has divided it to them by line. They shall possess it forever; From generation to generation they will dwell in it.”
For centuries, the casting of lots has been the preferred method of decision-making in Middle Eastern cultures. Thus, we know the future. We find the secret to knowing the future in the words of a popular Sunday school song. “The Bible tells me so.”
The desert animals will own the deserts of Saudi Arabia in the future. From generation to generation they will flourish. The Edomites of old, the descendants of Esau, will perish from the history of men.
Cute desert animals
Let me know what you think.