Verse 4: “The voice of a multitude upon the mountains, like that of many people! A tumoultous noise of the kingdoms of the nations gathered together. The Lord of hosts musters the army for battle.”

Voice: A great noise. A large sound.

Multitude: An abundance of people

Mountains: Other governments and authorities. Although this judgment is primarily upon Babylon, it has implications for not only the Babylonian Empire but for other empires or seats of government as well.

Gathered together: The nations are being assembled, gathering together. This verse implies that they are not assembling themselves, but the implication is that God is causing them to come together.

The Lord of hosts musters the army for battle: This is something that has implication beyond Babylon. Some would say that the Lord is bringing the nations to judge Babylon. Historically we know that the Medes and the Persians did gather against Babylon to battle against and defeat them. Although this took place in the past, it foreshadows what is going to be yet in the future – in the last days.


Verse 5: “They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, the Lord and His vessels of wrath, to terrorise the whole land.”

They come: Referring to these armies – both natural armies (far country) and heavenly armies (from the end of heaven).

Terrorise: To bring about destruction or harm. This is a word used in the New Testament (Revelation 7:2) to announce the wrath of God in the last days. This word talks about Divine retribution.

Whole land: Most scholars interpret this to have a broader meaning than just one land. They interpret it to mean the whole earth.

Verse 6: “Howl, the Day of the Lord is near. It will come as destruction from the Almighty.”

Howl: This is a word for lamenting. It is a word that expresses great sorrow and, oftentimes, great pain as well. It is written here as a commandment.

The Day of the Lord: This is the clearest textual evidence that this is referring to the last days.

Almighty: (El) Shaddai. It is a term that refers to God as the One who is enough. The God who is sufficient. The God who is Mighty.

Verse 7: “Therefore every hand will let go, every man’s heart will melt.”

Every hand will let go: We all cling to things – to sin, to what we want etc. When God’s judgment comes, no one will be able to hold on to anything. Letting go implies giving up. It implies defeat.

Verse 8: “And they will be greatly afraid; pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; pain will seize them as a woman in childbirth; A man to his neighbour will be amazed at this; their faces will be like flames.”

Pain… as a woman in childbirth: Their pain will be extreme.

A man to his neighbour: This is an inclusive phrase and means ‘everyone’, there will be no exceptions.

Amazed: Shocked

Their faces will be like flames: When a person is being consumed by flames the expression on his face is one of pure agony and terror. That is what this phrase is implying.

Verse 9: “Behold, the Day of the Lord comes; Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger. To lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it.”

Behold: A word that reminds us of the importance of paying attention. What follows the command to ‘behold’ is always of great significance.

Lay the land desolate: The earth will be given over to destruction.

Destroy its sinners: The sinners on earth are going to be destroyed and removed from earth. This is very reminiscent of what God is going to do in the last days.