Isaiah 3: Fulfilled During the End Times?

The prophet Isaiah utilized the term “in that day” in many of his prophecies. The following table lists the verses where the term “in that day” appears in the Book of Isaiah:

Isaiah 31:7	Isaiah 52:6	Isaiah 4:1-2	Isaiah 5:30
Isaiah 27:1-2, 12-13	Isaiah 28:5	Isaiah 29:18	Isaiah 30:23
Isaiah 23:15	Isaiah 24:21	Isaiah 25:9	Isaiah 26:1
Isaiah 17:4, 9	Isaiah 19:16, 18-19, 21, 23-24	Isaiah 20:6	Isaiah 22:8, 12, 20, 25
Isaiah 7:18, 21, 23	Isaiah 10:20, 27	Isaiah 11:10-11	Isaiah 12:1, 4
Isaiah 2:11, 17, 20	Isaiah 3:7, 18

The term “in that day” in the Book of Isaiah almost always refers to the end times. For instance, the term “in that day” refers to the Day of the Lord in Isaiah 2:11-12:

“(11) The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. (12) For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:” (Isaiah 2:11-12)

The term “in that day” appears twice in Isaiah 3. The two verses where the term “in that day” appears are shown below:

“In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.” (Isaiah 3:7)

“In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,” (Isaiah 3:18)

Although these verses include the term “in that day”, the Bible commentaries I’ve read about Isaiah 3 assume that the chapter primarily concerns the past. Given the appearance of the term “in that day” in Isaiah 3, I decided to examine the chapter to see whether the chapter primarily concerns the past or may be relevant to understanding the future.

After much study, I will explain why Isaiah 3 may help us to better understand the end times in this article.

Isaiah 2

Isaiah 2 is a chapter that I strongly believe concerns the end times because it references the “last days”, the “Day of the Lord”, includes the term “in that day”, and parallels passages like Revelation 6:15-16. The parallel between Isaiah 2 and Revelation 6 is shown in the following passages:

“(2) And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it…(10) Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. (11) The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. (12) For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:…(19) And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” (Isaiah 2:2, 10-12, 19)

“(15) 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; (16) 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: (17) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)

The reason I mention Isaiah 2 in an article about Isaiah 3 is that many Bible commentators believe that the beginning of Isaiah 3 is a continuation of Isaiah 2:

• Man divided the Bible into verses and chapters to make it easier to find and reference Scripture quickly. However, the end of a chapter does not necessarily mean that the telling of a prophecy has ended. For more on the division of the Bible into verses and chapters, you can access the following article from Got Questions: Link

(2:19) And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (2:20) In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats; (2:21) To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (2:22) Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? (3:1) For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, (3:2) The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, (3:3) The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. (3:4) And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.” (Isaiah 2:19-22, 3:1-4)

The connection between Isaiah 2 and Isaiah 3 is a reason to view Isaiah 3 as a chapter that has potential end time relevance beyond the fact that the term “in that day” appears twice in the chapter.

Isaiah 3 and Ezekiel 7

Another thing to consider is that there are some significant parallels between Isaiah 3 and Ezekiel 7, a chapter I believe may have significant end times implications. The first significant parallel is both chapters mention that the Lord will judge and punish His people.

The Lord Judges	Recompense the Wicked
Isaiah 3:11-15: (11) Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. (12) As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. (13) The LORD standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people. (14) The LORD will enter into judgment with the ancients of his people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses. (15) What mean ye that ye beat my people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
Ezekiel 7:3-4, 8: (3) Now is the end come upon thee, and I will send mine anger upon thee, and will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations. (4) And mine eye shall not spare thee, neither will I have pity: but I will recompense thy ways upon thee, and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee: and ye shall know that I am the LORD…(8) Now will I shortly pour out my fury upon thee, and accomplish mine anger upon thee: and I will judge thee according to thy ways, and will recompense thee for all thine abominations.

The second significant parallel is both chapters mention that the religious elite and political elite will be targeted with punishment:

Religious Elite	Political Elite
Isaiah 3:1-6: (1) For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, (2) The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, (3) The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. (4) And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. (5) And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. (6) When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
Ezekiel 7:26-27: (26) Mischief shall come upon mischief, and rumour shall be upon rumour; then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients. (27) The king shall mourn, and the prince shall be clothed with desolation, and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled: I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

The third parallel is both chapters allude to the downfall of the people via a military attack:

“(8) For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory…(25) Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. (26) And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.” (Isaiah 3:8, 25-26)

“(11) Violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness: none of them shall remain, nor of their multitude, nor of any of theirs: neither shall there be wailing for them…(23) Make a chain: for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence…(25) Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none.” (Ezekiel 7:11, 23, 25)

Isaiah 3 to Isaiah 4

A final item to consider is that the end of Isaiah 3 appears to not be the end of the focus on the women of Jerusalem (the daughters of Zion) “in that day”. Isaiah 4:1 continues the focus on the women while using the term “in that day”. This is noteworthy because the term “in that day” has future connotations in Isaiah 4.

“(3:16) Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: (3:17) Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret parts. (3:18) In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, (3:19) The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, (3:20) The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, (3:21) The rings, and nose jewels, (3:22) The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, (3:23) The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. (3:24) And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. (3:25) Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. (3:26) And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground. (4:1) And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. (4:2) In that day shall the branch of the LORD be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. (4:3) And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem:” (Isaiah 3:16-26, 4:1-3)

The potential for Isaiah 3 to have end times implications is important because the chapter may serve as an additional piece to understanding the end times siege of Jerusalem mentioned in passages like Zechariah 12:1-2 and Isaiah 51:17 onward. In addition, the chapter may shed some light into why Jerusalem is referred to as “the great city, which is spiritually is called Sodom” in Revelation 11:8. The sin of Jerusalem’s people is compared to the sin of Sodom in Isaiah 3:9.

“(8) For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. (9) The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.” (Isaiah 3:8-9)

“And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.” (Revelation 11:8)

I hope article was useful in any way for you. Feel free to comment if you have any thoughts about this topic or any other topic. If you would like to learn more about the end time siege of Jerusalem, click this link for an article about the topic: When Jerusalem Will Be Attacked During the End Times?