Isaiah 13:16
16 Their children [`owlel] also shall be dashed to pieces [ratash] before their eyes [`ayin];
their houses [bayith] shall be spoiled [shacac], and their wives ['ishshah]
ravished [shakab] [shagal]. KJV-Interlinear
16 Their little ones also will be
dashed to pieces Before their eyes; Their houses will be plundered And their
wives ravished. NASB
Most prophecies have
many examples to look back to in history. Then there is the main event of the prophecy,
the actual fulfillment of the intended prediction which is yet to come.
Jesus Christ is a God
of mercy and love and compassion, but he is also a God of justice and
righteousness and judgment.
The actions that are
described here are not the actions of Christ, but are the actions of people who
are engaged in this final evil war.
Throughout history, in
ancient times and even in modern times, atrocities and horrors of all kinds
have occurred.
When an invading army
overwhelms a defenseless or weaker population, then that weaker population is
at the mercy of the invaders. These
things occurred when Babylon fell, when Persia fell, when Greece fell, and so
forth.
Often times in the heat
of battle there is no law, no order, and atrocities occur at will.
Prior to and during
this future and final Armageddon war, atrocities will have been commonplace
throughout the entire duration of the seven-year tribulation era.
Recall our study in
Revelation where nearly from the beginning of the Tribulation, and because
restraint has been removed giving sin free reign, then crime and corruption and
far worse will become commonplace. With the decline of economies, corruption in
government, a starving population, natural disaster after disaster, and roving
gangs, the entire fabric of society will have already disintegrated by the time
of the last great battle.
And prior to and during
that last great battle, the world will be full of warring factions and people
that will be willing to do anything for themselves.
By the time of the
Armageddon battle, all morals in society will have disintegrated, and evil as
the world has never known before will be running rampant everywhere.
And as this verse
describes murder and torture and theft and atrocities almost beyond imagination,
will be ongoing until the actual arrival of Christ.
