I have discovered something new.
The English expression “my sanctified ones” in the KJV’s translation of Isaiah 13:3 probably refers to the saints. If this is the case, then the 144000 saints, or at least some number of the saints, will be there on the day and hour of Babylon’s fiery annihilation, helping Russia and making sure that there will be no retaliatory strike from Babylon.
Certainly, angels of the LORD will be there on that day. Jeremiah 51:1-2 prophesies that many angels will be “round about” Babylon, fanning the wind so that the radioactive fallout is contained within the boundaries of continental Babylon. Consequently, the wind will be a “destroying wind”, as the Bible prophesies.
Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind; And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.
Jeremiah 51:1-2
This makes sense because it would not be right for Canada and Mexico, and other nearby nations, to also die due to the fallout.
Now, Jeremiah 51:53-56 prophesies that every one of the “bows” of Babylon will be broken by “spoilers” from heaven. In other words, Babylon’s attempt to launch a counterstrike to bring about Mutually Assured Destruction will be spoiled. This means, the ground based ICBMs and the stealth bombers that can carry gravity nuclear bombs and the ballistic missile submarines – all these bows of Babylon – will be destroyed. Either that or else Babylon’s nuclear missiles and bombs will be redirected back at the land of Babylon when they are launched.
Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 51:53
Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompences shall surely requite.
Jeremiah 51:56
These “spoilers” from God could be invisible angels, or visible saints, or both.
I have long thought that the “fanners” and the “spoilers” from God would be angels. But now, it occurs to me that Isaiah 13:3 is saying that the saints will also be involved.
On the day of the LORD, the 144000 saints will be with the Son of man Jesus Christ in the area of Armageddon and the promised land, together with many angels, everyone working to remove all of the evil that is over there.
The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Matthew 13:41-43
So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Matthew 13:49-50
But with Babylon’s annihilation only taking one hour of that same day, it might be that all or some of the saints will also help out with that.
I imagine, an angel as well as a saint can bring down a plane or an ICBM, and even destroy a submarine.
So, let’s examine Isaiah 13:3.
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see… I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.
Isaiah 13:1-2
First, God commands his “sanctified ones”, and also calls his “mighty ones”, them that rejoice in his highness. The KJV does not use the Jacobean English word “even” immediately after “sanctified ones”, so this means the sanctified ones and the mighty ones are two different beings. If the first expression refers to saints, then the second must refer to special angels.
My guess is, the mighty ones are angels known as the seraphim in Isaiah 6:2-3.
Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Isaiah 6:2-3
I think, these are the same angels in Revelation that stand around the throne in heaven, each angel having six wings.
And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Revelation 4:8-9
These angels, mightier than the saints, normally serve as a kind of bodyguard around the throne in heaven.
The next thing to notice is, the word “mountains” in Isaiah 13:4 is typically a metaphor of the saints.
The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.
Isaiah 13:4
And then, they that come from “the end of heaven” accompanying the LORD must be both angels and saints, ie. both armies of heaven. But they that come from a far country armed with the weapons of God’s indignation, ie. nuclear weapons, must be Russia.
They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
Isaiah 13:5-6
Now, going deeper into the text, the Hebrew of the KJV’s “sanctified ones” in Isaiah 13:3 is למקדשי. The qadash part, קדש, of this expression literally means “holy”.
As I have explained before, a saint is “a holy one” of God, just as Jesus Christ is “the Holy One” of God. And a saint is a son of God, just as Jesus Christ is the Son of God. A saint is also someone “sanctified”, meaning “set apart”.
I have commanded my sanctified ones [saints], I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.
Isaiah 13:3
In Zechariah 14, the word “saints” is קדשים, which again is some derivative of qadash.
… and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
Zechariah 14:5
If you look at “saints” in Daniel 7, which was originally written in Aramaic, it is קדישי, which is yet another derivative of qadash.
… the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.
Daniel 7:18
But then, in Psalms 149, saints is חסידיו, something like hasidim, which means “pious ones”.
To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalms 149:7-9
And in Proverbs 2:8, saints is חסידו, a similar derivative of hasidim.
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Proverbs 2:8
In conclusion, it does seem that God’s “sanctified ones” in Isaiah 13:3 means the saints. Here, because of qadash, the saints are described as “holy ones”. But elsewhere in the Old Testament, the saints are described using some derivative of hasidim, meaning “pious ones”. Because saints is sometimes qadash and other times hasidim, I am not 100% sure.
At any rate, when the time comes, Russia will have the confidence to do what they will do because Russia has a lot of land, more than enough if there were to be a counterstrike.
It is also worth pointing out that in the national anthem of the Russian Federation, there is this line: “You are unique in the world, one of a kind. This native land protected by God!”
Whether the saints will be there or not, many angels of God will surely be there. Furthermore, the Bible promises that on that day, all of Babylon’s bows will be broken.
Babylon has many nuclear weapons delivery systems. They even have tactical nukes that can be strapped on a special forces CIA soldier and HALO-ed into a target location. I suppose, Russia will keep an eye out for this sort of thing, or else the angels or the saints will also deal with these at the appropriate time.
Finally, I should like to point out that if the saints, or at least some number of the saints, will be there at the time of Babylon’s end, a saint being a star-like celestial being will be invulnerable to nuclear explosions and radioactive fallout. After all, within a star such as the sun around which the planet earth rotates, nuclear fusion and also nuclear fission goes on all the time.