Isaiah 34 begins a prophecy that spans two chapters (34 & 35), and deals with things of the end. Isaiah 34 deals with the judgment of God during the Great Tribulation period, while Isaiah 35 will talk about the blessings that will come to the world when Jesus returns.

God has called out a warning to the nations. He’s going to warn them of the judgment that is coming. Judgment doesn’t come without a warning. The question isn’t really whether you’ve been warned or not, the question is whether you will pay attention to it or not.

all nations – This is the time period we refer to as The Great Tribulation. It is the time of God’s wrath being poured out on the whole earth.

all their armies – what we are seeing here is a picture of the final moments of the Battle of Armageddon. At Armageddon, all the armies of the world will be destroyed.

We are living in a time when many are beginning to wonder if we’re close to the "end of the world".

Rev 16:12-16 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. {13} And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. {14} For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. {15} Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. {16} And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.

Rev 19:11-21 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. {12} His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. {13} And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. {14} And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. {15} And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. {16} And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. {17} And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; {18} That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. {19} And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. {20} And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. {21} And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

The idea is that the mountains will be dissolved like a giant river washed over them, but it’s a river of blood.

host of heaven – probably a reference to the stars in space.

heavens shall be rolled together – very similar to a description of a nuclear explosion. The same thing is described in Rev. 6:12-14.

bathed – (NIV) "My sword has drunk its fill in the heavens". The idea is that while God is watching the earth from His throne in heaven, He’s had it "up to here" with our rebellion. It’s time for judgment. God said before the flood of Noah,

Idumea – Edom, the land where the descendants of Esau, Jacob’s brother, settled. It is in the southern part of modern Jordan.

blood, fat, kidneys – all elements of proper sacrifice.

Bozrah – one of the ancient capitals of Edom. It was a sheep herding center about 25 miles (40 km) SE of the southern end of the Dead Sea.

sacrifice – This picture of the slaughter in Edom, the slaughter of the ungodly, is called a "sacrifice". These people are paying for their sins. They are paying for their sins with the exact dollar amount required, their own lives.

(Isa 34:7 NASB) Wild oxen shall also fall with them …

This is God’s payback time for all that has happened to Jerusalem.

confusion – tohuw – formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness

emptiness – bohuw – emptiness, void, waste

The "measuring line" and "plumb line" (stones) are building terms. It’s a picture of what God is going to build for these people. He’s going to build confusion and emptiness for them.

dragons – tanniyn – dragon, serpent, sea monster (or, whale); dinosaur; serpent, venomous snake.

satyr – sa`iyr – he-goat, buck, hairy goat (NAS); satyr, may refer to a demon possessed goat like the swine of Gadara (Mt 8:30-32) .

screech owl – liyliyth – "Lilith". In Jewish superstition, this was the name of a female night demon with wings and who was dressed in elegant clothes, but who came and carried off children at night. Only place the word is found in Scripture.

Sounds a little like Halloween, huh? Fearful is the place of the unbeliever.

Even though we may not know what some of these animals are, God knows. They will be there. He’s even going to supply mates for them.

(Isa 34:17 NIV) He allots their portions; his hand distributes them by measure. They will possess it forever and dwell there from generation to generation.