From Desolation to Restoration: Hope Amid Turmoil

"From Desolation to Restoration: A Vision Beyond the Ruins"

Scripture Readings:

• Jeremiah 4:23–26

• Daniel 7

• Revelation 21:1

The prophet Jeremiah opens a window into a terrifying vision—a world unraveling before his very eyes. He writes:

“I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light. I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro. I looked, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the air had fled. I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the Lord, before his fierce anger.”
(Jeremiah 4:23–26, ESV)

This is not just poetry. It is a prophetic lament—a glimpse into what happens when a world built on rebellion faces divine judgment. It is a message for ancient Judah, but it also speaks to us today. For this is what the world looks like when it turns away from God.

Creation in Reverse – A World Unmade

Jeremiah uses language that echoes Genesis 1. “Without form and void” (tohu va-bohu) recalls the primordial chaos before God spoke light into being. But here, the light is gone. The fruitful land becomes a desert. Life disappears. This is de-creation—a world returning to chaos, not because God failed, but because humanity did.

We must face this sobering truth: when a society persists in sin, when it refuses correction, when it exalts idols—whether they be gold, power, comfort, or self—then God's hand of judgment will not always be held back. The world, as it is, cannot go on forever. Jeremiah's vision is not confined to Judah's fall. It is a pattern. It is a preview.

The Beastly Kingdoms of Daniel – The Tyranny of Fallen Power

Now consider Daniel 7. The prophet sees four great beasts rising from the sea—each representing a kingdom, a form of worldly power. These beasts are not merely political symbols. They show what happens when nations forsake the image of God and embrace the image of the beast—when power is wielded without righteousness.

Each beast is worse than the last, culminating in a little horn that speaks arrogantly, wages war against the saints, and seems to prevail—for a time. Daniel writes:

“I looked, and this horn made war with the saints and prevailed over them, until the Ancient of Days came…”
(Daniel 7:21–22)

So what do we see? The same progression Jeremiah saw: the unraveling of moral order. Beastly power rising. Judgment coming. God's people suffering. The world, again, teeters toward chaos.

But Then… A New Heaven and a New Earth

If Jeremiah 4 is a vision of the world falling apart—and Daniel 7 is a vision of beastly empires oppressing the faithful—then Revelation 21 is the counter-vision.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…”
(Revelation 21:1)

This is not just an ending. It is a new beginning.

The world Jeremiah saw undone will one day be remade. The chaos Daniel saw will be judged by the Ancient of Days. And the saints—though they are trampled—will one day possess the kingdom (Daniel 7:18).

What Does This Mean for Us Now?

1. Do not place your hope in this world. The kingdoms of this world, no matter how powerful or prosperous, are passing away. They are beastly when they reject God. Our ultimate citizenship is in the kingdom that will never pass away.

2. Live faithfully in a time of unraveling. Just as Jeremiah wept over a nation headed toward judgment, and Daniel remained faithful in exile, we are called to live as a holy remnant—watchful, prayerful, and uncompromised.

3. Trust in the King who comes. In Daniel 7:13, one like a Son of Man comes with the clouds of heaven. He is given all dominion and glory. That Son of Man is Christ. He has come once, and He is coming again—not to patch up the old earth, but to bring a new one.

A World in Ruins, A Kingdom to Come

Jeremiah looked and saw only destruction. Daniel looked and saw beasts. But John looked and saw the Bride of Christ descending from heaven, adorned in beauty. That is our future—not because the world will fix itself, but because God will make all things new.

So we wait. Not in despair, but in hope.

Because we know that after the shaking, after the beasts, after the fire, there comes a voice:

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man… and he will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
(Revelation 21:3–4)

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

More: Lesson 9: In the Psalms: Part 2