1. Isaiah and the other Old Testament prophets' messages are filled with predictions about future events.  From our perspective many of these prophecies have already been fulfilled, but many still await fulfillment.
2. Another fascinating thing about Old Testament prophecy is the merging of these "near" prophecies (those that have already been fulfilled) and "far" prophecies (those yet to be fulfilled).
3. This is what we see here in Isaiah 28. This chapter predicts the Assyrian captivity of "Ephraim" (28:1), that is, the northern kingdom of Israel.
4. But Isaiah goes beyond the Assyrian captivity to the last days.

I. MAKE SURE YOU ARE STANDING ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION (28:16)

1. Isaiah and the prophets emphasized trusting in Jehovah, the true God.  For example, Isaiah 12:2 says, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation."
2. When we come to the New Testament, we see that the Lord Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the true God (cf. Isa. 40:3; Matt. 3:3).
3. The Lord Jesus Christ is our only sure foundation (28:16).  If you are trusting in anyone or anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ, you are in big trouble!
4. People who are not standing on this firm foundation are very easily deceived.  Revelation 12:9 says Satan "deceiveth the whole world."
5. There is only way to avoid being deceived by the devil and that is by putting your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ (28:16).
6. Some people are trusting in their church membership.  And some say their church is built upon Peter, but Peter himself said that Christ is the chief corner stone, and a rock of offense (cf. I Peter 2:6-8).
7. The apostle Paul says in I Cor. 10:4, “And that Rock was Christ.”
8. In Romans 9:33, the apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 28:16 when he says, “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”
9. And in Ephesians 2:20, Paul wrote, “Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”
10. And in I Peter 2:6, Peter wrote, “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”
11. You better make sure you are on the right “foundation” (Isa. 28:16).  The hymnwriter put it this way, On Christ the solid rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.
12. Another great hymnwriter wrote these famous words: “Rock of Ages, cleft for me; let me hide myself in Thee!”
13. Back in the 18th century, Jonathan Edwards preached his famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
14. His text was from Deuteronomy 32:35 -- "Their foot shall slide in due time." Every second, every minute, every hour -- sinners are slipping off into hell. When Jonathan Edwards preached that message, people took hold of the pews, fearing that they were sliding into Hell.
15. Just the other day, a member mentioned to me that nearly two people die every second; about 107 people die every minute; and 6,390 people die every hour.
16. If I preach about one hour this morning, over 6,000 people will be dead by the time I close my Bible!
17. If only one-fourth of them were saved (and it is probably much less than that), that would mean nearly 5,000 people would plunge into hell before the piano player starts playing and we conclude our service!
18. If only ten percent are saved, it will mean even more people in hell.
19. Thousands more will join them in hell before we start our evening service.   Thousands of lost sinners weeping and wailing and gnashing their teeth!  Lost!  Lost!  Lost!
20. Skeptics have asked -- with so many sinners dying and going to hell every day, isn't it getting crowded in hell?   Isaiah 5:14 says, "Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure..."
21. There is still room for more.  Some times while traveling, I see "No Vacancy" signs in front of motels.  There is no sign like that in hell.
22. Our job is to try and "rescue the perishing" and keep them out of hell.
23. Beloved, Jesus is the Rock of Ages.  This sure foundation, this tried stone, this precious corner stone is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ (Isa. 28:16).  Unsaved friend: why don’t you come to Jesus?

II. THE LORD SHALL SWEEP AWAY THE REFUGE OF LIES (28:17; cf. 28:15).

1. Sinners reject the Gospel of Christ and they make lies their “refuge” (28:14, 15).
2. What kind of lies and falsehoods do sinners hide behind?

• Evolution – the lie that the world and all existing things came into being through a process of gradual change and progression. People hold on to evolution because they do not want to submit to God. People hold on to evolution because they do not want to accept the Bible. Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."
• Humanism – sometimes referred to as “secular humanism.”  Humanism has been around for a long time. The ancient Greek philosopher, Protagoras, said, “Man is the measure of all things.” Humanists believe that man (and not God) is the ultimate standard by which all life is measured and judged.  This humanistic philosophy permeates our public schools and universities, the media, entertainment, etc.  Humanism has produced abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality and all sorts of horrible sins.
• Liberalism – Way back in 1923, J. Gresham Machen wrote a book called Christianity and Liberalism.  In that book he demonstrated that liberalism is no more Christian than Hinduism or Buddhism. Any belief system that is contrary to Scripture is a "refuge of lies" (Isa. 28:15b; 17).
• Other religious deceptions – Matthew Henry says, "Those things which the prophets told them would be lies and falsehood to them and would deceive, but which they themselves looked upon as substantial fences. The protection of their idols, the promises with which their false prophets soothed them, their policy, their wealth, their interest in the people; these they confided in, and not in God; nay, these they confided in against God."

3. Undoubtedly, religion is the biggest refuge of lies. R.A. Torrey said, "Religion never saved anybody. You say, 'What do you mean?' I mean just what I say -- religion never saved anybody. Trust in religion is one thing; trust in the personal Christ is another thing. There is many a man who trusts in his religion and yet he is not saved. You go to men, and they say, 'Yes, I am religious; I go to church every Sunday; I read my prayer-book, and say prayers regularly every day; I read my Bible; I have been baptized; I have been confirmed or united to the church; I have taken the sacrament regularly, and that is what I am trusting in.' Is it?  Then you are lost...There is a great deal that is called religion that does not make men and women better. There is many a man who is very religious, and goes to mass or to church every Sunday in the year; he goes to confession very frequently, says his prayers regularly, reads his Bible, and partakes of the communion; he has been baptized, he has been confirmed, and yet he is just as dishonest as any other man in the community...Many a most religious man is a perfect knave. Such religion will not save him, but damn him with a deeper damnation...How many people have been very religious, and yet when they come to die they tremble with fear. Will it stand the test of the judgment day?...Friends, if you have nothing to trust in but religion you are lost; it is a refuge of lies."

III. THE LORD SHALL RISE UP (28:21).

1. I referred earlier to Jonathan Edwards and his famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God."
2. In that sermon, Edwards said, "Men's hands cannot be strong when God rises up."
3. "There is no want of power in God to cast wicked men into hell at any moment. Men's hands cannot be strong when God rises up. The strongest have no power to resist him, nor can any deliver out of his hands. -- He is not only able to cast wicked men into hell, but he can most easily do it" -- Jonathan Edwards.
4. While holding out grace to those who put their trust in Christ the solid rock, God also judges those who reject the Gospel (Isa. 28:17).
5. Right now, the Lord Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God the Father, but soon “the LORD shall rise up” in judgment (28:21).  “He shall be wroth” (28:21).
6. Jonathan Edwards said, "The wrath of God burns against them, their damnation does not slumber; the pit is prepared, the fire is made ready, the furnace is now hot, ready to receive them; the flames do now rage and glow. The glittering sword is whet, and held over them, and the pit hath opened its mouth under them."
7. This is a worldwide judgment.  Isaiah 28:22 says it is “determined upon the whole earth.”
8. Psalm 9:17 says, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God."
9. "All the nations." This certainly includes the USA!
10. When men build a foundation, they use a “plummet,” i.e., a plumb line (28:17).
11. Beloved, God has a plumb line and it is always accurate (28:17).  Sinful men cannot see it but we can be sure that God will do exactly what He says He will do (28:17-21).
12. I used to work in construction work and I can remember foremen who would tell a carpenter, “Get rid of that old level and use a plumb line!”  God is telling us the same thing today.
13. Trusting in religion or good works or baptism or church membership is like a carpenter using a bad level.  He may think it's okay but it is not on the level!
14. In the past, God used Israel’s enemies to chastise Israel.  This was God’s “strange work” (28:21).   He could very well do the same thing to America today.
15. The Bible teaches there will be many mockers and scoffers in the last days.  The prophet Isaiah warns, “Now therefore be ye not mockers…” (28:22).
16. Jude 18 says there will "be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts."
17. Second Peter 3:3 and 4 says, "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?"

CONCLUSION:

1. Isaiah 28:21 says, "For the LORD shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act."
2. God’s "strange work" is His judgment.
3. First John 4:8 and 16 says, "God is love."
4. Therefore, God’s "strange work" is His judgment.
5. John 3:17 says, "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
6. Therefore, God’s "strange work" is His judgment.
7. Our Lord said in John 12:47, "I came not to judge the world, but to save the world."
8. Therefore, God’s "strange work" is His judgment.
9. Second Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
10. Therefore, God’s "strange work" is His judgment.
11. The Bible teaches God is longsuffering, and rich in mercy, and full of compassion. But His grace and mercy and patience has a limit.
12. Now is the time to repent -- "For the LORD shall rise up..." (Isa. 28:21).