“For behold, the LORD will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
These verses, like the pillar of cloud and fire, have a dark side towards the enemies of God's kingdom and all that are rebels against his crown, and a bright side towards his faithful loyal subjects. Probably they refer to the Jews in captivity in Babylon, of whom some are said to have been sent thither for their hurt, and with them God here threatens...
Commenting on Isaiah 66:15-24
For, behold, the Lord will come with fire,.... Either with material fire, with which mystical Babylon or Rome shall be burnt, Rev 18:8, or with indignation and wrath, which shall be poured out like fire, and be as intolerable and consuming as that: and with his chariots like a whirlwind; making a great noise, and striking great terror; alluding to chariots in which men used...
(Isa 9:5; Psa 50:3; Hab 3:5; Th2 1:8; Pe2 3:7). chariots . . . whirlwind-- (Jer 4:13). render--as the Hebrew elsewhere (Job 9:13; Psa 78:38) means to "allay" or "stay wrath." MAURER translates it so here: He stays His anger with nothing but fury," &c.; nothing short of pouring out all His fiery fury will satisfy His wrath. fury--"burning heat" [LOWTH], to which the parallel, "flames of fire," answers.