Isaiah 64:1
Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
The verse is a prayer pleading for God to tear open the heavens and come down in power, so that the mountains melt and flow down at His presence. The flowing mountains are visible exhibitions of His power in nature, such as earthquakes, volcanoes, fiery eruptions, and burning mountains pouring forth fire and flame and torrents of melted ore. Those outpourings cause waters to boil and rivers to disappear and be dried up, and overwhelm cities with ruin. The imagery recalls terrible things God did in the past when He came down and the mountains flowed down, and it applies to destructive scenes witnessed in the past.
These manifestations bear the special marks of God's power and are designed to make His name known to His adversaries, to cause the people of the earth and the nations to tremble at His presence, and to silence proud defiance that refuses to obey the Lord. They are judgments sent so that those who lightly regard God's law and trample His authority will tremble before His power and confess His just sovereignty. Even the stoutest heart is filled with terror by them, and unbelievers are forced to acknowledge His infinite power.
The verse is a prophecy of the day of the Lord just before the coming of Christ, when God in wrath will rend the heavens by sending lightnings from heaven that will unite with fire in the earth. At His presence the mountains will burn like a furnace and flow down, pouring forth terrible streams of lava with melted ore, rocks, and heated mud that destroy gardens and fields, villages and cities. When poured into rivers this burning matter will cause them to boil like a pot, cast forth massive rocks, and scatter broken fragments upon the land with indescribable violence, while whole rivers are dried up. The earth will be convulsed with dreadful eruptions and earthquakes everywhere by which God will plague the wicked inhabitants until they are destroyed from off the earth. In the midst of these commotions the saints will be preserved alive in the earth, as Noah was preserved in the ark at the time of the flood.
As part of its chapter and of chapters 62-65, the verse speaks in a most decided manner to those who have neglected God's reproofs and duties, especially those in high positions carrying great responsibilities who have disregarded the reproofs given to His people, and its message is to be heeded along with the surrounding chapters. Receiving its message calls for stopping complaints and evil working, putting away the evil of works, coming nigh, repenting and being converted because such ways are not accepted of God. When this is done the Lord will appear for the conviction and conversion of souls, a reformation will go through the congregation of Israel, and chapters 60 and 61 will be understood. Still more terribly than in the past, the coming down with mountains flowing applies to Christ's second advent, when God's works in fire and water bringing destruction will make His power known to His adversaries and cause the nations to tremble.