Babylon - Isaiah’s Prophesied Destruction
Notes
Transcript
We are continuing in our study of Babylon. The city is the 2nd on the list of most mentions. Babylon is mentioned 286 times in the Bible. It means “the gate of god(s).
1 By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down and wept, When we remembered Zion.
Last week, we studied the defeat of Judah and Jerusalem. We studied the failure of king after king; and then, God said, “Enough”. We find many Prophets in the Old Testament. The Prophets main job was to declare God’s Word and God’s will to the people. In our study, we will find that some of Isaiah’s prophecies were a near view and some were a far view. The far view are prophesies that have not been fulfilled yet.
Follow along as I read out passage for today.
17 Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them, Who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold.
18 And their bows will mow down the young men, They will not even have compassion on the fruit of the womb, Nor will their eye pity children.
19 And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans’ pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
20 It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; Nor will the Arab pitch his tent there, Nor will shepherds allow their flocks to lie down there.
21 But desert creatures will lie down there, And their houses will be full of owls; Ostriches also will live there, and shaggy goats will frolic there.
22 Hyenas will howl in their fortified towers And jackals in their luxurious palaces. Her fateful time also will soon come, And her days will not be prolonged.
Let’s look at Isaiah’s:
1. Near view of Babylon
Isaiah was prophesying about how Babylon was going to be destroyed. Isaiah’s prophecy was a multilayered prediction.
Though this is referred to as a near view, this prophecy was not fulfilled until after Isaiah’s time. Part of the reason for this was that Babylon was not a world leader during the time of Isaiah. His prophecy was also fulfilled at different times.
There are two primary historical moments of fulfillment: the fall of Babylon in 689 BC when the Assyrian king Sennacherib defeated the city, and the final political defeat when Cyrus, king of the Medes and Persians, conquered Babylon in 539 BC. Interestingly, this prophecy was dramatically fulfilled on the night Cyrus conquered Babylon, when King Belshazzar and a thousand royal officials were partying at a royal feast. God would “stir up” the Medes, who would be a ferocious army determined to win, showing no compassion even to infants or children.
The core message was that God sovereignly controls historical events and would bring about the destruction of the proud Babylonians.
It is important that we understand how prophecy works- God gave Isaiah the words to say; and God took care of the rest. There are many prophesies in the Bible that have not been fulfilled yet; and may not be fulfilled in your lifetime. That does not mean that it will not happen. It means that God is in control; and we need to be obedient to do what He has called us to do.
Now let’s understand Isaiah’s:
2. Far view of Babylon
It can be argued that Isaiah’s prophecy was not completely fulfilled; at least not completely fulfilled as Isaiah has described it.
Babylon flourished during the time of the Apostles. It became a center of Jewish learning. Babylon lost its political power to the Medes and Persians; but it was still known as a starting place of many religions. Many Bible scholars believe that Babylon in its religious and political sense will be revived at the end of the age. It is debated if the city itself will have a physical revival to become the capital of the world at the end of the age. Such a rebuilding of the ancient city would make possible a literal fulfillment of the prophecy of complete and sudden destruction as Isaiah prophesied.
Babylon’s ultimate destruction will be at the Second Coming of Jesus. As far as the historic fulfillment is concerned, it is obvious from both Scripture and history that these verses have not been literally fulfilled. The city of Babylon continued to flourish after the Medes conquered it, and though its glory dwindled, the city continued in some form or substance until 1000 a.d.
Symbolically, Babylon represents all ungodly religious, social, and political systems, with the prophecy suggesting that in the last days of human history, all false gods and godless governments will ultimately fall. Isaiah was more concerned with assuring his audience about the certainty of the prophecy’s fulfillment than providing exact dates or specific rulers1. The prophecy serves as a powerful reminder of God’s ultimate sovereignty over human kingdoms and historical events.
We can get upset about the policitics being played in our country today. It can be very upsetting watching millionaires who are still paying themselves to cause so many to lose their income.
But as Christians, we can take comfort in the fact that God is sovereign. Nothing will happen that He does not allow and nothing can happen to change a person’s salvation.
Understanding that prophecy has not always been completely fulfilled but will be one day helps us to remember that God and He will bring about His plan.
This is how we can say that we are saved, we continue to work out our salvation and we will be saved. All three are true without excluding one over the other.
We must also remember that Scripture is not about us. It does not affirm us. Scripture both condemns us and shows us God’s grace to God’s people.
Scripture is about God, it is about God’s revelation to us. Scripture is God’s plan for salvation as well as how that salvation is worked out. Scripture tells us of past prophecies, how they have been fulfilled as well as how they will be fulfilled.
Isaiah’s prophecy is not completed; but it will be in the last days. What you need to ask yourself at this time is; are you ready?
Are you ready for the last days? Are you ready for God’s wrath and judgment?
It can happen at any time. It will happen. Are you ready?
Let’s pray.
