Habakkuk 2:3-The Vision of Babylon’s Destruction Will Be Fulfilled in the Lord’s Timing

Habakkuk 2:3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. (NIV)

Habakkuk 2:1 I am determined to stand at my watch post. Namely, I am determined to station myself in the watchtower. Specifically, I am determined to keep myself watching in order to see what he might want to say to refute me so that I would be able to respond to support my argument. 2 Then, the Lord replied to me, namely he said, “You must put down in writing a vision. Indeed, you must inscribe it legibly on tablets in order that the herald would be able to read it easily.” 3 For this vision is a witness up to the appointed time. In other words, it is a witness up to its fulfillment. Indeed, it will by no means proved to be false. Although, it appears to be slow to come to pass, you must wait for it because it will certainly take place. It will by no means be delayed. (My translation)

Habakkuk 2:3 begins with a declarative statement which asserts that this vision recorded in Habakkuk 2:4-20 is a witness up to the appointed time and which appointed time refers to the fulfillment of this vision.

It presents the reason for the previous two commands the Lord issued to the prophet Habakkuk, which are recorded in Habakkuk 2:2.

The first of these commands required Habakkuk put down in writing a vision and the second advanced upon the first and required that the prophet inscribe this vision legibly on tablets in order that the herald would be able to read it easily.

As was the case in Habakkuk 2:2, the noun ḥā·zôn (חָזוֹן) here in Habakkuk 2:3 refers to a “vision” and refers to the prophecy which reveals the Lord’s decree to judge the Babylonian empire for their unrepentant wickedness.

It denotes that Habakkuk received revelation from God in which extrasensory audiovisual experiences, which were revelatory in character, were perceived by him.

God communicated with him in a vision what would transpire in the future on planet earth and specifically what would take place with regards to the Babylonian empire.

Now, the declarative statement which begins verse 3 indicates that the reason why Habakkuk was to inscribe this vision legibly on tablets so that the herald might be able to read it easily is that this vision is a witness up to the appointed time, which speaks of the time when this vision will be fulfilled in history.

The first declarative statement in Habakkuk 2:3 is followed by another which asserts that this vision is a witness up to its fulfillment.

It explains the previous causal clause and asserts that this vision Habakkuk received from the Lord regarding Babylon’s demise in the future is a witness up to its fulfillment.

It explains specifically what is meant by the previous causal clause, that is, it elaborates on it.

Therefore, this indicates that when the Lord informs Habakkuk that the vision He gave him of Babylon’s demise in the future is a witness up to the appointed time, He means that it is a witness or it gives witness to when it will be fulfilled in history.

Then, the third assertion in verse 3 emphatically states that this vision of Babylon’s destruction will by no means proved to be false.

In other words, it is emphasizing that the fulfillment of the prophecy of Babylon’s destruction will be fulfilled in history.

Next, we have a concessive clause, which is composed of two parts.

The first is the protasis which speaks of the fulfillment of the vision appearing to be slow in coming to pass.

The second is the apodosis which is a command for the faithful citizens of the kingdom of Judah to wait for the fulfilment of this vision.

This concessive clause implies that the action expressed by the command in the apodosis of this concessive clause is true in spite of the state or action expressed in its protasis.

This would then indicate that although the fulfillment of this vision of Babylon’s future demise appears to be slow in coming to pass, those who are faithful in the southern kingdom of Judah were to wait for its fulfillment since it will certainly be fulfilled in the future.

Then, we have a statement which presents the reason for the command to wait and it asserts that this vision’s fulfillment will certainly take place.

Therefore, the reason why Habakkuk and his fellow faithful citizens of the kingdom of Judah were to wait for the fulfillment of the vision of Babylon’s destruction despite the fact that it might appear to be slow in coming to pass was that its fulfillment would certainly take place in history.

Habakkuk 2:3 comes to an end with a solemn emphatic statement which asserts that the fulfillment of this vision of Babylon’s destruction will by no means be delayed.

It would appear to be delayed from the perspective of the faithful citizens of the southern kingdom of Judah but from the Lord’s perspective the fulfillment of the vision will take place exactly as He decreed for it to take place.

Therefore, the reason why the Lord could confidently assert that the fulfillment of this vision of Babylon’s destruction will not be delayed is that He decreed this destruction to take place.

In other words, the reason why this prophecy of Babylon’s destruction and all prophecy in the Word of God will be fulfilled in history is that the Lord decreed for all these prophecies to take place in eternity past.

Thus, the reason why the Lord could confidently assert in Habakkuk 2:3 that Babylons will be destroyed in the future is that He decreed this destruction to take place in eternity past.

Interestingly, the LXX translation of Habakkuk 2:3 personifies the fulfillment of this vision, which means that the Lord’s arrival is put for the fulfillment of the vision.

The Lexham English Septuagint translates the LXX translation of this verse “Because there is still a vision for the time, and he will appear at an end, and not in vain; if he is late, wait for him, because one coming will be present, and he will not tarry.”

The reason for this personification is that when the judgment of Babylon is fulfilled the Lord will manifest His presence to His people and the Babylonians and all people in the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian regions of the world.

The writer of Hebrew quotes a portion of the LXX translation of Habakkuk 2:3 in Hebrews 10:37.

He cites this verse in his appeal to Jewish Christians who were tempted to put themselves under the Mosaic Law again rather than remaining obedient to the gospel.

He uses Habakkuk 2:3 in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ’s arrival at the Second Advent when He will judge every unrepentant unregenerate person on earth as well.

He uses this verse in order to encourage these Jewish Christians to remain faithful to the gospel and that eventually the Lord will judge their enemies which are in fact, His enemies.

The writer of Hebrews is applying the message of Habakkuk 2:3 rather than interpreting it in order to encourage these Jewish Christians to remain faithful to the gospel because eventually the Lord will judge their enemies who were persecuting them.

Habakkuk 2:3 was of course an encouragement to the faithful citizens of the remnant of Judah because it would reassure them that even though the Lord was going to use an evil nation like Babylon to discipline their fellow apostate citizens, the Lord was eventually going to judge Babylon.

Daniel chapter five records the destruction of the Babylonian Empire.

The Lord used the Medo-Persian Empire to destroy Babylon.

History states that Babylon fell on the sixteenth day of the Jewish month Tishri which corresponds to either October 11 or 12 539 BC.

Daniel chapter five states that Belshazzar was the ruler of the Babylonian Empire when it was defeated by Medo-Persia.

The prophecy in Habakkuk 2:4-20 of Babylon’s demise was fulfilled in 605 B.C.

Therefore, the fulfillment of the prophecy didn’t take place until approximately 66 years after Habakkuk received this prophecy from the Lord.

Therefore, the fulfillment of the prophecy of Habakkuk 2:4-20 taught a principle that appears in the book of Jeremiah, namely, God is watching over His Word to execute it.

Jeremiah 1:12 Then the LORD said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.” (NASB95)