Monday: The Late Great City of Babylon
Isa: 13:2-22
In 626 B.C. the Chaldean Nabopolassar restored Babylonian glory by making himself king in Babylon, beginning the Neo-Babylonian dynasty, and participating (with Media) in the defeat of Assyria. His son, Nebuchadnezzar II, was the king who conquered and exiled Judah.
How did the city of Babylon finally end? See Daniel 5:1-31.
Image © Rolf Jansson at Goodsalt.com
In 539 B.C., when Cyrus the Persian captured Babylon for the Medo-Persian Empire (see Daniel 5), the city lost its independence forever. In 482 B.C., Xerxes I brutally suppressed a revolt of Babylon against Persian rule. He removed the statue of Marduk, the chief god, and apparently damaged some fortifications and temples.
Alexander the Great took Babylon from the Persians in 331 B.C. without a fight. In spite of his short-lived dream to make Babylon his eastern capital, the city declined over several centuries. By 198 A.D. the Roman, Septimus Severus, found Babylon completely deserted. So, the great city came to an end through abandonment. Today some Iraqi villagers live on parts of the ancient site, but they have not rebuilt the city as such.
The doom of Babylon, described in Isaiah 13, liberates the descendants of Jacob, who have been oppressed by Babylon (Isa: 14:4-6). The event that accomplished this was the conquest of Babylon by Cyrus in 539 B.C. Although he did not destroy the city, this was the beginning of the end for Babylon, and it never threatened God’s people again.
Isa: 13:1-22 dramatizes the fall of Babylon as a divine judgment. The warriors who take the city are God’s agents (Isa: 13:2-5). The time of judgment is called “the day of the LORD” (Isa: 13:6, Isaiah 13.9-10, Isaiah 13:13).
Compare Judg: 5:1-31, where the song of Deborah and Barak describes the Lord as going forth with quaking of the earth and with rain from the heavens (Judg: 5:4). Judges 5.20-21 depict the elements of nature, including stars, as fighting against the foreign oppressor.
| Imagine that someone living in Babylon at the height of its glory might read these words of Isaiah 13, particularly Isaiah 13:19-22. How foolish and impossible they would have seemed! What other prophecies, yet unfulfilled, seem foolish and impossible to us now? Why would we be foolish, however, to dismiss them as impossible? |
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The city of Babylon had two periods of rulership. around 1700BC it was made into a city by Hammurabi. Then around 700BC the dynasty of which Nebuchadnezzar was the most well known member made it their capital. The second resurgence is the one that is referred to in the Bible. At the time Babylon was arguably the largest city in the world. It is estimated that its population was about 200,000 and the size of the ruins, still visible today, show it to be about 900 hectares in size (approximately 3km across). Even today there is sufficient archaeological evidence to show that it was a sophisticated city where art, business, and science flourished. We also know that in this period mathematics flourished. We owe it to the Babylonians that there are 360 degrees in a circle and that our time system is sexagesimal (based on 60). The city employed engineers who ensured that water was reticulated through the city and that sewerage was appropriately disposed.
To a certain extent Babylon competed with Ninevah and indeed there is some confusion about the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which some say were actually in Ninevah. In the cut and thrust of ancient politics, power shifted between the two cities from time to time.
The interesting thing about the Neo-Babylonian empire was that it was relatively short lived. It only lasted about 100 years before it was taken over by the Achaemenid Empire (What those of us who read the Bible call the Medo-Persian Empire)
With this background in mind it is worth reading Isaiah 13 and its indictments against it. Perhaps the lesson we can learn from this is that no matter how important we think our own achievements are, they are insignificant in the range on which God works. We may have super technology that can do magnificent things but they are often ephemeral, and disappear like the morning mist.
Isaiah 13 is revealing again God's power to know the distant future way before it comes to pass. As depicted by the Assyrian power which was to be conquered by the Babylonians. Indeed God is able to write the history of an event before it occurs, far more accurately than a human pen can write it afterwards.
Prophetic messages for today, a few years ago seemed so far away and maybe even not probable in my day, but as I see events unfold they are more and more realistic.
One example is the prediction of the conditions of the times just before Christ’s second appearance.
When I was younger, all of these things existed, but now the extent to which these things are acceptable and even dubbed as “normal” or necessary for balanced development is astounding.
Again God’s Word is true and His predictions are flawless.
Per the study guide:
I was asking myself, why are we studying the doom of Babylon in Isaiah 13? Does it apply to us?
God knew in advance the character of Babylon and described the judgement He would execute.
God's judgement is based on the character of those who reject His mercy and they are punished accordingly.
That was prophecy when Isaiah wrote it down and it happen accordingly.
Therefor we can trust the LORD when in our day we see the prophecy in Revelation of the future of the powers who are fittingly described as Babylon as well that what He has said will come true.
By knowing God we know that He is able to do anything. And His promises and prophecies will be fulfilled! He never fails!
.......Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God almighty. Just and true are thy ways, thou Kings of saints. Rev 15:3.
The Late Great City of Babylon
Repeat and enlarge. That is the work of my heavenly Father. In Isaiah 13:1-22 shows the mercy of Jesus for his people. He is longsuffering but also is a Lord of justice. He deals with the wicked in his own time. What we are reading in Isaiah happened physically. In Revelation Babylon is symbolic and so is the wine. Fermented wine is bad and we saw so many things happened because of its effects. Both physically and spiritually.
It must have appeared ridiculous to those who read the prophecy of Isaiah about the fall of Babylon but that is the very reason why God gives prophecies--because we cannot reason out those events--they contradict human reasoning!
How did the great city of Babylon end? In the height of basking in their pride, separating themselves from God, Babylon fell to the great king Darius of the Medes. History tells us that the end of Babylon had not come yet. The day of the Lord, we can see in retrospect is not the end of the world. We do know though that someday the Lord will come in the clouds after saying it is finished, setting aside His priestly robes, putting on His kingly attire, descending to the clouds, and with a loud voice saying come forth from the grave ye who believe in Me, come home with Me. And then we who are living, believing that Jesus is our Saviour, are caught up in the air, go home with Christ for a thousand years, somewhere in or beyond the Orion Nebula, landing onto the sea of glass safely, total trust in our King Jesus Christ.
(1) God was very involved with national and international relations and outcomes of battles in the OT. In the NT, Jesus seems to indicate a shift with "render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). We might call that a separation of church and state? I'm wondering, how much does God discipline nations and countries today? Does God still punish nations, like He does with individuals or with His Body the Church, as a way of drawing a nation's allegiance back to Himself? Or is He saving national judgment for the last days?
(2) Researching Babylon's beginning, I read about Nimrod in Genesis 10:8-12. The order of genealogy was Noah, Ham, Cush, then Nimrod. Nimrod was "a mighty hunter before the Lord". Interesting. "Before the Lord" seems to indicate God saw what Nimrod was doing, but did not approve. And the first centers of Nimrod's kingdom included Babylon and Ninevah, cities we know that were constantly in rebellion against God. In Micah 5:6 Assyria is called "the land of Nimrod". Nimrod's name means "rebel" and the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 demonstrates that Nimrod did indeed rebel against God and spread unbelief, teaching or even forcing people (as slaves) to follow his example. Amazing that this would all occur three generations after the flood.
The 2nd Commandment tells us " for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me" (Deut 5:9). We see this happening all the time - the 3rd and 4th generations still carrying the sins of their ancestors. It gives a new twist to genealogy research doesn't it? As I look at my family story going back generations, which types of unbelief and rebellion against God do I see there that perhaps I still carry in me?
One commentary says, "God constantly judges Babylon all throughout scripture, and he does the same thing to Assyria primarily through the city of Nineveh. God used the Babylonians and the Assyrians to judge his people when they didn’t obey him. These events took place about 4000 years ago in the Middle East. The Assyrians were destroyed thousands of years ago, but the spirit of Babylon still lives on. And according to the book of Revelation, God is going to finally do away with it once and for all when the end of the world takes place."
The rest of the 2nd commandment says, "... but showing graciousness and lovingkindness to thousands [of generations] of those who love Me and keep My commandments." (Deut. 5:10 AMP). We see that evil is weaker than righteousness. Three or four generations is small compared to thousands of generations. God's justice is thickly coated in grace.
Though this seems to be the chapter to turn to(Dan 5) regarding Babylon's destruction, this was only a transfer of power from one kingdom to another, which many in Babylon at that time supported. Belshazzar and his father where in power but not well received, and though Belshazzar died, there was really no battle in the take-over. Daniel was still alive and ruled as the prime minister with the new administration for some time, including a brief stay in the lion's den. As stated in the quarterly, the final ruin of Babylon came with neglect and abandonment. Notice verse 11, which reveals the true character, government, and purposes of God, who delights in mercy(Micah 7:18).
To answer this last question, see Daniel 12:10.
We have been shown(Rev 1:1) what will shortly come to pass, and need not be disturbed by the events which seem to be leading to the final events, though we should be seeking ways to let others know how to prepare for the coming day similar to the one described in Isaiah 13:3-13.
Throughout mankind’s history we can find that, no matter how successful a nation is when conquering other nations, it always ends being overthrown by one whose time has come to be the top dog.
Man establishes his power through warfare, God establishes His power through love of His Righteousness. For man, establishing peace through conquering warfare will always prove to be elusive, but with God – Peace is a gift offered to mankind and everlasting!
History is filled with accounts of valiance of conquering nations and their leaders of war, but only those who allow God to lead their *warfare*, allowing Him to establish their strategy for *conquering the armies of their enemies* will be victorious.
The tribes of Jacob’s family were unique in that their God offered them to lead their warfare on all fronts, physical and spiritual, directing their strategies and providing heaven’s hosts if needed to be successful in establishing HIS Name – the only true God – YAHWEH - I AM - Immanuel.
In my opinion, every conquest of mankind is fought as a means for man to establish his own name. Some nation’s warfare is used by our God toward completion of His Plan of Redemption and Salvation of mankind. He leads nations to victory only to diminish their power when it is time to move on to the next chapter of His Plan.
How futile and shortsighted man’s efforts prove to be as he cannot see that he does not hold any power or authority within himself.
The underlying purpose for fighting wars, even for nations holding weapons of mass-destruction, will always be to imprint the name/identity/seal of the conquering nation on their enemy or to prevent this to happen to them.
With that, I believe that at the heart of war is always the religious aspect of mankind’s efforts to use their god(s) to *improve the quality of life* of their opponent or to use them to improve or maintain their own quality of life.
Every nation’s leadership has a god they serve as did the children of Israel – Lev.20:24KJV; Deut.1:8KJV. The difference then as it is now is, that Israel’s warfare was directed by God the King of all Kings and God of all gods, whereas the warfare of the earthly kings follow their own arm and their little god’s leadership.
Israel’s God is the God of Heaven, King of all its hosts, all other nations follow gods of their own imaginations who received their power from the prince of this earth and his allies.
Remembering that man does not “wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” – Eph.6:12KJV, all their victories and defeats will ultimately lead to - DESTRUCTION!
God’s voice has to be heard shouting from the mounting top – enough already!! Here is the great I AM, it is only by Him that you will be able to establish peace, true peace which He will establish in your heart, mind, and soul.
John14:26-31KJV –
v.26: ”But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”
v.27: Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid..
Just like Matt.24 combines the coming of the fall of Jerusalem, with the coming of the destruction of the whole world, so Isaiah 13 combines the fall of literal Babylon, with the coming destruction of end time "Babylon".
The verses in Isaiah 13:6-13
speak of sudden destruction that lays the whole land waste, and destroys the sinners of the world. It speaks of sun, moon and stars not giving their light. Of the heavens being shaken, and the earth moved out of its place.
There is much in that chapter that shows this is talking about something much greater than the fall of ancient Babylon. Something which that ancient fall is a "foreshadowing".
Let's see some of the foreshadowing ---
Isaiah 13.2
Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
God has placed in our hands a banner upon which is inscribed "here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12
The gates
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev.22.14
Exalt the voice unto them — call loudly — give the loud cry message "Come out of her my people that you will not take part in her sins." Rev. 18:4
Isaiah 13:5
They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD
Revelation Rev. 19.11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Isaiah 13.7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt
Luke 21:26-27 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
Isaiah 13.12
I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
Malachi 3.17
And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son that serves him.
We could go through the whole chapter and find matching texts concerning the end times.
These chapters are relevant to our time!!!
As Babylonian pride was destroyed by medes and persians, the human pride (sin) shall be destroyed by unquenchable fire. It is good time that we repent and worship the one and only true God for our salvation.
I'd like to ask a question or two:
1. In Isaiah 13:17-18, the prophecy of Isaiah says God would stir up the Medes against Babylon, and the bows of the Medes would dash the young men to pieces, and they (the Medes) would have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes would not spare children."
Was this prophecy fulfilled against ancient Babylon by the Medo-Persian army when they captured Babylon in 539 B.C.? I mean, was the capture of Babylon a violent operation? Were the young men of Babylon dashed to pieces and were children killed? Historical sources suggest that the capture of ancient Babylon by Cyrus' forces was relatively peaceful and the city was not destroyed. If the historical account is correct, it means the Isaiah 13 prophecy was not fulfilled when the Medo-Persians captured ancient Babylon in 539 B.C. How do we reconcile this seeming tension between the prophecy and what the historical account suggests?
2. If the historical account is anything to go by, the ancient city of Babylon continued to exist and remained inhabited for at least another 700 years after it was captured by King Cyrus' forces in 539 B.C. It underwent a slow decline but, nevertheless, continued to exist and to be inhabited for centuries. If this is the case, how can we be confident that it was Isaiah's prophecy that led to the demise of ancient Babylon? Isn't it possible that the ancient city of Babylon simply underwent a natural process of decline and extinction as was common with many other ancient cities? There are many great ancient cities that were not under divine judgment but they no longer exist today -- they underwent a slow decline until they completely disappeared from existence. Today, archeology has unearthed the ruins of many such ancient cities. Isn't it possible that the ancient city of Babylon is just one of such ancient cities that disappeared from existence through a natural process of extinction rather than the result of divine judgment?
I'd like to know your thoughts on these questions.
Blessings,
Vick
One possibility is that the cruelty prophesied in Isaiah actually happened 55 or so years after the initial conquest, as the lesson references.
As for just why Babylon fell, there will always be differing opinions. I put my trust in God's word, as I believe He is the ultimate ruler of the universe, and protects or withdraws protection from various human organizations in accordance with their trust, or lack of trust, in Him.
For those of us who put our trust in Him, He gives enough evidence to assure us, not just of His existence, but of His continuing care.
Thank you. God bless.