Analysis of the Great Collapse - Rumor notes 136

 Revelation 14

8 Another, a second angel, followed, saying, "Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality."

Babylon the great has fallen

There is a specific background to this declaration that can help us to appreciate the importance of the symbolism of this prophecy. The literal Babylon at the height of its glory days, was governed by the great king Nebuchadnezzar who at first was unknowingly being used of God to release consequences on His rebelling chosen nation as well as other wicked nations. This took place by Babylon being allowed to defeat and plunder powerful nations because of their great wickedness. Nebuchadnezzar was astute man, smart, successful and well educated in philosophy, law and pagan religion.

Babylon was actually the outgrowth of the previous failed attempt to establish a worldwide system of total domination by means of a famous tower that later came to be known as Babel, not too long after the flood. Later the city of Babylon became established at or near the same location, and over time became the origin of what is now known as western civilization. This is where the concept of artificial law was refined and where mystery religions cultivated in Egypt found further development. Babylon became the symbol of the entire system invented by Satan that through history has shaped how societies are organized relying on the principles of trade involving reward and punishment. It also became the symbol of the epitome of pride.

Babylon represents trust in the power of hierarchy, wealth and worldly wisdom integrated and guided by pagan beliefs inherited from demonic inspiration passed down through generations of rebellion, particularly highlighted in the disposition described during the building of the tower of Babel.

Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:4 NRSV)

This is the roots of what today is known as modern civilization. This spirit, later refined and enshrined in a complex system of law and pagan philosophies, came to define how the world governs. It originates from Satan's counterfeit design of government experimented with first and urged in heaven to be an improvement for social order before this world was created. The spirit of rebellion, pride, control and independence from God reflects the disposition of the king of pride.

[Leviathan] sees everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride. (Job 41:34)

The principles involved in trading and commerce, artificial law and its enforcement by means of threatened punishments and enticements of reward, and organization of society by means of top-down hierarchical control, compose the three pillars of Satan's design for social cohesion. Yet these are often assumed to be how God relates us in His use of authority. The truth is that all these principles and practices are out of harmony with the principles of agape love involving selfless service and other-centered living. Agape love is what was originally enjoyed and practiced by all the inhabitants of heaven before the confusion brought about by the rebellion of Lucifer that introduced sin when he chose to launch a grand social experiment to challenge the very design of creation itself and that distorted perceptions of the disposition and motives of God's heart.

Being aware of what is behind this symbol of Babylon makes it easier to see how this announcement fits into the flow of history, not just of this world but the narrative of the spiritual war that was intensifying before humans even came on the scene. This is the context from which we may better appreciate the intensity of this warning in the backdrop for all the surrounding messages by these angels. What is involved here are God's final warnings meant to alert as many as possible that the time of Satan's grand experiment is soon to come to a frightful end, and it is time to take decisive action before it is too late.

The great king Nebuchadnezzar had a fascinating life that is an illustration of how powerful the grace of God can be to reach even some of the most deeply entrenched victims of Satan's deceptions. This king was both brilliant and wise and was on the cutting edge of the development of civilization as well as a formidable and feared military leader. He was the one who destroyed Jerusalem, leveled and burned the temple of Yahweh and demolished the walls of the city of Zion while either killing or dispersing the chosen people of God, effectively bringing to an end their independence and making many of them prisoners in his own kingdom. God's prophets had warned His people of this for many years, but their own intransigence, pride and unwillingness to submit and trust God by obedience to His instructions, led to a violent end that would have been far less tragic if they had not clung to rebellion. Even the armies of Babylon was at times surprised at the intransigence of thus people who imagined their identity as God's chosen people and a temple dedicated to the God of heaven somehow would insulate them from experiencing consequences of their sins. In contrast to the offered mercies of Nebuchadnezzar's government, the people of God were even more wicked as they misrepresented Him. Yet all was not yet lost.

Nebuchadnezzar believed in humanism and believed that by extending mercy to his enemies he could gain access to resources of knowledge from around the world. He brought into his government the brightest minds from nations he conquered. This proved positive, giving him advantages to reduce resentment that could fuel rebellion in his subjects. Thus when Judah and Jerusalem were overthrown and destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, on one of his campaigns he captured a number of princes and wise men to add to his kingdom in his plan to bring together wisdom of the world into one location in order to stabilize his kingdom and secure his rule over the world. His disposition and plans reflect to some extent how Lucifer originally began his attempted takeover of heaven through reliance on wisdom, widespread trading and the development of law in order to elevate his power to compete with the Almighty and draw attention to himself as highest authority.

Daniel and his three associates were among this group of elite princes taken as prisoners to Babylon. However, these four men had a different spirit and perspective than most others, for they had grown up in the days of Jeremiah the prophet who had warned for years the very things that were now happening. God had been pleading with His people for them to repent and turn away from their evil ways and go back to life under His protective shield by obedience to His instructions. These warnings had not gone unnoticed in the family of Daniel. The character of Daniel and his three friends had been shaped by parents who had received the teachings given through the prophets, yet still the vast majority of those living in Jerusalem and Judah rejected God's ways and had given themselves over to self-indulgence, arrogant independence and determined resistance to the warnings from God's prophets, and especially Jeremiah, God then could not prevent the tragedies from coming to fruition because the leaders of His people had rejected His authority, leaving them vulnerable to the enemies of God to exploit and destroy them and their place of worship.

The book of Daniel reveals fascinating encounters between God's faithful witnesses in Babylon and the progression of God's work to win the heart of the king of Babylon himself. Because of the implicit trust in God by Daniel and his friends, Nebuchadnezzar was introduced to the God of heaven who was strikingly different from any god he had every known. Yet it took years and a number of confrontations with the will of this proud king before the truth began to take deeper root in Nebuchadnezzar's heart. Yet through persistent and faithful reflection of God's kindness and graciousness through Daniel and the others, God was able to soften and draw out the heart of the most powerful king on earth with a higher wisdom and a different kind of power than anything he had ever encountered anywhere on earth.

Near the end of the story of Nebuchadnezzar came a showdown between the truth of God growing in his awareness, and his pride and lust for power that had motivated his life. Nebuchadnezzar is in some respects like many of us, for he reflected the spirit of Lucifer in his desire to exalt himself to the highest position of authority, drawing attention and worship to himself for his great wisdom, cunning and superior capabilities above others. Yet God was consistently gracious, and Lucifer was exposed to the full extent of God's kindness and compassion and might have repented and been restored if he had not chosen instead to permanently harden his heart and seal his spirit in rebellion and resistance, denying that love alone is the only safe way for the universe to function.

The same appeal to repent was encountered in the heart of Nebuchadnezzar as the Spirit in his heart conflicted with the lusts of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life that had long motivated him. As is true with each person, a point in time was reached when Nebuchadnezzar was warned that he needed to submit his will to the ways and heart of God and let go of trusting himself. This is the same identity crisis we face, for we too must choose who will be our source who defines us, our worth, our purpose for existence and who shapes our character and perspective of truth. Nebuchadnezzar was brought to this point through a dream that was so vivid he knew he had to know what it meant. By this time he knew Daniel was the only one that had the connection with heaven's wisdom who could accurately interpret his dream. We pick up the narrative part way into Daniel's explanation of what this dream meant, and we get a sense of the friendship that had developed between these two men. Daniel understands well what Nebuchadnezzar struggles against, but he also understands this is a crisis point each person faces when their carnal spirit is exposed and the will must to choose who will be Lord in their life.

This dream was heaven's warning to Nebuchadnezzar of the inevitable outcome of continuing resistance to God's drawing love in his heart. Because all true authority must be released by free choice of people themselves (not arbitrarily imposed as in hierarchy), when the will resists alignment with God's will, authority is given over to Satan, and dire consequences will ensue.

The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and the sight of it to all the earth; whose leaves were beautiful, and the fruit of it much, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation: it is you, O king, that are grown and become strong; for your greatness is grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth.

Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots of it in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him; this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come on my lord the king: that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will. Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule. Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.

All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?

While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from you: and you shall be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.

The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or tell him, What do you? At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:20-37)

Now let us tie this back into our study and how Babylon figures so prominently in Revelation.

There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (Revelation 16:18-19)

After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory. He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird! (Revelation 18:1-2)

It is helpful to be aware that in John's day this label of Babylon was understood by Christians to represent old Jerusalem. The fierce resistance to the gospel of Jesus Christ, the One claimed to be the Messiah promised to Israel for centuries, was the greatest obstacle of faith, particularly for Jewish converts. Jerusalem represented the deeply entrenched religious system of traditions enforced by religious leaders who held some political power over the Jewish nation in Christ's day. This amalgamation of religion and political power is intoxicating and leads to abuse and exploitation often in the name of God. The thirst for power at all cost in any generation has often led to gross misrepresentations of God's kind of authority, yet this is the very disposition of those who arranged for the crucifixion of the Messiah primarily because He refused to use His supernatural access to power to achieve their agenda. This pattern can be witnessed throughout history repeated over and over.

He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. And on her forehead a name was written, "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." (Revelation 17:3-5)

The influence in Babylon of the development and refinement of law, legal traditions and perspective had an enormous effect on the thinking and logic of those exiled there for 70 years after the fall of old Jerusalem to Babylon's armies. Spending that long in the very center of law (and in many respects the birthplace of legal systems throughout the world for the rest of history), the Jews returned to their own country after the exile, bringing with them the disposition and legal orientation inculcated into them by Babylon. In Babylon they absorbed a form of religion and legal orientation very different from the family design God intended His people to model under His loving parentage. Perceiving God and His instructions through the lens of the world's mindset and governance model had become so enmeshed into their way of reasoning, that upon their return to Jerusalem their highest priority became meticulous law enforcement regardless of how much it destroyed relationships.

One of the examples of this over-emphasis on legal compliance and rigid law-enforcement at the cost of covenant relationships was the way Ezra dealt with the issue of foreign wives among those returned from Babylon. Rather than turning to God to learn how to resolve this problem in His way, they made the law of Moses their supreme standard while assuming God was furious with them and eager to punish them severely should they fail to keep those laws meticulously.

Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land: yet now there is hope for Israel concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law. Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you: be of good courage, and do it.

Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Israel. Now therefore make confession to Yahweh, the God of your fathers, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women. Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, As you have said concerning us, so must we do. But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside: neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and the judges of it, until the fierce wrath of our God be turned from us, until this matter be dispatched.

Among the sons of the priests there were found who had married foreign women: namely, of the sons of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brothers, Maaseiah, and Eliezer, and Jarib, and Gedaliah. They gave their hand that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt. (Ezra 10:2-4, 10-14, 18-19)

In contrast, we find in Malachi God's viewpoint regarding how Ezra attempted to appease His presumed wrath by ripping families apart already settled in marriage covenant relationships.

This again you do: you cover the altar of Yahweh with tears, with weeping, and with sighing, because he doesn't regard the offering any more, neither receives it with good will at your hand. Yet you say, 'Why?' Because Yahweh has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, against whom you have dealt treacherously, though she is your companion, and the wife of your covenant. Did he not make one, although he had the residue of the Spirit? Why one? He sought a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For I hate divorce," says Yahweh, the God of Israel, "and him who covers his garment with violence!" says Yahweh of Armies. "Therefore take heed to your spirit, that you don't deal treacherously. (Malachi 2:13-16)

The history of relating to God primarily through a legal framework began at Mount Sinai when the people presumed God's words were demands to be blindly obeyed. This was later exacerbated by Israel when they demanded to have a king over them so they could be like all the other nations around them. Samuel protested against this demand, yet God's respect for free will compelled Him to leave them open to choose that path despite knowing where it would lead. Evil must to be allowed to develop and mature until its sinister fruit becomes so obvious that it loses its appeal. Their choice to turn away from God's design to follow the hierarchical ways of the world are allowed to mature until it can be seen that Satan's counterfeit designs do not result in improved conditions but always tend towards death.

There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. (Proverbs 14:12)

Hierarchy and artificial law originated with Satan. This is highlighted in this key passage.

Shall the throne of wickedness have fellowship with you, which brings about mischief by statute? (Psalms 94:20)

After generations of kings often corrupt and exploitive as Samuel predicted, the Israelites largely lost sight of God's design for them as a special and chosen people to be a demonstration to the world of what it looks like to live in harmony with God's principles and rejoice in His favor by reflecting His selfless character. What developed instead was lust for power, pomp and pleasure that led to prostituting the advantages given by God, using them to use their power to exploit the disadvantaged and cultivate a class system of wealthy versus slaves. Rejecting God as their leader, kings increasingly exploited their power for selfish agendas. Over time God's chosen people came more and more to align with the social design developed in Babylon rather than reflecting the beauty of God's original plan for them to reveal His beauty as an attraction for other nations to desire to come within His care.

The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.' (Revelation 18:9-10)

In Revelation, Babylon represents the world's system of power and fear-based civilization. It is in sharp contrast to the city called the New Jerusalem. The earthly Jerusalem had become so infected by Babylonian thinking that its leaders relied more on its law design over the true principles given to Moses. Early Christians could see this, so Babylon became the code term used to represent the legal mentality of Jewish leaders in sharp contrast to how Christianity was birthed at Pentecost when commerce, artificial law and hierarchy literally disappeared so long as the Holy Spirit was allowed to govern the minds of each believer.

Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don't you listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman. However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.

These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar. For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children. But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all. (Galatians 4:21-26)

Babylon represents all religions that rely on law and enforcement of law to define identity and worth and the social structures we rely on to regulate and control all our relationships. This whole system is how all the kingdoms of this world operate and is summed up in this metaphor of Babylon. This mindset shaped the Jerusalem of Paul's day and reflects the legal, power-based system of control that continues unabated to our time. Paul explains that the legal relationship that originated with the fear-based reaction of the children of Israel at Mount Sinai defined the disposition of Jerusalem in his day. In contrast to this legal view of God and social construct, the movement launched by the Spirit at Pentecost that is based on love rather than law, has its basis and identity in the Jerusalem that is above. By stating that this is our true Mother, Paul is linking the perspective and self-awareness of all who embrace the true gospel with the Spirit who holds the body of Christ together in unity.

But do not miss the most important part of Paul's explanation here, for the pivotal issue of freedom of will lies at the very heart of the design of how we are to live and relate to each other in His kingdom. This unwavering respect for freedom from fear, freedom to choose whom we will serve absent any threat from God for not choosing to follow Him, is what discriminates between those who follow the true God of heaven and those who live according to the flesh and are motivated by its lusts.

The symbol of Babylon reflects the disposition of those who controlled earthly Jerusalem and was shaped by trading, law and hierarchy all initiated by Lucifer at the very beginning of the war. Self-enrichment was first modeled by that mighty angel who came to view his worth and identity as founded on external criteria rather than his dependent relationship with his Maker.

Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that is hidden from you; by your wisdom and by your understanding you have gotten you riches, and have gotten gold and silver into your treasures; by your great wisdom and by your traffic have you increased your riches, and your heart is lifted up because of your riches-- (Ezekiel 28:3-5)

This same pattern of living for self and seeking after recognition and power through domination over others, was cultivated and developed in Babylon until it found its most vivid expression in the killing of the Son of God on a cross in earthly Jerusalem. This was primarily because the leaders responsible for this followed the principles acquired in Babylon rather than embracing the principles and example of the Lamb who had come to save them from their sins.

In Revelation 18 we find described the ultimate outcome of this system of trading that is reflected in all aspects of this world. Commerce as carried on in this world is foreign to the ways of heaven as witnessed in the early days of the believers after Pentecost. The origins of this design are laid out in Ezekiel 27 and summarized in 28 and constitute the first bookend to this tragic experiment of commercial supply and demand in contrast to God's design for relational dependence on His goodness. The corresponding bookend is found in the collapse of that same system of trading and exploitation recorded in Revelation 18 that parallels Ezekiel 27-28.

For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.' Every shipmaster, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away, and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?' They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!' For in one hour is she made desolate. "Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her." A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all. (Revelation 18:17-21)

Rather than pinning down the symbol of Babylon to one specific time or organization, we must see that it represents a principle, a mindset, an entire system of social order that is earthly and rooted in principles developed in the first city of Babylon that is the root of most civilization ever since. This announcement from heaven that Babylon has fallen is not just about a physical demise and collapse, but rather the bankruptcy of its very nature and design and how it is impossible to sustain because its principles ultimately produce ruin and destruction.

Let's revisit the earliest history of this great city to discover the underlying problems associated with it in contrast to the ways God's people live who make up the New Jerusalem.

They said, "Come, let's build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top reaches to the sky, and let's make ourselves a name, lest we be scattered abroad on the surface of the whole earth."

Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. Yahweh said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is what they begin to do. Now nothing will be withheld from them, which they intend to do. Come, let's go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another's speech."

So Yahweh scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city. Therefore the name of it was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of all the earth. From there, Yahweh scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth. (Genesis 11:4-9)

It will happen that he who flees from the noise of the fear will fall into the pit; and he who comes up out of the midst of the pit will be taken in the snare; for the windows on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble. The earth is utterly broken. The earth is torn apart. The earth is shaken violently. The earth will stagger like a drunken man, and will sway back and forth like a hammock. Its disobedience will be heavy on it, and it will fall and not rise again. (Isaiah 24:18-20)

You king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty: and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals', and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whoever he will.

You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don't see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified. Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed. This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end; TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting. PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. (Daniel 5:18-28)

Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, will be like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited, neither will it be lived in from generation to generation. The Arabian will not pitch a tent there, neither will shepherds make their flocks lie down there. But wild animals of the desert will lie there, and their houses will be full of jackals. Ostriches will dwell there, and wild goats will frolic there. Wolves will cry in their castles, and jackals in the pleasant palaces. Her time is near to come, and her days will not be prolonged. (Isaiah 13:19-22)

It will happen in the day that Yahweh will give you rest from your sorrow, from your trouble, and from the hard service in which you were made to serve, that you will take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, "How the oppressor has ceased! The golden city has ceased!" Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers, who struck the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained.

The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet. They break out song. Yes, the fir trees rejoice with you, with the cedars of Lebanon, saying, "Since you are humbled, no lumberjack has come up against us." Sheol from beneath has moved for you to meet you at your coming. It stirs up the dead for you, even all the rulers of the earth. It has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. They all will answer and ask you, "Have you also become as weak as we are? Have you become like us?"

Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, with the sound of your stringed instruments. Maggots are spread out under you, and worms cover you. How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!"

Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you will stare at you. They will ponder you, saying, "Is this the man who made the earth to tremble, who shook kingdoms; who made the world like a wilderness, and overthrew its cities; who didn't release his prisoners to their home?" All the kings of the nations, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house. But you are cast away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit; like a dead body trodden under foot. You will not join them in burial, because you have destroyed your land. You have killed your people. The seed of evil-doers will not be named forever. (Isaiah 14:3-20)

For the Lord said to me, "Go, set a watchman. Let him declare what he sees. When he sees a troop, horsemen in pairs, a troop of donkeys, a troop of camels, he shall listen diligently with great attentiveness." He cried like a lion: "Lord, I stand continually on the watchtower in the daytime, and every night I stay at my post. Behold, here comes a troop of men, horsemen in pairs." He answered, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the engraved images of her gods are broken to the ground. You are my threshing, and the grain of my floor!" That which I have heard from Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, I have declared to you. (Isaiah 21:6-10)

It shall happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, says Yahweh, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it desolate forever. I will bring on that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. For many nations and great kings shall make bondservants of them, even of them; and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands. (Jeremiah 25:12-14)

Glorious things are spoken about you, city of God. Selah. I will record Rahab and Babylon among those who acknowledge me. Behold, Philistia, Tyre, and also Ethiopia: "This one was born there." Yes, of Zion it will be said, "This one and that one was born in her;" the Most High himself will establish her. Yahweh will count, when he writes up the peoples, "This one was born there." Selah. Those who sing as well as those who dance say, "All my springs are in you." (Psalms 87:3-7)

The word that Yahweh spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet. Declare you among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don't conceal: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed; her images are disappointed, her idols are dismayed. For out of the north there comes up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and animal. In those days, and in that time, says Yahweh, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; they shall go on their way weeping, and shall seek Yahweh their God. They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, saying, Come you, and join yourselves to Yahweh in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten. My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place. All who found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Yahweh, the habitation of righteousness, even Yahweh, the hope of their fathers.

Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks. For, behold, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her; from there she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of an expert mighty man; none shall return in vain. Chaldea shall be a prey: all who prey on her shall be satisfied, says Yahweh. (Jeremiah 50:1-10)

Because of the wrath of Yahweh she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate: everyone who goes by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. Set yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she has sinned against Yahweh. Shout against her round about: she has submitted herself; her bulwarks are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of Yahweh: take vengeance on her; as she has done, do to her. Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn everyone to his people, and they shall flee everyone to his own land. (Jeremiah 50:13-16)

Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes; for Yahweh has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon. You who dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures, your end is come, the measure of your covetousness. (Jeremiah 51:12-13)

I will render to Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, says Yahweh. Behold, I am against you, destroying mountain, says Yahweh, which destroys all the earth; and I will stretch out my hand on you, and roll you down from the rocks, and will make you a burnt mountain. They shall not take of you a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but you shall be desolate for ever, says Yahweh. (Jeremiah 51:24-26)