Season 6, Podcast 66, Isaiah 14:9-20 “Lucifer.”

Season 6, Podcast 66, Isaiah 14:9-20 “Lucifer.”

The story of the fall of nations is common both in Biblical history and in secular history. The Prophet Isaiah, under inspiration of the Lord, selected the fall of Babylon as the symbol of the fall of the world just prior to the Second Coming of Christ. Babylon was the perfect candidate. Firstly, the very word Babylon stems from the legendary Tower of Babel, which because of the confusion of tongues gave birth to many nations. In addition, the tower itself was a symbol of pride, arrogance, and defiance against God.  

In addition, the King of Babylon brought the Children of God, the offspring of the tribe of Judah and Benjamin into captivity in 586 BC. The symbol there is unmistakable. It was through the tribe of Judah that Christ would come. The Jews, of the House of Israel, were considered the covenant people. Babylon stands as a symbol of the world. Bringing the children of God into captivity is a symbol of the natural man overcoming the spiritual man. Remember the words of John the Revelator.  

Revelation 18:1-4

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 

In Jeremiah, we find the same warning. 

Jeremiah 50:8-9

Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks. For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. 

There are other reasons Babylon is the perfect symbol of the world; its history is a shadow of world history.

Under Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BC) Babylon was the dominant empire in the ancient near east.

Babylon had great military power.

Babylon was the location of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Hanging Garden’s of Babylon, suggesting the opulence of what the world treasures. 

Again, speaking of Babylon, John defines the delights of the world

Revelation 18: 9-13

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,… The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

In addition,

·      Babylon had impressive towers. 

·      It had impressive walls and gates, highly decorated

·      Babylon was a center of astronomy, mathematics, law, and literature

·      Babylon was wealthy, controlling key trade routes. It was a hub of commerce, agriculture, and taxation.

·      Babylon, an idol worshiping nation, had many temples