Topical Bible: Babylon: Empire of Prophetic Denunciations Against

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Topical Encyclopedia

Babylon, an ancient city-state and empire located in Mesopotamia, holds a significant place in biblical history and prophecy. It is often depicted as a symbol of human pride, idolatry, and opposition to God. The Bible contains numerous prophetic denunciations against Babylon, highlighting its role as an instrument of divine judgment and its eventual downfall.

Historical Context

Babylon rose to prominence under the rule of Hammurabi in the 18th century BC and later became the capital of the Neo-Babylonian Empire under Nebuchadnezzar II in the 6th century BC. The city was renowned for its impressive architecture, including the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. However, its grandeur was overshadowed by its reputation for moral and spiritual corruption.

Prophetic Denunciations

The prophets of the Old Testament frequently spoke against Babylon, foretelling its destruction and emphasizing its role as a tool of God's judgment against Israel and other nations. These prophecies serve as a testament to God's sovereignty and justice.

1. Isaiah's Prophecies: Isaiah prophesied the fall of Babylon long before it reached the height of its power. In Isaiah 13:19, the prophet declares, "And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah." This prophecy underscores the certainty of Babylon's destruction due to its pride and idolatry.

2. Jeremiah's Lamentations: Jeremiah, known as the "weeping prophet," also pronounced judgment against Babylon. In Jeremiah 50:13, he states, "Because of the wrath of the LORD, she will not be inhabited; she will be completely desolate. All who pass by Babylon will be appalled and will scoff at all her wounds." Jeremiah's prophecies highlight the totality of Babylon's desolation as a result of divine wrath.

3. Ezekiel's Warnings: Ezekiel, a contemporary of Jeremiah, also spoke against Babylon. In Ezekiel 21:31, God declares through the prophet, "I will pour out My indignation upon you; I will blow the fire of My wrath upon you and deliver you into the hands of brutal men, skilled in destruction." This passage emphasizes the severity of God's judgment on Babylon.

4. Daniel's Visions: The Book of Daniel provides a unique perspective on Babylon, as Daniel served in the Babylonian court. In Daniel 5:26-28, during the reign of Belshazzar, the writing on the wall foretells Babylon's imminent fall: "MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN. This is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient. PERES means that your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians."

Symbolic Significance in Revelation

In the New Testament, Babylon is used symbolically in the Book of Revelation to represent the ultimate embodiment of worldly power and opposition to God. Revelation 17:5 refers to Babylon as "Babylon the Great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth." This imagery portrays Babylon as the source of spiritual corruption and rebellion against God, destined for final judgment.

Conclusion

The prophetic denunciations against Babylon serve as a powerful reminder of God's sovereignty and the inevitable downfall of those who oppose His will. Through the lens of biblical prophecy, Babylon stands as a symbol of human pride and idolatry, destined for divine judgment and ultimate desolation.

Nave's Topical Index

Psalm 137:8,9
O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewards you as you have served us.
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Isaiah 13:1
The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
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Isaiah 14:21
Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.
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Isaiah 43:14-17
Thus said the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.
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Isaiah 47:1
Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for you shall no more be called tender and delicate.
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Jeremiah 50:1
The word that the LORD spoke against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.
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Jeremiah 51:1
Thus said the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the middle of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind;
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Library

The Twelve Minor Prophets.
... directed against Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire. ... visitation; not to
say that the prophetic vision of ... name who went up from Babylon with Zerubbabel ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxiii the twelve minor.htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... Scythians, immediately resumed his efforts against Assyria, and ... invasion had overthrown
the empire of the ... double crown of Assyria and Babylon without opposition ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

The Hebrew Prophecies.
... Egypt, on the south, was also a mighty empire at this ... nature and purpose of five
of these prophetic books ... among the captives by the rivers of Babylon; of Haggai ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter v the hebrew prophecies.htm

The Greater Prophets.
... to bury the linen girdle there, or only in prophetic ecstacy ... in high honor at the
court of Babylon as a ... dreams, till the overthrow of the Chaldean empire by the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxii the greater prophets.htm

The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
... An expedition, sent against Milukhkha* in 675 BC, had taught ... at the opposite extremity
of his empire, fell unexpectedly upon Babylon, and pushing ...
/.../chapter iithe power of assyria 2.htm