Isaiah 13
WE begin in this chapter the second chief section of the book, which ends with chapter 27. As we noticed in examining early chapters, the Holy Spirit groups together the events and characters of Isaiah’s times with those of the last days. The reason for this is that Israel is in view, set aside from the Babylonian captivity (B. C. 606) until the last days, while the Gentiles rule them; it is as though time were not reckoned during this long period, for when God takes up Israel again, the Assyrian will reappear and also the Roman Empire.
Particularly is the period from the cross of Christ to the rapture of the Church (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) entirely omitted from Old Testament scripture; indeed the Church is never mentioned in the Old Testament; it was a secret until made known to the apostle Paul (Ephesians 1:9; 3:3-11, etc.)
It is the nations in connection with Israel, rather than Israel, that are the subjects of the section of Isaiah’s prophecies on which we now enter, though Israel is reached at the end, and then the whole world is brought into blessing.
The first subject is Babylon, and we shall find that it is not only the actual city of that name and its king, but the power of the last days which will have the same character,—the revived Roman Empire. (See Daniel 2:37-45 and 7:1- 27; Revelation 13: 1-8; 16:19).
The actual Babylon must have stood not far from the early tower of Babel (Genesis 11). It began as a city very early, but the kingdom which rose to wide dominion under Nebuchadnezzar, was not founded until 120 years after Isaiah’s prophecy, and the Jews were not taken captive and carried away to Babylon until nearly 20 years after that. The site is desolate today, and has not been inhabited for many centuries.
The capture of Babylon by the Medians is referred to in Daniel 5:30, 31, but the future destruction of the last great empire occupies a larger place in our chapter. Note for example the connection with the day of Jehovah (verses 6-9), and the punishment of the world (verse 11). In connection with verse 10 see Joel 2:10, and 30, 31; 3:15; Ezekiel 32:7, 8; Matthew 24:29, 30. The capture of the literal 1-abylon is indicated in verses 14, 18, while its later destruction, hundreds of years afterward, is stated in verses 19 to 22, and continues to the present time.
Babylon was the first power to which God delivered up the Jews, when people and king had alike fully turned to idolatry and kindred corruption. Its fall and destruction picture the greater fall and destruction of the great power of the west, the Roman empire, last of the four beasts seen by Daniel, but called Babylon in the Revelation.
Rome was and will be characterized, as was ancient Babylon, by excessive pride, cruelty and idolatry. There is no warrant in Scripture for supposing that there will be an actual Babylon, built on the plain of the Euphrates, in the last days. The future Babylon is the city built a seven hills, the capital of Italy.
ML 06/04/1933