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 4:14-1714For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (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; 3:3-119Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:9)
3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; 6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; 9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: (Ephesians 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 2:37-4537Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 40And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. (Daniel 2:37‑45) and 7:1- 27; Revelation 13: 1-8; 16:1919And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (Revelation 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, 3130In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. 31And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. (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 2:1010The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: (Joel 2:10), and 30, 31; 3:15; Ezekiel 32:7, 87And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. 8All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 32:7‑8); Matthew 24:29, 3029Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 30And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (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