The Punishment of Babylon
While chapter twelve of Isaiah describes the wonderful day that is awaiting Israel, the day when they will be restored as a nation and the Messiah sets up His thousand year reign, chapter thirteen of Isaiah describes something quite different. It describes the time period that occurs right before the setting up of Messiah’s kingdom. This time period is called “The day of the LORD.”
The day of the Lord will be a frightening time for everyone on earth. This is the time when Jesus comes to “shake” the earth and to judge the whole earth, the time when He comes to punish the world for their sins. It may look like people are getting away with wickedness now, but it will not last. No one can sin and get away with it. This “day of the Lord” occurs when the nations of the earth come to fight together against Jesus and His saints at the end of the tribulation period. Let us take a look.
“1) The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. 2) Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. 3) I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness.” (Isaiah 13:1,2) The first people mentioned here is Babylon. There is specific punishment mentioned in Scripture for Babylon. This passage has a double prophecy which refers to the punishment of Babylon after Israel has been in captivity 70 years. It also refers to the final punishment of Babylon described in Revelation chapter eighteen. Here are a few verses from that chapter, “2) 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. 3) 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… 5) For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6) Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double… 9) 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, 10) Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11) And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more… 21) And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all… for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24) And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”
There will be two responses to this punishment. The first will be sorrow and weeping. Out of Babylon had come merchandise which merchants sold and people bought. Quite an amazing array of merchandise could be found in her. Some of the merchandise is described as follows, “12) 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, 13) 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. 14) And the fruits that thy soul lusted after… all things which were dainty and goodly.” Merchants were made rich by Babylon and consumers had all their wants and lusts of the flesh fulfilled by what Babylon produced. Kings and rulers of the earth were made rich by her and had all their desires fulfilled by Babylon’s goods. When Babylon is destroyed, “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, 10) Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11) And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more… 15) The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16) And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17) For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18) And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! 19) And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.”
While the lustful merchants and kings of the earth and the people that loved the things of this world will mourn at the destruction of Babylon, heaven and God’s people will rejoice. “4) 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. 5) For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. 6) Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double… 20) Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. 21) And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” For God and His people, this will be a day of rejoicing because Babylon, who persecuted all the saints throughout history, will finally be gone. Though they be great and it seems like they can fulfill the lustful desires of people all over the earth, they will be destroyed in one day. God will take vengeance upon her for the sake of His people whom she has persecuted. The time will come when those who persecute the Lord’s people will no more be able to stand. “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19b). There is coming a day when God will execute this judgment thoroughly and with finality, and there will be no more persecution for the people who fear the Lord. For Babylon and for the earth, trouble will have just begun; but, for God’s people, this will be the end of trouble and trial and persecution.