An Overview of Babylon's Role in the Bible: Part 2

In this article we are looking at Babylon's (or Babylonia's) role in the Bible. Babylon is mentioned over 170 times in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah was the prophet that God gave Judah to prepare them for the coming captivity and to show how God was using Babylon to punish Judah for her sins and idolatry.

Just as God gave Isaiah the vision of the Babylonians' coming, he also told Jeremiah to warn the people of Judah. Read Jeremiah 20:1-6

The "pillow prophets" of Jeremiah's time said Babylon would never attack; that "God would never allow it." Jeremiah prophesies that there will be 70 years of Babylonian captivity, then Babylon will be punished and the exiles will be allowed to return. Read Jeremiah 25:8-14

The prophets Ezekiel and Daniel were taken into captivity to Babylon in one of the first groups, while Jeremiah was still in Jerusalem, prophesying the final end of Judah. Both Ezekiel and Jeremiah warned the Jews that they would be in Babylon for a long time.

One of Ezekiel's prophecies was in regards to what would happen to the last king of Judah, Zedekiah. Read Ezekiel 12:1-15. Pay particular attention to verse 13 "but he will not see it." Now let's read what actually happened. Read 2 Kings 25:1-12. Zedekiah is blinded by the Babylonians.

Daniel was a prophet who was brought to Babylon as a young man and rose to a position of power as a king's adviser or wise man. His visions dealt primarily with the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar and what was going to happen to the Babylonian empire, as well as the empire that later conquered her, the Medes and the Persians. He also had visions of the far future, some of which have already been fulfilled, others not.

The Jewish captives would have come to Babylon when it was at her height of beauty and power, under King Nebuchadnezzar. One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It is believed that these would have been built and flourishing during this time (so Daniel probably could have visited them regularly.)

The story of the writing on the wall in Daniel 5 describes how God warned the King of Babylon (called Belshazzar in the Bible, Nabonidus in other histories) that Babylon would fall to the Medes and Persians. Read Daniel 5:22-31

Babylonia as an empire was no more. She becomes a vassal of the Medes and Persians.

There are several prophecies against Babylon in the Bible. Isaiah chapters 13, 14, 21, and 47 talk about her downfall, as does Jeremiah 50 & 51.

Read Jeremiah 51:52-57. "Even if Babylon reaches the sky..." Think of the Babylonian ziggurats and the Tower of Babel and how these were symbols of their arrogance. "I will make her officials and wise men drunk"

Remember the story of the writing on the wall, the Babylonian King and officials were warned of the coming destruction while they were drunk and at a feast. Read Jeremiah 51:61-64

Babylon resurfaces again at the end of all things, in Revelation. She is called the "great prostitute" or Babylon the Great. Read Revelation 17:1-6. Chapter 18 describes the fall of Babylon, which is very similar to what is described in Isaiah 47. In the context of Revelation, what is Babylon?

Well, to the Jews she was a symbol for evil, because she was the nation that destroyed the temple. Read Psalm 137.

To the Christians of John's day, they may have thought she symbolized Rome. Today there are numerous theories, as one can imagine. David Wilkerson, in his book "Set the Trumpet To Thy Mouth" gives compelling reasons why he believes America is Modern Babylon. Other people believe this is absolute bunk and have logical reasons for why they don't believe America could be the Babylon mentioned in Revelation (and Isaiah 47.) Whatever the case, I think we can all agree that we do not want to emulate Babylon (both the metaphorical and the historical versions) by taking on her attitudes of arrogance, sensuality, idolatry, and materialism.

Blessings!

Sources
H.D.M. Spence and Joseph S. Exell (editors). The Pulpit Commentary Volume 10: Isaiah
Editors. Compton's Interactive Bible (software)
Philip Yancey and Tim Stafford (notes). The Student Bible. NIV Version
David Wilkerson. Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth