The Burden of Babylon Is 13:1-22 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
A burden is a prophecy concerning a country or region or nation that the prophet has to get off of him by preaching about it. See Jer 20:9, 23:33-36 where Jeremiah was relieved of his burden because he preached about it.
The burdens in Isaiah are:
- Babylon – 13:1
- Moab – 15:1
- Damascus – 17:1
- Egypt – 19:1
- Desert of the sea – 21:1
- Dumah – 21:11
- Arabia – 21:13
- Valley of decision – 22:1
- Tyre – 23:1
- Beasts of the south – 30:6
Isaiah saw concerning Babylon:
The Point of Attack – v.2 – the banner is the rallying point and the object is the gates of the nobles [Jud 5:10-11, Rev 17:5, 18:2] – when you can breach the gates, you can enter the fortified places and destroy them.
The Lord’s Army – v.3 – these are his sanctified ones who rejoice in his highness [Ps 50:3-5, Jude 14-15, Rev 19:11-14] – this army will include all the church age saints returning on horses with the Lord at his Second Coming – we will be in glorified bodies which cannot be wounded in battle [Joel 2:1-11].
The Nations Gathered – v.3 – So it’s is a set up – they gather together to destroy Israel and when they are together, they are attacked and destroyed by the Lord [Zeph 3:8, Zech 12:3, 4, 9].
The Lord Himself – v.5 – this is the Second Advent of Jesus – the weapons of his indignation are: his sharp sword, Rev 19:15; his rod of iron. Rev 19:15; and fire, 2 Thes 1:8.
The Lord wins!!
The Lord return of the Lord will be a destruction from the Almighty, according to v.6. This day will cause:
Fear – v.7-8 – Ezek 21:7, Jos 2:10-11
Sorrow – v.8 – Rev 21:4
Pain – v.8 – Jer 48:41, Is 21:3 – the description of “pain as a woman that travaileth” is typical of references to the tribulation and second coming of Jesus [1 Thes 5:1-3].
Amazement – v.8 – Deut 28:28 , like the amazement America experienced while helplessly watching the TwinTowers of the WorldTradeCenter burn to the ground.
Scorching Heat – v.8 – Rev 16:8-9
Desolation of the land – v.9 – Joel 2:3
Destruction of the sinners – v.9 – 2 Thes 2:12
Celestial Phenomena – v.10 – Matt 24:29; Acts 2:19-20; Rev 6:12-13; Lk 21:25-28
Punishment of the world – v.11 – Matt 24:3; 1 Jn 2:15-17
Abasement of the arrogant – v.11 – Lk 14:11
Annihilation of the male population – v.12 – “precious” as in 1 Sam 3:1 – Rev 6:8; 8:11; 9:15
Earth’s orbital change – v.13 – Heb 12:26-27; Is 24:20
Next week we’ll look at some more things that happen on this day.