Babylon’s Utter Destruction

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Jeremiah 51:1-64

 

Jeremiah 51:6

“Flee from the midst of Babylon;
    let every one save his life!
Be not cut off in her punishment,
    for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance,
    the repayment he is rendering her.

(ESV)

 

A world becoming increasingly more hostile to Christians causes Christians to relate to Israel and Judah when in exile in Babylon. Besides not being able to gather during Covid, the culture asks Church leaders to perform Gay weddings and support a woman’s choice to have an abortion which is murder. They must be tolerant of gender change as a new normal, which is a slap in the face of God, telling Him that the gender they had at birth was a mistake by their creator God. However, just like the ending of the exile in Babylon, Christians in exile in an increasingly evil world will end when the Lord returns (Revelation 19:11-21).

 

1)      The Lord has declared His intention to stir up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon from the kings of the Medes (Jeremiah 51:1-11) – The word of the Lord from Jeremiah not only warns Babylon of their pending destruction but tells them where the attack will be from and who the attackers are. Not only does this word warn Babylon of its destruction but tells the exiles from Judah and Israel to flee to escape the vengeance of the Lord (Jeremiah 51:6).

2)      The destruction is certain and complete (Jeremiah 51:12-23) – The Lord is taking vengeance on Babylon for its treatment of Israel and the destruction of the Temple (Jeremiah 51:11). Therefore, the Lord’s intention to destroy Babylon will be carried out for God’s intentions always come to pass.

3)      The certain and complete destruction of Babylon brings comfort to the exiles of Judah in Babylon (Jeremiah 51:24-64) – Even though Israel and Judah are in exile, they are not forsaken by God and will be redeemed. However, a lengthy time in exile comes with doubts but these doubts ease with this word foretelling the destruction of Babylon. The seventy-year exile of Israel is for Israel and Judah’s correction and not their destruction (Jeremiah 29:11).

 

Jeremiah 50 is about the judgment against Babylon and Jeremiah 51 is about the destruction of Babylon. While both passages call for the complete destruction of Babylon, Babylon’s mention in Revelation 18 indicates a possible contradiction in Scripture and the possibility Jeremiah’s prophecy is false, making him a false prophet (Deuteronomy 18:20-22). However, the prophecy of Jeremiah does come true, just not until the last days. Jeremiah is not a false prophet because his prophecy regarding Babylon does come true, just not during the time of Judah’s exile. Even though the exiles would not see the total fulfillment of the prophecy against Babylon, the Lord chooses to give this word to Jeremiah to provide comfort to the exiles, letting them know the days of Babylon and their oppression is ending. Babylon will experience complete destruction, just not until the Lord returns.

 

While there is a country of Babylon, Babylon also represents a world system of immorality and greed destined to fall (Revelation 18:9-21). Christians living in this world today can relate to the exiles in the time of Jeremiah and like these exiles seek deliverance from the system of Babylon we live in. Like the Jewish exiles, we have hope in the destruction of Babylon and its system of immorality and greed foretold in Revelation 18. God instructed those in exile to flee before the Lord unleashed his vengeance on Babylon (Jeremiah 51:6). Believers in exile today will also escape the vengeance of the Lord through the rapture of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:51-52; Revelation 4:1). Until that day, the Church must focus on fulfilling its mission of spreading the Gospel and making disciples (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19-20). If you are reading this and have never asked Jesus to forgive your sins so you can escape His vengeance, I invite you to do so by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.