Isaiah 47

Isaiah lived in a time when Assyria was the main power and Babylon was on and off rebelling against them. In this chapter, the Lord revealed to Isaiah the Fall of Babylon. The Fall of Cities genre in the prophets are not just historical, the scenes are loaded with attachments and far reaching strings. God used in prophecy the female to represent religion and in this case He is addressing the religion of Babylon and Chaldea as the virgin daughter of Babylon and the daughter of the Chaldeans (v. 1). The description of the Fall of Babylon in this chapter almost convinced us that it was directed to the events of 539-538 BCE but the strong connections that this prophecy has with Revelation 18 (see vv. 8; 9; 15) simply means that John in Revelation was shown the same event as yet unfulfilled. The characteristics of this female are mixed: she was called “tender and delicate” (v. 1e); queen of kingdoms (v. 5d); she profaned the heritage of God (v. 6b); sensual one (v. 8a); wicked (v. 10a); she deceived herself claiming everlasting status quo (v. 7a): queen forever; never a widow (v. 8e); never lose children (v. 8f); incomparable “there is no one besides me” (v. 10e). The condition is absolutely decided for “for which you cannot atone” (v. 11d). There is no mercy for this entity as opposed to human beings who can convert into an improved future relationship with God. And here lies the key: every time a prophet is describing the Fall of a City genre in prophecy like Tyre or Babylon, the issue is that its essence is the egocentric sin of Lucifer in Heaven and the Rebellion in Heaven Event is rehearsed. One can hear the rebellious heart and thoughts of Lucifer echoing in Babylon. Apostate religion is in prophecy a harlot and in vv. 2-3 God is describing that He will expose her evil “your shame also will be exposed” (v. 3b). The judgment is not by Cyrus or Gobryas or Persia or human instruments. The judgment is from God. When God was angry with His remnant He gave them over into the hands of apostate religion in Babylon and “you [harlot religion of Babylon] did not show mercy to them” (v. 6d). The Redeemer of spiritual Israel or the Remnant is “the Lord of hosts . . the Holy One of [spiritual] Israel” (v. 4). The prophecy is about the Remnant of God and His relationship to them and the sin of apostate religion in Babylon to touch the apple of His eye. Apostate religion said a couple of things: “I am and there is no one besides me” (v. 8d; 10e); she was involved in wickedness (v. 10a); her [apostate religious] wisdom and understanding “they have deluded you” (v. 10c); she was involved with “many sorceries” (v. 9d-e); she oppressed the geronti (v. 6e); she had no mercy on the remnant of God (v. 6d). God pronounce the judgment or punishment of this apostate Babylon: “two things shall come on you suddenly in one day” the loss of children and widowhood (v. 9a-b); evil will come on her (v. 11a); disaster will fall on her (v. 11c); destruction about which you do not know will come on you suddenly (v. 11e-f). The destruction is with fire since “fire burns them” (v. 14b); “they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame” (v. 14c); “there is none to save you” (v. 15d). God also has room to mock the harlot by saying she should ask astrologers, stargazers, those who predict by the new moons to “stand up and save you from what will come upon you” (v. 13). Lucifer who became Satan will burn in the fire of Hell just before eternity starts. It is the last historical event and the extermination of evil. None can save him. He cannot find atonement for his deeds any longer then since He crucified God on the cross and revealed His true character.

Dear God

Grant that in this symbol of the harlot of apostasy of religion the apostate religion of spiritual Babylon of the world will not find support from us. Claim us as part of Your remnant and be for us the Redeemer, the Lord of Hosts and Holy One of spiritual Israel. Amen.

Koot van Wyk, (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Kyungpook National University, Department of Liberal Education, Sangju, South Korea; conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia