The Destruction of Jerusalem

Jeremiah 52:1-34

“Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.  And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.  For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.” (Jeremiah 52:1-3)

The Babylonians had originally conquered Judah in Jehoiakim’s day.  Because he rebelled they had carried Jehoiakim captive and made his eight year old son Jehoiachin king.  The Jewish leaders continued to rebel, and three months later the Babylonians removed Jehoiachin and made his uncle Mattaniah king, changing his name to Zephaniah.  Zephaniah was just like his brother Jehoiakim, ignoring the warnings from god and going along with the Jewish leaders and continuing to antagonize the Lord.  He reigned a little over eleven years. 

“And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.  So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.  And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.  Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king's garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain. ” (Jeremiah 52:4-7)

Nine years and ten months after they made him king, because of the constant rebellion of the Jews, the Babylonians were forced to invade Judah and besiege Jerusalem again.  A year and a half later, the Jews ran out of food and were forced to surrender.  The Jewish army escaped by a secret gate at night even though the Chaldean army surrounded the city. 

“But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.  Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.  And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.  Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.” (Jeremiah 52:8-11)

The Chaldean army gave pursuit and captured Zedekiah near Jericho, before he could cross the Jordan, and the army scattered.  He was taken to Nebuchadnezzar’s field offices in Riblah, where his sons were executed while he watched, then his eyes were put out so that would be the last thing he saw.   When Nebuchadnezzar returned to Babylon, Zedekiah was taken to Babylon as a prisoner, where he would remain until his death. 

“Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem,  And burned the house of the LORD, and the king's house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:  And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about.

Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.  But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.” (Jeremiah 52:12-16)

A month after they seized Jerusalem, the Babylonians razed the city, burning the temple.the government offices and the homes, and tore down the city walls.  The poor people and the wealthy who had not escaped were hauled off as captives, except for a few of the poor who were left to manage the orchards and vineyards and care for the farms. 

“Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD, and the bases, and the brazen sea that was in the house of the LORD, the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.  The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.  And the basins, and the firepans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups; that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, took the captain of the guard away.  The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brazen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the LORD: the brass of all these vessels was without weight.

And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow.  And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all of brass. The second pillar also and the pomegranates were like unto these.  And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates upon the network were an hundred round about.” (Jeremiah 52:17-23)

The huge brass castings Solomon had made for the temple were broken up and transported to Babylon.  The brazen sea was a cast tank or bowl some six feet deep and twelve feet across cast from brass about four inches thick, that sat on twelve brass castings resembling oxen.  The main pillars were twenty seven feet long and about six feet in diameter in the form of a hollow brass tube with three inch walls.  They had additional decorative tops and bases.    All of the serving utensils and tool from the temple were carried away as well,

“And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door: He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven men of them that were near the king's person, which were found in the city; and the principal scribe of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the midst of the city.  So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.  And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death in Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own land.” (Jeremiah 52:24-27)

In the process of destroying the city, seventy three officials were discovered hiding in the city and were carried to Nebuchadnezzar’s field office where they were tried and executed for their part in the rebellion against Babylon. 

“This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty: In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty and two persons: In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons: all the persons were four thousand and six hundred.” (Jeremiah 52:28-30)

When Nebuchadnezzar, first conquered Judah, he didn’t take any captives, just signing an agreement with Jehoiakim.  After Jehoiakim’s rebellion, in Nebuchadnezzar’s seventh year, he took three thousand twenty three of the Jews as captives, including Daniel and his friends.  A great many of the Jews escaped to Telabib on the river chebar, where they were ministered to by Ezekiel.   A little over eleven years later, when he defeated Zedekiah, he took another eight hundred thirty two captives, and five years after that, when they rebelled against his governor, another seven hundred forty five were taken to Babylon. 

“And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison, And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon, And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life.  And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.” (Jeremiah 52:31-34)

Thirty seven years after Zedekiah was captured, Nebuchadneszzar’s successor, Evilmerodach, or Awil Marduk freed him, and again designated him as the Jewish leader, providing for him until his death.  This would have been twelve or fifteen years before the Medo-Persian Empire seized control from Belshazzar, in Daniel 5.   

The Prophecy Sent To Babylon

Jeremiah 51:53-64

“Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from me shall spoilers come unto her, saith the LORD.  A sound of a cry cometh from Babylon, and great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans: Because the LORD hath spoiled Babylon, and destroyed out of her the great voice; when her waves do roar like great waters, a noise of their voice is uttered: Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the LORD God of recompenses shall surely requite.  And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.  Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; and the people shall labour in vain, and the folk in the fire, and they shall be weary.” (Jeremiah 51:53-58)

God is going to bring judgment on Babylon regardless what they may do to try to prevent it.  Her  power and influence will be destroyed by those who have been dominated by her, as described in Revelation 17:15-18.  “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.  For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.  And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” 

As so often happens, the Babylonian leadership will be so drunk on power and implementing their own agenda they ignore the plight of their subjects, and by the time they realize how serious the situation has become, they will be destroyed and the city razed. God will use their own subjects to punish them just as he has throughout history.

“The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, when he went with Zedekiah the king of Judah into Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. And this Seraiah was a quiet prince.  So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even all these words that are written against Babylon.  And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.” (Jeremiah 51:59-62)

In the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign, He went to Babylon to meet with Nebuchadnezzar.  On member of his retinue was a quiet godly official named Seraiah.  Jeremiah wrote out the prophecies against Babylon and gave to scroll Seraiah.  He was to read the scroll before the king and then call on the lord to fulfill his word, that the city would be cut off and no one ever live there again. 

“And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.” (Jeremiah 51:63-64)

When he finished reading the scroll, Seraiah was to tie a rock to it and cast it into the Euphrates River, proclaiming that Babylon would sink just as the scroll did and never recover or be rebuilt.  Revelation 18:21-24 describes the fulfillment of this prophecy.  “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.  And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”

A review of Babylon’s history shows these prophecies have never yet been fulfilled.  Almost sixty years after Babylon was conquered by the Medo-Persian Empire in Daniel 5, and about forty years before the Greeks began invading the Persian Empire, Zechariah 5:5-11 gave the following prophecy.  “Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.   

And I said, What is it?

And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.  And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.  And he said, This is wickedness.  And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.  

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.  Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?

And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.”

Zechariah’s prophecies relate to the tribulation and return of Christ to establish his earthly kingdom.  It is very clear that at that time the land of Shinar, the area where Babylon is located will be a center of great wickedness.  Those who have taught that Babylon represents Rome or the United states have overlooked this and various other passages. 

Zechariah’s prophecy was made about a hundred years after Jeremiah made this prophecy against Babylon.  

Separate Yourselves From Babylon

Jeremiah 51:34-52

“Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon hath devoured me, he hath crushed me, he hath made me an empty vessel, he hath swallowed me up like a dragon, he hath filled his belly with my delicates, he hath cast me out.  The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.” (Jeremiah 51:34-35)

Basbylon attacked and killed a huge number of the Jews and thousands more died of starvation.  Initially only a group of the leaders and a few thousand of the people were carried away as captives.  Repeated rebellions led to the entire city being razed, and almost all of the people being carried away captives, with only a few remaining behind.  The Jews would blamed the Babylonians for all their suffering, failing to acknowledge their part in it.  Two thousand years later, Islamic forces controlling the area around Babylon are still trying to annihilate the Jews, and the Jewish claims have more validity.    

“Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will plead thy cause, and take vengeance for thee; and I will dry up her sea, and make her springs dry.  And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.  They shall roar together like lions: they shall yell as lions' whelps.  In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD.  I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.” (Jeremiah 51:36-40)

The Jews are still God’s chosen people, and his promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are still in effect.  He will not allow them to be wiped out, but will protect them as he promised.   Babylon’s support from other people will dry up. and the loss of the Euphrates and the many springs will make the land uninhabitable.  Only ruins will remain, inhabited by lizards.  The Babylonians will make great threats, and proclamations, but their feasts and celebrations will be like that of Belshazzar in Daniel 5.  Even while they were having their feast, the Mede and Persian forces were invading the city. 

“How is Sheshach taken! and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!  The sea is come up upon Babylon: she is covered with the multitude of the waves thereof.  Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.  And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.” (Jeremiah 51:41-44)

Babylon was taken in a single night by the Mede and Persian forces, with almost no struggle.  It shocked the rest of the world.  Some of the peoples they had dominated for years turned on them and seized the city.  The same thing will happen in the last days, during the Tribulation period, except the destruction will be far more complete.  Not just Babylon itself, but the entire area will be destroyed and become desert, with the Euphrates itself being dried up.  Never again will they lead a multitude of nations. 

“My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD.  And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumour that shall be heard in the land; a rumour shall both come one year, and after that in another year shall come a rumour, and violence in the land, ruler against ruler.” (Jeremiah 51:45-46)

Just before her final destruction, Babylon will offer tremendous opportunities for getting rich, as Revelation 18:11-15 describes.  “And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 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, 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.  And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.  The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing.”

God warns his people not to try to capitalize on the opportunity, or get caught up in the rumors and economic fluctuations, similar to what we see with the stock market. Christians are warned repeatedly not to allow such rumors to concern us, as in Matthew 24:6.  “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”  If God’s people will simply not be involved, such rumors will have little effect on them.    II Corinthians 6:17 instructs, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”  By leaving Babylon and having nothing to do with her, God’s people can avoid the entire mess. 

“Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.   Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD.  As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.” (Jeremiah 51:47-49)

God will use the nations of the world, led by a king from the north to execute judgment on Babylon.  They will be destroyed in the same way they have tried to destroy Israel, and the universe will sing at the destruction of Babylon.  People from around the world will be killed in Babylon just as they killed the Jews. 

“Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.  We are confounded, because we have heard reproach: shame hath covered our faces: for strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the LORD'S house.  Wherefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will do judgment upon her graven images: and through all her land the wounded shall groan.” (Jeremiah 51:50-52)

Those who escape the destruction of Babylon need to look for the Lord and think about Jerusalem as the place God has chosen to worship him.   At that time the one known as the Antichrist will invade Israel, taking over the temple and setting up himself as a god according to Daniel 11:29-38.  “At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter. For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.

And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.  And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.

And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.  Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.  And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.

And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done.  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.  But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.”

This is also described in Revelation 13:5-7.  “And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.  And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.  And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.  And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Babylon Will be Helpless To Protect Itself.

Jeremiah 51:10-31

“The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.  Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.  Set up the standard upon the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes: for the LORD hath both devised and done that which he spake against the inhabitants of Babylon.  O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.  The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillars; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.” (Jeremiah 51:10-14)

When Judah was conquered by Babylon, there were small groups who turned to God, such as Daniel and his friends.  When Cyrus gave permission they went back and rebuilt Jerusalem and the temple, led by men such as Ezra and Nehemiah.  In the last days, there will be similar groups who turn completely to god, and it will be for their sakes God destroys Babylon.  As we see in Revelation 17:15, the waters refer to nations and races of people.  “ And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”   It will stun the whole world that the seat of such power and wealth will be destroyed so completely, calling attention to God’s power. 

“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his understanding.  When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures.

Every man is brutish by his knowledge; every founder is confounded by the graven image: for his molten image is falsehood, and there is no breath in them.  They are vanity, the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.  The portion of Jacob is not like them; for he is the former of all things: and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: the LORD of hosts is his name.” (Jeremiah 51:15-19)

God made the entire universe, placing earth and each of the planets in orbit so that they remain in position.  He planned the evaporation and condensation to produce rain and snow, and the molecular charges that result in lightening.  He knows exactly what makes the wind blow.  By comparison, man is no more than the least intelligent of the animals, running strictly by instinct.  Even the most skilled metal workers are amazed at what they are able to make, and aware that the very idols they make are powerless, and worshipping them is a foolish.  When things happen, they will have no power to save.  The God of Israel is different.  Instead of being made by man, he made man and everything that exists.  Israel is the symbol of his ownership.

Thou art my battle ax and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider; With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid; I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers.

And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD. Behold, I am against thee, O destroying mountain, saith the LORD, which destroyest all the earth: and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll thee down from the rocks, and will make thee a burnt mountain.  And they shall not take of thee a stone for a corner, nor a stone for foundations; but thou shalt be desolate for ever, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 51:20-26)

God would use Babylon, and will use them again in the future, as a weapon or tool to destroy countires around the world, destroying armies and world powers, destroying countries around the world and disrupting countless cultures and governments.  I suspect that the massive effort to force Sharia Law and Muslim colonies around the world is part of this prophecy.  Eventually their efforts will lead to rebellion, and a coalition who rebells and destroys her, as described in Revelation 17:16.  “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.”  When they do, there will be nothing useable left, and Babylon will never be rebuilt. 

“Set ye up a standard in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare the nations against her, call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashchenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the rough caterpillars.  Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.  And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the LORD shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.

The mighty men of Babylon have forborne to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: they have burned her dwellingplaces; her bars are broken.  One post shall run to meet another, and one messenger to meet another, to show the king of Babylon that his city is taken at one end, And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.  For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her: yet a little while, and the time of her harvest shall come.” (Jeremiah 51:27-33)

God will assemble a force against Babylon from out of the north as we have already seen.  The countries named here are now parts of Turkey and southern Russia.    Their military forces will be like a swarm of caterpillars devouring a crop.  They will be assisted by Iran and the countries to the east.  The Babylonians will destroy the land around them in an effort to stop the invasion, but will not dare make a frontal attack and escape will be cut off leaving them no place to retreat.   It will be like a threshing floor where everything is open to be attacked.   Like a tool that is no longer useable, Babylon will be disposed of.  

The Coalition to Destroy Babylon

Jeremiah 50:41-51:9

“Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.  They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not show mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon.” (Jeremiah 50:41-42)

It is not clear exactly when Babylon will be destroyed in the end of time, but Revelation 16 clearly indicates it will be during the Tribulation period.  Daniel 11:14-17 indicates that at the start of the Tribulation, the King of the North will attack the Kin of the South and defeat him, supported by many other countries.  “And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.  So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.  But he that cometh against him shall do according to his own will, and none shall stand before him: and he shall stand in the glorious land, which by his hand shall be consumed.  He shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole kingdom, and upright ones with him; thus shall he do: and he shall give him the daughter of women, corrupting her: but she shall not stand on his side, neither be for him.”

In the process of conquering the King of the south, he will invade Israel and establish a treaty with them.  When alexander the Great died, the Greek Empire was split into four Kingdoms between his four generals.  The southern Empire included part of Libya, Egypt, Sudan  and Saudi Arabia.  The eastern kingdom included present day Jordan, Iraq, Iran Afghanistan and Pakistan.  The northern kingdom included Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia, and later grew to include part of the Ukraine and Russia and some of the areas around the Caspian Sea.  The western empire included Greece, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania part of Romania, southern Italy and some of the coastal areas around the Mediterranean Sea.  The southern and eastern kingdoms fought over possession of Israel until conquered by the Romans.  After the fall of the Roman Empire, Babylon was overrun by the Moslem forces from the southern kingdom, and have continued as part of the Moslem world to the present time.   It is quite possible that Babylon will be destroyed either at this time, or three and a half years later, when the Antichrist seizes power, as in both cases, the Mideast will be invaded by a strong military alliance led by a northern ruler, but we do know that she will be wiped out before the end of the Tribulation. 

“The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail.  Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan unto the habitation of the strong: but I will make them suddenly run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?  Therefore hear ye the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitation desolate with them.  At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.” (Jeremiah 50:43-46)

When Babylon is destroyed that time it will have a tremendous impact on the people of earth.  Revelation 18:9-19 describes the world’s reaction when Babylon will be destroyed. “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,  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.  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 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, 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.  And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 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!  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, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!  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.

I suspect that at some point Babylon will become a major center of the Moslem religion in an attempt to unite the various factions and establish peace in the Mideast.  At some point, their demands that everyone else live by their standards of Sharia Law will lead to the destruction of the leaders, but that is only speculation.

“Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will raise up against Babylon, and against them that dwell in the midst of them that rise up against me, a destroying wind; And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about.  Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: and spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.  Thus the slain shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets.  For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel.” (Jeremiah 51:1-5)

God had inspired Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonians to defeat and punish Israel.  In the process, Nebuchadnezzar set himself up as God, as Daniel 3 describes.  Later, in Daniel 4, He turned to God, but his descendants did not, with Belshazzar deliberately mocking God by using the vessels from the temple to throw a drunken party.  Because they have so totally rejected God and destroyed Judah, God will bring an enemy against her that will kill them and burn the city like a destroying wind.    God has not forgotten his promise to Judah and Israel, and will protect them. 

“Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD'S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense.  Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.  Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.  We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.” (Jeremiah 51:6-9)

Anyone who wishes to escape God’s judgment on Babylon must leave the city before it begins.  God has used Babylon to draw all the nations together and they have followed her lead, but now they will be destroyed.   They had the opportunity to turn to God for centuries but instead chose to follow something else.  Now judgment is coming and it is time for other people to get out. 
The warning to leave is much like the warning to Lot to leave Sodom.  

Destruction Of Babylon Continued

Jeremiah 50:21-40

“Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: waste and utterly destroy after them, saith the LORD, and do according to all that I have commanded thee.  A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.  How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! 

“I have laid a snare for thee, and thou art also taken, O Babylon, and thou wast not aware: thou art found, and also caught, because thou hast striven against the LORD.  The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.  Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.” (Jeremiah 50:21-28)

Merathaim and Pekod were Chaldean cities, and the Chaldeans were a major factor in the rise of Babylon under Nebuchadnezzar.  Though Babylon was the major world power of the time, God said it was to be broken up like a hammer under a cutting torch and Babylon would become a desolate desert.  The destruction of Babylon is directed By God because they have gone against God.  It is what God was going to do to the land of the Chaldeans.  Everything they held precious was to be taken, even tier prize breeding stock was to be slain. 

“The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, the vengeance of his temple.  Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy One of Israel.  Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD.

Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.  And the most proud shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up: and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all round about him. ” (Jeremiah 50:28-32)

God’s people are to get out of Babylon to escape destruction when He judges it.  They are to return to Israel and remind the people of the judgment of God.  Because of her pride none are to escape, and the nations around them will be destroyed as well. 

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.  Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name: he shall thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.” (Jeremiah 50:33-34)

Though God will use the Babylonians to punish Israel, he will not bless them for their treatment of her.  Both the nation of Israel and the nation of Judah were forcibly removed from their lands and were not allowed to return, to live or to worship God.  When the Babylonians took over the Assyrian Empire, they did not free the Assyrian captives.   The Lord is going to Act on the Jews behalf. Bringing peace to the land and upsetting the complacency of Babylon. 

  

“A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the LORD, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.  A sword is upon the liars; and they shall dote: a sword is upon her mighty men; and they shall be dismayed.  A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.  A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols.  Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.  As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.”(Jeremiah 50:35-40)

Babylon will be conquered and lose all its power.  To dote means to be so enamored with something you cannot see its flaws and Babylon was mad about their idols and graven images.  They will be so wrapped up in their religion it leads to their destruction.   The mixed people that occupy the region will all be robbed of their wealth and there will be a major drought. 

Babylon is located along the Euphrates River and as a result just below the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers.  Revelation 16:12 describes the Euphrates River drying up during the Tribulation period.  “And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”    The drying up of the Euphrates will be the final straw, ending Babylon’s power forever.  Babylon itself will become just a part of the desert, inhabited only by desert animals and plants.   Humans will never again occupy it,  

Future Destruction Of Babylon

Jeremiah 50:1-20

“The word that the LORD spake against Babylon and against the land of the Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet.

Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.  For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they shall remove, they shall depart, both man and beast.

In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.   They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. ” (Jeremiah 50:1-5)

At the time this was written, Babylon was just coming into power.  About sixty years later It was taken over by the Medo-Persian Empire, and later the Greek Empire.  Although the city was partially destroyed  and relocated by the Seleucid Empire after 320 BC, the city continued to be occupied until about 1860, when Archaeologists displaced about ten thousand people to begin excavating the city.  After they returned to Jerusalem, under the command of Cyrus, the Jews never fully dedicated themselves to God and described in this passage.   Clearly this prophecy has not yet been fulfilled. 

“My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.  All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.” (Jeremiah 50:6-7)

After Cyrus gave permission to return to Jerusalem, many of the Jews remained in Babylon.  After Alexander the greats, death many of them adopted Greek culture and became the group known as the Sadducees in Jesus’ day.  Even the Pharisees substituted their own interpretation for what God’s law said, and eventually Jerusalem was destroyed and Jews driven to other areas.   Nation after nation has felt free to attack them because of their rejection of God. 

“Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.  For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.

And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.  Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; Your mother shall be sore confounded; she that bare you shall be ashamed: behold, the hindermost of the nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.  Because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.

Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about: all ye that bend the bow, shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against the LORD.  Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of the LORD: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.  Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him that handleth the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn every one to his people, and they shall flee every one to his own land. ” (Jeremiah 50:8-20)

At some point in the future, the Jews will need to leave the area around Babylon, leading the way back to Israel, because of an invading force from the North.  God will bring a great assembly of nations against her, that will destroy her and leave the land desolate, never to be occupied again.   Daniel 11:13-15 describes one such event at the time of the end.   “For the king of the north shall return, and shall set forth a multitude greater than the former, and shall certainly come after certain years with a great army and with much riches.   And in those times there shall many stand up against the king of the south: also the robbers of thy people shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; but they shall fall.  So the king of the north shall come, and cast up a mount, and take the most fenced cities: and the arms of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, neither shall there be any strength to withstand.”

Revelation 18:21-23 describes the destruction of Babylon.  “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.   And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Since Babylon is no longer a major world power, this passage has been interpreted by many to refer to other world powers including the Roman Catholic Church and the United States.  Zechariah 5:7-11 clearly indicates this refers to actual Babylon.  “And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.  And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.  Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.  Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?  And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.”  An evil center is to be established in the land of Shinar, and none of those other world powers are located in the land of Shinar.   Saddam Hussein reconstructed most of  the city of Babylon, and after Iraq was taken over, the United Nations guaranteed to continue the reconstruction .  Hussein  claimed to be a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar and proclaimed his intention of making Babylon a major world city again. 

“Israel is a scattered sheep; the lions have driven him away: first the king of Assyria hath devoured him; and last this Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones.  Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria.  And I will bring Israel again to his habitation, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied upon mount Ephraim and Gilead.   In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.” (Jeremiah 50:17-20)

Israel was like a bunch of sheep that had gotten separated, splitting into the nations of Israel and Judah.  Because of their rejection of God the Assyrians had defeated and destroyed Israel.  About a hundred years later the Babylonians had destroyed the Assyrian empire, and because Judah had also rebelled against God they were establishing control of Judah, and would ultimately destroy her completely.    When Babylon is destroyed, Israel and Judah will return to the Land of Israel and serve God wholly.  That has yet to happen.  

Judgment on Syria, Kedar, and Elam

Jeremiah 49:23-39

“Concerning Damascus. Hamath is confounded, and Arpad: for they have heard evil tidings: they are fainthearted; there is sorrow on the sea; it cannot be quiet.  Damascus is waxed feeble, and turneth herself to flee, and fear hath seized on her: anguish and sorrows have taken her, as a woman in travail.  How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!  Therefore her young men shall fall in her streets, and all the men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the LORD of hosts.  And I will kindle a fire in the wall of Damascus, and it shall consume the palaces of Benhadad.” (Jeremiah 49:23-27)

Damascus was the predominant Syrian city for many centuries, and Hamath and Arpad were lesser Syrian cities.  Throughout history there was conflict between Syria and Israel.   They had been conquered by the Assyrian Empire about a century before, but by Jeremiah’s time had been so completely absorbed that Syria md Damascus no longer held much power of the their own.  They offered little resistance when the Babylonians invaded.

“Concerning Kedar, and concerning the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon shall smite, thus saith the LORD; Arise ye, go up to Kedar, and spoil the men of the east.  Their tents and their flocks shall they take away: they shall take to themselves their curtains, and all their vessels, and their camels; and they shall cry unto them, Fear is on every side.  Flee, get you far off, dwell deep, O ye inhabitants of Hazor, saith the LORD; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath taken counsel against you, and hath conceived a purpose against you.

Arise, get you up unto the wealthy nation, that dwelleth without care, saith the LORD, which have neither gates nor bars, which dwell alone.  And their camels shall be a booty, and the multitude of their cattle a spoil: and I will scatter into all winds them that are in the utmost corners; and I will bring their calamity from all sides thereof, saith the LORD.  And Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons, and a desolation for ever: there shall no man abide there, nor any son of man dwell in it.” (Jeremiah 49:28-33)

Kedar was the second son of Ishmael and  usually refers to an alliance of various Arabic tribes in northwestern Arabic area, south and east of Syria,  just south of the region usually considered Mesopotamia and extending far to the south.  They were largely nomadic peoples and were considerered men of war.  Thye lived in tents, and had huge herds of livestock.   Historians believe they were defeated by Nebuchadnezzar about 599 BC, confiscating much of their wealth and destroying much of their civilization. 

Judgment on Ammon And Edom

Jeremiah 49:1-19

“Concerning the Ammonites, thus saith the LORD; Hath Israel no sons? hath he no heir? why then doth their king inherit Gad, and his people dwell in his cities?  Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will cause an alarm of war to be heard in Rabbah of the Ammonites; and it shall be a desolate heap, and her daughters shall be burned with fire: then shall Israel be heir unto them that were his heirs, saith the LORD.

Howl, O Heshbon, for Ai is spoiled: cry, ye daughters of Rabbah, gird you with sackcloth; lament, and run to and fro by the hedges; for their king shall go into captivity, and his priests and his princes together.  Wherefore gloriest thou in the valleys, thy flowing valley, O backsliding daughter? that trusted in her treasures, saying, Who shall come unto me?  Behold, I will bring a fear upon thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts, from all those that be about thee; and ye shall be driven out every man right forth; and none shall gather up him that wandereth. And afterward I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 49:1-6)

The Ammonites were descendants of Lot and lived to the east of the Jordan River.  God says that they were treating the land like Israel had no future or heirs to claim the land  As Assyrian power waned they had crossed the Jordan, claiming land as far west as Ai.  As the northern kingdom of Israel lost power the Ammonites had taken over the land along the Jordan, claiming it as their own.   As the Babylonians took over the Assyrian Empire they were taking regions the Ammonites had claimed.  Eventually they would take all of Ammon as well and when they finished, the Ammonites would be completely dispersed and cease to exist as a nation, although eventually God will set them free.   The collapse of the Persian Empire and rise of the Greeks allowed Arabic groups such as the Nabateans to take control of the area. 

“Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts; Is wisdom no more in Teman? is counsel perished from the prudent? is their wisdom vanished?  Flee ye, turn back, dwell deep, O inhabitants of Dedan; for I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him.” (Genesis 49:7-8)

The Edomites were descendants of Esau and lived along the south and east of the Dead Sea.  For centuries they had alternated between being allies or enemies of Israel and Judah.   In recent years they had taken advantage of Judah’s conflicts with other nations to attack, forgetting about God and his power.   God asks if they have completely forgotten how he has worked in the past.

“If grapegatherers come to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? if thieves by night, they will destroy till they have enough.  But I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and he shall not be able to hide himself: his seed is spoiled, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.  Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.  For thus saith the LORD; Behold, they whose judgment was not to drink of the cup have assuredly drunken; and art thou he that shall altogether go unpunished? thou shalt not go unpunished, but thou shalt surely drink of it.  For I have sworn by myself, saith the LORD, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.” (Jeremiah 49:9-13)

A person picking grapes almost always misses a few, and thieves usually take only things they can sell or use.  When Edom is taken, nothing will be left.  Even their neighboring countries will be robbed.  Despite the total destruction of the nation. God will protect their poor and widows, while destroying those who have considered themselves above punishment.    The Edomite cities would never be rebuilt, and the area largely unoccupied. 

“I have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent unto the heathen, saying, Gather ye together, and come against her, and rise up to the battle.  For, lo, I will make thee small among the heathen, and despised among men.  Thy terribleness hath deceived thee, and the pride of thine heart, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, that holdest the height of the hill: though thou shouldest make thy nest as high as the eagle, I will bring thee down from thence, saith the LORD.

Also Edom shall be a desolation: every one that goeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss at all the plagues thereof.  As in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD, no man shall abide there, neither shall a son of man dwell in it.  Behold, he shall come up like a lion from the swelling of Jordan against the habitation of the strong: but I will suddenly make him run away from her: and who is a chosen man, that I may appoint over her? for who is like me? and who will appoint me the time? and who is that shepherd that will stand before me?” (Jeremiah 49:14-19)

Edom had survived as a country for about a thousand years, with the rough terrain making occupation difficult.  Constant fighting with the nations around them kept them in a constant state of preparedness.   And they were sure they could repel most attacks.  God said he would completely wipe them out.  They would attack Judah like a lion and be destroyed almost as completely as the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, leaving the land unoccupied.  They will have no leader to stand before God. 

“Therefore hear the counsel of the LORD, that he hath taken against Edom; and his purposes, that he hath purposed against the inhabitants of Teman: Surely the least of the flock shall draw them out: surely he shall make their habitations desolate with them.  The earth is moved at the noise of their fall, at the cry the noise thereof was heard in the Red sea.  Behold, he shall come up and fly as the eagle, and spread his wings over Bozrah: and at that day shall the heart of the mighty men of Edom be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.” (Jeremiah 49:20-22)

When God sends his judgment, even a minor threat will be cause for great concern, but he will make the country desolate, and the world will be shocked at how completely they are destroyed.  The largest cities will be destroyed, and like a woman in labor, they will be completely distracted from anything else.  

The Coming Destruction Of Moab

Jeremiah 48:14-47

“How say ye, We are mighty and strong men for the war?  Moab is spoiled, and gone up out of her cities, and his chosen young men are gone down to the slaughter, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.”  (Jeremiah 48:14-15)

For centuries Moab had been a nation of raiders and warriors, fighting with their neighbors.  Sometimes they were controlled by Israel, sometimes they controlled part of Israel.  At the current time they were an independent nation having escaped being conquered by both the Assyrian Empire and the Egyptians.  The Babylonians were occupied with defeating Assyria and Egypt and the Moabite raiders assumed they could raid with impunity.  The Babylonian territory was better defended than they expected and they lost a lot of men in the raids. 

“The calamity of Moab is near to come, and his affliction hasteth fast.  All ye that are about him, bemoan him; and all ye that know his name, say, How is the strong staff broken, and the beautiful rod!  Thou daughter that dost inhabit Dibon, come down from thy glory, and sit in thirst; for the spoiler of Moab shall come upon thee, and he shall destroy thy strong holds.  O inhabitant of Aroer, stand by the way, and espy; ask him that fleeth, and her that escapeth, and say, What is done?   Moab is confounded; for it is broken down: howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled, And judgment is come upon the plain country; upon Holon, and upon Jahazah, and upon Mephaath, And upon Dibon, and upon Nebo, and upon Bethdiblathaim, And upon Kiriathaim, and upon Bethgamul, and upon Bethmeon,  And upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near.”  (Jeremiah 48:16-24)

Neither Egypt or Assyria had considered Moab a serious threat, and had left them alone.  As a result theuy had served as a buffer state for their neighbors.  The Babylonian attack would remove that buffer state leaving their neighbors exposed and fearful.  They would destroy Moab’s strongest fortified cities and force the people to flee, shocked by their defeat.    The entire country would be uprooted. 

“The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith the LORD.  Make ye him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision.  For was not Israel a derision unto thee? was he found among thieves? for since thou spakest of him, thou skippedst for joy.  O ye that dwell in Moab, leave the cities, and dwell in the rock, and be like the dove that maketh her nest in the sides of the hole's mouth.” (Jeremiah 48:25-28)

For centuries, the Moabites had despised the Jews, making fun of their religious practices and moral standards.  They had tried repeatedly to get the Jews to turn to their religion and had fought against them, helping their enemies repeatedly or attacking when they were already fighting other groups.  Their power is to be destroyed and they will lose their freedom for their treatment of Israel and rejection of God.    

“We have heard the pride of Moab, (he is exceeding proud) his loftiness, and his arrogancy, and his pride, and the haughtiness of his heart.  I know his wrath, saith the LORD; but it shall not be so; his lies shall not so effect it.  Therefore will I howl for Moab, and I will cry out for all Moab; mine heart shall mourn for the men of Kirheres.

O vine of Sibmah, I will weep for thee with the weeping of Jazer: thy plants are gone over the sea, they reach even to the sea of Jazer: the spoiler is fallen upon thy summer fruits and upon thy vintage.  And joy and gladness is taken from the plentiful field, and from the land of Moab; and I have caused wine to fail from the winepresses: none shall tread with shouting; their shouting shall be no shouting.  From the cry of Heshbon even unto Elealeh, and even unto Jahaz, have they uttered their voice, from Zoar even unto Horonaim, as an heifer of three years old: for the waters also of Nimrim shall be desolate.  Moreover I will cause to cease in Moab, saith the LORD, him that offereth in the high places, and him that burneth incense to his gods.

Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.  For every head shall be bald, and every beard clipped: upon all the hands shall be cuttings, and upon the loins sackcloth.  There shall be lamentation generally upon all the housetops of Moab, and in the streets thereof: for I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is no pleasure, saith the LORD.  They shall howl, saying, How is it broken down! how hath Moab turned the back with shame! so shall Moab be a derision and a dismaying to all them about him.  For thus saith the LORD; Behold, he shall fly as an eagle, and shall spread his wings over Moab.

Kerioth is taken, and the strong holds are surprised, and the mighty men's hearts in Moab at that day shall be as the heart of a woman in her pangs.  And Moab shall be destroyed from being a people, because he hath magnified himself against the LORD. ” (Jeremiah 48:29-42)

In their pride, the Moabites had thought they had no need of God, and have stood against his people, doing everything they could to destroy them, confident they could get by with it.  They will experience what they have done to others, from the edge of Israel to the most distant Moabite community.   They will no longer offer sacrifices to Chemosh or their other gods.  The entire land will be desolate and Moab would cease to exist as a nation or even a separate people because they have set themselves up against God. 

“Fear, and the pit, and the snare, shall be upon thee, O inhabitant of Moab, saith the LORD.  He that fleeth from the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that getteth up out of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for I will bring upon it, even upon Moab, the year of their visitation, saith the LORD.  They that fled stood under the shadow of Heshbon because of the force: but a fire shall come forth out of Heshbon, and a flame from the midst of Sihon, and shall devour the corner of Moab, and the crown of the head of the tumultuous ones.

Woe be unto thee, O Moab! the people of Chemosh perisheth: for thy sons are taken captives, and thy daughters captives.   Yet will I bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days, saith the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.” (Jeremiah 48:43-47)

Moab’s pride will be destroyed and every attempt to break free will only lead to further entanglements and judgment.  The peoples they turn to for help will turn upon them destroying every vestige of the nation.  Moab would be ruled by the Nabateans and other groups, and is now part of Jordan.  In the last days, when the Lord returns, God will again bring the Moabites together as a people for one last taste of God’s judgment.  

Judgment On The Philistines And Moab

Jeremiah 47:1-48:13

“The word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Philistines, before that Pharaoh smote Gaza.”  (Jeremiah 47:1)

Jeremiah became a prophet during Josiah’s reign.  Shortly before Josiah’s death, the Egyptians had seized the coastal regions of the Philistines and Lebanon before attacking the Assyrians.   Josiah was killed in an attempt to drive away the Egyptians even though they were not attacking him.   Jeremiah made this prophecy about the Philistines even before Egypt seized those areas.

“Thus saith the LORD; Behold, waters rise up out of the north, and shall be an overflowing flood, and shall overflow the land, and all that is therein; the city, and them that dwell therein: then the men shall cry, and all the inhabitants of the land shall howl.  At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands; Because of the day that cometh to spoil all the Philistines, and to cut off from Tyrus and Zidon every helper that remaineth: for the LORD will spoil the Philistines, the remnant of the country of Caphtor.  Baldness is come upon Gaza; Ashkelon is cut off with the remnant of their valley: how long wilt thou cut thyself?”  (Jeremiah 47:2-5)

While Egypt would conquer Gaza, the Babylonian Empire would overrun it, taking all the land, not just the city of Gaza.  Their alliances with the Phoenicians of Tyre and Sidon would offer no protection because they would be too busy protecting themselves.  The Philistines had occupied the area since shortly after the flood, going all the way back to Ham’s son, Canaan.  Finally, they would be destroyed as a nation although the land would continue to be known as Palestine. 

“O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be still.  How can it be quiet, seeing the LORD hath given it a charge against Ashkelon, and against the sea shore? there hath he appointed it.” (Jeremiah 47:6-7)

God had chosen to use Babylon as his sword to punish the nations that rebelled against him.   While people thought it should end with the defeat of the Assyrians, Jeremiah recognized God’s judgment was intended to reach all the way to the Mediterranean Sea coast. 

“Against Moab thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe unto Nebo! for it is spoiled: Kiriathaim is confounded and taken: Misgab is confounded and dismayed.  There shall be no more praise of Moab: in Heshbon they have devised evil against it; come, and let us cut it off from being a nation. Also thou shalt be cut down, O Madmen; the sword shall pursue thee.  A voice of crying shall be from Horonaim, spoiling and great destruction.  Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be heard.  For in the going up of Luhith continual weeping shall go up; for in the going down of Horonaim the enemies have heard a cry of destruction.” (Jeremiah 48:1-5)

Moab had been settled by Lot’s descendants.  For centuries, they had hated the Jews, repeatedly attacking and trying to destroy them.  During all that time they had never completely  turned to God as a nation although at times under Israel’s kings they had practiced some of the Jewish religion.  They would not escape the Babylonian forces, but the nation would be destroyed. 

“Flee, save your lives, and be like the heath in the wilderness.  For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures, thou shalt also be taken: and Chemosh shall go forth into captivity with his priests and his princes together.  And the spoiler shall come upon every city, and no city shall escape: the valley also shall perish, and the plain shall be destroyed, as the LORD hath spoken.” (Jeremiah 48:6-8)

Lot went to Sodom and stayed, trying to increase his wealth and prestige.   After Sodom was destroyed, He and his daughters fled to the area, where Moab and Benammon were born.  His two sons adopted the same attitude, fixated on their wealth, but worshipping other gods, including Chemosh.    The Babylonians would destroy Moab, hauling away all vestiges of their religion and wiping out every Moabite city. 

“Give wings unto Moab, that it may flee and get away: for the cities thereof shall be desolate, without any to dwell therein.  Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.  Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and hath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.” (Jeremiah 48:9-11)

When God sent Saul to destroy the Amalekites, he told him to wipe them out completely.  Saul disobeyed, keeping the best livestock and their king, then lied, saying they had done what God had commanded.  As a result god took the throne away from Saul, giving it to David instead.  Now God warns that he will curse the Babylonians if they do not punish the nations completely as God commanded.  Moab had for years escaped God’s judgment, not experiencing the same judgment Israel did for their sin.  As a result they had made no effort to change.  That must not be allowed to continue. 

“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will send unto him wanderers, that shall cause him to wander, and shall empty his vessels, and break their bottles.  And Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel their confidence.” (Jeremiah 48:12-13)

After the Solomon’s death, Judah and Israel split, and Jeroboam started a new religion, planting one of the main centers of worship at Bethel.  Israel worshipped the idol there until the Assyrians destroyed and carried them all away.  Roaming bands or raiders will attack Moab, driving them out, and the god, Chemosh will be no more able to protect Moab than the idols at Bethel were to protect Israel.    Because the land would be left desolate and unoccupied, the Nabateans would be able to take it.  

Egypt’s Coming Destruction

Jeremiah 46:13-28

“The word that the LORD spake to Jeremiah the prophet, how Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon should come and smite the land of Egypt.

Declare ye in Egypt, and publish in Migdol, and publish in Noph and in Tahpanhes: say ye, Stand fast, and prepare thee; for the sword shall devour round about thee.  Why are thy valiant men swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them.  He made many to fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword.  They did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed.” (Jeremiah 46:13-17)

The Babylonian or Chaldean army first defeated the Egyptians under Pharaoh Necho during the fourth year of Jehoiakim’s reign.   About twenty years later they would invade the land of Egypt and take possession, dominating them for forty years.  Jeremiah’s prophecy describes how this would go.   At the time, Egyot was one of the most powerful empires in the world, with holding in Libya, Lydia, Ethiopia, Lebanon and Syria.   For their army to be defeated by the Babylonians was as big a shock as it would be if Russia or China defeated the U.S. army, but Nebuchadnezzar’s forces defeated them easily.  The troops from the other countries fled home, convinced Pharaoh and his army were just making a lot of noise and counting on past victories to frighten people.  They no longer considered Egypt a serious threat. 

“As I live, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts, Surely as Tabor is among the mountains, and as Carmel by the sea, so shall he come.   O thou daughter dwelling in Egypt, furnish thyself to go into captivity: for Noph shall be waste and desolate without an inhabitant.” (Jeremiah 46:18-19)

The destruction of Egypt is as sure as it is that Mount Tabor is surrounded by other mountains or tha Carmel is located on the seashore.  Egypt needs to make plans to be occupied, because Noh, the main center of power will be destroyed. 

“Egypt is like a very fair heifer, but destruction cometh; it cometh out of the north.  Also her hired men are in the midst of her like fatted bullocks; for they also are turned back, and are fled away together: they did not stand, because the day of their calamity was come upon them, and the time of their visitation.

The voice thereof shall go like a serpent; for they shall march with an army, and come against her with axes, as hewers of wood.  They shall cut down her forest, saith the LORD, though it cannot be searched; because they are more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable.  The daughter of Egypt shall be confounded; she shall be delivered into the hand of the people of the north.” (Jeremiah 46:20-24)

Egypt is like a fine healthy young cow, full of energy and self-confidence, but her destruction is on its way.   All the soldiers they have hired to protect them are like fat young bulls, who are contented and have no interest in fighting.   They will not stay when threatened, but will run away fearing what will happen to them.  Their enemies will march with only the sound of their feet and will carry axes and tools to cut her down like they were cutting wood in a huge forest, eventually wiping out everything.   Egypt will be shocked and occupied by the Babylonian army. 

“The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saith; Behold, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh, and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings; even Pharaoh, and all them that trust in him: And I will deliver them into the hand of those that seek their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of his servants: and afterward it shall be inhabited, as in the days of old, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 46:25-26)

The Egyptians worshipped several gods, including the Queen of Heaven, and Pharaoh was considered one of them.  God said that he would punish their gods, and all the people who worshipped them.  They would be taken captive and much of the population deported.   When their punishment was complete, they would be allowed to return and Egypt would again be a significant power, although they would never again have the power they once had. 

“But fear not thou, O my servant Jacob, and be not dismayed, O Israel: for, behold, I will save thee from afar off, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and be in rest and at ease, and none shall make him afraid.  Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.” (Jeremiah 46:27-28)

As they watched the defeat of Egypt, Israel should have no fear.   God promised to protect them even though Egypt was not there to help them.   One day he would bring them back from captivity and there would not be threatened by any country.  While he would completely destroy the nations that attacked them and held them captives, he will save part of Israel.  he will not, however, leave them completely unpunished.  He will correct them as needed.  

Egypt’s Loss Of Power Prophesied

Jeremiah 45:1-46:12

“The word that Jeremiah the prophet spake unto Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto thee, O Baruch; Thou didst say, Woe is me now! for the LORD hath added grief to my sorrow; I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.” (Jeremiah 45:1-3)

Baruch had been the one who wrote down Jeremiah’s prophecy and shared it with the people and the king when Jeremiah was in prison in Jeremiah 36.  As a result, Baruch himself was accused of trying to subvert the people, even though his purpose was to help them.  He had become really discouraged about what was happening, and God sent him a personal message.  Because the Holy Spirit comes into a Christian’s heart, God usually delivers the message personally, rather than through a prophet today. 

 

Thus shalt thou say unto him, The LORD saith thus; Behold, that which I have built will I break down, and that which I have planted I will pluck up, even this whole land.  And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.” (Jeremiah 45:4-5)

God reminded Baruch that God sets things up, and tears them back down, and plants and pulls out things as he pleases, and that he intends to pull out the entire nation of Judah.   He warns Baruch not to get caught up in trying to establish a big reputation or following or build a big church or business or political career because everyone would suffer as He tore down Judah and they would be destroyed.   God promised that his life would be protected, whatever happened and wherever he went.  He should concentrate on just obeying God. 

Eighteen or twenty years after he received the promise, Baruch was named as one of the men who were forced to accompany the Jews to Egypt, losing almost everything he had and being accused again of trying to subvert the leadership.  He was one of the few who returned alive, because he followed the Lord.

    

“The word of the LORD which came to Jeremiah the prophet against the Gentiles; Against Egypt, against the army of Pharaohnecho king of Egypt, which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon smote in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah.” (Jeremiah 46:1-2)

The Egyptian army under a Pharaoh named Necho had attacked the Assyrian city of Carchemish and taken it.  Josiah, king of Judah had attacked the Egyptians, and was killed.  As a result Egypt took over Judah as well, making his son Eliakim king instead of Jehoahaz .   They changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim.   Four years later, Nebuchadnezzar conquered the Assyrian Empire, taking Carchemish as well.  God gave Jeremiah a prophecy as to what would happen to the Egyptian army. 

“Order ye the buckler and shield, and draw near to battle.  Harness the horses; and get up, ye horsemen, and stand forth with your helmets; furbish the spears, and put on the brigandines.  Wherefore have I seen them dismayed and turned away back? and their mighty ones are beaten down, and are fled apace, and look not back: for fear was round about, saith the LORD.  Let not the swift flee away, nor the mighty man escape; they shall stumble, and fall toward the north by the river Euphrates.

Who is this that cometh up as a flood, whose waters are moved as the rivers?  Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers; and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth; I will destroy the city and the inhabitants thereof.  Come up, ye horses; and rage, ye chariots; and let the mighty men come forth; the Ethiopians and the Libyans, that handle the shield; and the Lydians, that handle and bend the bow.  For this is the day of the Lord GOD of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries: and the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiate and made drunk with their blood: for the Lord GOD of hosts hath a sacrifice in the north country by the river Euphrates. “ (Jeremiah 46:3-10)

In an effort to regain Carchemish, Egypt sent a huge army, including forces from Libya, Lydia, and Ethiopia to fight Nebuchadnezzar.  While we have no statement as to how large this army was we know that in Asa’s day, in II Kings 14, the Ethiopians were able to field an army of over a million men.  Jeremiah said they would come up like a flood just running over everybody, but that they would be defeated and Egypt’s power would be broken.  Later, when they were invaded under Hophni, they offered little resistance. 

“Go up into Gilead, and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt: in vain shalt thou use many medicines; for thou shalt not be cured.  The nations have heard of thy shame, and thy cry hath filled the land: for the mighty man hath stumbled against the mighty, and they are fallen both together.”  (Jeremiah 46:11-12)

Since they controlled Judah at the time, Egypt would depend on the Jews to help them against Nebuchadnezzar, as well as other nations they had conquered.  They would not be successful. And the nations would not dare side with Egypt for fear of Babylonian retaliation.  Egypt would never regain the prestige they once had, being ruled by other groups from then on.  After the death of Alexander the Great, the Greek empire was split into four empires ruled by the families of his generals, and Egypt was ruled by the Ptolemy family until Cleopatra was killed by the Roman army, about 30 BC.  They would then become Roman territory until the collapse of the Roman Empire.    They would then become part of the Byzantine Empire before being taken by the Arabs, the Mamluks, the Ottoman Empire, the French, and finally the British. 

Prophecy foretells what will happen as a result of certain decisions.  History is the record of what happened, enabling us to see the results of those actions and how the prophecies were fulfilled.  Thus, any meaningful study of prophecy requires a review of the history.