If God establishes the nations and authorities (which He does – Rom. 13:1-7), then we could conclude that He has used them in various ways. Sometimes, they are blunt instruments and expendable. Though not a nation, think of Samson whom God used to start a war with the Philistines (Judg. 14:4). Other times, they are long-term precision tools. Israel served this purpose as a nation of priests to fulfill prophecies. In most cases, God raises one nation as a corrective against a previous nation whose citizens succumbed to evil. Again Israel is a good example of this. In Canaan where, among many other things, the people were killing their children to appease their gods, Israel fulfilled its purpose as a tool of God’s judgment (Gen. 15:16, Lev. 18:25, Deut. 9:4-5).

Unfortunately, Israel/Judah also went wayward and did the same things. And so, God raised Babylon to punish them in turn. They did their own evils, so again, another nation was sent to punish them. “Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them, who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold. And their bows will mow down the young men, they will not even have compassion on the fruit of the womb, nor will their eye pity children. And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; nor will the Arab pitch his tent there, nor will shepherds make their flocks lie down there.” (Isa. 13:17-20)

Babylon thought it was something else, and indeed, it was in many respects. But their pride in their sin brought about the same end as Sodom and Gomorrah. Solomon understood this before it happened. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud. He who gives attention to the word will find good, and blessed is he who trusts in YHWH” (Prov. 16:18-20). It is true of the man and the nation.

In this way, the moniker “Babylon” serves as a description of every proud place that loves sin and hates God. And like Babel or Jerusalem, every proud place falls and is scattered. “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. ‘For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.’ I heard another voice from heaven, saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues…’” (Rev. 18:2b-4).

Brethren, we, live in proud Babylon, Jerusalem, Sodom, and Gomorrah and pride comes before the fall. Do not get attached.                                    

– DMF