Journal Through the Bible: Week 57 Friday

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Isaiah chapter 13

The chapter begins by declaring that Isaiah saw the burden of Babylon but it isn't until the end of the chapter that specific prophecies relating just to Babylon are mentioned. Sandwiched in between there are verses that contain what are most likely dual prophecies. In other words, they deal with events that concern Babylon but they also concern the rest of the world as well! Most of the things mentioned are pertinent to everyone and are still future events.

Does God issue any commands?

• God states that He has commanded His sanctified (set apart) ones and called His mighty ones for His anger. (God has a battle for them to fight.) 13:3-4

Does God make any promises?

• God promised to punish the world for their evil. 13:11
• God promised to make "a man" more precious than the fine gold of Ophir. This could be a specific man, Jesus, or it could mean the redeemed. This prophecy brings to mind Nebuchadnezzar's golden idol, something that was yet future at this point in Judah's history.
• God promised that men would be thrust through and children dashed to pieces before their eyes. (This is in reference to Babylon, the nation that would do these things to the Jews. God would have the Medes do the same to them. One of the imprecatory psalms, Psalm 137, deals specifically with this subject.) 13:14-19

Does this chapter teach anything about Jesus?

• The LORD leads His army into battle. This is Jesus. This might also be a reference to the future final battle in which all nations participate (see verse 4). 13:5

Does this chapter teach anything about yet-future events?

• Jesus will lead His army, all the host of heaven, into battle against Satan and those upon the earth that Satan has been able to win over against God in the 1,000 year reign of Christ upon the earth. Jesus will be victorious. (Compare 13:4-5 with Revelation 21:7-10)
• The Day of the Lord might be in reference to more than one event in earth's timeline, but it definitely is also a future event! 13:6-9
• The time when the stars of heaven and the constellations shall not give their light, the sun being darkened and the moon not having light to shine is yet in the future. Jesus also predicted this. 13:10
• God promised to punish the world for their evil. Although God has punished the the world at times by afflicting certain nations in it, one day the world will be punished again. ("Again" because it was once punished by flood.) 13:11-13
• Babylon will one day no longer be inhabited. Quoting John in the book of Revelation, "Babylon the Great is fallen!" (Compare 13:20-22 with Revelation 18:2)