The Strand Study Bible

ISAIAH

ISAIAH

1065

system of defense that encircled the city. These walls were over 85 feet thick and 11 miles long, with the outer walls being approximately 25 feet wide and reinforced with towers every 65 feet...The city was dominated by a seven- story ziggurat, 288 feet high, known as the Tower of Babylon. It was constructed from nearly 60 million fired bricks. On top of it stood the temple of Marduk. The Greek historian Herodotus claimed that it contained a solid gold statue of Marduk weighing 52,000 pounds! 1 13:20 To this day, the city of Babylon is referred to as the “ruins of Babylon.” It has “ never ” been rebuilt, though many have tried throughout the years. Clarence Larkin in The Book Of Daniel notes:

In BC 331 Alexander the Great approached the city, which was then so powerful and flourishing that he made preparation for bringing all his forces into action in case it should offer resistance, but the citizens threw open the gates and received him with acclamations. After sacrificing to “Bel,” he gave out that he would rebuild the vast Temple of that god, and for weeks he kept 10,000 men employed in clearing away the ruins from the foundations, doubtless intending to revive the glory of Babylon and make it his Capital, when his purpose was defeated by his sudden death of marsh fever and intemperance in his thirty-third year. 2

Larkin goes on to note:

In the “Department of War” of France, at Paris, there are to be seen the records of valuable surveys and maps made, by order of Napoleon I, in Babylonia, and among them is a plan for a New City of Babylon , thus showing that the vast schemes of Napoleon contemplated the Rebuilding of the Ancient City of Babylon , and the making it his Capital, as his ambition was to conquer the whole of Europe and Asia, and he recognized to that end the strategical position of ancient Babylon as a governmental and commercial centre. The same was the dream of the late Emperor William of Germany. 2 Again, although many have tried to rebuild Babylon, including Saddam Hussein, it has never been rebuilt. God always keeps His word (Jere 50:39). That’s how we know He’s God ( Psa 138:2 ). 14:1 In spite of all of God’s displeasure with Israel over the past three millenniums (since 1487 BC, when she was birthed as a nation out of Egypt), there is yet coming a time when “ the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel .” It’s called “Israel’s Restoration,” and it will take place during the 1000-year Millennial Reign of CHRIST . 14:4 a Verses 4-11,19-23 form a cry of triumph over the hated nation of Babylon, which eventually becomes a global political power in the End Times. Both “religious” Babylon (Rev 17) and “political” Babylon (Rev 18) will fall to the Antichrist (eighth world empire - Rev 17:9-11) during the Great Tribulation. This proverb (parable) suggests that the king of Babylon, much like the king of Tyrus in Ezekiel 28:12, is a picture of yet another ruler behind the ruler, namely Satan (vs 12-18). 14:4 b The great Temple of Marduk (Bel) in Babylon was the most renowned sanctuary in the entire world at that time. The Temple contained a golden statue of Bel, two golden lions, two golden tables, and a human figure eighteen feet high made of solid gold. Truly the city of Babylon was a golden city (Rev 18:16). 14:9 a This word ( Hell ) is the Hebrew word sheol . It has a two-fold meaning. It can either mean the “ grave ,” in which the unseen state of the dead (Eccl 9:10), both bad (Job 24:19, Psa 55:15 and Prov 9:18 & 23:13-14) and good (Gen 37:35, Job 14:13, Psa 16:10 and Acts 2:27,31), are laid when they die, or it can mean the “ realm of the unsaved dead ; the conscience life beyond the grave ” (Psa 9:17, Ezk 31:16-18, Isa 5:14 & 14:9-15, Rev 20:7-10, Hos 13:14 and I Cor 15:54-55), as it does here. 14:9 b Isaiah didn’t say that Babylon’s king (vs. 4), when he entered Hell, would wake up the dead (as if they were asleep); it says that he would “stir” up the dead. Meaning, the dead remain conscience even if their bodies sleep in the grave. There is no such thing as soul sleeping ( I Sam 28:15 , Isa 26:19 and Ezk 32: 17- 21 -32). 14:10 “Welcoming” ( All they shall speak and say unto thee ) the king of Babylon into Hell are all the ungodly kings of former ages. Joining them in the future will be Satan (vs. 12-15/Rev 20:1-3) and his angels (Mt 8:28-29/Rev 20:10). 14:12 According to Ezekiel 28:14 , Satan (Lucifer) is of the Cherubim class of angels ( Isa 6:2 ). Cherubims are two to four-winged creatures whose job is to guard the “work” of God: the Garden of Eden (Gen 3:24), the mercy seat (Heb 9:5), and the work of Christ (Ezk 1:5-15 & 10:1-22). However, the very work which Lucifer was set apart to protect became his own desire and thus his eventual undoing as God’s leading creation. So great was his authority, it bred in his mind a vicious ambition, which moved him to attempt to usurp the government of the universe itself. It is a tragic fact that few free-willed creatures can bear power with dignity and balance 14:13a Sin did not originate in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. Sin originated in Heaven with Lucifer (I Jn 3:8) when he said, “ I will .” Charles Massegee in Sanity in a Satanic Society notes:

When Lucifer said, “I will,” sin began. Name a sin – any sin you want to name – and you can trace it to selfishness. All sin is rooted in selfishness. When you spell the word sin, s-i-n, and you erase the “i,” you do not have “sin” anymore. 3

14:13b It appears that Satan had a throne (a kingdom - MY throne ) long before the one he now rules (Mt 4:8-9, Jn 12:31 & 14:30 & 16:11 and II Cor 4:4). Did Satan governed this earth long before man was ever created (sometime between Gen 1:1 and Gen 1:2). It appears so.

1 Falwell, Jerry. Liberty Bible Commentary , Nashville, TN, Thomas Nelson Pub. 1983. Print. 2 Larkin, Clarence. The Book Of Daniel , Glenside, PA, Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, 1929. Print. 3 Massegee , Charles. Sanity in a Satanic Society , Ranger, TX ; Life Line, 1978. Print.