Isaiah 13

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

The Lord’s Denunciation of Babylon

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The historical Day of the Lord for Babylon was near.

  2. The eschatological Day of the Lord for Babylon is still future.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Remember the Mountain Peak illustration.

QUESTIONS

  1. Chapter 13 begins what new section of the book of Isaiah?

  2. What are the various times suggested for the fulfillment of this prophecy against Babylon?

  3. What does the phrase “the Day of the Lord” refer to in Scripture?

  4. How do we know that there will be a Babylon in end times?

  5. Read Isaiah 13:10. Where else do we read of cosmological disturbances during the end times?

ANSWERS

  1. Isaiah 13-23 form a subdivision of the book in which judgment is pronounced against the foreign nations surrounding Judah.

  2. Some commentators say this judgment was fulfilled when Assyria attacked Babylon in 689 BC. Others say it was when Babylon was conquered by the Medes and Persians in 539 BC. Regardless of the historical fulfillment, we also recognize an eschatological or future fulfillment of this prophecy of judgment against Babylon.

  3. The Day of the Lord in Scripture is any time that the Lord intervenes in the affairs of the nations.

  4. Revelation 17-18 speaks of a Babylon in the end times. This Babylon may be symbolic for the one world government and one world religion of those days or it may include the rebuilding of the literal ancient city of Babylon. Either way, this end times Babylon will be destroyed with devastation characteristic of Sodom and Gomorrah.

  5. The book of Revelation, Joel 2, and Christ’s Olivet Discourse concerning the last days in Matthew 24

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Discuss why the invading forces in Isaiah 13:3 were called “sanctified” or set apart. Compare this to the pagan emperor Cyrus being referred to as God’s anointed in Isaiah 45. What does this teach you about God?

  2. Draw your own diagram to help you understand the Mountain Peak illustration. Why is this so important to keep in mind when reading the Old Testament prophets?

CHALLENGE

  1. Our Lord is a God who keeps His promises, whether for blessing or judgment. Remember this, and be encouraged.

KEY VERSES

  • “Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.” Isaiah 13:6

  • “I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will halt the arrogance of the proud, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.” Isaiah 13:11

Isaiah, Old Testament, TalksDeb Harmsisaiah 13