Jeremiah 51

< Back to Jeremiah Index

TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Jeremiah’s Prophecies against Babylon, Continued

Babylon was taken over by the Medes and Persians in what year? Cyrus the Persian issued an edict in that same year which ____________ the Jews to return to Jerusalem in peace.
The historical fulfillment of the prophecies regarding the overthrow of Babylon by the Medes and Persians illustrate the absolute _____________ of the God of Israel.
Why was Babylon being destroyed by God’s judgment against them (vs 24, 49-51)?
Was Babylon completely destroyed and burned by the Medes and Persians? If not, when will this prophecy be completely fulfilled?
Babylon had been a _____ _____ in God’s hand in disciplining Jerusalem and the southern kingdom of Judah, but now she would be _____________ by the Medes and the Persians.
God’s people were told to leave Babylon because of the coming destruction of Babylon under God’s wrath (vs 45-48). This prophecy looks beyond the return from captivity in 538 BC to the final destruction of Babylon under God’s wrath when both heaven and earth will ___________. (See Revelation 16:19.)

Babylon was taken over by the Medes and Persians in 539 BC. The edict issued by Cyrus the Persian in that same year permitted the Jews to return to Jerusalem in peace. They did not have to flee as refugees.
The historical prophecies spoken by Jeremiah in this chapter regarding the overthrow of Babylon by the Medes and Persians and their fulfillment in every detail, illustrate the absolute sovereignty of God.
Babylon was being destroyed because of the evil they had done in Zion (v 24), that is, against God’s people.
Babylon was not completely destroyed and torn down by the Medes and Persians in 539 BC, but it will be in the end times when the smoke of Babylon’s burning will be seen for miles. (See Revelation 18:9-10.)
Babylon had been a war club in God’s hand in disciplining Jerusalem but would now be destroyed by the club of the Medes and Persians.
Both heaven and earth will rejoice with the final destruction of Babylon under God’s wrath. (See Revelation 16:19.)

Discuss the rise of anti-semitism in our world during the 20th century and significantly in nations such as Iran today. How has God judged nations who have acted against His people or against the land of His people in recent decades? Where is anti-semitism found in countries of the world today other than Iran?

Pride has always been associated with Babylon. Remember the pride of mankind displayed at the Tower of Babel when God brought down their efforts to build a ziggurat reaching to heaven and confused their languages. Remember the great wall of the proud city of Babylon, described as being 12 feet thick, is now in ruins. Has God’s judgment against pride in Babylon’s history been a warning to humble you when there are problems of pride in your life?

“The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be burned with fire; the people will labor in vain, and the nations, because of the fire; and they shall be weary.” Jeremiah 51:58