How does the "great noise" in Jeremiah 51:55 relate to Revelation's prophecies? Setting the Scene: Jeremiah 51:55 “For the LORD will destroy Babylon; He will silence her mighty voice. Their waves roar like mighty waters; the tumult of their voice resounds.” What the “Great Noise” Signifies •An unmistakable, audible marker of divine judgment—Babylon’s proud hubbub is abruptly crushed by the LORD. •The roaring waters picture overwhelming, unstoppable ruin (compare Jeremiah 51:42). •Not just literal collapse of walls and palaces, but the silencing of a culture that exalted itself against God. Echoes in Revelation The Holy Spirit carries the same imagery forward, expanding it to the final, worldwide fall of “Babylon the Great.” Notice the repeated stress on sound: •Revelation 14:8 — “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great.” A “mighty voice” announces judgment, mirroring the silencing of Babylon’s own voice in Jeremiah. •Revelation 16:17–18 — At the seventh bowl “a loud voice came out of the temple… ‘It is done!’ … flashes of lightning, rumblings, and peals of thunder.” The end-time climax matches Jeremiah’s roaring tumult. •Revelation 18:2 — “He cried out in a mighty voice: ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great!’ ” The heavenly proclamation replaces Babylon’s former boasting. •Revelation 18:21–22 — A millstone crashes into the sea, and “the sound of harpists and musicians… will never be heard in you again.” Total, permanent silence answers Jeremiah 51:55. •Revelation 19:1–3 — A contrasting “roar of a great multitude in heaven” celebrates the same downfall: earth’s proud noise is gone; heaven’s praise rises. Connecting the Threads 1.Jeremiah foretells historical Babylon’s overthrow; Revelation expands that template to a future, global system of rebellion nicknamed “Babylon.” 2.Both prophecies pivot on sound: God’s thunderous voice overpowers humanity’s. 3.The literal destruction recorded by Jeremiah guarantees the literal fulfillment John describes; past precision underwrites future certainty. Take-Home Reflections •God’s judgments are audible and public; no empire can drown out His voice. •When worldly power collapses, heaven’s worship grows louder—Revelation’s celebration springs directly from Jeremiah’s silencing. •The “great noise” warns every generation: boastful cultures fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever (Isaiah 40:8; Revelation 22:6). |
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