Topical Bible: Babylon: As a Power Was: Grand and Stately

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Topical Encyclopedia

Babylon, one of the most renowned cities of the ancient world, is frequently mentioned in the Bible as a symbol of grandeur and power. Its historical and biblical significance is profound, serving as a backdrop for numerous events and prophecies.

Historical Context

Babylon was the capital of Babylonia, a major kingdom in ancient Mesopotamia, located in present-day Iraq. The city reached its zenith under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar II (605–562 BC), who is credited with transforming it into a magnificent metropolis. The grandeur of Babylon is often highlighted by its architectural marvels, such as the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the massive walls that surrounded the city.

Biblical References

In the Bible, Babylon is depicted as a city of immense wealth and power, often associated with pride and idolatry. The prophet Isaiah describes Babylon's splendor and eventual downfall: "Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah" (Isaiah 13:19). This passage underscores both the city's magnificence and its impending judgment.

The Book of Daniel provides a vivid portrayal of Babylon's grandeur during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 4:30 records the king's boastful declaration: "Is this not Babylon the Great, which I myself have built by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" This statement reflects the city's status as a symbol of human achievement and hubris.

Symbolism in Prophecy

Babylon's grandeur is not only a historical reality but also a symbol in biblical prophecy. In the Book of Revelation, Babylon is depicted as a metaphor for a powerful and corrupt system opposed to God. Revelation 18:10 laments the fall of this symbolic Babylon: "Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come."

Cultural and Religious Influence

Babylon's influence extended beyond its political and military might. It was a center of learning and culture, known for its advancements in mathematics, astronomy, and literature. However, it was also a hub of pagan worship, which the Bible frequently condemns. The prophet Jeremiah warns against the idolatry of Babylon, stating, "Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the LORD, intoxicating all the earth. The nations drank her wine; therefore the nations have gone mad" (Jeremiah 51:7).

Legacy

The legacy of Babylon as a grand and stately power is evident in its lasting impact on history and scripture. Its rise and fall serve as a testament to the transient nature of human empires and the ultimate sovereignty of God. The city's depiction in the Bible as both a literal and symbolic entity continues to resonate with believers, reminding them of the dangers of pride and the futility of opposing divine will.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 47:1,5
Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for you shall no more be called tender and delicate.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Preached Before the Governor, and Council, and the House of ...
... in Canaan to the time of their return from Babylon, and from ... himself to be the Son
of God with power, by rising ... And yet how was this grand transaction treated? ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/preached before the governor and.htm

The Ceaselessness of Prayer
... as your face is set"towards Jerusalem or Babylon. ... You may be but exploiting a mighty
power; whereas you ... his worshipping mind nothing but the grand affairs of ...
/.../forsyth/the soul of prayer/chapter v the ceaselessness of.htm

Divine Destruction and Protection
... A grand idea of universal monarchy flashed upon the mind of man ... Then came the great
power of Egypt ... bath he cast into the sea!" In after years Babylon set herself ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/divine destruction and protection.htm

The Passing and the Permanent
... eyes of death and say, 'Thou hast no power at all ... it were, from the introduction
of that grand figure of ... returns of the exiled Israel from the Babylon of their ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture h/the passing and the permanent.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... The houses of the people were closely built around these stately piles, on either ...
In later times, when Babylon had attained to universal power, and it ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm

Christian Ballads.
... sacred gloom, those fires divine, So grand, so countless ... is a wonderful example of
the power of commonplaces ... the Palms" ("Captive Judah in Babylon")"the joint ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter vi christian ballads.htm

Miracles of Healing Solicited by the Sufferers.
... but what is that, if they destroy this Babylon that we have ... learned the high and
perfectly honest and grand way of ... wanderer whom he had it in his power to take ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/v miracles of healing solicited.htm

The Pattern of Service
... of the solemn truths which make it so grand, and to ... unerring voice of our own experience
of the power of the ... of direst need, and the army of Babylon lay around ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the pattern of service.htm

The Northern Mountains
... hanging gardens compared with which those of Babylon of old ... the sense of freedom
and of power, and also ... there, too, a Cannon-ball tree rose, grand and strange ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter xi the northern mountains.htm

On a Piece of Chalk. A Lecture to Working Men.
... but can hardly be called either grand or beautiful ... fact, to be examined with any
magnifying power that may ... of "the great river, the river of Babylon," began to ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/ix on a piece of.htm