Chapters
13-23 of the book of Isaiah are known as the “burden” chapters. They contain
gloomy pronouncements of judgment upon nations of Isaiah’s time, ancient
Babylon in particular. Prophecies about Babylon are of a dualistic nature
because ancient Babylon is a shadow and a type of present-day Babylon, or the
world.
The
burden of ancient Babylon was its curse to extinction. Under Nebuchadnezzar,
Babylon became of the most remarkable cities of the ancient world. Isaiah
predicted in Chapter 13 its total devastation and desolation (vs 19-22). While
some ancient cities such as Jerusalem, Damascus, and Jericho, still exist
today, Babylon steadily declined after the conquest by Cyrus and by the first
century after Christ it lay deserted and in ruins and has remained so until
this day. (see the Old Testament Student Manual Book 2 p 154)
Spiritual
Babylon shall likewise become a waste and desolation when the Saviour returns
and ushers in the Millennial reign (Revelation 18). Isaiah did not only predict
this devastation but also the extinction of the Prince of this world, “Lucifer,
Son of the Morning” (Isaiah 14:12-15).
Isaiah
predicted that “Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’
excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah” (13:19) and so
it was. Nebuchadnezzar, its king, was
certainly buried in great splendour but there is no grave found for him today
in the ruins of Babylon.
So
likewise will, Satan, Son of the Morning, never have a grave , a tomb or
monument of any kind though he is king and ruler of the great world-wise and
history-wide empire of spiritual
Babylon. His demise will begin at the beginning of the Millenium when he will
be bound and will not have power to tempt any man (D&C 101:28):
“We
talk about Satan being bound. Satan will be bound by the power of God; but he
will be bound also by the determination of the people of God not to listen to
him, not to be governed by him. The Lord will not bind him and take his power
from the earth while there are men and women willing to be governed by him.
That is contrary to the plan of salvation. To deprive men of their agency is
contrary to the purposes of our God….
“The time is not far distant when great judgments will be poured out upon the wicked inhabitants of the earth….and the wicked will be destroyed. Their destruction means the destruction of Satan’s power. The righteous will be left, and because of their righteousness the Lord will have mercy upon them; they, exercising their agency in the right direction, will bring down His blessings upon them to such an extent that Satan will be bound.” (George Q. Cannon, Gospel Truth, 1:86-87; see also 2 Nephi 30:18; Ether 8:26)
When
the thousand years of the Millenial reign are ended, and men again begin to harden
their hearts and begin to deny God, Satan will be loosed briefly and will take
that opportunity to deceive the nations and gather his forces right before the
final battle with Michael and his armies when he will be permanently overcome (Revelation 20:1-3,7,8; D&C 29:22;
88:111-116)
Isaiah
described his fall from the lofty aspirations to be like the most High to being
brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit, where all who see him devoid of
his power would marvel at his demise:
“They
that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this
the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; that made the
world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof…..?
“All
the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, everyone in his own
house; but thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the
raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to
the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. Thou shalt not be
joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy
people; the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.” (Isaiah 14:14-20)
And
Christ shall reign upon His throne forever…..a life well lived, the price
willingly paid, a glorious victory at His feet laid.
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
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