I’ve mentioned a variety of verses and chapters over the past several weeks which may relate to Babylon the Great, including Revelation 17, Revelation 18, Jeremiah 50, Jeremiah 51, Isaiah 13, Isaiah 14, Isaiah 24, and Isaiah 47. One chapter that I have not yet mentioned which may also relate to Babylon the Great is Habakkuk 2.
Today I’ll discuss some of the parallels between Habakkuk 2 and Isaiah 14 and discuss how Habakkuk 2 could be a relevant chapter when studying the topic of Babylon the Great.
- Hab 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
- Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Habakkuk 2 is also an interesting chapter because it references an individual, but does not provide the name of the individual. However, several Bible commentators, including Keil & Delitzsch and Albert Barnes, believe that Habakkuk 2 concerns the Chaldaean/king of Babylon. Barnes specifically mentioned in his notes on Habakkuk 2:5 that the prophecy concerns the Antichrist.
“This general rule the prophet goes on to apply in words which belong in part to all oppressors and in the first instance to the Chaldaean, in part yet more fully to the end and to antichrist”.
What really stands out to me about Habakkuk 2 is that there are several verses in the chapter that parallel Isaiah 14; a chapter that many people believe is a chapter about the end times king of Babylon's/Antichrist’s downfall. Here are some examples of the similarities between Habakkuk 2 and Isaiah 14:
1. Habakkuk 2:5 describes the unnamed individual as a “proud man”. Isaiah 14:13-14 describes the king of Babylon as an extremely arrogant individual.
Hab 2:5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
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Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
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2. Habakkuk 2:6 suggests that a taunting proverb should be taken up against this unnamed individual. Isaiah 14:4 suggests that a proverb shall be taken up against the king of Babylon after his downfall.
Hab 2:6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, Woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay!
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Isa 14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased!
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3. Habakkuk 2:8 mentions that this unnamed individual spoiled many nations and inflicted a lot violence “on the land”. According to the Strong Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, the Hebrew word for the word “land” is “erets”, which means “earth”.[1] Isaiah 14:16-17 mentions that the king of Babylon inflicted violence on the earth also.
Hab 2:8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
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Isa 14:16 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;
Isa 14:17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
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At first glance, these parallels make a compelling case that Habakkuk 2 is talking about the end times king of Babylon.
I think Habakkuk 2 has the potential to be helpful in understanding what is going on in Jeremiah 50, Jeremiah 51, and other related chapters/verses. For instance, Jeremiah 50 and Jeremiah 51 predict that Babylon will be spoiled.
Jer 50:10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.
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Jer 51:48 Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD
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Habakkuk 2:8 suggests that this unnamed individual-who may be the end times king of Babylon based on the parallels between Habakkuk 2 and Isaiah 14-will be spoiled by “the remnant of the people” because this individual has spoiled many nations and inflicted a lot of violence on the earth.
- Hab 2:8 Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein.
Also, the idea that this unnamed individual will inflict a lot of violence on the earth may help explain why Babylon has the reputation of being “hammer of the whole earth”.
- Jer 50:23 How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations!
This weekend I plan to continue studying Habakkuk 2 and other chapters and verses which may relate to Babylon the Great. My goal is to combine some of the details found in Habakkuk 2 with other chapters/verses to get a clearer idea of why the invasion described in Jeremiah 50, Jeremiah 51, and Isaiah 13 takes place.
I hope you found today’s article helpful in anyway.
Reference
[1] H776 'erets Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries: G1909
2 comments: (+add yours?)
Not directly related to the Habakkuk parallel, but you might find Russ Dizdar's new series for this week of interest. "http://www.controlledminds.com/files/" (gives the mp3 list, go to parent to see study page)
I found the following notable in your article:
A. "WILDERNESS"
Isaiah 14 (where "wilderness" relates to destruction of the cities plural)
17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?
Revelation 12
6 And
the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of
God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
14 And
to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly
into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time,
and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Since the "woman laboring" in Rev. 12 (heavenly mother, likely heavenly Jerusalem or Jerusalem above) then doesn't just sojourn in one place like Petra -- but possibly anywhere the world is "wilderness." (meaning possibly multiple places globally -- as extensions or "daughters" of Heavenly Jerusalem)
B. "HEAPS"
Also Habakkuk 2 (Hab.2 "heaps of people" = Rev. 17 "mountains ... of waters")
5 Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people:
Revelation 17
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Which supports mystery babylon as a spanning the globe, (with primary instance as great babylon in antichrist jerusalem).
Interesting possibilities you present. I'll consider them when I examine these passages and others. Thanks for sharing
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