“Stand fast in your enchantments and your many sorceries, with which you have labored from your youth; perhaps you may be able to succeed; perhaps you may inspire terror. You are wearied with your many counsels; let them stand forth and save you, those who divide the heavens, who gaze at the stars, who at the new moons make known what shall come upon you. Behold, they are like stubble; the fire consumes them; they cannot deliver themselves from the power of the flame. No coal for warming oneself is this, no fire to sit before! Such to you are those with whom you have labored, who have done business with you from your youth; they wander about, each in his own direction; there is no one to save you. ” (Isaiah 47:12-15, ESV)

In the last chapter, we saw a song of rejoicing that began with a reminder to Israel of the impotency of the false God’s of Babylon. In this chapter, we have a poem or a song describing the fall and utter destruction of Babylon. It isn’t just Babylon proper, the physical kingdom that is being described… but the spiritual entity that can be traced back to the false religion that grew around Nimrod and the events surrounding the construction of the tower of Babel.

Throughout the scriptures, the idea of “Babylon” is one that is constantly used to refer to the overarching demonic/worldly element to the great kingdoms of this earth. Babylon, though a real entity in and of itself, can be seen as a commercial, spiritual and physical entity that spreads far beyond national and cultural barriers. It is a title used for the kingdom that runs in opposition to the Kingdom of God.

Look at the text above… Babylon as a whole is almost being taunted, they are being prodded to go ahead and stick with their sorcery and dark demonic means of gaining power… the prophet Isaiah says somewhat sardonically, “perhaps you will succeed”.

But then the truth comes forth like a crushing blow… The things you have trusted will be burnt up, turned to stubble and utterly destroyed. Notice what the outcome of their continued war against God and His kingdom really ends up being. - “THERE IS NO ONE TO SAVE YOU!” What a have phrase… after living an existence of making war against God, they are left destitute with no one to come to the rescue.

Truth be told, an individual has two choices in this life: You can put your trust in Jesus and become a part of His glorious Kingdom, or you can reject Jesus and be caught up in the whirling terror of Babylon. There is no middle ground. In the end, there will be no bystanders… Babylon and God’s Kingdom will meet in a final battle, and God will win. The question is, what kingdom will you be aligned with?