Mystery Babylon: Chapter 3B

Chapter 3B: Old Testament Commentary: Babylon is Fallen, Is Fallen! (Is. 21:1-10)

HARKEN DILIGENTLY: VERSE SEVEN

In verse six Isaiah is told to place a watchman, and let the watchman declare what he sees. In verse seven we read what this watchman saw. It is important to understand what is meant by the word 16*"horsemen." This word can mean either a steed (a war horse; one that is attached to a vehicle or a chariot, and one that is not used for mounting); or this word can also mean a driver (as the driver of a chariot). In this context it might represent a chariot with two horsemen along with a chariot of asses and a chariot of camels. Very difficult language to understand. These chariots were pulled by two asses, two camels and two horses, or so it seems. The number two is very prominent here. Two camels; two donkeys, and two drivers. After seeing this, the watchman harkened diligently with much heed. Meaning it is a very difficult vision to interpret. We can relate some of the vision that seems to be correct without being too dogmatic about it. First of all, where are the chariot of asses and camels in relation to the vision? Are they passing through the world? Where are they passing through? Verse eight gives us the answer.

I AM SET IN MY WARD WHOLE NIGHTS: VERSE EIGHT

The watchman says that he stands continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and am set in his "WARD" whole nights. 17*"Ward" is directly related to the safe guarding of the church. It means to safeguard; to watch; to keep guard duty in the house of God. This is where the watchman is and this is where the vision is taking place. The horsemen and the chariots in this vision are seen in the watchtower itself (which is another term for the church). They are passing through. We know this to be true also because back in verse one we read "...as whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it [speaking of the vision] cometh from the desert, from a terrible land." This vision is passing through "as" whirlwinds in the south pass through. The "south" many times in scripture relates to the kingdom of God, while the NORTH many times represents the kingdom of Satan. This vision is passing through the SOUTH: the vision is seen in the church of God.

Returning back to verse seven the watchman in the church sees one single chariot with two drivers; one driving two asses and the other driving two camels. When scripture says a COUPLE of asses and a COUPLE of camels, we might wonder what exactly does couple mean? "18*Couple" is translated in scripture as "two" or "couple" or "yoke," which is a team of two oxen or two animals. This is probably where the word "couple" originated from; meaning a yoke of oxen, which is two. And so the watchman sees one single chariot with two drivers; one driving two asses and the other driving two camels. Scripture teaches that the number "TWO" is representative of the church worldwide. Without question the number two is symbolic of the corporate church, consisting of believers and non-believers alike. But what about asses and camels? Why two of each? Can they be associated with the church in any way? The answer is a definite yes. God, perhaps, tells all who have ears to hear that this is speaking of the church for the simple fact that He emphasizes the number two. And so what is so familiar about the two asses? God uses the term wild asses to describe believers. God says in Psalm 104 that He sends the gospel waters "into the valleys, which run among the hills. They give drink to every beast of the field; the wild asses quench their thirst," (Ps. 104:10-11). God speaks of His land, His kingdom as "the joy of wild asses" in Isaiah 32:14. This would have to be speaking of believers as wild asses. Before we were saved we were spiritually wild and stubborn as a wild ass. There are numerous other verses to confirm this.

Why did our LORD ride into Jerusalem on that Palm Sunday riding upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass? He rode into Jerusalem driving two asses, not one. Was He showing forth a spiritual picture of the gospel of the kingdom taming the wild asses? The gospel will bring eternal peace to the worse of sinners. Zechariah 9:9 speaks directly of the Messiah's triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem:

For a spiritual blessing read Genesis 49:10-11:

The reason that this is said to bring a wonderful blessing is not only because this again speaks of Christ's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, but when we examine this Hebrew word 19*"colt" we find that it carries a different meaning altogether then does the normal definition of colt. It has a variety of meanings, but mostly it means "a son (as the builder of the family." It can also mean in fewer and lesser degrees a daughter. It also carries the meaning of anointed one; appointed; branch, afflicted, firstborn. The astounding fact is that it is rooted from the Hebrew word 20*"baw-naw," meaning to "build" or to "rebuild." This is why Christ entered Jerusalem; to go to the cross that He may BUILD His CHURCH, or we can even say that He may rebuild His church. He came to seek that which was lost. He came to BRING BACK or to REBUILD the captivity of Jacob. That which was lost at the fall of Adam and Eve in the beginning. One will find a great blessing in studying out the word "colt" as it is used in Genesis 49:11.

The watchman of this grievous vision sees a chariot, one driver driving two asses and another driver driving two camels. Camels can be affiliated with the Church as well. Let us list only two references:

"All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron [Christ gives us a perfect heart] to make David king over all Israel: [David being a picture or type of Christ, our king of kings over spiritual Israel] and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king." [It is only the believers who want David as their king; that is Christ. The world does not want Christ in any way to rule over them].

"Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naph-ta-li, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel." (I Chronicles 12:38,40)

The asses and the camels carry the bread and meat, that is they carry the Gospel of Christ that there might be joy in Israel - that there might be joy in the Church of God. Christ commissions us to carry His gospel. Mules, oxen, and sheep, as well symbolize the same thing. Isaiah 60:6 says:

All believers, (typified by camels) bring gold and incense [faith and prayer] into the Church that we may show forth the praises of the LORD. But, thus far, what is so grievous about this vision that Isaiah sees? Isaiah has seen God's Israel [ultimately the Church] as it should be. There is joy in Israel. The chariot of camels and of asses (from the SOUTH) are passing through the watchtower in this vision. They have the true gospel. Everything is as it should be. Nothing is grievous as of yet.

As we move into verse eight the watchman suddenly cries out: "A LION." The verse reads "And he cried, A lion." Examining this word "cried" we find that it means "through the idea of approaching a person met; to call out or to address by name." It may well be that this watchman suddenly calls out to Messiah, the Christ who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Another possibility is that the watchman could be contrasting Satan to a lion, as he moves in to invade the church at the end of the age. Satan's kingdom is equated to a great lion in many passages. Either way the watchman is calling out because of the horror of what is to come, as we move to verse nine.

BABYLON IS FALLEN, IS FALLEN: VERSE NINE

Now God gives us the crisis or the turning point to this vision. Joy is no longer found in the watchtower. Verse nine says "... behold, here cometh a chariot of a man." This verse is clearly mistranslated in the King James. While the King James bibles says "behold, here cometh a chariot of men," this word 21*"men" comes from the Hebrew word translated in the singular form as a man.

The definition also lists other singular forms of this word. There is no doubt that it is a mistranslation. This is the same word meaning singular as we read of in Isaiah chapter fourteen where Satan himself is pictured as a "singular" man. God says of Satan: "...is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms," Isaiah 14:16. It is this same symbolic man (Satan pictured as a man riding two war horses into the watchtower) that causes Isaiah to say "My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear for me," verse four. Even if verse nine is accurate in stating a chariot of men rather than a chariot of a man, it would not change the outcome of this vision. Unsaved man is ruling in the watchtower. Unsaved man is ruled by Satan. Satan has taken his seat in the churches.

Immediately upon seeing the man in the chariot driving two war horses, we realize that again the number two is prevalent. Meaning that Satan is masquerading as truth in the church itself. He appears as Christ, a lamb with two horns (again the number two symbolizing the church), but speaks as a dragon, Revelation chapter thirteen. Near the end of this vision (verse nine) the watchman declares Babylon is fallen, is fallen! After all of this, we wonder if we could have been wrong after all? We've seen the characteristics of this vision being made up of church symbols and salvation language: the sighing; the meal and the drink; the watchtower; the table; the princes; the shield; the two asses and the two camels. And we say, well Babylon has always been a picture of the unsaved world in scripture. And that is exactly right. So what do we do? Throw all of these church symbols away and say this is again teaching the destruction of the world? Absolutely not. These things harmonize perfectly with the rest of scripture. Yes, Babylon is a picture of the unsaved world in scripture. The world as a whole fell back at the beginning of time. This is why the earth is cursed, of course.

We have to understand that Satan enters into the corporate church at the end of time, causing - as never before - the church to spiritually FALL into spiritual decay. True believers will not be subject to this deception, of course. But once the abomination of desolation occurs, and once Satan's kingdom takes its foothold in the church of God, it is the very same thing as saying the unsaved world of Babylon has taken over in the congregations of the world. If the unsaved world of Babylon rules in the churches at the end of time, causing the church to become extremely worldly, what else would we call the church, other than Babylon? She is the same thing as the unsaved world. She is the mother of all harlots because she once had the true gospel. She is a worse harlot than all harlots because she once had the truth.

Is there any wonder that when God pronounces judgment upon the unsaved corporate church, that He pronounces "fallen" twice in each instance? In Isaiah chapter twenty-one He says: Babylon is fallen, is fallen. We see the number two. In Revelation chapter fourteen we read in verse eight: "Babylon is fallen, is fallen." The number two is prevalent. In Revelation 18:2 we read: "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen." Again, the number two! Could this be coincidental? No, nothing is coincidental with God and His Word. Could God be telling us who Babylon is simply by using the number two in association with the word "fallen" .............Babylon is fallen, is fallen.

We see this same idea when we read of God's holiness. God is Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Thus the number three is prevalent. Isaiah 6:3 declares of God: "...holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts." The number three is prevalent, signifying the trinity of the Godhead. Again in Revelation 4:8 we read: "...holy, holy, holy, Lord God almighty, which was, and is, and is to come." Again the number three is used to reiterate God's holiness: Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

GOD'S THRESHING FLOOR: VERSE TEN

As we conclude this vision, we see overwhelming evidence to support the fact that the vision of the fall of Babylon is indeed a vision of the fall of the corporate church at the end of time. After Babylon is declared fallen in verse nine, we immediately read in verse ten:

Isaiah is sorrowing over God's "threshing floor." It is fallen! This is again more substantial testimony showing that the apostate church at the end of time merges with the unsaved world of Babylon, and becomes Mystery Babylon the Great. She has opened her doors and has accepted the ways of the world into her once sanctified refuge. She can now only be called what the world is called ......... Babylon.

The church of God is pictured as a threshing floor where threshing is done in order to separate the wheat from the chaff. John the Baptist spoke of Christ who would come and baptize with the Holy Ghost. He spoke of Him by saying:

The Word of God (through His church) fans the threshing floor, separating the wheat (which are believers) from the chaff (the non-believers).

Finally, we mentioned Genesis 49:11 earlier, saying to examine the word "colt," where it speaks of Christ binding His foal unto the vine, and his ass's "colt" unto the choice vine. We saw that in this particular verse only, the word "colt" signified "a son building his family." This word in Hebrew is pronounced "bane" and is found again in Isaiah's grievous vision, this time in verse ten as "corn." "O my threshing, and the "corn" [bane] of my floor." Corn is normally grain or seed. However, in this vision, amazingly the corn is not defined as normal corn, but it is defined as a male or female offspring. In this case it is defined in Strong's Hebrew as follows: "The emphasis is on "binding" a man to his offspring."

As Christ bound the ass's coat to the choice vine, so too we have the same things in view in verse ten. Christ is that spiritual seed, that spiritual corn, as He binds Himself to His spiritual offspring eternally, by taking on the flesh nature of sinful man and spending our eternities in hell for us. Christ is that seed, that corn that binds us to Him as He fans His threshing floor. Christ fulfills the passage of John 12:24:

Back : Chapter 3A - Old Testament Commentary: Babylon is Fallen, Is Fallen! (Is. 21:1-10)

Next : Chapter 4 - The Woman in the Wilderness

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