The Ancient Empire
Babylon is a biblical symbol of the recurring rise of empires and self-appointed world leaders, and it continues to live and thrive today.
There is a larger story behind the visions of the Book of Daniel
than meets the eye, which remains relevant today. Daniel focuses on an
empire that intends to rule that part of the world. It has done so since the dawn of
human history. Not only was ancient Babel alive and well at the time of Daniel, but it is rising again on the world scene.
The opening passage calls
the Neo-Babylonian Empire the “Land of Shinar,” a verbal link
to the Tower of Babel incident in the Book of Genesis. It
is echoed in Nebuchadnezzar’s imposition of the Babylonian language on his subjects,
and his attempt to gather all nations to pay homage to his great golden
image- (Daniel
1:1-2, 3:1-6).
![]() |
[Photo by Jorgen Hendriksen on Unsplash] |
The Neo-Babylonian Empire was not a new political entity, but one with an ancient pedigree. In the New Testament, “Babylon” becomes a cipher for the latest incarnation of the World Empire that seeks absolute power over humanity. Daniel was living in the latest but certainly not the last iteration of the imperial city that periodically appears on Earth.
God thwarted the completion of the
high tower in the “Land of Shinar.” His intervention caused the
diversity and distribution of languages and cultures across the planet. The identification
of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom with Shinar pointed to the true origins of the
Empire - (Genesis 11:1-9).
When the tower was built in
Babel, the “whole earth was of one language and one speech.” Noah’s
descendants migrated to Mesopotamia to dwell “in the Land of Shinar,”
the Hebrew equivalent of ‘Sumer,’ the first civilization of
Mesopotamia.
The people of Shinar began
to build a city with a high tower that would “reach the heavens and thus
make us a name, lest we be scattered across the whole earth.” This description
reflects the culture of Sumer. Each city featured temples built on ziggurats that
formed the highest point in the city. They were dedicated to the city’s chief
deity or deities, and its economic and religious activities centered on the temple.
God commanded Adam to “multiply,
replenish, and subdue the earth.” That command was reiterated to Noah after
the Flood. However, humanity chose to move to Mesopotamia, build a new
civilization, and make a name for itself. Consistently in
Scripture, “Babylon” is characterized by arrogance and idolatry - (Genesis
1:28, 9:1, Isaiah 14:13-14, 63:12-14, Jeremiah 32:20).
If humanity united under one language, its wickedness would become boundless. By confounding languages, God caused the nations to spread out and stopped this first attempt at establishing a centralized government. The idolatrous ambitions of Babylon were thus delayed until a more opportune time. However, in the Book of Daniel, the Kingdom of Shinar began to rise again under King Nebuchadnezzar.
The latest ruler of “Babel”
attempted to reverse God’s ancient judgment. Having conquered the Kingdom of
Judah, Nebuchadnezzar set out to gather different ethnic groups, cultures, and
nations into his rebuilt city. There, the people were educated in the “language
of Babylon.”
PARALLELS
In Genesis, the “whole
earth spoke one language” as men began to dwell in “Shinar.” They
built a city and tower of “great height” in the plain of Shinar
to mark their achievements and prevent the dispersal of humanity.
Likewise, Nebuchadnezzar brought
Judean captives to Babylon, the great city built by him. Exiles
from other nations were educated in the “language of the Chaldeans.”
What the original inhabitants of Babel began Nebuchadnezzar attempted
to complete.
Nebuchadnezzar “set up”
a great golden image of exceptional “height” in the “plain of Dura,” then
decreed that “all peoples, races, and tongues” must render homage
to it. He gathered representatives from every province and nation “to
the dedication of his image” - (Daniel 3:1-8).
The verbal parallels are
deliberate. Just as the earlier Mesopotamians united to build a city and
high tower for their glory, so, also, the Neo-Babylonian king would unite all
humanity under his authority to “pay homage” to the image he had “set
up.”
In the Book of Revelation, “Babylon” takes on cosmic proportions as it wages war against the “Lamb” and his people. This final form of “Babylon” becomes the world “city” in contrast to the coming “Holy City of New Jerusalem.”
Revelation’s Babylon is the “Great
Whore” full of the “abominations” and every “unclean thing”
on Earth. Her hands are stained with the “blood of the prophets and the saints that have been
slain on the Earth.”
She is characterized by her cruelty, arrogance, self-glorification, and the worship
she demands. The key to her power is control of
global commerce. Economic sanction is her weapon of choice
– (Revelation 17:1-6, 18:1-24).
However, in “New Jerusalem,” there
is no “unclean or abominable thing,” and the “curse” imposed on
humanity by Adam’s sin is removed. It is populated with the “saints,” nations,
and the “Kings of the Earth.” God Himself and the “Lamb” dwell
with them and “He will wipe away every
tear from their eyes” –
(Revelation 21:1-8).
This world empire spans
history. She rides the seven heads of the “Beast from the Sea.” Its
“heads” represent seven “kingdoms.” The first five empires had “fallen”
before John’s time. The sixth existed in his day, and the seventh and final imperial
power was yet to come.
The arrival of the “Beast” is
described using a present tense participle. It is always “ascending”
either “from the Sea” or the “Abyss.” It appears repeatedly in
history. Each time, it is intent on eradicating God’s people – (Revelation 13:1-10,
17:7-12).
There is an imperial power today that uses economic
control to impose its will on nations and peoples. Will it become the “Seventh
Kingdom” that “ascends from the Abyss” to wage war on the saints?
Only time will tell.
[PDF Copy]
SEE ALSO:
- Overview of Daniel - (An introduction to the book of Daniel with a brief overview of how the Book of Revelation applies passages from it)
- God Gave - (God gave the kingdom of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, but He also equipped Daniel and his companions for service in the court of Babylon)
- Empires Rise and Fall - (Imperial hubris is the legacy of the Tower of Babel, humanity’s first but certainly not attempt to establish a World Empire)
Comments
Post a Comment
We encourage free discussions on the commenting system provided by the Google Blogger platform, with the stipulation that conversations remain civil. Comments voicing dissenting views are encouraged.