THE FALL OF BABYLON - A type of End-time events
Daniel chapter 5 describes the fall of literal Babylon which was a type (an illustration) of the coming fall of modern day global spiritual Babylon of Revelation 17
In Daniel chapter 2 is described a great metal image symbolising the prophetic world empires that would exist from the time of Babylon (time of Daniel the prophet) to the second coming of Christ. There is a transition from the literal local empires of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia and Pagan Rome to the spiritual global empire of Papal Rome (image's feet of iron & clay). Daniel chapter 5 describes the fall of literal Babylon which is a type (or an illustration) of the coming fall of end-time global spiritual (MYSTERY) Babylon - Papal Rome & her Apostate Protestant daughters.
There is a transition in the prophecies of Daniel 2,7,8 and 11 from the literal and local to the spiritual and global so that while the names remain the same the meaning attached to the names take on a new interpretation. Literal Babylon, the head of Gold of the Daniel 2 image becomes spiritual Babylon in the book of Revelation. See chart below
Recall that the fourth kingdom (legs of IRON) of the Daniel 2 image was the literal local pagan Roman Empire of the Caesars. This Rome has passed on and transitioned to the global Rome of the Popes, a union of church and state represented by the feet of IRON & clay of the Daniel 2 image. The iron is present in the feet hence is still ROME but a different type of Rome, one which has CLAY added to it. Clay represents religion - Papal Rome is thus represented in the feet of iron & clay - see Daniel 2 study. Revelation 17 tells us that this church state union is identified as "Babylon the great", hence the feet of iron and clay is symbolic of not only Papal Rome but Spiritual Babylon.
The transition in the Daniel 2 image is from the literal local Babylon of King Nebuchadnezzar (head of gold) to the spiritual and global Babylon of the Popes in the feet of iron & clay.
Daniel in chapter 2 had interpreted the King's dream as follows:
Three Kingdoms were to follow Babylon with the second that of the Medes & Persians. Daniel chapter 5 is the fulfilment for the second kingdom of the prophecy of Daniel 2.
2:37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory.
2:38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold.
2:39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
2:40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.
2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.
2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
150 years before Daniel, God, through the prophet Isaiah, foretold the manner of Babylonʼs overthrow, and even named the king who would capture the city (Isa 44:27-45:1; Jer 50:38; 51:13, 36). Babylon sat on (was built over) the waters of the river Euphrates. (See map). While Belshazzar was celebrating, the Medo-Persian armies led by Cyrus crept under the city walls via the river bed to capture the city by surprise.
God had foretold this event in Jeremiah 50:38. “A drought [is] upon her [Babylonʼs] waters; and they shall be dried up: for it [is] the land of graven images, and they are mad upon [their] idols.”
God even promised to open the internal city gates (See Isa 45:1). The ancient historian Herodotus recorded how Babylon fell: “[Babylon had] stored provisions enough for very many years; so they cared nothing for the siege; and Cyrus knew not what to do... whether, then someone advised him in his difficulty, or he perceived himself what to do, I know not, but this is what he did... drawing off the river by canal... he made the stream to sink till its former channel could be forded. When this happened the Persians who were posted with this intent made their way into Babylon by the channel of the Euphrates... and brought them to a miserable end.” Herodotus, Book 1, sec 191; A.D. Godley, Loeb Classical Library, p239
Cyrus, who came from the east, (Isaiah 41:2, 25; 46:11) typified Christ who will likewise come from the east (Matt 24:27). The spiritual Euphrates will be dried up, Christ will overthrow spiritual Babylon and liberate His people. Rev 17:12-17 enlarges upon the drying up of spiritual Babylonʼs support. Rev 16:12 (6th plague) says this drying up prepares the way of the “kings” of the east. Cyrus also led other kings when he overthrew Babylon. “Many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.” “The kings of the Medes...Prepare against her [Babylon] the nations with the kings of the Medes...” Jer 50:41; 51:11, 28.
FALL OF LITERAL BABYLON in DANIEL | FALL OF SPIRITUAL BABYLON in REV |
Babylon, that Great City | Babylon, the Great City - Rev 17:18 |
Babylon sat on the waters of the Euphrates | Babylon sits upon many waters - Rev 17:1 |
Waters were literal & local - the Euphrates | Waters symbolic of NATIONS - Rev 17:15 |
Waters sustained local Babylon | Waters (Nations) sustain global Babylon |
Literal Euphrates dried up => Babylon's fall - Jer 50:1, 38 | The spiritual Euphrates which symbolically sustains Babylon will be dried up. |
Cyrus conquered literal Babylon | Christ will conquer spiritual Babylon |
Cyrus liberated God's people | Christ will liberate God's people |
Cyrus was a King of Kings - he led kings | Christ is the King of Kings - Rev 19:16 |
Cyrus was the Lord's "shepherd" - Isa 44:28 | Christ is the Good shepherd - John 10:11 |
Cyrus was the Lord's "anointed" - Isa 45:1 | Christ is the Lord's anointed - Acts 10:38 |
Cyrus means "sun" | Christ is the sun of righteousness - Mal 4:2 |
Cyrus came from the East - Isa 41:2,25 | Christ will return from the East - Matt 24:27 |
Cyrus led kings from the East - Jer 25:12-14 | Christ leads Kings of the East - Rev 16:12 |
Literal Babylon the head of Gold | Apostate Christianity is spiritual "Babylon the Great" of the feet of iron & clay of Daniel 2 & Rev 17:5 |
THE FALL OF LITERAL BABYLON, A TYPE OF THE FALL OF SPIRITUAL BABYLON
The fall of literal Babylon in Daniel's day is a type or illustration of the fall of spiritual Babylon in our day as portrayed by John in the second angel's message of Revelation 14:8 and of that other angel of Revelation 18:1-5 which joins it.
REVELATION 14 & 18
14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
DANIEL 5 - THE FALL OF BABYLON
This chapter is a TYPE of end-time events. The filling of the vessels of God with alcohol represents the end time attempt to force God’s people into accepting the wine (false doctrines) of spiritual Babylon.
1 Belshazzar [Belshazzar = “Bel [a pagan god] protect the king”] the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand [led them by his example].
2 Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father [grandfather. All previous male relatives were called father] Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which [was] in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.
3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.
4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold [1], and of silver [2], of brass [3], of iron [4], of wood [5], and of stone [6]. Six gods are listed as in v 23. Six was a special number in Babylon cf. Dan 3:1
5 In the same hour [the first use of the word “hour” in Scripture is in the book of Daniel (Dan 3:6, 15; 4:19, 33; 5:5). Daniel’s book is the only O.T. book that contains the word “hour.”] came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against [in view of] the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall [the mention of plaister may be significant. See on v 25] of the king's palace [When the ruins of Babylon were excavated the palace was found to be lined with plaister] : and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6 Then the king's countenance [appearance] was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed [weak in the hips], and his knees smote one against another. [He became so fearful that his knees smote sgainst each other - weak kneed]
7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. [And] the king spake, and said to the wise [men] of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and [have] a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom [As Belshazzar was co-ruler with his father Nabonidus he was only able to offer a third part in the kingdom]
8 Then came in all the king's wise [men]: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled [It is understandable that he would wish to know the meaning of the supernatural message], and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astonied.
10 [Now] the queen [possibly queen mother], by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: [and] the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:
11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom [is] the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father [grandfather - Nebuchadnezzar] light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father [grandfather], the king, [I say], thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, [and] soothsayers;
12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams [cf. Daniel 2], and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. [And] the king spake and said unto Daniel, [Art] thou that Daniel, which [art] of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry [Clearly Belshazzar was not familiar with Daniel. Therefore Daniel had not be involved with this king in government]?
14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods [is] in thee, and [that] light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.
15 And now the wise [men], the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing:
16 And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet [A red or purple. The colour of the State ruler throughout time], and [have] a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom [cf. v7
Probation for Babylon was closed when this request was made. So will it be when the wicked fall at the feet of the saints and worship them]
Righteousness exalteth a nation but when a nation meddles with Godʼs holy things its days are numbered...
17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another [Daniel did not interpret the writting for gain] ; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
18 O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father [grandfather] a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour:
19 And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down.
20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
21 And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling [was] with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and [that] he appointeth over it whomsoever he will.
22 And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this [Belshazzar knew of his father’s experience but it had not brought him to honour God];
Spiritual Babylon, in a similar fashion will meddle with the holy things of God, in this case, the Law of God. She has substituted the Seventh Day Sabbath of God's moral law, with the First day of the week and will enforce this by legislation and make all nations drink of her wine - her false doctrines. When a nation makes void the Law of God, national apostasy will then be followed by national ruin.
23 But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath [is], and whose [are] all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:
24 Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written.
25 And this [is] the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN
[In Aramaic, the inscription consisted of a series of four words. Because Aramaic, like Hebrew, was written only with consonants, the way in which the words were read depended on which vowels the reader supplied. To the wise men, the letters MNMNTQLPRSN did not make sense.
The fact that the first word is repeated to give solemn emphasis suggests that Jesus was the writer. In the New Testament Jesus frequently said, “Verily, verily.”
In Scripture Jesus is recorded as writing three times:
1. The Ten Commandments (Exo 32:16; cf. Mark 2:27-28) - The standard in the judgment. Written on stone to show its permanence.
2. The Judgment on Babylon (Dan 5:6) - A declaration of Judgment. Written on plaster (v 5) to show that Babylon’s sin was incureable.
If rot was seen in the plaistered walls of a house the offending bricks were removed, the house was scraped, new rocks used and it was replaistered.. If the rot showed up in the plaister again the house was condemned. See Lev 14:43-45. The ‘rot’ of self exaltation was seen in Nebuchadnezzar whom God humbled. He appears to have been saved but the ‘rot’ showed up again in Babylon in the form of his son [grandson] Belshazzar and God wrote his and his kingdom’s condemnation on the plaister wall.
3. The sins in the sand (Joh 8:6-11; cf. Jer 17:13) - A records of sins to be considered in the judgment. Jesus wrote the sins of a woman’s accussers in the dust. Written in dust to show that through Christ it may be erased]
26 This [is] the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it [Jesus is called Palmoni in Dan 9:13 which is from two words, Pele - Wonderful, see Isa 9:6 where it refers to Jesus, and Mene - Numbered. See Dan 5:26 where another judgment is pronounced].
27 TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting [Weighing moral worth in ballances was a pagan concept. As God had used an idol for an idolator in Dan 2, He here used ballances for the judgment of a king who believed in moral ballances.
AN END-TIME TYPE
God hath numbered thy kingdom. When the number of the beast is made up probation will close. On the other side the number of the faithful. will be made up - 144,000
Mene, Mene - cf. Babylon is fallen is fallen (Rev 14:8)
Weighed in the balances - The judgment (Rev 14:7)
Kingdom divided - Babylon will be divided into three just prior to Christ’s return (Rev 16:19).
Given to the Medes & Persians. The leader of the Medes & Persians was Cyrus who captured the city and then set Darius in command. Cyrus typified Christ who will take the kingdom when Herereturns. As Cyrus set Darius over Babylon so Christ will set His saints over the world (Matt 5:5).
28 PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians [The last word of the inscription was ‘Upharsin’ but Daniel here translates it, ‘Peres.’ ‘Peres’ is the root word from which Upharsin comes and it means “divided.”
There is a word play here. In the original Aramaic ‘Peres’ is actually ‘PRS,’ because Aramaic was written using consonants only. In Aramaic the word Persian (paras) was also written ‘PRS.’ Thus Peres (literally PRS) suggested that not only would Babylon be divided but that it would be divided to the Medes & the Persians!]
29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and [put] a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
30 In that night [even as the explanation of the vision was being given the armies that would overthrow Babylon were about to enter the city] was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain
THE FALL OF BABYLON
Medo Persia conquered Babylon in the following way:
“[Babylon had] stored provisions enough for very many years; so they cared nothing for the seige; and Cyrus knew not what to do... whether, then someone advised him in his difficulty, or he perceived himself what to do, I know not, but this is what he did... drawing off the river by canal... he made the stream to sink till its former channel could be forded. When this happened the Persians who were posted with this intent made their way into Babylon by the channel of the Euphrates... and brought them to a miserable end.” Herodotus, Book 1, sec 191; A.D. Godley, Loeb Classical Library, p239]
Six is the number of Babylon. Six Gods are mentioned in Daniel chapter 5: "...gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone,..." Daniel 5:4,23
The number of the beast in Revelation 13 is the number of the man's name which is 666 demonstrating the connection of this system with the Babylonian system of pagan idolatry
31 And Darius the Median took the kingdom, [being] about threescore and two years old. DARIUS THE MEDE
Cyrus the Great (553-530B.C.) conquered Media in 553, Lydia in 547, and Babylonia in 539B.C. Apparently Cyrus appointed Darius the Mede to rule Babylon. This would be understandable; for at the time Cyrus was consolidating the vast empire he had taken over.
Critics have stated that Darius never existed because they have not yet unearthed any record of anyone by this name. This they claim shows that Daniel was not written in the days of the Babylonian empire but some time later by someone pretending to be writing predictive prophecy.
Darius was Cyrus’s uncle. Prophets & Kings p. 523. Darius died within about two years of the fall of Babylon PK 556-7. See Xenophon, Cyropaedia, VII.5.30. says “The impious king of Babylon was slain when Gobryas entered the Palace.”
Gobryas is probably another name for the Biblical Darius of Dan 5:31.
According to the well attested Nabonidus-Chronicle an important cuniform tablet describing the fall of Babylon, Gobryas was also called Ugbaru. The chronicle says he appointed govenors in Babylonia until he died there one month before the title “King of Babylon” was addressed to Cyrus. Darius could have been Ugbaru’s throne name
“The title ‘King of Babylon” was not used for Cyrus in the contract tablets dated to him during the first year after Babylon’s conquest in October 539B.C. Only the title ‘King of Lands” was used for him, and this referred to him in his capacity as king of the Persian empire. Late in 538B.C., however, the scribes added the title ‘King of Babylon’ to his titulary, and it continued to be in use through the rest of his reign and those of his succesors down to the time of Xerxes.
There are only two possibilities here. Either there was an interregum [period when there was no ruler] and the htrone of Babylon went unoccupied for a year, or somebody else besides Cyrus occupied the throne for that period of time. In my opinion, the prime candidate for this other king of Babylon is Ugbaru, the general whose troops conquered Babylon for Cyrus. According to the Nabonadus Chronicle, he appointed govenors in Babylonia (cf. Dan 6:1) and he resided in Babylon until he died there a year later, one month before the title ‘King of Babylon’ was added to Cyrus’ titulary.” William H. Shea, Selected Studies on Prophetic Interpretation, Daniel & Revelation Committee Series, Vol. 1, [1982] p29]
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