God’s Coming Punishment on End Times ‘Babylon’ (Part 2)

In Part 1 of God’s Coming Punishment on ‘Babylon,’ I discussed those silent, behind-the-scenes events that happen over time inside the nation and serve as the beginning of God’s punishment. I also described how the outcome of the “quiet” battle fought by God himself and his ‘Jacob army,’ combined with the “trap” that God sets, will serve to finally bring truth and light to the public at-large about the anti-Christ Chaldeans. Their cabal’s secret, oppressive, deceitful, criminal practices against others will be revealed along with the false gods and idols that they serve.

This truth about the Chaldeans will be shown to nations around the world, and their people, who will then realize that they have also been deceived and cheated by ‘Babylon.’ We will see in this passage how God then invites these victimized nations to come against the nation of ‘Babylon’-U.S. They will be the primary destroying force that comes from outside of the nation, which will represent the point at which God’s punishment on ‘Babylon’-U.S. becomes more severe. This will likely happen early in the Tribulation period, consistent with what we know about the Day of the Lord, the time of his vengeance, and the “vengeance of his temple.” God says to ‘Babylon’-U.S. and its leaders:

• “…For your day has come, the time that I will punish you” (Jer 50:31)

End times punishment on ‘Babylon’-U.S. overall, and described herein, is best summed up by God’s principle, “as she has done, do unto her” (Jer 50:15). Speaking in a prophetic Psalm, those in the house of David prayed:

• “O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.” (Ps 137:8)

We read below how God answers these prayers in the last days.

God punishes ‘Babylon’ to get retribution on behalf of his people

While God gives the opportunity for retribution to various affected nations of the world, he is first and foremost concerned about getting justice for his own people’s sake. That is, in return for ‘Babylon’-U.S.’s ravaging of his vineyard and persecution of his saints. While God has been angry with his own vineyard, overall, and has called for their punishment himself, there is a point at which he gives them grace and relief, and then turns his wrath back to their oppressors. We see this as follows:

• “Thus saith the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of his people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over.” (Is 51:22-23)

So, God will punish and destroy ‘Babylon’-U.S. for what it has done to his people. Prophecy in the book of Jeremiah shows that God is particularly angry because ‘Babylon’- the “destroyer(s) of his heritage”- has “rejoiced” and was “glad” about their destruction. God will get justice on behalf of his people, just as nations of the world will get their own retribution and justice on ‘Babylon.’ God will return punishment on ‘Babylon’-U.S. according to what it has done. This is highlighted in the following scriptures:

• “And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the Lord.” (Jer 51:24)

• “The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea, shall Jerusalem say.” (Jer 51:35)

• “As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.” (Jer 51:49)

Contents of this passage

The coming punishment on ‘Babylon’-U.S. that comes from external sources will starkly contrast with that which is derived from the quiet internal forces that were described in Part 1. External sources of punishment addressed in this passage, in a general sense, can be thought of as more transparent and readily seen and felt in terms of the actual violence and physical destruction that they cause. These are modes of punishment that will lead to the ultimate desolation of ‘Babylon’-U.S. I believe that it is very likely that these judgments will begin early in the Tribulation period.

In this passage, I will summarize ‘Babylon’s coming destruction according to the invasion that will come from without- i.e. that comes from an external source relative to ‘Babylon’ itself:

• Punishment on ‘Babylon’s leaders
• Invasion – Part 1- Background
• Invasion – Part 2- Destruction and desolation

Upon ‘Babylon’-U.S.’s final punishment and destruction, we are told in scripture that people all over the world will rejoice. This is such a monumental event that we are told even “the heavens shall rejoice.”

Punishment on ‘Babylon’s Leaders

‘Babylon’-U.S.’s leaders will be found to be corrupt, oppressive liars and tyrants who are slaves to serving false gods and false idols. Worse yet, and most importantly, it will be revealed that they have directly rebelled against God. God says ‘Babylon’ and her leaders have been “proud against me” (Jer 50:29), and that she has “sinned against the Lord” (Jer 50:14). We also read in the book of Jeremiah how ‘Babylon’s “most proud” will stumble and fall (Jer 50:32). The following applies to ‘Babylon’s leaders:

• “…you were found and captured because you opposed the Lord.” (Jer 50:24)

Because of ‘Babylon’s sins and wickedness that is uncovered, especially against God’s people, leaders will have nowhere to turn for help. Just as the ‘Daughter of Zion’ was made desolate (see my previous passages about her), as well as the nation of Israel that will lose all of its “friends” in the last days, so will it be for the nation of ‘Babylon’-U.S. and its leaders. Scriptures below show that ‘Babylon’ will find no help:

• “And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help? And where will ye leave your glory?” (Is 10:3)

• “Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: They shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.” (Is 47:15)

God will hold ‘Babylon’-U.S.’s leaders accountable. Punishment that comes upon these leaders will begin prior to the full external invasion, as truth about their deceitful, corrupt dealings comes out as an outcome of ‘Babylon’s internal battles described in Part 1. The outcome and revealing of the ‘Jacob army’s silent battle, we are told in scripture, serves to “break in pieces” ‘Babylon’s rulers and captains (Is 30:14).

Invading forces will capture ‘Babylon’-U.S.’s leaders

‘Babylon’-U.S.’s leaders will then ultimately fall once-and-for-all when external, invading forces enter the land. We know this because scripture tells us that ‘Babylon’s leaders will be “captured,” “taken away,” a “sword (will be) upon them,” and they will become “extinct.” This is the time that the Lord says that he brings the “chariot and the horse,” and the “army and the power” (Is 43:17).

While there is a small chance that leaders could be brought down internally, as a sort of coup, it appears much more likely that this will happen as a result of outside invading forces discussed herein. (Unfortunately, ‘Babylon’-U.S.’s armed forces, just like those in the country of Israel, will be infiltrated with Chaldean traitors, who likely merely cooperate with ‘Babylon’s corrupt Chaldean traitor-leaders). Scriptures show the punishment on ‘Babylon’s leaders that certainly appears to come from external invading forces:

• “Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.” (Is 43:14)

• “A sword is upon the Chaldeans, saith the Lord, and upon the inhabitants of Babylon, and upon her princes, and upon her wise men.” (Jer 50:35)

• “In their heat I will make their feasts, and I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the Lord. I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter, like rams with he goats.” (Jer 51:39-40)

As referred to above, recall that the country of Israel in the last days will also be found to have corrupt, oppressive leadership. The same will be true for ‘Babylon’-U.S. which will be virtually leader-less after its rulers are rendered corrupt and lawless. What was seen as a democracy and Constitutional republic will be revealed as a corrupt system filled with chronies who sold out to Chaldean world powers and rulers and their secret world system. This is possibly the time at which a leadership void will be created that the Assyrian world leader or Anti-Christ will fill.

The final invasion- Part 1

Once truth is revealed, in front of the world’s eyes, ‘Babylon’-U.S. will begin to unravel as it is shown to be a fraudulent, worthless symbol of freedom and free markets. At this point, other countries of the world will realize the extent to which they have been deceived and cheated. Being just, God will punish according to the evil that she has done to other countries and peoples around the world, which are those that were “deceived by her sorceries.”

In fact, at the time that God calls for armies to come against ‘Babylon,’ we are told in scripture that this is at the time when, “The treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously” (Is 21:2). So, God calls out to nations “from the north” accordingly, so that they administer punishment and can get their own justice. The following scripture is consistent with God’s “do unto others…” principle of justice.

• “Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: In the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.” (Rev 18:6)

The following subsections provide some background and limited detail about this final invasion. Then the final section in this passage describes the invasion itself and its resulting devastation.

The Assyrian leads the final invasion

At the helm of the final invasion of ‘Babylon’-U.S. in the end times will be the “Assyrian.” You will recall from my prior passage that the Assyrian has had direct dealings prior in ‘Babylon,’ not the least of which has been as a player in the last days war against God’s vineyard and his righteous ‘Jacob’ remnant. As a “sower” in ‘Babylon,’ we are told that the Assyrian has “devoured” and scattered God’s people, ‘Israel.’

The Assyrian is a candidate for the Anti-Christ. We are told in scripture that he blasphemes and “rages” against God. He also clearly has aspirations beyond ‘Babylon’-U.S., the nation, but rather for ‘Babylon,’ the world kingdom. He is an obvious anti-Christ Chaldean who says:

• “My hand has found the kingdom of the idols, whose graven images did excel them of Jerusalem and Samaria (i.e the modern day northern kingdom).” (Is 10:10)

Although God permits the Assyrian power to do some of his work in destroying ‘Babylon’-U.S. and his corrupt vineyard, the Assyrian goes beyond this charge and becomes boastful and power-hungry. He destroys and plunders nations across the earth (i.e. “it is his heart to destroy and cut off nations not a few”- Is 10:7). It is apparent in scripture that he even has aspirations upon Zion/Jerusalem in the Tribulation period.

In the interim, and most relevant to this current passage, God’s primary charge and purpose allotted to the Assyrian is for him to come with his ally nations against ‘Babylon.’ God says that he brings the Assyrian back to ‘Babylon, a “hypocritical nation.” In this role, he calls the Assyrian the “rod of my anger.” The following is God’s charge to the Assyrian:

• “I will send him against an hypocritical nation, and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.” (Is 10:6)

So, the Assyrian is the Chaldean world leader who presides over the final invasion and the resulting destruction of ‘Babylon’-U.S. which is described in more detail in the remainder of this passage.

 ‘Babylon’-U.S. will not fight back

Just like last days Israel, we learn in scripture that ‘Babylon’ will not have the will or the capabilities to fight back against invading forces. In the country of Israel’s case in the last days of not being able to fight back, I described previously that this is likely in part due to their overwhelming sense of guilt and shame that causes a lack of morale. It is also very likely the case for the country of Israel that their armed forces are already heavily infiltrated by the Chaldeans. Both of these barriers to fighting will be the same that exist among and handicap ‘Babylon’s armed forces. How else could it be explained that ‘Babylon’s (U.S.’s) incredibly strong military will not fight back? Of course, God is the one in control. ‘Babylon’s virtual surrender is shown in scriptures below:

• “The mighty men of Babylon have forborn to fight, they have remained in their holds: their might hath failed; they became as women: They have burned her dwelling places; her bars are broken.” (Jer 51:30)

•  “And that the passages are stopped, and the reeds they have burned with fire, and the men of war are affrighted.” (Jer 51:32)

• “Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, every one of their bows is broken: for the Lord God of recompences shall surely requite.” (Jer 51:56)

• “Therefore shall her young men fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day, saith the Lord.” (Jer 50:30)

‘Babylon’-U.S. is plundered

Next, again, similar to the country of Israel in the last days, ‘Babylon’-U.S. will be plundered. Recall that plundering is a natural consequence once people are, or a nation is, taken captive and unable to fight back (as observed above). Plundering will accompany the final invasion. Scripture confirms more than once that it will be the Assyrian and his army(ies) who will plunder ‘Babylon.’

As I described above, God calls the Assyrian the “rod of (his) anger,” and appoints him to “take a spoil.” The following scriptures demonstrate how ‘Babylon’-U.S. will be plundered in the Day of the Lord:

• “And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the Lord.” (Jer 50:10)

• “Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: Let nothing of her be left.” (Jer 50:26)

• “A sword is upon their horses, and upon their chariots, and upon all the mingled people that are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: A sword is upon her treasures; and they shall be robbed.” (Jer 50:37)

• “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.” (Jer 51:48)

‘Babylon’-U.S.’s captives freed

In addition to plundering ‘Babylon’s treasures, it appears that outside forces may also play a role in freeing captives within ‘Babylon.’ Invaders who discover the “keys to the coffers,” so to speak, may also release those who are being held captive, including those who ‘Babylon’s leaders are directly responsible for, possibly to include God’s people among them. God addresses his people directly in scripture below:

• “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.” (Is 49:24-25)

It could be that both literal prisoners as well as those who are held captive by Chaldean “mob” techniques such as the ‘Jacob’-Judah remnant are liberated at this time. We are told that God’s people will then take up a “taunt” against the king of Babylon:

• “And it shall come to pass in the day that the Lord shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! The golden city ceased! The Lord hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers.” (Is 14:3-5)

The Final invasion – Part 2

‘Babylon’-U.S. will ultimately lay completely desolate. So, what happens to this country that was once called, “The praise of the whole earth”? God brings the Assyrian and his armies “from the north.” He initially gets their attention and then invites them via a “banner,” “trumpet,” and a “sound of battle” that is raised. This is likely the same banner, or a related one, that is raised by the ‘Jacob army.’

Do unto ‘Babylon’-U.S…

At this point, a group of countries (i.e. an “alliance of great nations”) will come against the nation of ‘Babylon’ to invade and do to ‘Babylon’ as she has done unto them. These armies, we are told in scripture, represent many nations and are those of many kings who are “raised up from the coasts of the earth.” God tells these nations to “camp round about” her and invites them to “prepare the ambushes” (Jer 50:43). Upon hearing the news, we are told that the king of Babylon “grows feeble” with anguish (Jer 50:43).

Again, you will recall that this scenario is very similar to the last days period for the country of Israel when various armies, also from “the north,” amass and surround her on her borders. Meanwhile, the following is what will come upon ‘Babylon’:

• “For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: Their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. And Chaldea shall be a spoil: All that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the Lord.” (Jer 50:9-10)

• “Call together the archers against Babylon: All ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: For she hath been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel.” (Jer 50:29)

• “And will send unto Babylon fanners, that shall fan her, and shall empty her land: for in the day of trouble they shall be against her round about. Against him that bendeth let the archer bend his bow, and against him that lifteth himself up in his brigandine: And spare ye not her young men; destroy ye utterly all her host.” (Jer 51:2-3)

Much slaughter and death comes upon ‘Babylon’–U.S.

As you would expect in a large-scale assault by major nations’ armies, the consequences will be plagues, famine, plundering and a great slaughter of people. We are told, “The slain will fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and they that are thrust through in her streets” (Jer 51:4). Additional scriptures about the effects of this massive wartime invasion include:

• “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; And she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.” (Rev 18:8)

• “Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.” (Is 13:17-18)

• “Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left. Slay all her bullocks; let them go down to the slaughter: woe unto them! for their day is come, the time of their visitation.” (Jer 50:26-27)

Destruction of ‘Babylon’-U.S.’s Idols

As part of the final invasion against ‘Babylon,’ and its destruction, God’s will lay waste to its graven images and idols that represent its false gods. God emphasizes this in scripture. In Part 1, I addressed the “wall” representing these idols, which is also a symbolic representation of ‘Babylon’s oppression, wickedness and sins. While this “wall” falls silently and symbolically at first, punishment will then become more apparent and forceful. These physical idols and images will ultimately be “shattered” and physically destroyed for all to see. This is confirmed in the following scriptures:

• “Therefore behold, the days are coming That I will bring judgment on the carved images of Babylon; Her whole land shall be ashamed, And all her slain shall fall in her midst.” (Jer 51:47)

• “Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will bring judgment on her carved images, And throughout all her land the wounded shall groan.” (Jer 51:52)

• “I will cut off sorceries from your hand, And you shall have no soothsayers. Your carved images I will also cut off, And your sacred pillars from your midst; You shall no more worship the work of your hands…” (Mic 5:11-13)

• “Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel (Baal) is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces.” (Jer 50:2)

The land of ‘Babylon’-U.S. will lay desolate

The end result of this invasion by great armies, an invasion in which ‘Babylon’ does not even fight back, is a complete devastation and desolation of the land. From what was previously perceived to be the greatest and most powerful country on earth, ‘’Babylon’-U.S. now becomes an “astonishment,” and a “hissing.” ‘Babylon’ will be a wilderness and a desolate land where nobody lives any longer. Scriptures below highlight the magnitude and the permanent nature of this destruction and desolation:

• “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation…” (Is 13:19-20)

• “Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.” (Jer 51:43)

• “Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues.” (Jer 50:13)

• “Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.” (Jer 50:39-40)

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As I have described in this series, ‘Babylon’-U.S. represents the sum total of everything related to the evil anti-Christ Chaldean empire in the last days. As such, it will be discovered to be full of nothing but wickedness and deceit. The monumental event of the destruction of ‘Babylon’-U.S. will be cheered by the righteous, Jesus Christ-worshiping saints in heaven and earth alike. I will leave you with a couple of scriptures to this effect:

• “Rejoice over her (destruction), thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” (Rev 18:20)

• “…Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand.” (Rev 19:1-2)

Grace & Peace,

Lion’s Lair (LL)