November 22: THE END OF BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY

Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. Revelation 16:12

Considering the magnitude of the first five plagues, number six at “face value” doesn’t sound like something that could possibly have a global effect. But comprehension of this event through the symbols indeed paints a global picture. The world system of the last two thousand years is dubbed “Babylon” due to its confusing and contradicting ideas that have been intermingled with tokens of Biblical truth.

The ancient city of Babylon straddled the great river Euphrates which was the “lifeblood” of the city. It was a beautifully developed metropolis, considered impenetrable because of its design which included enormously thick, high walls and a deep moat all around the city. The great river was not only a natural defense, but a vital resource of fresh water. This “impenetrable” fortress was actually brought down in a single night with no opposition whatsoever. Just beforehand, the Medo-Persian army, under the direction of King Cyrus of Persia, diverted the river by digging channels upstream of the city, draining the water. Such an undertaking required tremendous planning and manpower. Cyrus was well-known for his military ingenuity. His troops entered easily into the city, traversing the nearly dry riverbed. Incredibly, the iron gates, normally underwater, had been left unlocked (Isaiah 45:1). In addition, those inside the city were incapacitated, due to having a boisterous drinking party (see Daniel 5).

The great waters are a metaphor for the “lifeblood” of support that the masses of people have been to the pope (see Revelation 17:15) for many generations. But that support will suddenly begin to dry up at the realization of the pretense of divine power. His popularity and support will begin to die. In Biblical history, the drying up of waters has been a sign of God’s preparation to gather His people and bring them into their land. This drying up of the Euphrates River is a definitive echo of God’s judgment on Ancient Babylon. For added emphasis, the Euphrates River is literally drying up due to drought, rising temperatures, and multiple dams built upstream in Syria and Turkey.

Cyrus is the only pagan king ever cited as a “type” of Christ. Isaiah predicted that God would raise him up as a deliverer of God’s people at the end of the Babylonian captivity. This is an illustration of the great Deliverance that lies just ahead. The phrase kings from the east is an allusion to Cyrus (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1) and his allied forces (compare to Matthew 25:31). In Revelation it symbolizes Christ Jesus, who said “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:27) The plurality of kings can be viewed in light of Elohim (a plural name for God) who said, “Let Us make man in Our image” (Genesis 2:26). Though the word “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible, the precept is repeatedly presented as three separate and distinct persons of the Godhead.

Notice that in Cyrus’s pronouncement of freedom for the Babylonian captives, only those who wanted to go actually went. Do you truly want to go up? Now is the time to decide!

…the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May the LORD his God be with him, and let him go up! 2 Chronicles 36:22b-23