20150804 Tuesday, August 4 2015
Isaiah 47: What Happened To The Virgin Daughter Of Babylon?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues"

The English-language word "Eden" originated from the Hebrew word, pronounced ay-den, that meant pleasing, or delightful. It was first used to describe the area of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in which the Garden in Eden (see The Garden In Eden) was planted by the LORD (see The Identity Of The LORD God).

"2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground [see Dust In The Wind], and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul [see Leaving The Soul Behind].

2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed." (Genesis 2:7-8 KJV)

While humans were put out of the Garden that the LORD planted in Eden (see Which Tree Will You Pick Fruit From?), humanity remained centered in Eden until the Flood of the time of Noah (see Why Did The Flood Happen?). Humanity thereafter began again, in Eden, where the first major cities of humanity were constructed (see The First Nations Of The New World). Among them also were the defiant and rebellious builders of the "tower of Babel." It was from then that the "virgin" Eden became known as Babylon the "whore."

Over and over, humanity began as the "virgin of Babylon," but then repeatedly made itself the historic and prophetic "whore of Babylon." The terms were consistently used by the prophets in referring to times past, as well as times yet future. Regardless of the time however, Babylon became more than just a physical place; it is a state of mind, for, or against, the Word of God. "Babylon" today can be anywhere.

"47:1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate." (Isaiah 47:1 KJV)

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

"50:42 They shall hold the bow and the lance: they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they shall ride upon horses, every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon. 50:43 The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as of a woman in travail." (Jeremiah 50:42-43 KJV)

"2:7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon." (Zechariah 2:7 KJV) "14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 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." (Revelation 14:7-8 KJV)

"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. 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." (Revelation 18:4-5 KJV)

Isaiah's references to the "virgin daughter of Babylon" were also transcendent of his own time (see also The Time-Telescope View of Cyrus of Persia). The choice applied to all people, of all time.

"47:1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate. 47:2 Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. 47:3 Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

47:4 As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel. 47:5 Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms. 47:6 I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke. 47:7 And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

47:8 Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: 47:9 But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments. 47:10 For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me. 47:11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.

47:12 Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. 47:13 Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. 47:14 Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. 47:15 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." (Isaiah 47:1-15 KJV)

Fact Finder: Why did the LORD tell Abraham to leave his birthplace in Babylon?
See A Biography Of Abraham: From Ur To Canaan and The Idols Of The Old Country