Isaiah 13–14.
(a) Doctrine and Covenants 1:16; footnote g, Babylon = worldliness
and the institute student manual commentary for Isaiah 13:1, “What Was the Burden of Babylon?” (pg. 153), Since Babylon is a scriptural symbol for the peoples
and governments that oppose the kingdom of God, the
“burden” of Babylon refers to the weighty judgments
that inevitably await it. Indeed, the threshing floors of
Babylon will be fanned and its chaff burned. (See
Jeremiah 51:1–2; Matthew 3:12.)
Bold is what's symbolically represented by the term Babylon.
Read Isaiah 13 and write a paragraph about what Isaiah prophesied would happen to “Babylon.”
The Lord will gather his righteous people to destroy the land of Babylon. The wicked will be in shock that their are actual consequences for their actions. God will cleanse the land of all sin and sinners. The sky will be filled with darkness (cloud or smoke cover.) Earth quakes will cover the land. There will be wars. "16 Their a children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their b houses shall be c spoiled, and their wives ravished."This makes me sick. 18"no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children."After all of this the land will become desolate and completely run over by wildlife.
How is this chapter of Isaiah an example of dualistic prophecy—a prophecy that applies to more than one time period and people?
These are the prophecies for both the current time of Babylon and the modern age of Babylon type sin all around (and in) us today.
How does the world today compare to how Babylon is described in these verses?
- hard hearted
- haughty
- arrogance
- pride
- evil
Inasmuch as we are surrounded by the world, what are some ways you could be less influenced by what is happening in the world?
Chose media wisely. Stop watching a show even if the quality of visual arts is good. Good quality doesn't mean the content is clean. We can filter our home internet even if no known "problem" is there. Getting used to having filters in the home is just as important as getting used to putting the knives up high! Filter NOW no matter what! Filter all your media immediately.
(b) Read Isaiah 14:12–14; How art thou a fallen from b heaven, O c Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the d nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine a heart, b I will ascend into heaven, I will c exalt my d throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the e north:
Abraham 3:26–28 26 And they who a keep their first b estate shall be added upon; and they who keep not their first estate shall not have glory in the same kingdom with those who keep their first estate; and they who keep their second c estate shall have d glory added upon their heads for ever and ever.
27 And the a Lord said: Whom shall I b send? And one answered like unto the Son of Man: Here am I, send me. And c anotheranswered and said: Here am I, send me. And the Lord said: I willd send the first.
28 And the a second was angry, and kept not his first b estate; and, at that day, many followed after him.
and the institute student manual commentary for Isaiah 14:12–15, “Who Was ‘Lucifer, Son of the Morning’?” (pg. 155).
Isaiah again used dualism. Chapters 13 and 14
describe the downfall of Babylon, both of Babylon as
an empire and of Babylon as the symbol of the world
(see D&C 133:14). Thus, most scholars think “Lucifer,
son of the morning” is the king of Babylon, probably
Nebuchadnezzar. In the symbolic use of Babylon,
(Babylon as spiritual wickedness and the kingdom of
Satan), Lucifer is Satan. This interpretation is confirmed
in latter-day revelation (see D&C 76:26–8). Satan and
Babylon’s prince (both represented by Lucifer in this
passage) aspire to take kingly glory to themselves,
but in fact will be thrust into hell where there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Compare Isaiah 13:13–14 with Moses 4:1–4, where Lucifer’s conditions for saving all men are given. What adds to the power of the imagery is the fact that the word congregation (v. 13) is translated by Keil and Delitzsch as the “assembly of gods” (Commentary, 7:1:312).
In still another example of Isaiah’s beautiful dualism, even the kings of the world lie in their tombs (house) in respect (see vv. 18–19), but Babylon’s king was to
be cast aside and trodden under foot. This reward was literally visited upon the city of the Chaldees, and though Nebuchadnezzar was certainly buried in great splendor, there is no grave found for him today in
the ruins of Babylon. Think for a moment of Satan’s “grave.” Never having received a body, he shall never have a tomb or monument of any kind, though he was king and ruler of the great world-wide and history-wide empire of spiritual Babylon. No wonder the kings of the earth, who, though wicked in mortality, could still inherit the telestial kingdom, would marvel at his demise.
but in fact will be thrust into hell where there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Compare Isaiah 13:13–14 with Moses 4:1–4, where Lucifer’s conditions for saving all men are given. What adds to the power of the imagery is the fact that the word congregation (v. 13) is translated by Keil and Delitzsch as the “assembly of gods” (Commentary, 7:1:312).
In still another example of Isaiah’s beautiful dualism, even the kings of the world lie in their tombs (house) in respect (see vv. 18–19), but Babylon’s king was to
be cast aside and trodden under foot. This reward was literally visited upon the city of the Chaldees, and though Nebuchadnezzar was certainly buried in great splendor, there is no grave found for him today in
the ruins of Babylon. Think for a moment of Satan’s “grave.” Never having received a body, he shall never have a tomb or monument of any kind, though he was king and ruler of the great world-wide and history-wide empire of spiritual Babylon. No wonder the kings of the earth, who, though wicked in mortality, could still inherit the telestial kingdom, would marvel at his demise.
From the information in these scriptures, explain how Lucifer became Satan.
(c) One of the reasons we try to learn about Jesus Christ is so we can follow His example and be more like Him. The scriptures briefly mention how Satan became the devil so we can identify what we must do to avoid following him.
As you think about what you read in Isaiah 14 about Lucifer’s fall, describe in a paragraph the characteristics and motives of Satan that you would want to avoid in your own life.
We must not take personal credit for the things that we do or have. Everything we are comes from God. He provided our families who helped shape our personalities (hopefully good ones). He provided all our earthly and spiritual needs to be meet so that we could thrive and return to him. When we harden our hearts we are quick to forget God's hand in everything we do and are. Lucifer aspired to take kingly glory to himself. As does all who follow him. We should always remember to "give the Glory to God" because it's already His to begin with. We must accept gratitude in our hearts and praise Him for all the miraculous blessings He has poured upon us.
No comments:
Post a Comment