Judgment · Babylon is fallen, is fallen

Isaiah 21:1-10

Isaiah · ~700 BC · Status: Fulfilled · Confidence: 65%
“The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land. A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.”
King James Version · the opening — all 10 verses are below
More of Isaiah 21 on this siteIsaiah 21:11-17

Isaiah's night-vision of Babylon's fall — 'Babylon is fallen, is fallen' — the cry later echoed in Revelation.

Read the whole passage — all 10 verses (KJV)

21:1The burden of the desert of the sea. As whirlwinds in the south pass through; so it cometh from the desert, from a terrible land.

21:2A grievous vision is declared unto me; the treacherous dealer dealeth treacherously, and the spoiler spoileth. Go up, O Elam: besiege, O Media; all the sighing thereof have I made to cease.

21:3Therefore are my loins filled with pain: pangs have taken hold upon me, as the pangs of a woman that travaileth: I was bowed down at the hearing of it; I was dismayed at the seeing of it.

21:4My heart panted, fearfulness affrighted me: the night of my pleasure hath he turned into fear unto me.

21:5Prepare the table, watch in the watchtower, eat, drink: arise, ye princes, and anoint the shield.

21:6For thus hath the Lord said unto me, Go, set a watchman, let him declare what he seeth.

21:7And he saw a chariot with a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, and a chariot of camels; and he hearkened diligently with much heed:

21:8And he cried, A lion: My lord, I stand continually upon the watchtower in the daytime, and I am set in my ward whole nights:

21:9And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.

21:10O my threshing, and the corn of my floor: that which I have heard of the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, have I declared unto you.

Fulfillment References

Isaiah 13:1-22 Jeremiah 51:8 Revelation 14:8 Revelation 18:2

How Traditions Read This Prophecy

Apostolic (Oneness) PentecostalThe idols of Babylon shattered before the one God, whose word topples every false power.
JewishThe fall of Babylon foreseen, bringing relief to the oppressed; the shattering of its idols vindicating the LORD.
CatholicThe collapse of the idolatrous empire; 'Babylon is fallen' becomes a refrain of God's judgment on pride.
ProtestantA fulfilled vision of Babylon's fall, its language directly echoed by Revelation 14:8 and 18:2.
OrthodoxGod's judgment on the idolatrous power, fulfilled historically and taken up prophetically.
DispensationalFulfilled history and a template for the end-time fall of 'Babylon the Great.'
AcademicScholars discuss whether 'Elam and Media' (v.2) point to the Persian conquest and debate the date and setting of the oracle among Isaiah's 'burdens.'
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Bible Prophecy Explorer · based on J. Barton Payne’s Encyclopedia of Biblical Prophecy catalogue · an openly Apostolic (Oneness) Pentecostal study resource — all traditions presented fairly. Pastor: C. Myles Young, D.Min. · Bishop: Nathaniel J. Wilson, Ed.D.