10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?

In the prophecy against the Chaldean Babylon, it is written, "thy day is come"; and in the next sentence, the exposition of this is given in the words, "the time that I will visit thee" (Jer. 50:31). Again, "Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed" (ch. 51:8). And again, "My people go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of Yahweh. And lest your heart faint, and ye fear for the rumor that shall be heard in the land: and there shall come in a year the tidings, and after that in a year the tidings and violence in the land, ruler against ruler" (verse 45, 46).

Now this prophecy against the Chaldean Babylon, though having its own special fulfillment, which commenced in the time of Cyrus, and Belshatzar, the Lucifer of Isa. 14:12, was typical of the fall of the Roman Babylon; so that the language descriptive of the judgment of the ancient city and state, becomes the key of the figurative expressions in the Apocalyptic prophecy.

I conclude, therefore, that it will be with the Roman Babylon as with the Chaldean; and that "her day, or time ," of judgment will come "suddenly," "as a thief in the night;" that there will be violence in Italy, "ruler against ruler"; that the tidings inviting people to emigrate will find the country in this anarchical condition; and that in the "next day," or "year", her plagues will commence, even "death, and anguish, and famine" death, or pestilence, and anguish, as the result of it, combined with famine. How long these calamities will continue after they have come into play, does not appear. Her judgment is consummated by a fiery overthrow "she will be consumed in fire".

The foulness and filthiness of her abominations, and the similitude of the fate that awaits her, has caused the Great City and State to be "spiritually called Sodom and Egypt" (ch. 11:8). The punishment of Sodom will be Rome's, and perhaps, that also of the whole "Patrimony of St. Peter". This will consummate the plagues which begin her torment and sorrow in one and the same year after the Aion-tidings of good salutes the ears of Israel in Rome. But following upon "pestilence, and famine" is the twofold rendering of torment and anguish by the troops of Michael, the Great Prince, who invades her territory and becomes a smoking furnace of judgment, "a lake of fire burning with brimstone" (ch. 19:19). From this she never emerges, and therefore, like Sodom, suffers the vengeance of a fire which is eternal (Jude 7).

Eureka 18.4.

11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.

Isaiah... predicting the fall of Belshatzar from the throne of Babylon through the instrumentality of the Medes and Persians...

This was verified in the fall of the impious Belshatzar as narrated in Dan. 4. When he was slain, and his dynasty superseded by that of the Medes and Persians, he fell from the Imperial Heavens of Chaldea. In the prophetic style, the opposite is to ascend to the heaven or heavens.

When Louis Napoleon [the third? - Emperor of France from 1852 to 1870] ascended from a private station to the imperial office, he "ascended to the heaven," of which, for the time being, he is the meteoric luminary. His ascent illustrates that of "the two prophets." They were politically dead; but

"the breath of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their fact."

After this,

"they heard a great voice from heaven, saying to them, ascend hither! And they ascended into the heaven,"

to the great dismay of their enemies; who now saw them invested with power, and ready to avenge the wrongs which had ultimated in their political death.

The Christadelphian, June 1872

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!

Here the dead kings are made to rejoice over their fallen adversary by anticipation; for at the time Isaiah penned this parable the kings were not even born, and Belshatzar had not fallen from the political heaven. It was written in the reign of Ahaz or Hezekiah, about 130 years before Nebuchadnezzar, "the destroyer of the Gentiles," began his conquests, and about 200 before Belshatzar was slain in the midst of his revels.

The parable was therefore prophetic of what should be when the time of the fall of the Chaldean dynasty should arrive; and so also the parable of the rich man and the beggar is prophetic, not historical; but an anticipative fictitious narrative, prophetic of what shall obtain when the kingdom of God is established in the land.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, June 1851

... "Lucifer" is a Latin word in a Hebrew passage! It literally means "lucem ferre," or "light bearer. It was Jerome who had mistranslated the Hebraic metaphor as "Lucifer," and over the centuries this word metamorphosed into many different beings. In ancient Roman astronomy, Lucifer was the name given to the morning star, which we now know as Venus, also a Roman name.

The morning star appears in the heavens just before dawn, heralding the Sun's rising. In Hebrew, this passage reads: "heleyl, ben shachar" which literally translated is, "shining one, son of dawn," personifying the planet Nogah, the Hebrew for Venus.

In Amos 5:20, the word, "brightness" is nogahh - Strong's Concordance # <5051>!

This chapter (Isa 14), as a whole, is a prophecy of denunciation against the Kings of Babylon, and specifically in verse 12 of Tiglath-pileser III. Isaiah characterises the insolent pride of Tiglath-pileser III as he thought himself fit to appear in the sky as a morning star, exalting himself as a god, but fell down to the ground, being brought low by God.

Sis. Valerie Mello

The king of Babylon under the name of Lucifer, as the type of its last ruler in the latter days, is represented in Isaiah 14:13, 14, as threatening to place himself above all earthly rule, with Zion for the throne of his dominion, saying in his heart...

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

This ascending of the Assyrian "into the heavens" implies some particular heavens in which he is not previously to his ascent; and that it is the Assyrian of the Latter Days is clear from the testimony that Yahweh says,

"I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off Israel, and his burden depart from off their shoulders."

This has never happened yet to the Assyro-Babylonian power, and must therefore be in the future. This saying of Lucifer in his heart is no other than "the evil thought" which is to come into the mind of Gog, impelling him to the invasion of the Holy Land, and the siege of Jerusalem, which will be taken.

He is now beyond the limits of the Roman earth, and consequently not in its heavens, which are the heavens of Daniel's Fourth Beast. But he says,

"I will ascend into them, and above the height of the clouds,"

or powers of those heavens; that is, he will become the Imperial Chief of the Four-Beast dominion, and exalt himself above Israel, with Zion for his throne.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, April 1855

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

"And a mouth was given to him speaking great things and blasphemies" - Rev 13:5.

The Mouth given to the Beast of the Sea was like a lion's mouth; and he delighted to compare himself thereto. His official utterances, or the things affirmed of him, by those who created and worshipped him, far transcended the utterances of the proud and impious rulers of the old Babylonian Lion. The last of these, styled by Isaiah, "Lucifer, son of the morning," the Belshatzar of history, said,

"I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of AlL. . . ; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High" - ch. 14:13,14;

and on the eve of his being brought down to Sheol, he lifted himself up against the Lord of heaven, and praised the images of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know (Dan. 5:23).

These were the speakings of the Mouth of the old Lion of Babylion; but proud and impious as they were, they fell short of the "great things and blasphemies" which roared from the throat, or by the sanction, of the Universal Bishop of the Ten-Horned Monster of the Sea. This Babylonian Mouth, which has come down to us from the darkest ages of the clerical apostasy, when it opens its iron-teethed jaws, can give expression to nothing but great things of vanity and falsehood, and things defamatory of the Deity and the Saints.

"He opened his mouth unto blasphemy concerning the Deity, to blaspheme his Name, and his Tabernacle, and the dwellers in the heaven."

Eureka 13.19

24 Yahweh of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:

We cannot alter or retard the purpose of God. One thing we can do, and this is all we can do; we can fasten on to it. This we are invited to do - commanded to do. Those who comply with this command will see the glory of God in the land of the living.

Bro Roberts - Diminish not a word

25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.

The Two Babylonish Dynasties and Their Destroyers

We may remark here in passing, that the first king of the Head was Babylonish, and so will the last king be likewise. The first was literally and typically Head of Babylon's dominion; a city or metropolis which was the beginning of the Assyrian monarchy, and so named because there the confusion of human speech began: the last of Assyria's kings is literally and antitypically Head and Feet of the empire of the latter days, figuratively styled the Babylonish; for the dominion he will have then acquired, comprehending all the Iron Kingdom and its divisions, commenced in Rome, the city of confusion, where the one speech of the faith was confounded, and whence the scattering over the modern earth began; and because of many points of similitude also named "great Babylon."

The Chaldean Babylon and the Roman Babylon are as type and antitype. When the career of both is finished, the latter as completely as the former, they will both have belonged to "the Assyrian". We do not say that the Czar's dominion began in Rome. He is hereditarily descended from Rurik of the family of Russ, of Scandinavian origin, which first appears in history about A. D. 862.

Rurik was invited by the Scythians to become their sovereign. He accepted the invitation, and founded the Grand Duchy of Great Russia, whose capital was first at Novgorod and afterwards at Kiev.

This was the origin of the Czar and his present dominion.

But he is destined to acquire another dominion—the dominion of the Iron monarchy—and this dominion, we say, the modern Babylonish, had its commencement in Rome. It is this hereafter-to-be acquired dominion that will constitute the Autocrat's dominion the Babylonish.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, Jan 1852

No accomplishment hitherto

"The Yahweh hosts hath sworn, saying, surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed so shall it stand; that I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot; then shall his yoke depart from off them (Israel) and his burden depart from off their shoulders".

This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. The war by which the Assyrian was broken by Cyrus was waged in Chaldea and at the gates of Babylon; and not upon the mountains of Israel; and although the yoke and burden of the oppressor departed from the Jews, it was only in a limited degree.

The Assyrian to this day is Israel's greatest tyrant, for there are more Israelites in his dominions and he treats them more barbarously than any other despot. But other prophecies show that the breaking referred to occurs in the latter days, and doth actually come to pass on the mountains of Israel, and that too by "The Heir, " who is thenceforth to be Israel's Prince for ever, even

"in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound."

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, Jan 1852

26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations.

 ...it is important to observe, that Yahweh in his utterances against the ancient Babylon, makes a declaration which has found no accomplishment hitherto.

The war by which the Assyrian was broken by Cyrus was waged in Chaldea and at the gates of Babylon; and not upon the mountains of Israel; and although the yoke and burden of the oppressor departed from the Jews, it was only in a limited degree... But other prophecies show that the breaking referred to occurs in the latter days, and doth actually come to pass on the mountains of Israel-Ezekiel 38, 39

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, Jan 1852

28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden [HaMelech Achaz came this massa (burden, oracle)]

Palestina of Old Testament times

Coming forward from David's time several hundred years, many generations of kings; the spirit of Palestina has not changed, Palestinians hatred of Israel is unrelenting.

29 Rejoice not thou, whole [all ye of] Palestina [Peleshet (Philistia)], because the rod [shevet] of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root [shoresh nachash ]shall come forth a cockatrice [spring up a viper], and his fruit [pri] shall be a fiery flying serpent.

30 And the firstborn of the poor [bechorei dalim] shall feed, and the needy [evyonim] shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root [shoresh] with famine, and he [it] shall slay thy remnant [she'erit].

31 Howl, O gate [sha'ar]; cry, O city [ir]; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved [all ye of Peleshet, melt away]: for there shall come from the north [tzafon] a smoke [ashan], and none shall be alone in his appointed times [a straggler in his ranks].

32 What shall one then answer the messengers [malachim] of the nation? That Yahweh hath founded Zion [established Tziyon], and the poor [afflicted] of His people shall trust in it [take refuge in her]. - Isaiah 14: 28-32.

When Ahaz died, in effect the prophecy was, if the Palestinians were expecting some respite because of the death of Ahaz, they would be disappointed, because Ahaz's son, would come forth and strike them with the same vigour as his father had done!

How this was fulfilled...,

'Now it came to pass in the third year of Hosea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign' - 2 Kings 18: 1.

'In the year that Ahaz died was this burden' - Isaiah 14: 1,

(that's the very year that Hezekiah comes to power)

'And Yahweh was with him and he prospered whithersoever he went forth; and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not. He smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza, and the borders thereof, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.' v7.

... These kings like David and Hezekiah, warred against Palestina because one never had respite unless one could bring that area into subjugation.

What happened from a biblical point of view, is God decreed judgment upon Palestina because of their spirit of unrelenting hostility towards Israel.

'I will bless him that blesseth thee, and I will curse him that curseth thee' - Genesis 12.

Palestina never stopped cursing Israel until God finally said, 'enough'. He uttered prophecies of judgment against Palestina; there was one in Amos 1, that was fulfilled by Pharaoh-necho of Egypt; there was another one in Jeremiah 47 which was also fulfilled by Pharaoh-necho of Egypt; there was another in Ezekiel 25 which was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

There's one in Zechariah 9 that was fulfilled by Alexander of Greece; and finally there was one in Zephaniah 2 which was fulfilled by Judas Maccabaeus of Israel. As a result of those judgments,, by the time they were all fulfilled, the Philistines were gone from the face of the earth in their entirety, disappeared. They had been exterminated by the judgments of God.

Notes from an address by Bro Roger Lewis