YOU ARE FALLEN FROM HEAVEN

by Kevin Rutherford

 

Isaiah’s prophecy of the fall of Babylon is fascinating to read.  With inspired poetic language Isaiah rebukes Babylon for her sin and predicts her dynamic fall (Isaiah 14:3-23).  From this prophecy preserved since the 8th Century B.C. we can gather some important information that can help us in the 21st Century.

We can learn from those sins that led God to bring Babylon down. Babylon was violent, wicked, covetous, and arrogant.  The kings, or perhaps a king of Babylon is referred to as Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-15).  The kings of Babylon wanted to ascend into heaven.  They wanted to make their thrown mightier than the throne of God.  They were the mightiest kings of the world in their day, and arrogantly thought they could not be brought down.  Isaiah said, “How you are fallen from heaven, 0 Lucifer, son of the morning!  How you are cut down to the ground (Isaiah 14:12).”

There is no nation above God.  Our pledge of allegiance rightly states we are under God.  When men choose to elevate their political offices above God they choose to doom their nation.  This does not mean that there must be an official governmentally enforced religion.  However, it does means that governments had better recognize the reign and rule of God, or someday it may be said of them, “How you are fallen from heaven.”