As I have studied several Bible prophecy chapters and verses relating to Ezekiel 38 and Ezekiel 39, I have closely searched for relationships between the chapters and verses under consideration. I often look for specific key words and terms that appear in multiple areas in the Bible in hopes of finding chapters and verses that talk about the same subject manner.
- The more chapters and verses that you can identify which talk about the same subject manner the better. It helps you to better understand what is going to happen in the future with greater detail.
Today I want to share an example of how searching for specific key words and terms in a variety of Bible prophecy chapters and verses can help you to link chapters and verses which potentially talk about the same subject manner. The example I’ll use today is Isaiah 13 and Jeremiah 50.
Isaiah 13 is a prophecy concerning an attack on End Times Babylon during the Day of the Lord, which is a future time period during the End Times.
- Isa 13:1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see.
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- Isa 13:6 Howl ye; for the day of the LORD is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.
- Isa 13:7 Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:
- Isa 13:8 And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.
- Isa 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.
I found that Isaiah 13 has several, noticeable parallels with Jeremiah 50, which is also a chapter that describes an attack on Babylon. There are at least a few people, including myself, who believe that Jeremiah 50 may potentially relate to the End Times. The tables below illustrate the apparent connection between these two chapters:
Parallel 1: The target of the attack is Babylon
| Isa 13:1 The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. | Jer 50:9 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. Jer 50:10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD. |
Parallel 2: The invasion force consists of many great nations
| Jer 50:9 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. Jer 50:10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD.
| Isa 13:4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.
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Parallel 3: The Lord is backing this military attack
Jer 50:9 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrowsshall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. Jer 50:10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, saith the LORD. | Isa 13:4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. |
Parallel 4: The “weapons of His indignation” to destroy the land (note: the term "weapons of His indignation" only appears in Jeremiah 50:25 and Isaiah 13:5)
| Jer 50:25 The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. Jer 50:26 Come against her from the utmost border, open her storehouses: cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly: let nothing of her be left.
| Isa 13:2 Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. Isa 13:3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. Isa 13:4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. Isa 13:5 They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. |
Parallel 5: Babylon’s overthrow is like when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
| Isa 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Isa 13:20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. Isa 13:21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. Isa 13:22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.
| Jer 50:39 Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. Jer 50:40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the LORD; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein.
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The many parallels between Jeremiah 50 and Isaiah 13 and the clear placement of Isaiah 13 as a Day of the Lord prophecy lends credence to the idea that Jeremiah 50 has End Times implications, particularly in the Day of the Lord.
- Whether or not these prophecies apply to a literal Babylon or Babylon the Great mentioned in Revelation 17 and Revelation 18 is something I’m still looking at. I am also still examining which nations comprise this invasion force...
