Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!
Habakkuk 2:12
The prophet Habakkuk issued several “woes” in this second chapter. It was directed to the king of Babylon, a terrible and cruel kingdom that conquered nations to build their own empire.
In fact, God used Babylon to take the Israelites into captivity for their continuous and unrepentant sin. God would now use Babylon as an example of a Godless nation that’s only focus was expanding their kingdom to build more wealth for themselves.
The empire was expanded through bloodshed and conquest. Cruel sin, as the expansion of their kingdom came at the expense of other people. Scripture tells us, Babylon eventually fell due to its great sin and wickedness. Such is the example of all empires that refuse God’s Laws.
Does that scenario sound familiar?
It does to me.
It reminds me of the modern era. How nations plunder other nations for wealth, resources, and the power they provide. Wars become nothing more than propaganda. Reasons and excuses are made to take from one nation, or to expand a nation’s influence into other regions of the world.
This is done, of course, for more power and wealth.
- Does one nation not have enough that they need to take from another?
- Does one nation not have enough problems that they intervene in the affairs of others?
History has shown us, nations rise and nations fall. The Bible has shown us, a nation will rise with God’s Blessings, but when that nation falls away from God, it falls.
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Our national leaders would be wise to remember that.
In its day, Babylon was an extremely powerful nation. So powerful, God used Babylon as an example for a Godless nation that would one day rule the world. This of course, shortly precedes the return of Jesus Christ.
The book of Revelation tells us, Babylon of the Last Days will be a marvelous, but wicked power. A power that will appear very Godly, but it’s anything but, and it too will fall.
And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Revelation 18:9
This even means, our leaders commit great national sins, just as Babylon of old.
Why will they lament for the future destruction of Babylon?
Revelation 18:11-18
…the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, … and slaves, and souls of men… the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, … and thou shalt find them no more at all.
The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
One day, the corrupt leaders of nations, and the great merchants of the earth will cry, weep, and howl when they see their power and riches evaporate before their eyes. Even though, their great wealth was built through blood, and their great empires were established in iniquity.