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There is so much we could unpack in this short chapter of only 13 verses. It is rich with symbolism and prophecy. But I want to draw your focus to one section that stuck out to me.
“Get up! Leave the land of the north”—this is the LORD’s declaration—”for I have scattered you like the four winds of heaven”—this is the LORD’s declaration. 7 “Go, Zion! Escape, you who are living with Daughter Babylon.” 8 For the LORD of Hosts says this: “He has sent Me for His glory against the nations who are plundering you, for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of His eye.
Zechariah 2:6-8 HCSB
There were still Israelites living in Babylon and God was prepared to make a move. He gave them fair warning to get out while they still could. Furthermore, very few of those people carried off into exile returned to the Promised Land when given the opportunity. They were comfortable. Why would they go back to a land that was desecrated only to begin working on a temple that sat in shambles? But the Lord had a better plan for their lives. He had a future through His special calling. That is the immediate context and literal interpretation.
However, we apply this truth in several ways.
He cried in a mighty voice: It has fallen, Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a dwelling for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, and a haunt for every unclean and despicable beast. 3 For all the nations have drunk the wine of her sexual immorality, which brings wrath. The kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown wealthy from her excessive luxury. 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven: Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or receive any of her plagues. 5 For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.
Revelation 18:2-5 HCSB
In terms of sin, Babylon can represent anything that lures us away from God or threatens His rule over our lives.
“In John’s day Rome epitomized all the antagonism and opposition to the Christian faith.” (Mounce) In some ways, the city of Rome was the clearest fulfillment of the “Babylon” attitude. If we had to pick one city today that most exemplifies the world system, perhaps we would say that Los Angeles is the “Babylon” of today.”
David Guzik
So practically speaking, there are vices today that God calls us to “come out of.” Those idols that Israel continually allowed back into their lives would not be tolerated by God because His people were the “apple of His eye.” He commanded them to come out because of His love for them!
Historically, Israel had false gods which served as Babylonian bondage. In fact, the false god Baal that constantly plagued Israel was the local Canaanite name for the Babylonian Tammuz. Tammuz was the son of the high priestess of idol worship, Semiramis. She was the founder of the Babylonian religion, and ironically, was married to Noah’s great-grandson Nimrod.
The people of Zechariah’s time had a literal city of Babylon. The people of Jesus’ time had Rome, another false Babylon. In Revelation, there will be yet another Babylon which will have a tight grip on every aspect of the world. They will all be demolished by Jesus. The question is, what is your Babylon, and what has Jesus called you to do about it?