Read Isaiah 13 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
13:1-5 {s} The burden against Babylon: YHVH musters His army for battle from the nations
13:6-14:2 {s} Babylon overthrown at the hands of the Medes
The Chiastic structure:
Isa 11:1-16 in the structure reveals that YHVH recovers His remnant (the banished of Israel, Ephraim/ Gentiles; and the dispersed of Judah, Jews) from the four corners of the earth, that is, from its extremities. He will raise Messiah as a banner for the nations, to which they can repair:
And it will be in that day, the Root of Jesse, who stands as a banner for the peoples— the nations will seek Him, and His resting place will be glorious. Isa 11:10
Together, Ephraim (Gentiles/ Christians) and Judah (Jews) will cut off the adversaries of Judah.
Isa 13:1-5 in the structure reveals that YHVH will muster His sanctified ones (the KJV translates this word saints) from the ends of the heavens, that is, from its extremities. His saints rejoice in His majesty. That’s you and me! They are mustered as an army to destroy the whole earth.
Now before we get upset, prophetic language uses symbolism (Hos 12:10). Read “the whole earth” to mean “the kingdoms of this world (Rev 11:15),” that is, Mystery Babylon the Great (Rev 17-18), which is why in the substructure, the earth is paired with Babylon.
(The Medes are specifically called out in Isa 13:17 as being the bearer of Babylon’s destruction. I think this is a case of dual fulfillment: the Medes destroyed natural Babylon, and the kingdom of heaven destroys spiritual Babylon.)
Long story short: Man’s way of ruling by exalting himself over God, and oppressing “subjects,” is going to come to an end, and Messiah’s peaceable kingdom of justice, righteousness, and wisdom in the Spirit will prevail. And we are not that far off from it!
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Spiritual and Natural Rulers – Christine Miller
Mystery Babylon the Great – Christine Miller
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