Isa 14:9-11 | KingComments | STEP | Then a new scene unfolds about the final fall of Babylon. We see the spirits of the slain rulers and people of Babylon in “Sheol” ( ). Sheol – Greek: Hades ( ) –, is the place where the spirits of the dead go. These are the spirits of those who are lost. It is not hell ( gehenna ), but the realm of the dead. Those who are already there greet the newcomer. There is commotion when they see who the newcomer is. They nudge each other and point at him who is coming. It is said to the newcomer that he was expected. Those who are in the realm of the dead know why they are there and are also aware that all those who have lived as they have, will also be there. Kings rise from their thrones. In their imagination they are still rulers. On earth they would have risen from their thrones for fear and to flatter, now they do so mockingly. This scene makes it clear that after death souls are fully aware of their situation. There is a lot of activity in the realm of the dead. They can talk to each other. There is also a vivid memory of life on earth (cf. ). There is no Scripture that teaches or even assumes an unconscious state or a soul-sleep. Among those who are already in the realm of the dead, there is not the respect for the newcomer that was there on earth. They mock the king of Babylon ( ) as Israel earlier does in a mock song ( ). They shout interchangeably that he is now one of them. He is no longer above them. There is nothing left of the strength and haughtiness of the king of Babylon. He is as weak as they are. His pomp has been thrown into the grave – not Sheol, as it says in . He is mockingly reminded of the beautiful music he enjoyed during his life ( ). What he now hears is the ruthless sarcasm of his fellow-sufferers. In a sarcastic way they draw a comparison between the past on earth and the present in the realm of the dead. On earth he lay on luxurious couches and pillows, while he covered himself with beautiful blankets and bedspreads. This is different now. Maggots are now his bed and he lies under a blanket of worms. They tell him how he saw himself as a god with his place in heaven, but that he has now fallen out of it ( ). It is over with his pride. He who has called himself “star of the morning, son of the dawn”, has lost all his glory. He has fallen, he who has “weakened the nations”. The name “star of the morning” comes from the Latin lucifer meaning “light bearer”. In Hebrew, the word hillel is used, which means ‘bright’ or ‘lightening’. This is exactly the meaning of the Hebrew word nahash which indicates the serpent in its original state after its creation ( ). Here in Isaiah the meaning ‘son of the dawn’ is added to this name. This is just a Hebrew poetic description for “star of the morning”. Both the ‘star of the morning’ and the ‘son of the dawn’ is a description of what we now know as the planet Venus. If we combine the meanings, we are surprised to see ‘bright morning star’ as the original name of our opponent. It is a name that is used twice in the book of Revelation for the Lord Jesus ( ). Can anyone other than Him bear that title? The Son of God gives a new dignity to every title that has been stained by the unfaithfulness of any creature. He does so by accepting that title Himself and showing and unfolding it in a perfect way. When satan has come forth from the hand of the Creator, he is first the shining star of the morning. He is the leader of the “morning stars” who rejoiced ( ) at the creation of the earth. However, the bright morning is soon obscured by clouds, namely by the fall of the angelic prince. But God be praised that another “bright morning star” will once introduce the day of eternal rest and eternal glory on the basis of His work of salvation. Then He will sing the song of praise among His own ( ). The foregoing makes it clear that although what is written in this applies in the first place to the king of Babylon, we find behind it a description of satan ( ; ). The attributes of the Lord Jesus originally granted to him he used for himself. That has made him satan, which means ‘adversary’. In the description of the judgment on the king of Tyre ( ) we see behind the power of Tyre the same evil power as here behind the power of Babylon. That it goes beyond a description of the death of the king of Babylon here is also shown by the fact that the beast of Revelation 13 does not die an ordinary death like this, but is thrown alive into the lake of fire ( ). Satan is the inspirer of this king, the founder of Babylon. Babylon is made by satan his seat to corrupt the world from there. The spirit of Babylon who instigated the building of the tower ( ) is revived in Nebuchadnezzar, the first king of the world empire Babylon. This will be even more particularly the case in his last representative to whom this prophecy in its fullness relates, that is, the beast coming up out of the sea ( ). Proudness is the sin of satan ( ; cf. ). That sin has caused his fall. His heart has exalted itself. What he conceived in his heart was hidden from everyone, but not from God. Five times in these verses we read his presumptuous intention: “I will.” He saw himself as a rising star that went higher and higher. First to heaven to raise his throne there above the stars of God, which are His angels ( ). That exaltation served as a stepping stone to even higher, “above the heights of the clouds”, to make himself like the Most High ( ). Babylon defies God by wanting to be like Him and to rule over the ends of the earth. He thinks he can equal God. That endeavor will fail hopelessly and will be punished once and for all. We clearly see how behind the proud intention of the king of Babylon to make himself equal to God, that of the devil is hidden. Satan has exalted himself and has been humiliated and will be humiliated even more. The complete contrast we see in the Lord Jesus. He is the Most High and He has humbled Himself and taken the form of a slave. He is exalted by God in heaven and will also be openly exalted on earth ( ). In the way of the devil and in the way of the Lord Jesus we see the full truth of the words of the Lord Jesus: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” ( ). The fate of the king of Babylon is “Sheol”, the realm of death, where everything is eternal misery and wail ( ). Instead of ascending above the highest clouds, he lies in “the recesses of the pit”, the grave. By “those who see you” ( ) are not meant the spirits in the realm of the dead, but the people on earth. They express their amazement about the fall of the tyrant. It seems as if they cannot believe their eyes that this wretched man is the man for whom the entire world trembled with fear. Is that the man who trampled everything underfoot and broke down and kept everyone in an iron grip ( )? Other kings have had an honorable burial and rest in their own graves ( ). But the corpse of the king of Babylon – especially Belshazzar, the last king ( ) – was contemptibly thrown away and has not been even near a grave ( ). So great is the disgust about him. Other corpses of defeated combatants have been thrown into graves and covered with stones. His body lies unburied and is trampled. He suffers this fate because he has ruined his country and killed his people ( ). The reign of his house will be over. His house will perish ingloriously. In the realm of the dead, the lineage of evildoers, his offspring, will not be mentioned forever. There it will be over forever with all the glory of man. His downfall is a warning example of downfall for all evildoers ( ). Children who follow their fathers in their iniquity will end up on a place of slaughter. They will fall and not arise again. It will be impossible for them to insure themselves again from the earth and build cities there to their own glory and pleasure.

‏ Isaiah 14:9-11

The Fall of Satan

Then a new scene unfolds about the final fall of Babylon. We see the spirits of the slain rulers and people of Babylon in “Sheol” (Isa 14:9). Sheol – Greek: Hades (Lk 16:23) –, is the place where the spirits of the dead go. These are the spirits of those who are lost. It is not hell (gehenna), but the realm of the dead.

Those who are already there greet the newcomer. There is commotion when they see who the newcomer is. They nudge each other and point at him who is coming. It is said to the newcomer that he was expected. Those who are in the realm of the dead know why they are there and are also aware that all those who have lived as they have, will also be there. Kings rise from their thrones. In their imagination they are still rulers. On earth they would have risen from their thrones for fear and to flatter, now they do so mockingly.

This scene makes it clear that after death souls are fully aware of their situation. There is a lot of activity in the realm of the dead. They can talk to each other. There is also a vivid memory of life on earth (cf. Lk 16:23-31). There is no Scripture that teaches or even assumes an unconscious state or a soul-sleep.

Among those who are already in the realm of the dead, there is not the respect for the newcomer that was there on earth. They mock the king of Babylon (Isa 14:10) as Israel earlier does in a mock song (Isa 14:4). They shout interchangeably that he is now one of them. He is no longer above them. There is nothing left of the strength and haughtiness of the king of Babylon. He is as weak as they are.

His pomp has been thrown into the grave – not Sheol, as it says in Isa 14:11. He is mockingly reminded of the beautiful music he enjoyed during his life (Dan 3:5). What he now hears is the ruthless sarcasm of his fellow-sufferers. In a sarcastic way they draw a comparison between the past on earth and the present in the realm of the dead. On earth he lay on luxurious couches and pillows, while he covered himself with beautiful blankets and bedspreads. This is different now. Maggots are now his bed and he lies under a blanket of worms.

They tell him how he saw himself as a god with his place in heaven, but that he has now fallen out of it (Isa 14:12). It is over with his pride. He who has called himself “star of the morning, son of the dawn”, has lost all his glory. He has fallen, he who has “weakened the nations”.

The name “star of the morning” comes from the Latin lucifer meaning “light bearer”. In Hebrew, the word hillel is used, which means ‘bright’ or ‘lightening’. This is exactly the meaning of the Hebrew word nahash which indicates the serpent in its original state after its creation (Gen 3:1). Here in Isaiah the meaning ‘son of the dawn’ is added to this name. This is just a Hebrew poetic description for “star of the morning”. Both the ‘star of the morning’ and the ‘son of the dawn’ is a description of what we now know as the planet Venus.

If we combine the meanings, we are surprised to see ‘bright morning star’ as the original name of our opponent. It is a name that is used twice in the book of Revelation for the Lord Jesus (Rev 22:16 ; 17). Can anyone other than Him bear that title? The Son of God gives a new dignity to every title that has been stained by the unfaithfulness of any creature. He does so by accepting that title Himself and showing and unfolding it in a perfect way.

When satan has come forth from the hand of the Creator, he is first the shining star of the morning. He is the leader of the “morning stars” who rejoiced (Job 38:4-7) at the creation of the earth. However, the bright morning is soon obscured by clouds, namely by the fall of the angelic prince. But God be praised that another “bright morning star” will once introduce the day of eternal rest and eternal glory on the basis of His work of salvation. Then He will sing the song of praise among His own (Psa 22:22b).

The foregoing makes it clear that although what is written in this Isa 14:12 applies in the first place to the king of Babylon, we find behind it a description of satan (Lk 10:18; Rev 12:9). The attributes of the Lord Jesus originally granted to him he used for himself. That has made him satan, which means ‘adversary’.

In the description of the judgment on the king of Tyre (Eze 28:11-19) we see behind the power of Tyre the same evil power as here behind the power of Babylon. That it goes beyond a description of the death of the king of Babylon here is also shown by the fact that the beast of Revelation 13 does not die an ordinary death like this, but is thrown alive into the lake of fire (Rev 19:20).

Satan is the inspirer of this king, the founder of Babylon. Babylon is made by satan his seat to corrupt the world from there. The spirit of Babylon who instigated the building of the tower (Gen 11:1-9) is revived in Nebuchadnezzar, the first king of the world empire Babylon. This will be even more particularly the case in his last representative to whom this prophecy in its fullness relates, that is, the beast coming up out of the sea (Rev 13:1-10).

Proudness is the sin of satan (Isa 14:13-14; cf. 1Tim 3:6). That sin has caused his fall. His heart has exalted itself. What he conceived in his heart was hidden from everyone, but not from God. Five times in these verses we read his presumptuous intention: “I will.” He saw himself as a rising star that went higher and higher. First to heaven to raise his throne there above the stars of God, which are His angels (Isa 14:13). That exaltation served as a stepping stone to even higher, “above the heights of the clouds”, to make himself like the Most High (Isa 14:14).

Babylon defies God by wanting to be like Him and to rule over the ends of the earth. He thinks he can equal God. That endeavor will fail hopelessly and will be punished once and for all. We clearly see how behind the proud intention of the king of Babylon to make himself equal to God, that of the devil is hidden.

Satan has exalted himself and has been humiliated and will be humiliated even more. The complete contrast we see in the Lord Jesus. He is the Most High and He has humbled Himself and taken the form of a slave. He is exalted by God in heaven and will also be openly exalted on earth (Phil 2:5-11). In the way of the devil and in the way of the Lord Jesus we see the full truth of the words of the Lord Jesus: “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 14:11).

The fate of the king of Babylon is “Sheol”, the realm of death, where everything is eternal misery and wail (Isa 14:15). Instead of ascending above the highest clouds, he lies in “the recesses of the pit”, the grave. By “those who see you” (Isa 14:16) are not meant the spirits in the realm of the dead, but the people on earth. They express their amazement about the fall of the tyrant. It seems as if they cannot believe their eyes that this wretched man is the man for whom the entire world trembled with fear. Is that the man who trampled everything underfoot and broke down and kept everyone in an iron grip (Isa 14:17)?

Other kings have had an honorable burial and rest in their own graves (Isa 14:18). But the corpse of the king of Babylon – especially Belshazzar, the last king (Dan 5:30) – was contemptibly thrown away and has not been even near a grave (Isa 14:19). So great is the disgust about him. Other corpses of defeated combatants have been thrown into graves and covered with stones. His body lies unburied and is trampled.

He suffers this fate because he has ruined his country and killed his people (Isa 14:20). The reign of his house will be over. His house will perish ingloriously. In the realm of the dead, the lineage of evildoers, his offspring, will not be mentioned forever. There it will be over forever with all the glory of man.

His downfall is a warning example of downfall for all evildoers (Isa 14:21). Children who follow their fathers in their iniquity will end up on a place of slaughter. They will fall and not arise again. It will be impossible for them to insure themselves again from the earth and build cities there to their own glory and pleasure.