I hesitated to use the photo above. I don't want to pretend I have any clue how the prophecies of Isaiah in this chapter will be fulfilled in the particular. Whether Isaiah saw such a scene as depicted here or not I have no way to tell. Babylon could be entirely destroyed and still leave the cities and buildings in tact. I would like Babylon to be destroyed by abandonment. Wouldn't it be great if everyone simple fled to Zion and left Babylon empty and unsustained. I suspect that eventually, if we will follow the Prophet, that is what will happen; at least to those who prefer Zion over Babylon.
To Babylon, the individual child of God is just fodder for factories, or fuel for the fires of political ambition. Only in the gospel of Jesus Christ is he or she seen with glorious potential and infinite worth. To Babylon we are dispensable commodities; to Christ we are precious children. Steven R. Covey once observed that according to the Doctrine and Covenants, the chief characteristic of those who obtain the Celestial Kingdom is that they are "Valiant in the testimony of Jesus." He goes on to say that perhaps we are not viewing this statement in it's fullness. Perhaps this is a call for us to be valiant in His testimony about us. His whole life has been a statement of our worth and potential. His Eternal life demonstrates that on every level. If we are valiant in viewing ourselves in the light of His view of us, will we not emerge from Babylon and it's lies and deceit? Babylon distorts our view of ourselves like a fun house mirror. Christ and His gospel give us the clarity, purpose and meaning that will take us out of Babylon. The best, most productive destruction of Babylon is to leave her abandoned and rejected. With Stakes of Zion in so many places these days, fleeing to Zion geographically, may be no more dramatic than crossing the street. Still, the difference will be like night and day.12 I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.
To some degree or other we are all in bondage to Babylon. If we follow the Prophet, God will lead us out of that bondage and away from both it's physical and spiritual destruction. Babylon is falling, let her go.
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3 I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones, for mine anger is not upon them that rejoice in my highness.
In this chapter I trie to seek out the hope. As always the hope is in righteousness. Being willing and ready to serve the Lord, to turn away from sin and toward the Savior is the answer. There is the protected place, the sanctity, the hallowed ease.
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