(6) Jeremiah 46-51

Chapters 34 to 45 give us details concerning the fall of Jerusalem and the judgment of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans. As we have already seen, this prefigures, prophetically, the future destruction of Jerusalem by the confederated armies of the King of the North. But in chapters 46 to 51 God announced that if He was going to judge His people (the Jews), He would also judge the Gentile nations. Chapters 46 to 51 enumerate ten Gentile nations that would also be judged: Egypt, Philistines, Moab, Ammon, Edom, Damascus (capital of Syria), Kedar, Hazor, Elam and Babylon. Although these judgments were fulfilled in history through the conquests of Nebuchadnezzar, their prophetic significance remains in a figurative form.* The order of judgments, as they are poured out in these chapters, prefigures the order of the judgments that will be cast in the future.

[ Note: *Most commentaries on the writings of the Old Testament prophets go no further than the historical application and its fulfillment. However, these prophecies must contain something more than a simple historical application, otherwise why would they have been included in the Scriptures? We believe that God recorded the battles between those ancient kings because they prefigure future events. J.N.Darby said: "I cannot doubt that all these prophecies and judgments relate, in a perspective seen by the energy of the Spirit, to the events of the last days, which will be a complete fulfillment of God's purposes and intentions. The judgments He executed were partially accomplished in the conquest of Nebuchadnezzar, but are yet to be completely fulfilled very soon, favoring Israel. But, I repeat, the mind of the Spirit goes much further, and, in a certain way, extends to the last days" (Synopsis of the Books of the Bible). ] Chapter 46 is a prophecy of the famous historical battle that gave Nebuchadnezzar unquestionable world supremacy and that began the "times of the Gentiles". Egypt and its allies came up, through the land of Israel, to meet Nebuchadnezzar and his armies coming down from the north. In verses 3 to 12 we have the summoning of the Egyptian armies and the order to march through the land of Israel. This is a type of point no. 1. Nebuchadnezzar deceived Pharaoh's armies and proceeded southward, through the land of Israel, entering Egypt and also conquering that land (vv. 13-26). And then, in chapters 47 to 49, we find the various neighboring countries, located around Israel, falling under judgment at the passing of Nebuchadnezzar's army. We see them scattering and fleeing in all directions in order to escape the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, as these pass by plundering and pillaging. This is a type of point no. 2.

Next, in chapters 50 and 51, we see the judgment of Babylon. Cyrus, king of Persia, then executed the judgment (Isa. 44:28-47:15). (Darius the Mede helped him -- Dan. 5:30,31.) The judgment of Babylon, as we have already demonstrated, is a type of the judgment of the western powers under the leadership of the Beast and the Antichrist. Cyrus is a type of Christ who will appear at that time with the armies of heaven to destroy the western armies as they come. Chapter 51:1,2 goes on to describe a destroying wind and the winnowers blowing the chaff in Babylon, which is a figure of the discriminating judgment executed by the angels in the harvest of the prophetic earth -- one is taken and the other is left (Matt. 13:39-43; 24:40,41). After that separating judgment has been executed, the people in Babylon (the west) are shown as being few. These chapters present, in the form of types, points 3 and 4.

After Cyrus had judged Babylon, he gave freedom to the Jews who were captive there, and they returned to their land (Isa. 45:13; Ezra 1:1-4). This is also presented in Jer. 50:4-20. The prophecy, in fact, goes beyond the return of the Jews and also considers the return of the ten tribes. This would correspond to the restoration of Israel described in the interval of the summary before the coming of Gog (Russia).

Although Jeremiah's prophecies do not reach as far as the judgment of Russia, they cover the first four points of the summary (in the form of type) and once again the order is maintained.