A new Babylonian captivity resembles the Jews’ ancient captivity in Babylon, except that now it isn’t limited to the ancient Near East but encompasses the entire world. Under the materialistic socio-economic system of end-time “Babylon” and its leaders’ oppressive policies, his people are impeded in their worship of him, preventing him from fully blessing them as a covenant people. Although captivity is a covenant curse, a consequence of their idolatry and apostasy, Babylon’s burdensome culture impacts not only them but all nations and peoples.
Isaiah 47:6I was provoked by my people,
so I let my inheritance be defiled.
I gave them into your hand,
and you showed them no mercy;
even the aged you weighed down
heavily with your yoke.
Isaiah 44:9–11All who manufacture idols are deranged;
the things they cherish profit nothing.
Those who promote them are themselves
sightless and mindless, to their own dismay.
Who would fashion a god or cast an idol
that cannot benefit them?
Their whole society is confused;
their fabricators are mere mortals.
Isaiah 46:1–2Bel slumps down, Nebo is stooped over:
their idols are [loaded] upon beasts and cattle;
[the images] you bore aloft
are piled as burdens on weary animals.
[Such gods] altogether sag and bow down,
unable to rescue their burden;
they themselves go into captivity.
Isaiah 45:20Gather yourselves and come;
draw near, all you fugitives of the nations.
They who carried about their wooden idols
and prayed to gods that could not save them
were caught unawares.