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.