And here, now, there is coming a war chariot of men, with a span of steeds!’” (Isaiah 21:8, 9a)

13, 14. (a) How does ancient Babylon fare, and in what sense are her idols broken? (b) How and when did Babylon the Great suffer a similar fall?

¹³ Isaiah’s visionary watchman sees a war chariot advancing. What is the news? “He began to speak up and say: ‘She has fallen! Babylon has fallen, and all the graven images of her gods he has broken to the earth!’” (Isaiah 21:9b) What a thrilling report! At last, this treacherous despoiler of God’s people has fallen!c In what sense, though, are Babylon’s graven images and idols broken? Will the Medo-Persian invaders march into Babylon’s temples and smash the innumerable idols? No, nothing of the sort is needed. Babylon’s idol gods will be broken in that they are exposed as powerless to protect the city. And Babylon will experience a fall when she becomes unable to continue oppressing God’s people.

¹⁴ What of Babylon the Great? By engineering the oppression of God’s people during World War I, she effectively held them in exile for a time. Their preaching work was virtually brought to a halt. The president and other prominent officers of the Watch Tower Society were imprisoned on false charges. But 1919 saw an astounding reversal. The officers were released from prison, the headquarters office was reopened, and the preaching work was recommenced. Thus, Babylon the Great fell in that her hold over God’s people was broken.d In Revelation, this fall is twice heralded by an angel using the words of the announcement at Isaiah 21:9.​—Revelation 14:8; 18:2.