(Isa. 14:22–23)
Isaiah prophesies that God would put an end to Babylon, the great city of ancient Babylonia known for its huge walls, celebrated gardens and parks, and beautiful temples. Babylon’s destruction would be so great that both “son” and “nephew”—those who would produce additional generations to inhabit Babylon—would be destroyed.
Isaiah’s words were fulfilled in 539 b.c. when Cyrus, king of Persia, defeated Babylon together with its evil rulers and residents. How complete was Babylon’s destruction? The Lord said, “I will sweep it with the broom of destruction.” Just as one sweeps a house to eliminate dust and dirt, so God swept Babylon of its foulness so that nothing, not even dust, remained. Its temples and gardens are gone, and Babylon now stands in ruins, a testimony that Isaiah’s words were fulfilled.
Babylon is a perfect example of an evil place that was destroyed by the power of God. As such, Babylon is a type and a shadow of the wicked world that will be destroyed by God’s power in the last days (D&C 1:16).
(Donald W. Parry, Visualizing Isaiah [Provo, Utah: The Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 2001], 35.)