Jeremiah 33 is a beautiful chapter, full of glorious promises to Israel and to all the world! Verses 6-11 read, “Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. I will restore the fortune of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it. Thus says the LORD: in this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.'”
Some of this prophecy is being to be fulfilled i.e., Israel was a desert, a wasteland without men or beasts inhabiting the land. But today, the deserts of Israel grow abundant crops, orchards, and vineyards. New cities have been constructed where there were once malaria-infested, mosquitoed marshes. However, the best is yet to come. For when Jesus and His bride reign, sins will be forgiven, and peace, mirth, and prosperity will crown the land.
There might be a question as to whether this prophecy is linked to Rev. 18 and the judgment of Babylon. Babylon is neither Judah nor Israel. In Revelation 18:23, “the voice of the bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more,” whereas in Jeremiah 33, the bridegroom and bride are heard along with singing, gladness and mirth. No, the two chapters are not referring to the same events.
