Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, the concept of collapse is often associated with divine judgment, human failure, or the transient nature of earthly structures and kingdoms. The Bible provides numerous accounts of physical, moral, and spiritual collapses, each serving as a lesson or warning to the faithful.Physical Collapses 1. The Fall of Jericho: One of the most famous collapses in the Bible is the fall of the walls of Jericho. Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites marched around the city for seven days. On the seventh day, after the priests blew the trumpets and the people shouted, the walls collapsed. This event is recorded in Joshua 6:20: "So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, they raised a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city." 2. Samson and the Temple of Dagon: In Judges 16, Samson, blinded and imprisoned by the Philistines, is brought to the temple of Dagon. In a final act of strength, he collapses the temple by pushing apart its supporting pillars, killing himself and many Philistines. Judges 16:30 states, "And Samson said, 'Let me die with the Philistines.' Then he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life." Moral and Spiritual Collapses 1. The Fall of Adam and Eve: The first moral collapse recorded in the Bible is the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Their disobedience to God's command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil led to the introduction of sin into the world. Genesis 3:6 describes this pivotal moment: "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eyes, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom, she took the fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it." 2. The Collapse of Solomon's Kingdom: King Solomon, despite his wisdom, allowed idolatry to enter Israel through his many foreign wives, leading to the spiritual collapse of his kingdom. This disobedience resulted in the division of the kingdom after his death. 1 Kings 11:11-12 records God's response: "Then the LORD said to Solomon, 'Since you have done this and have not kept My covenant and statutes, which I commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom away from you and give it to your servant. Nevertheless, for the sake of your father David, I will not do it during your lifetime.'" Prophetic Collapses 1. The Fall of Babylon: The prophetic literature of the Bible often speaks of the collapse of empires as a demonstration of God's sovereignty over nations. The fall of Babylon is prophesied in Isaiah 13:19: "And Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah." 2. The Collapse of the Earthly Kingdoms: In the book of Daniel, the vision of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream symbolizes the eventual collapse of earthly kingdoms, culminating in the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. Daniel 2:44 states, "In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will stand forever." Lessons from Collapses The biblical accounts of collapses serve as reminders of the consequences of disobedience, the impermanence of human achievements, and the ultimate authority of God. They encourage believers to place their trust in the eternal and unshakeable kingdom of God, as emphasized in Hebrews 12:28: "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe." Strong's Hebrew 7503. raphah -- sink, relax... root Definition sink, relax NASB Word Usage abandon* (1), alone* (2), become helpless (1), become* (1), cease (2), collapses (1), courage* (1), discouraged* (2 ... /hebrew/7503.htm - 6k Library The Author, and his Influence in the Later Church The Sun Stayed A Last Merciful Warning Accidental Causes of Corruption. A Brief Examination of the Construction of Our Bodies from a ... The King. The Sleeping Apostle Grace and Truth The Seventh Book Shows from Various Statements Made to The The Solidarity of the Human Family Thesaurus Collapses (5 Occurrences)... Multi-Version Concordance Collapses (5 Occurrences). Luke 6:49 But he who has heard and not practised is like a man who has built ... /c/collapses.htm - 7k Collapsed (8 Occurrences) Collar (6 Occurrences) Wreck (1 Occurrence) Terrible (90 Occurrences) Torrent (49 Occurrences) Practised (13 Occurrences) Burst (33 Occurrences) Bursts (2 Occurrences) Collapse (9 Occurrences) Resources Is being slain in the Spirit biblical? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is existentialism? | GotQuestions.org What is Irreducible Complexity? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Concordance Collapses (5 Occurrences)Luke 6:49 Isaiah 5:24 Isaiah 30:13 Ezekiel 13:12 Nahum 2:6 Subtopics Related Terms |
    |