1 Nephi 10:3: Jerusalem, Babylon, and the Return

"That after they should be destroyed, even that great city Jerusalem, and many be carried away captive into Babylon, according to the own due time of the Lord, they should return again, yea, even be brought back out of captivity; and after they should be brought back out of captivity they should possess again the land of their inheritance."


It had never fully occurred to me until today that Israel's captivity into Babylon is symbolic. 

• Jerusalem is like the place where God dwells, and where we used to live. Heaven. 
• Babylon is like the world to which we have been sent. Worldliness. Vanity and pride. A place distance from God. Being there (here) is an exiling, and a form of captivity. 
• Returning to Israel is like returning to God, the place (land) of our inheritance. 

A fascinating metaphor.