A BIBLE STORY
In Daniel chapter 5 the bible records the slaying of Belshazzar, son of Nebuchadnezzar; and the end of the Babylon Empire in an ancient coup. The city of Babylon remained unscathed as the capitol of the Mede-Persian Empire. Babylon remained an important city for many centuries coming under the rule of Alexander the great, Parthia, Rome, and finally the Arabs. I Peter mentions a Christian church in Babylon. Babylon entered into a slow decline in importance until finally; history teaches that the bricks of Babylon were carried away by the Arabs to build a new city called Baghdad. Today the ruins of Babylon lay some fifty miles from Baghdad. Twenty plus millions of people live in the area that was the Babylonian Empire.
There are numerous unfulfilled prophesies in the bible regarding Babylon. It is said that these judgments will come upon modern Iraq. This is another fable of our time. Iraq will remain a weak country and cannot achieve the greatness attributed to end time Babylon.
Babylon is declared as an end time nation in Revelation chapters 17 and 18. Isaiah 13: 6 declares that God's judgment on Babylon will come during the day of the Lord. Revelation 16: 19 confirms this declaring that the cup of God's wrath is given to Babylon right after the seventh vial of God's wrath has been poured out onto the earth.
Babylon is an exceedingly blessed nation. God has loved his chosen people. The arm of God has been on Babylon. God has performed his pleasure on Babylon. God has called his chosen ones to live in Babylon and through Babylon; God has made the journey of his people prosperous. (Isaiah 48: 14-15) Jacob in this passage of scripture is Covenant Israel. The gentile salvation was hidden in God at this time; but because the gentiles are a wild branch grafted onto the good tree, the gentiles have inherited the blessings of Babylon along with the people of Zion. (Romans 11: 17-24)
Babylon possesses the heritage of God. (Jeremiah 50: 11) Babylon possesses the house of God. (Jeremiah 51: 51) Babylon has historically been a Christian nation; a keeper of God's heritage and his house.
Zion dwells in Babylon. (Zechariah 2: 7) Zion has found a refuge in the land of Babylon. Through the strength of Babylon, God has delivered Zion from the hand of her enemies. (Micah 4: 10)
Babylon is the most glorious kingdom on the earth. (Isaiah 13: 19) It is the beauty of her citizen’s excellence. Babylon is the praise of the whole earth. (Jeremiah 51: 41) Babylon is admired and praised by people all over the world.
Babylon is the lady of kingdoms. (Isaiah 47: 5) Babylon is symbolized by a lady and has a mother country from whom she was born. (Jeremiah 50: 12) Babylon is the hindermost of the great nations. (Jeremiah 50: 12)
Babylon is the hammer of the whole earth. (Jeremiah 50: 23) The military and political power of Babylon is used by her to keep the nations of the world in line with the world system. When necessary, Babylon strikes hard and fast like a hammer; forcing the world nations to cooperate with the world system.
Babylon mounts up to heaven, fortifying the height of her strength. (Jeremiah 51: 53) Babylon projects mighty, military power into the air. She focuses on improving and fortifying her power in the heavens; it is a major component of her power.
Babylon is a mountain that other nations are but rocks in comparison to. (Jeremiah 51: 25) Babylon is a superpower without an equal. She sees herself as being godlike, saying to herself, I am and none beside me. (Isaiah 47: 8)
Babylon possesses an abundance of enchantments and a multitude of sorceries. (Isaiah 47: 9) Babylon has come into possession of these things through the sciences and technologies she has produced. She has labored in these things from her youth. (Isaiah 47: 12) At the time of her end, it is in these things she will be trusting.
Babylon has many astrologers, star gazers and monthly prognosticators. (Isaiah 47: 13) Many powerful and influential people in Babylon trust in the revelations and fortune telling of these people.
Babylon is a republic, ruled by a multitude of councils. (Isaiah 47: 13) She is wearied from this multitude of councils.
Babylon has a great voice in the affairs of the world. (Jeremiah 51: 55) The voice of Babylon is heard throughout the earth. She has influence over many nations and peoples. Babylon dwells upon many waters. (Jeremiah 51: 13)
The seat of Satan is in Babylon. (Jeremiah 51: 44) The nations of the world flow to the seat of Satan in Babylon.
Babylon has great wisdom and great knowledge but has become perverted by it. (Isaiah 47: 10) Babylon trusts in her wickedness, saying no one sees me. Babylon says in her heart, I am and none beside me.
The culture of Babylon is polluting God’s people. (Isaiah 47: 6) and many of God’s people are rendered impure and unfit to do God's will.
Babylon is a land of mingled peoples. (Jeremiah 50: 37) The people of Babylon are a people that have come from all over the world to live in her land.
Babylon is a land of graven images and idols. (Jeremiah 50: 38, Jeremiah 51: 47, Jeremiah 51: 52) Yet, the people of Babylon do not worship them as other civilizations have done; this is something the bible does not accuse Babylon of doing.
Babylon is a fertile land. (Jeremiah 50: 16) She has great farms, storehouses, and livestock. (Jeremiah 50: 26-27) Her land is well watered. (Jeremiah 50: 38) She has underground springs and inland seas. (Jeremiah 51: 36) She has a hot season and a cold season. (Isaiah 47: 14) She has many cities. (Jeremiah 51: 43, Jeremiah 50: 32)
Babylon possesses great riches. (Jeremiah 51: 13) She is abundant in treasures, dwelling on many waters and trading her goods with many peoples and nations. The merchants of Babylon are the great men of earth. (Revelation 18: 23) She makes the merchants of the world rich, buying their merchandise. (Revelation 18: 11, Revelation 18: 15) Babylon is famous for her music. (Revelation 18: 22) Babylon is famous for her craftsmen. (Revelation 18: 22) Babylon is so intent on creating wealth that she lays a heavy yoke upon her old ones. (Isaiah 47: 6)
The people of Babylon dwell carelessly. (Isaiah 47: 8) They dwell carelessly, without fear because the enemies of Babylon dwell on the other side of the earth. (Isaiah 13: 5) Babylon’s enemy is in the northern part of the world and the countries surrounding this northern enemy are also enemies of Babylon. (Jeremiah 50: 9)
The people of Babylon are a people who have given themselves over to pleasures. (Isaiah 47: 8) Pleasures are the priority of her people. The people of Babylon are a prideful people. (Jeremiah 50: 31- 32) The people of Babylon are a covetous people. (Jeremiah 51: 13) The people of Babylon are a people who have grown fat as a heifer at grass and they bellow as bulls. (Jeremiah 50: 11)
Babylon is a destroying mountain that is destroying all the earth through industrial pollution and excessive consumption of the earth’s resources. (Jeremiah 51: 25)
Babylon is a golden cup in the Lords hand making all the nations of the earth drunken with her wine. (Jeremiah 51: 7) Her culture has spread sin of every kind throughout the world.
Babylon will remain intact and unharmed. She will glorify herself, having lived deliciously and saying to herself I sit a queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow. (Revelation 18: 7)
Rumors shall be heard in the land for two years. (Jeremiah 51: 46) This will cause unrest, and violence will be in the land. Ruler will turn against ruler but the wicked ones will prevail.
Babylon will persecute Covenant Israel; both Jews and gentiles; oppressing them together and holding them captive. (Jeremiah 50: 33)
Babylon will destroy her heritage in God. (Jeremiah 50: 11)