Babylon rising

Isaiah 13, Jeremiah 51

In this brief study let us focus
our attention on something I think is very interesting indeed
considering the period through which we are passing. America
rules as the undisputed Superpower. But for how long? I feel that
power must soon revert back to Europe and the coming of the
Antichrist.

Included in that scenario are the
prophecies concerning Babylon found in Revelation 17 and 18. In a
previous study I wrote on the Roman Catholic Church as mystical,
spiritual “BABYLON THE GREAT” of Rev.17.

We shall now look at commercial
Babylon. In Revelation 18 we read of the destruction of a huge
commercial centre named Babylon.

Over the ages many have wondered,
“Is this the same Babylon as the Babylon of Revelation 17,
or is it another? Remember chapter 17 closes with the destruction
of religious, mystical Babylon. Chapter 18 begins with the words
“After these things” and goes on to predict the
destruction of Babylon. But Babylon was destroyed in the previous
chapter. Wasn’t it?

The argument given by scholars of
old is this must mean both a future religious Babylon must exist
and also a commercial Babylon will be built. Both will be
ultimately destroyed. Indeed I have in my possession two books,
which pose the question “will ancient Babylon be
rebuilt?” One was written in 1918 by Clarence Larkin and is
titled “DISPENASTION TRUTH”. In fact Larkin’s
book covers a whole range of prophecy and on page 143 he states
“…It is the purpose of European Capitalists to
revive the country of Babylon and rebuild its cities, and when
once that time comes the city of Babylon will be rebuilt almost
and on a scale of magnificence such as the world has never
seen.” (Italics added). Remember this was
written as far back as the end of the 1^st World War.
The second book is a study written in 1925 by Dr. F.E Marsh. The
title is “Will the city of Babylon be rebuilt?”

After an interesting study the
answer he gives is “yes”.

When I am invited to speak in
various parts of the country I tend to begin by saying to my
audience “We live in incredible days.” And we do.
Larkin, Marsh and others would be stunned by the amount of bible
prophecy falling from the pages of our bibles into reality before
our eyes. Not least would be the rebuilding of the city of
Babylon under Saddam Hussein. Saddam began to rebuild the city
back in the 1980’s. Each year he has held festivals to
celebrate Babylon. On every other brick he has inscribed,
“In the era of Saddam Hussein all Babylon was constructed
in three stages. From Nebuchadnezzar to Saddam Babylon is rising
again.”

And indeed it is.

Mystical Babylon will be a home
for corrupt and apostate Christianity housing all manner of evil
ungodly beliefs within its walls.

Commercial Babylon will be a
cosmopolitan centre. The two cities are close cousins. Many
believers have looked for a rise of religions Babylon and we see
that in Rome, an embryo as yet.

Some wonder if the two cities will
one day be joined as one so that Rev.17 and 18 are directed at
one and the same city.

I confess I do not know. I think
not but time could change my mind.

But whether apart or together,
Babylon religious and Babylon commercial will be destroyed. We
wait and watch the future unfold before our wondering eyes. As to
the reasons for Babylon being rebuilt many have noted that the
prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah concerning the destruction of
Babylon were only partially fulfilled. Let us now look at
them.

Isaiah 13:1-13

Jeremiah 51:8

Jeremiah 51:25-26

Jeremiah 51:58-64

The prophecy for the conquest of
Babylon occurred under Cyrus the Persian and his vassal Darius
the Mede. However this was a conquest and was not the destruction
we read of in the above passages. Note also that the language is
mirrored in Revelation 17and 18.

Notice also verses 4, 5, 6 of
Isaiah 13. The nations are coming from very far away. The
Persians were next-door neighbours to Babylonia so surly this
cannot refer to them. Note also the time this is said to occur.
Isaiah 13:6-9 “The day of the lord.” We are all
agreed this is a period when God judges the Kingdom of Antichrist
and the world in general. This period has not yet been reached.
But it is close.

Isaiah 13:11, 13 concerning the
failure of the sun and stars to shine are similar to the later
words of the Lord Jesus when in Matthew 24:29 30, He states that
immediately prior to his return at Armageddon, the sun, moon and
stars will not give their light. The events of Isaiah 13:21 have
come to pass to a degree but verse 19 likening Babylon’s
destruction to that of Sodom and Gomorrah is obviously pointing
to a future day. The city of Babylon has never suffered
destruction anything like that of Sodom and Gomorrah. These
cities were destroyed in a day. They have never, to
anyone’s complete satisfaction, been discovered. After the
conquest of Babylon by Cyrus, Darius and others Babylon was
simply left to decay. The population moved away to more modern
more popular cities.

Unlike the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah the ruins of Babylon have been discovered.

So surely we must be looking to a
future destruction of a future city of Babylon.

Also Jeremiah 51:5-6 states that
the city will be like a burnt mountain and her stones will not be
used for building work. Babylon was never destroyed in such a
manner. It has never resembled a burnt mountain. Also its stones
have been used for building other cities. In fact some of the
stones from Babylon were used to build parts of Baghdad. So
although much of Isaiah’s and Jeremiah’s prophecies
have come true, they have not come to pass completely.

We must be looking to a future
day. A day when the city of Babylon is rebuilt to the extent that
it becomes a trading centre for the world.

A day when nations from far away
attack and burn her to the point where her destruction will
resemble the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Even her stones
will be useless for building.

As we consider these things
certain other questions rise in my head. Will America continue as
a superpower? Or will he suddenly go into decline leaving the way
open for the continual rise in power of the E.U. and the
burgeoning Revived Roman Empire of Anti Christ we see forming in
our midst? Will we also witness the rise of commercial Babylon
before we are taken to be with our dear Lord Jesus? How the
prophets would have loved to have lived today. I think they would
have been standing on the street corners warning a sinful world
of coming judgement. How good it is to know the Lord in these
eventful times.

May we reach out to others with
the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and Calvary before it is too
late.

Friends we do live in
unprecedented days. Let us be sober and look up for the king is
surly coming. MARANATHA!

Bob Mitchell
travels around Great Britain speaking about the End Times. The
Omega Times is hoping to make available Bob’s book
“Rome, Babylon the Great and Europe” in the near
future, along with video’s.