The 60 Character Traits of Mystery Babylon
#1. The Jewish Population Issue:
Jeremiah 50:8, 25; Jeremiah 51: 6, 45; Isaiah 48:20 and also Revelation 18:4.
These are all references to Jewish people living in this future "Mystery Babylon" in the ancient Babylon, from the 6th Century BC till well into the early Church Age, the majority of the Jewish population lived in ancient Babylon. It was the home to most of the world’s Jews even in the time of Christ. Today, the largest population of Jewish people is found in the United States. The next two nations combined, Israel (home to the 2nd largest Jewish population) and Russia (home to the 3rd largest Jewish population) do not equal the population of Jewish people living in America. Iraq on the other hand has only a relative handful of Jews living within its borders. Some estimate the Jewish population in Iraq at perhaps 10,000. That is not very many people, particularly in regards to the population of most other nations hosting the Jewish remnant. This character trait of being the lead host for Jewry is not indicative that Iraq today fulfills the prophecies of "mystery Babylon." Therefore, this trait alone disqualifies the theory of "Iraq = Mystery" Babylon.
But, for those who are hard-headed, let us press on with the other 56 reasons why Iraq can NOT be Mystery Babylon based upon a literal rendering of the texts.
#2. The chief city of Mystery Babylon is a "DEEPWATER PORT CITY"!!!
Revelation 18: 17-19. This passage tells us that merchant ships are standing off the shoreline of Babylon. These ships have either just unloaded in the port city of Mystery Babylon, or are waiting to dock when the fiery judgment hits. These ship captains, crew and passengers are witnesses to the destruction. Question: Why would these folks be standing on deck of merchant ships unless there were port facilities in this city? Answer: The city is a port city. In this day and age, especially by virtue of the list of commodities that are traded in "Mystery Babylon," (see Revelation 18:11-13) there must be at least one deepwater port in the nation of Mystery Babylon. One thing can be noted regard to modern day port facilities. In order for Babylon to have the kind of merchandise (described in Revelation 18:11-13) coming by ships then those ships must be going to and from a DEEPWATER SEA- PORT CITY. Why? For today's ships to bring such merchandise requires them to be large commercial freighters with DEEP drawing drafts. These ships require deep-water port facilities to dock and load/unload because their hulls are so deep. They are BIG ships. [Note Reason #2 seems to be like our #57 reason, but there are significant differences between them.]
Now here is the problem for the Iraq=Babylon theorists: Iraq has no deepwater seaport!!! That's right, there is no DEEPWater port facility in all of Iraq. During GulfWar2, there were and still are small freighters coming into the little town harbor of Basra. In a recent United States CIA publication on Iraq, the CIA noted that a significant problem with sea transport was the lack of deepwater shipping facilities. Harbor draft measurements up the mouth of the Euphrates river to Basra are around the eight foot (that's 8 feet) level. That makes it hard to even get big fishing boats into the harbor. At best, draft levels further out only range to less than 20 feet.
There is no way that the typical international commercial freighters could dock in Basra or anywhere else in Iraq's very short shoreline because they would easily run aground and become stuck in the shallow, muddy waters. Only small ships carrying small quantities of goods can dock in Basra. Those large ore-carrying freighters, or big cargo container ships carrying cars or trucks are simply too big to be able to dock at the shallow harbor of Basra or any other little harbor on Iraq's shoreline. Those super-large oil tankers can not get near to the small snippet of coastline that Iraq has because it is so shallow. The oil from Iraq is therefore either piped to Jordan, or is piped out for miles into the Persian Gulf into the deeper waters where these oil tankers won’t run aground.
But that is not all that shoots the Literalists balloon out from underneath them on this issue of deepwater port facilities.
According to the "Literalists," Ancient Babylon, we are told must be the only literal interpretation. However, ancient Babylon is 400+ miles from the Persian Gulf and over 350 miles from Basra. The LITERAL description found in Revelation 18: 17-19 shows these huge ships will be within visual distance of the city skyline and will witness her destruction up close and personal. Being 400 miles away is just a bit too far to be able to see any kind of destruction of a city, even if it were from nuclear bombs. The curvature of the earth is just a bit too much at 400 miles even with flat terrain to be able to see what has transpired that far away. Now although this is in itself a fatal flaw exposed in the "Iraq = Mystery Babylon" theory it is just one of many theoretical flaws. One thing it really points to though is how NOT Literal is the concept that Iraq is Mystery Babylon.
#3. It is the KEY Commercial Nation and Engine of Wealth for the World’s Economy
Isaiah 47:15. Revelation 17:2; Revelation 18: 3, 9, 11-13, 15, 16, 17-19, 22, 23, & 19:2. In these passages we see just what relationship Babylon enjoys with the rest of the world. Here she is clearly the critical factor in the world economy. When she goes down in flames…what is the lament? "What was like unto this mega city? Who will buy our goods now that she is gone"? The answer is that no one will be able to buy the products of the world’s merchants. What does this tell us??? It should be a clear warning indicator that whoever this nation is… the rest of the world depends on her for buying their merchandise. With her destruction, there is no one left to buy these goods. That tells us just how vital this nation is and it means this nation is the engine of wealth for the world. Now, Iraq does NOT now nor can it fit that role…at least in the next 30 years, unless the rest of the world is wiped out first. Once again, we see a character trait that Iraq does not exemplify in anyway, shape or form.
#4-#21. It is the principal Commodities Trading Center
These are all commodities in a list that are the chief trading products as cited in Rev 18:11-13, for which the merchants and sailors later lament that no one will buy these products anymore. This includes Gold, Silver and Copper. Now on these items alone… there is more Gold traded in New York City on the COMEX in one day than in all the rest of the world combined !!! The same is true for Silver and Copper and Crude Oil. In fact, the volume of trade is so heavy that in one day alone there is more gold traded than had been traded in all of human history up until 1974 when gold trading was allowed on a futures contractual basis. That is how massive and dominant the USA and NYC are in the commodities trading markets. Revelation 18: 12 & 13, lists many other commodities as well, including grains and livestock. Now, Chicago is the Host City for such record trading in that arena. It too is a port city on as it sits on Lake Michigan. The fact of the matter: Iraq has no economic power… it has no ability to be the economic engine of wealth for the whole world. If Iraq vanished from the face of the earth today it would not even cause a ripple in the world’s economy.
However, if the USA vanished today it would decimate the world’s economy and bankrupt every nation on earth, instantly. In essence, there would be no one left to buy the foreigner’s goods. That’s because no one else wants to import goods. They only want to export not import. The USA is the big promoter of international trade and promotes imports plus free trade. Iraq plays no such role in the world economy. As a nation, Iraq is simply too poor.
#22. A Leading center of imports and consumption
Revelation 18: 11, 17-19. These passages tell us the economic picture of this nation. Note that this nation is not only involved in the trade of these products, but that she is also the leading importer… because when she is destroyed…"no one buys"… their merchandise anymore. The folks doing the lamenting are the international merchants who export goods to this mystery Babylon. Therefore, she is the leading import nation. She is therefore, by virtue of her importer status, the chief consuming nation. This also is not a description of Iraq. Iraq has no such status in the world today, tomorrow or the foreseeable future! It is this aspect which negates the Iraq theory…because the contention is that we are living in the "last days" and the fulfillment of the end-times prophecies are at hand. IF this is true, and I assert that it indeed is true, then how can Iraq match these character traits in so short a span of time??? Answer: she can’t. Iraq is not the nation being described. There is only one nation that fits these traits, and more. That nation is the United States of America.
#23. She is also a manufacturing nation
Revelation 18: 22. This passage tells us manufacturing is no longer found in her after the judgment. This tells us that she was a manufacturing nation prior to her destruction. Iraq is not a nation noted for manufacturing.
#24. Center for Merchandising and Marketing
Revelation 18: 3, 23; 19:2. Her merchants were the mega-merchants of the earth. This again does not fit the character traits of Iraq. It does, however, fit the picture of America.
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"Depart From Me, I Never Knew you!" - Jesus
Jesus predicted that he will tell many sincere believers to basically "get lost" instead of welcoming them into the Kingdom. So...who are they and what did they miss or do wrong? In this study, get those answers and the one requirement for salvation Jesus taught (that Christianity misses) so that you can make sure you don't hear these dreaded words yourself!
#25. Known as the World’s "policeman"
Jeremiah 50:23 gives us a Hebrew idiom, "hammer of the whole earth." It had been used at one time to describe the way the empires of Persia, Greece and Rome had applied their power to keep the world at peace. Today, after the decline and fall of the Iron Curtain, major news media refer to America as the world’s policeman, in the same kind of role that the Hebrew idiom references. Iraq does not fit this role.
#26. Known for "showing the flag" or "gunboat diplomacy"
Isaiah 18:1-2 Here we have two Hebrew idioms for the idea of a nation’s navy showing its power. The phrase in verse 1 relates to the idea of "air travel." The first phrase of verse 2…"that sends ambassadors by the sea," another Hebrew idiom for when ancient naval powers would send warships to "show the flag" of friendship or threaten war to unfriendly nations or cities. Today, one nation engages in such actions: The USA sends out naval units usually as aircraft carrier battle groups. The notion of verse 1 with air travel, combined with verse 2 and the naval aspect, thus combines to send a notion of naval and air power… or suggesting aircraft carriers!!!
#27. Noted for its elegant, luxurious, refined and rich lifestyles
Isaiah 47: 1-8; Revelation 17: 4-5; 18: 2 –24. This does not match up with Iraq, as it is not capable of reaching such levels of wealthy living standards in our lifetime.
#28. Extremely Wealthy
Jeremiah 51:13… Revelation 18: 2-19
#29. Sensual, Materialistic lifestyle
Isaiah 47: 8; Revelation 18:14
#30. The Highest Living Standards
Isaiah 47:1 Revelation 18: 14
#31. Intoxicating high-society lifestyle as a world example to emulate
Revelation 17:2; Revelation 18: 3, 14, 23.
#32. Elegant, Sumptuous lifestyle
Revelation 18: 14, 23.
#33. Noted for its bright gaudy-colored lights and nightlife with round the-clock partying.
Revelation 18:14. Note the words "dainty" and "goodly." Dainty is a word in Greek that connotes to 24-hour parties, and is connoted with orgies and debauchery. The word for "goodly" is the Greek word "lampra" from which we get the English word for lamp. In this case it carries the idea of bright, gaudy-colored lights, with idea of "glitzy" lights. Could it be the bright lights of Broadway, Times Square or perhaps even Las Vegas???
#34. Noted for its Drugs and Drug use
Isaiah 47: 9, 12. Revelation 18:23 Do we even need to comment on this one??? I think not…the text clearly speaks for itself on this one.
#35. Noted for exporting its culture abroad:
Revelation 18:14, 22
(This includes its movies filled with pornography)
#36. Noted for being Wasteful and Extravagant
Rev 18: 3, 7, 9, 14, 15; implied in Rev 17: 2.
#37. Massive Population
Rev. 18:15. And Revelation 17: 1, 15.
#38. A land of immigrants
Jeremiah 50:16; 51:13; Rev. 17:1, 15.
#39. Unique and awe-inspiring from its birth right up to its demise
Isa. 18: 2
#40. A remarkably different heritage
Isaiah 18:2
#41. Respected-envied and yet HATED by the whole world also
Isa. 18:2
#43. Powerful and Oppressive
Isaiah 18:2
#44. Land of Rebels in its birth
Jeremiah 51: 1; Isaiah 47: 9.
#45. Cosmopolitan and Urban
Jeremiah 50:32
#46. A Land of Agriculture
Jeremiah 50: 16
#47. An International City
Revelation 17: 18; 18:15
#48. Architecture, Buildings and Skyline
Isaiah 13:22
#49. Land of Many Waters (fresh waters)
Jeremiah 51:13, 36, 42; Isa 18:1,2
#50. Where the world’s leaders "stream" to meet
Jer. 51:44; Rev. 17:18
#51. Last of the Super Powers
Jeremiah 50:12; Rev 17:18, 19; and in the Revelation 18:18 passage "what city is like the ‘mega’ city"…
#52. No Fear of Invasion
Isaiah 47:5, 8; Revelation 18: 7
#53. Defenses reach up to Outer Space
Jeremiah 51:53
#54. Occult aspects, especially within the governmental leadership
Isaiah 47: 9, 12,13.
#55. Alliances/Treaties allowing physical military bases of operation for the Satanic forces.
Revelation 18: 2.
#56. Its national symbol
Rev 17. Robed woman with a cup-like container in one hand that smells like natural gas odors inside the container…and the woman is connected to water and immigration…and is considered to be a mother-figure of spiritual prostitution…a.k.a. Ishtar, the mother of ‘literal’ and ‘physical’ prostitutes within religious worship centers. That is what the Babylonian goddess Ishtar was--the promoter of physical prostitution… salvation by sex… have sex with a temple priest or priestess and you are purified from sin. And of course, you pay a ‘gift offering’ for this salvation activity. Ishtar was never a physical ‘mother’… but rather a ‘madam’ over the priestesses. Ishtar was never married and never had a child but she was called "mother" of the temple priestesses. Now having said all of this… I am referring to the Statue of Liberty.
In my book, "America, The Babylon" Vol. 1, I explain the meticulous research involved that shows that the Statue of Liberty is, in fact, the brainchild of the sculptor Bartholdi. Later in Volume 2, you will find even more data on this subject. I would like to note at this point that it was Bartholdi's idea to create the image of the goddess Liberty of Rome. You will see later on in Volume 2 just how the Romans had in fact borrowed the Babylonian goddess.
Babylonians first worshiped Ishtar the goddess of Babylon and the Romans also adopted her but they changed the name to Libertas in Latin, (Liberty, in English). So that, the Statue of Liberty is actually a pagan idol image of Ishtar--the woman pictured in Revelation 17. If you don’t believe it…look at Revelation 17: 4 & 5. Note the word for abomination. The word used here is "bdelugma" and its root word is "bdeoh." Strong’s Code # 946 … " A foul thing, detestable, usually of idols … the root word means to "break wind", or to "pass gas"… indicating the odor smells like natural gas.
Speaking of natural gas …did you know that the torch-cup of the Statue of Liberty burns an eternal flame…fueled by smelly natural gas? Also of course, the Statue is referred to as the Mother of Exiles … an immigrant connection…just as the woman of Rev. 17: 1, 15 is also connected to immigrants. So too was Ishtar. She was the goddess of personal freedom … and an encouragement to immigrants.
#57 Iraq is radioactive
Iraq is now extremely "radioactive" because of America's use of ammunition that uses depleted uranium, the same basic component used for nuclear weapons, only in lesser strength in and of itself. Rifle bullets and artillery shells were packed with small amounts of radioactive, depleted uranium. Once fired, the shells and bullets spread small doses of radio-activity throughout much of Iraq and especially in hot spots like ancient Babylon. Each bullet or shell, was thought to be seemingly harmless in terms of radioactivity. What was not anticipated was the voluminous use of such radioactive materials scattered across the battlefields of Iraq. Such voluminous use has created large quantities of low-level radioactivity that in volume has created a dangerous atmosphere and environment for virtually all of Iraq.
The radioactive dust has found its way into the soil and water supplies, contaminating every-thing it comes into contact with. The radioactivity levels are high enough that Iraq is experiencing contamination levels much like that of a "nuclear dirty-bomb" in terms of the after-effects. Not only are Iraqi's dying from exposure but so are US and allied soldiers.
Uranium is a very reactive metal, easily oxidising to U3O8 and UO2.
A single 120mm Abrams tank DU shell contains 3kg of U-238 (111MBq of activity) and there is 275g (10.1MBq) in a 30mm GAU-8A A-10 Thunderbolt cannon shell. These ‘penetrators’ explode on impact, with up to 80% conversion to tiny long-lived glassy beads of Uranium Oxide from these ‘hot particles’ can travel for very large distances, even hundreds of miles, under the influence of wind, fire and are easily resuspended. The smaller particles can easily pass through the lung into the blood and lymphatic system.
Depleted Uranium has a half-life of 4.5 BILLION YEARS! Radiation levels in Iraq are between 1,000 and 1,900 times above normal. That's 1,000x to 1,900x more than normal.
Would you want to build the world's capital city on top of that kind of radiation rating with a half life of 4.5 Billion years of radioactivity??? We think not. So does the Illuminati. Here's further technical information on depleted uranium.
"On impact, uranium penetrators burn fiercely to give an aerosol of sub micron diameter oxide particles which are largely insoluble and remain in the environment for many years. There is considerable public and scientific concern that these radioactive particles may remain suspended for long periods, or may become resuspended and are therefore available for inhalation by non combatants at some distance from the point of impact. Little research seems to have been carried out on the distance traveled by the uranium aerosols. The military maintain that the uranium remains near the point of impact, and the Royal Society report (2002) also states that the material does not travel more than some tens of metres. On the other hand, measurements of uranium in local populations in Kosovo some nine months after the use of uranium weapons all tested positive for depleted uranium in urine (Priest 2004) and The United Nations (UNEP) found uranium particles in air filters in Bosnia some years after its use. The question of the dispersion of uranium aerosols from the battlefield is of significant legal interest, since if a radioactive weapon resulted in the general contamination of the public in the country of deployment or elsewhere, the weapon would be classifiable as one of indiscriminate effect. There is now conceded to be no safe level of exposure to radiation. Further, there are major scientific questions over the risk models used to assess the health effects of uranium particle exposure from weapons use. In addition there is evidence of ill health in many of those exposed to uranium particles from Gulf veterans to the population of Iraq."
"Terry Jemison at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stated in August 2004 that over 518,000 Gulf-era veterans (14-year period) are now on medical disability, and that 7,039 were wounded on the battlefield in that same period. Over 500,000 U.S. veterans are homeless."
* In some studies of soldiers who had normal babies before the war, 67 percent of the post-war babies are born with severe birth defects - missing brains, eyes, organs, legs and arms, and blood diseases.
* In southern Iraq, scientists are reporting five times higher levels of gamma radiation in the air, which increases the radioactive body burden daily of inhabitants. In fact, Iraq, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan are uninhabitable.
* Cancer starts with one alpha particle under the right conditions. One gram of DU is the size of a period in this sentence and releases 12,000 alpha particles per second.
The above depleted uranium information can be found at the links below.
From Gulf War 1 usage of depleted uranium, the Babylon region had one of the highest ratings of radioactivity levels as late as 1997.
Here's a link to a film on DU in Iraq.
www.ericblumrich.com
#58 The Messianic Covenant To Abraham Included Babylonia and Babylon
The promises made to Abraham regarding a Promised Land were for Abraham and his descendants and the lands were far more extensive than ever used by Israel up until this point in time.
Often overlooked by many Bible Prophecy “experts” are the prophecies concerning the future borders of Israel when Jesus Christ returns and establishes new borders for Israel’s Millennial Kingdom that will finally fulfill the promises made to Abraham and his descendants.
Israel’s future borders will be extended eastward to encompass much of what today is called Iraq. The area will include all of the old Hittite and Chaldean Empire. Joshua 1:4 notes that it will include “ALL” of the land, which means the ancient site of Babylon and all of Babylonia are to be part of the new Messianic Israel. Scholars now believe that the Chaldeans originally were the Hittites. Not only is the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-20 [and the Hittite empire is mentioned (which included Babylon) ] but again in Deuteronomy 1:7 to Moses and again to Joshua in Deuteronomy 11:24.
hittiteempiremap006
Above: Map showing Hittite Empire. Green is the main empire - Pink shading along Euphrates shows conquest of Babylonian and Babylon itself by the Hittite (a.k.a Khaldee or Chaldean) Empire.
These Messianic prophecies come into direct conflict with the identity theory, which proposes that Iraq or ancient Babylon is the Mystery Babylon of Bible Prophecy. The conflict arises because the Babylon prophecies indicate that the land of Babylon and all of her cities and the land will remain uninhabited forever.
It should also be noted that there are some anthropologists who have strong linguistic and archaeological evidence to support their claims that the Hittites were in fact the Chaldeans with Hititites begin just a different linguistic name for the same people. Such information again, only underscores the assertion that Babylon and Babylonia of Mesopotamia are to be a part of Jesus Christ's Messianic Kingdom and not buried underwater forever as the Mystery Babylon prophecies of Jeremiah and Revelation 18 indicate because those prophecies refer to a different, end-time super-power that exists outside of the Middle East.
We simply can't have the Millenial Kingdom of Christ and the Israeli boundaries including the lands of Mystery Babylon which are to remain uninhabited forever and under water. Keep in mind that all of the millennial kingdom will be inhabited and prosperous. Clearly, we can not have a destroyed Mystery Babylon being part of Christ's Millennial Kingdom.
If Mystery Babylon is Iraq and ancient Babylon then it cannot be part of the Messianic Kingdom of Jesus Christ because it cannot be both occupied and unoccupied at the same time. The prophecies dealing with Babylon's judgment tell us that this future Babylon will never be inhabited again and will be under water. If, Babylon of Iraq is the "Mystery Babylon" then we have a clear-cut contradiction for which the Bible never contradicts itself. The contradiction is a result of misunderstandings, misapplications, and misinterpretations of the scriptural passages to Iraq as Mystery Babylon when clearly, there are 60 reasons - why Iraq can NOT be Mystery Babylon. Thus, we have no contradiction once we rule out Iraq and ancient Babylon as the future Babylon of prophecy.
#59 America Conquered Iraq and Babylon in 2003 and retains strategic control of that land and will retain that control most likely until America, the Babylon is destroyed in Divine Judgment as the Mystery Babylon.
In March of 2003, The United States of America launched an invasion and military conquest of Iraq. America captured the ancient archaeological site of Babylon. America retains strategic control of that region as well as the actual nation of Iraq which was the originally Babylonia of Nebuchadnezzar's day. Iraq and the ancient ruins of Babylon are under the strategic control of American military forces with a puppet government that appears to be splitting Iraq into three separate regions. There is now talk of being forced to realize three separate regional entities that will no doubt become "protectorates" of the United States, much like Guam became a protectorate after World War 2 or Puerto Rico after the Spanish American War. During the war, America trashed the ancient archaeological site when it established "Camp Babylon." There have been reports that the United States military spirited away from Babylon and Iraq's Museum of Antiquities, key occult artifacts that may well be the fulfillment of the Isaiah 47: 12-13:
12. - Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
13. - Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
Let's not forget also Zechariah 5: 5-11, as we hear of stories in which the US Military and Black Operations Intelligence Groups such as the CIA, DIA and other covert intelligence units may have spirited away certain occult artifacts and put them aboard giant cargo planes and air-shipped them to the United States to join other occult symbols such as The Statue of Liberty and the Goddess of Freedom atop the US Capitol Dome. Do you recall that just after the US took Baghdad, the Iraqi Museum of ancient artifacts was vandalized by thieves shortly after US soldiers on guard were pulled out? Reports indicated that before the general public began looting the museum, special ops forces dressed in black with ski masks entered the building and raided the locked vaults containing secret occult artifacts of ancient Babylon. These have never been returned but most of the remaining looted items have been located and either returned or in the process of return.
We also understand that on Easter Sunday of 2006, an occult ceremony was conducted in secret by US intelligence agents in conjunction with a US military guard and waiting nearby giant air cargo transport planes. This secret operation reportedly involved occult ceremonialism and the removal of key on-site artifacts. Let's see if the Zechariah passage might just fit with such stories.
Zechariah 5: 5-11:
5 - Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
6 - And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
7 - And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
8 - And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
9 - Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
10 - Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
11 - And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
Regardless of such stories, the fact that America retains strategic control of the land means that from a prophetic standpoint, America IS Babylon. But if you don't wish to believe even this, consider ...
THE MOST LITERAL OF ALL
#60. A Populated city named Babylon on a Deepwater Port entryway to New York City
Revelation 17:18; & 18: 11-19… Did you know that when ships coming in to the harbor facilities of New York City make their final approach to the Harbor channel shipping lanes…they have to come in from the south… heading due North straight for a spot on Long Island called … BABYLON !!! That is right. The city of Babylon, New York features a tall water tower that ship captains use to navigate directly into the harbor channel. They come within view of Babylon before turning west to head into the ports of New York City. It is from this vantage point that I believe Revelation 18: 17-19 takes place.
From this vantage point…on the deck of a ship…one could quite easily read the letters of the name Babylon on the city water tower!!! Talk about literal?? Now that is indeed literal. This is something that theorists who promote the Iraq = Babylon idea can’t match, because ancient Babylon is not a deepwater seaport. It's so far away from the ocean that it can not possibly fit the description of Revelation 18: 17-19… in no way. But the USA can… and especially its chief city… a seaport named NYC/Babylon. Also, Babylon on Long Island derived its name because immigrant Jews founded it in 1872. The group’s rabbis chose the name almost prophetically, because they believed it would be home to a new diaspora.
Why would they think this? Because rabbinical opinions had held that ancient Babylon’s power would be moved… Zechariah 5: 5-11… and Isaiah 18:1 tells us what direction it would be moving. Isaiah 18:1 says that the spirit of Babylon would move west of the most outermost boundaries of ancient Babylon’s western-most border, beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and Egypt. [That is what is meant by the KJV term "Ethiopia"] By virtue of Isaiah’s point of observation being from Jerusalem…then the direction of movement was westward from Jerusalem…beyond the most outer of Babylon’s oldest boundaries… meaning… the occultic power that fueled Babylon would move and take up residence elsewhere in the end times.
Thus, scripture itself negates the "Iraq = Babylon" theory. Why will our "expert" scholars not accept the scriptural passages on this? Is it due to Pride? Is it due to ignorance? However, it seems to me that their hypocrisy shows. Clearly, the only logical interpretation from scripture is that it literally cannot be Iraq because the text tells us it moved. Isaiah 18:1-7 and Zechariah 5:5-11.
Early rabbinical writers commented on this well before the time of Christ. They made note that the "mystical woman of Babylon" had moved out of the Babylonian Empire and had been taken westward beyond the ancient boundaries of Babylonia. Those most westward boundaries were considered to be Egypt and Ethiopia. The woman was taken west of those two countries. They noted that the woman would not be found in its old location of Mesopotamia for the fulfillment of the final prophecies, which would be fulfilled at the coming of Messiah.
These rabbinical commentators believed that a future Babylon that was prophesied by Isaiah and Jeremiah would be located west of Egypt and Ethiopia. They believed the woman of Zechariah 5 was headed west of those boundaries and hence out of uttermost regions of Babylonia/Shinar/Chaldea. Yes, they believed she was being taken west of Egypt and Ethiopia in that basket. Why? Note that the observer's vantage point was already in the land of Shinar.
Shinar is yet another term for the ancient nation of Babylonia or Chaldea. Therefore we must pay attention to that scriptural direction and realize that it must be a new nation that carries the old Babylonian character traits. You'll note that the verse is indicating it is a different Shinar than the Chaldean or Babylonian land called Shinar. How do we know that? Isaiah 18:1-2 tells us from the observer's vantage point of Jerusalem that the phrase beyond the rivers of Ethiopia is an ancient idiomatic reference to the farthest borders of Babylon at the time of Cush, father of Nimrod. Nimrod inherited that land from his father and so that Egypt and Ethiopia were the extreme western border of Babylonia or Shinar or Chaldea.
Now, Isaiah is telling us that a future Babylon would exist at the time of the coming of Messiah and it would be located beyond the old Babylonian Empirical boundaries of Egypt and Ethiopia, which was the Cush empire that Nimrod inherited. It too was Shinar. Zechariah is then referencing that the woman is being flown out of Babylonia/Chaldea/Shinar to a new land of Shinar. This confirms what the prophet Isaiah had written earlier concerning a future Babylon being located west of the old Babylon.
There is reportedly a team of archaeological experts preparing to publish the results of many years of work in which they claim to have documentation that the Babylonians occupied North America and Mexico as colonies as early as around 3,000 BC. If this were true then it may further highlight and underscore the reason for these statements made by the prophets and the rabbinical commentaries.
We do know this…that the nation being referred to is none other than … … America, The Babylon.
Taken from:
escapeallthesethings.com
#1. The Jewish Population Issue:
Jeremiah 50:8, 25; Jeremiah 51: 6, 45; Isaiah 48:20 and also Revelation 18:4.
These are all references to Jewish people living in this future "Mystery Babylon" in the ancient Babylon, from the 6th Century BC till well into the early Church Age, the majority of the Jewish population lived in ancient Babylon. It was the home to most of the world’s Jews even in the time of Christ. Today, the largest population of Jewish people is found in the United States. The next two nations combined, Israel (home to the 2nd largest Jewish population) and Russia (home to the 3rd largest Jewish population) do not equal the population of Jewish people living in America. Iraq on the other hand has only a relative handful of Jews living within its borders. Some estimate the Jewish population in Iraq at perhaps 10,000. That is not very many people, particularly in regards to the population of most other nations hosting the Jewish remnant. This character trait of being the lead host for Jewry is not indicative that Iraq today fulfills the prophecies of "mystery Babylon." Therefore, this trait alone disqualifies the theory of "Iraq = Mystery" Babylon.
But, for those who are hard-headed, let us press on with the other 56 reasons why Iraq can NOT be Mystery Babylon based upon a literal rendering of the texts.
#2. The chief city of Mystery Babylon is a "DEEPWATER PORT CITY"!!!
Revelation 18: 17-19. This passage tells us that merchant ships are standing off the shoreline of Babylon. These ships have either just unloaded in the port city of Mystery Babylon, or are waiting to dock when the fiery judgment hits. These ship captains, crew and passengers are witnesses to the destruction. Question: Why would these folks be standing on deck of merchant ships unless there were port facilities in this city? Answer: The city is a port city. In this day and age, especially by virtue of the list of commodities that are traded in "Mystery Babylon," (see Revelation 18:11-13) there must be at least one deepwater port in the nation of Mystery Babylon. One thing can be noted regard to modern day port facilities. In order for Babylon to have the kind of merchandise (described in Revelation 18:11-13) coming by ships then those ships must be going to and from a DEEPWATER SEA- PORT CITY. Why? For today's ships to bring such merchandise requires them to be large commercial freighters with DEEP drawing drafts. These ships require deep-water port facilities to dock and load/unload because their hulls are so deep. They are BIG ships. [Note Reason #2 seems to be like our #57 reason, but there are significant differences between them.]
Now here is the problem for the Iraq=Babylon theorists: Iraq has no deepwater seaport!!! That's right, there is no DEEPWater port facility in all of Iraq. During GulfWar2, there were and still are small freighters coming into the little town harbor of Basra. In a recent United States CIA publication on Iraq, the CIA noted that a significant problem with sea transport was the lack of deepwater shipping facilities. Harbor draft measurements up the mouth of the Euphrates river to Basra are around the eight foot (that's 8 feet) level. That makes it hard to even get big fishing boats into the harbor. At best, draft levels further out only range to less than 20 feet.
There is no way that the typical international commercial freighters could dock in Basra or anywhere else in Iraq's very short shoreline because they would easily run aground and become stuck in the shallow, muddy waters. Only small ships carrying small quantities of goods can dock in Basra. Those large ore-carrying freighters, or big cargo container ships carrying cars or trucks are simply too big to be able to dock at the shallow harbor of Basra or any other little harbor on Iraq's shoreline. Those super-large oil tankers can not get near to the small snippet of coastline that Iraq has because it is so shallow. The oil from Iraq is therefore either piped to Jordan, or is piped out for miles into the Persian Gulf into the deeper waters where these oil tankers won’t run aground.
But that is not all that shoots the Literalists balloon out from underneath them on this issue of deepwater port facilities.
According to the "Literalists," Ancient Babylon, we are told must be the only literal interpretation. However, ancient Babylon is 400+ miles from the Persian Gulf and over 350 miles from Basra. The LITERAL description found in Revelation 18: 17-19 shows these huge ships will be within visual distance of the city skyline and will witness her destruction up close and personal. Being 400 miles away is just a bit too far to be able to see any kind of destruction of a city, even if it were from nuclear bombs. The curvature of the earth is just a bit too much at 400 miles even with flat terrain to be able to see what has transpired that far away. Now although this is in itself a fatal flaw exposed in the "Iraq = Mystery Babylon" theory it is just one of many theoretical flaws. One thing it really points to though is how NOT Literal is the concept that Iraq is Mystery Babylon.
#3. It is the KEY Commercial Nation and Engine of Wealth for the World’s Economy
Isaiah 47:15. Revelation 17:2; Revelation 18: 3, 9, 11-13, 15, 16, 17-19, 22, 23, & 19:2. In these passages we see just what relationship Babylon enjoys with the rest of the world. Here she is clearly the critical factor in the world economy. When she goes down in flames…what is the lament? "What was like unto this mega city? Who will buy our goods now that she is gone"? The answer is that no one will be able to buy the products of the world’s merchants. What does this tell us??? It should be a clear warning indicator that whoever this nation is… the rest of the world depends on her for buying their merchandise. With her destruction, there is no one left to buy these goods. That tells us just how vital this nation is and it means this nation is the engine of wealth for the world. Now, Iraq does NOT now nor can it fit that role…at least in the next 30 years, unless the rest of the world is wiped out first. Once again, we see a character trait that Iraq does not exemplify in anyway, shape or form.
#4-#21. It is the principal Commodities Trading Center
These are all commodities in a list that are the chief trading products as cited in Rev 18:11-13, for which the merchants and sailors later lament that no one will buy these products anymore. This includes Gold, Silver and Copper. Now on these items alone… there is more Gold traded in New York City on the COMEX in one day than in all the rest of the world combined !!! The same is true for Silver and Copper and Crude Oil. In fact, the volume of trade is so heavy that in one day alone there is more gold traded than had been traded in all of human history up until 1974 when gold trading was allowed on a futures contractual basis. That is how massive and dominant the USA and NYC are in the commodities trading markets. Revelation 18: 12 & 13, lists many other commodities as well, including grains and livestock. Now, Chicago is the Host City for such record trading in that arena. It too is a port city on as it sits on Lake Michigan. The fact of the matter: Iraq has no economic power… it has no ability to be the economic engine of wealth for the whole world. If Iraq vanished from the face of the earth today it would not even cause a ripple in the world’s economy.
However, if the USA vanished today it would decimate the world’s economy and bankrupt every nation on earth, instantly. In essence, there would be no one left to buy the foreigner’s goods. That’s because no one else wants to import goods. They only want to export not import. The USA is the big promoter of international trade and promotes imports plus free trade. Iraq plays no such role in the world economy. As a nation, Iraq is simply too poor.
#22. A Leading center of imports and consumption
Revelation 18: 11, 17-19. These passages tell us the economic picture of this nation. Note that this nation is not only involved in the trade of these products, but that she is also the leading importer… because when she is destroyed…"no one buys"… their merchandise anymore. The folks doing the lamenting are the international merchants who export goods to this mystery Babylon. Therefore, she is the leading import nation. She is therefore, by virtue of her importer status, the chief consuming nation. This also is not a description of Iraq. Iraq has no such status in the world today, tomorrow or the foreseeable future! It is this aspect which negates the Iraq theory…because the contention is that we are living in the "last days" and the fulfillment of the end-times prophecies are at hand. IF this is true, and I assert that it indeed is true, then how can Iraq match these character traits in so short a span of time??? Answer: she can’t. Iraq is not the nation being described. There is only one nation that fits these traits, and more. That nation is the United States of America.
#23. She is also a manufacturing nation
Revelation 18: 22. This passage tells us manufacturing is no longer found in her after the judgment. This tells us that she was a manufacturing nation prior to her destruction. Iraq is not a nation noted for manufacturing.
#24. Center for Merchandising and Marketing
Revelation 18: 3, 23; 19:2. Her merchants were the mega-merchants of the earth. This again does not fit the character traits of Iraq. It does, however, fit the picture of America.
Article continues below...
Jesus predicted that he will tell many sincere believers to basically "get lost" instead of welcoming them into the Kingdom. So...who are they and what did they miss or do wrong? In this study, get those answers and the one requirement for salvation Jesus taught (that Christianity misses) so that you can make sure you don't hear these dreaded words yourself!
#25. Known as the World’s "policeman"
Jeremiah 50:23 gives us a Hebrew idiom, "hammer of the whole earth." It had been used at one time to describe the way the empires of Persia, Greece and Rome had applied their power to keep the world at peace. Today, after the decline and fall of the Iron Curtain, major news media refer to America as the world’s policeman, in the same kind of role that the Hebrew idiom references. Iraq does not fit this role.
#26. Known for "showing the flag" or "gunboat diplomacy"
Isaiah 18:1-2 Here we have two Hebrew idioms for the idea of a nation’s navy showing its power. The phrase in verse 1 relates to the idea of "air travel." The first phrase of verse 2…"that sends ambassadors by the sea," another Hebrew idiom for when ancient naval powers would send warships to "show the flag" of friendship or threaten war to unfriendly nations or cities. Today, one nation engages in such actions: The USA sends out naval units usually as aircraft carrier battle groups. The notion of verse 1 with air travel, combined with verse 2 and the naval aspect, thus combines to send a notion of naval and air power… or suggesting aircraft carriers!!!
#27. Noted for its elegant, luxurious, refined and rich lifestyles
Isaiah 47: 1-8; Revelation 17: 4-5; 18: 2 –24. This does not match up with Iraq, as it is not capable of reaching such levels of wealthy living standards in our lifetime.
#28. Extremely Wealthy
Jeremiah 51:13… Revelation 18: 2-19
#29. Sensual, Materialistic lifestyle
Isaiah 47: 8; Revelation 18:14
#30. The Highest Living Standards
Isaiah 47:1 Revelation 18: 14
#31. Intoxicating high-society lifestyle as a world example to emulate
Revelation 17:2; Revelation 18: 3, 14, 23.
#32. Elegant, Sumptuous lifestyle
Revelation 18: 14, 23.
#33. Noted for its bright gaudy-colored lights and nightlife with round the-clock partying.
Revelation 18:14. Note the words "dainty" and "goodly." Dainty is a word in Greek that connotes to 24-hour parties, and is connoted with orgies and debauchery. The word for "goodly" is the Greek word "lampra" from which we get the English word for lamp. In this case it carries the idea of bright, gaudy-colored lights, with idea of "glitzy" lights. Could it be the bright lights of Broadway, Times Square or perhaps even Las Vegas???
#34. Noted for its Drugs and Drug use
Isaiah 47: 9, 12. Revelation 18:23 Do we even need to comment on this one??? I think not…the text clearly speaks for itself on this one.
#35. Noted for exporting its culture abroad:
Revelation 18:14, 22
(This includes its movies filled with pornography)
#36. Noted for being Wasteful and Extravagant
Rev 18: 3, 7, 9, 14, 15; implied in Rev 17: 2.
#37. Massive Population
Rev. 18:15. And Revelation 17: 1, 15.
#38. A land of immigrants
Jeremiah 50:16; 51:13; Rev. 17:1, 15.
#39. Unique and awe-inspiring from its birth right up to its demise
Isa. 18: 2
#40. A remarkably different heritage
Isaiah 18:2
#41. Respected-envied and yet HATED by the whole world also
Isa. 18:2
#43. Powerful and Oppressive
Isaiah 18:2
#44. Land of Rebels in its birth
Jeremiah 51: 1; Isaiah 47: 9.
#45. Cosmopolitan and Urban
Jeremiah 50:32
#46. A Land of Agriculture
Jeremiah 50: 16
#47. An International City
Revelation 17: 18; 18:15
#48. Architecture, Buildings and Skyline
Isaiah 13:22
#49. Land of Many Waters (fresh waters)
Jeremiah 51:13, 36, 42; Isa 18:1,2
#50. Where the world’s leaders "stream" to meet
Jer. 51:44; Rev. 17:18
#51. Last of the Super Powers
Jeremiah 50:12; Rev 17:18, 19; and in the Revelation 18:18 passage "what city is like the ‘mega’ city"…
#52. No Fear of Invasion
Isaiah 47:5, 8; Revelation 18: 7
#53. Defenses reach up to Outer Space
Jeremiah 51:53
#54. Occult aspects, especially within the governmental leadership
Isaiah 47: 9, 12,13.
#55. Alliances/Treaties allowing physical military bases of operation for the Satanic forces.
Revelation 18: 2.
#56. Its national symbol
Rev 17. Robed woman with a cup-like container in one hand that smells like natural gas odors inside the container…and the woman is connected to water and immigration…and is considered to be a mother-figure of spiritual prostitution…a.k.a. Ishtar, the mother of ‘literal’ and ‘physical’ prostitutes within religious worship centers. That is what the Babylonian goddess Ishtar was--the promoter of physical prostitution… salvation by sex… have sex with a temple priest or priestess and you are purified from sin. And of course, you pay a ‘gift offering’ for this salvation activity. Ishtar was never a physical ‘mother’… but rather a ‘madam’ over the priestesses. Ishtar was never married and never had a child but she was called "mother" of the temple priestesses. Now having said all of this… I am referring to the Statue of Liberty.
In my book, "America, The Babylon" Vol. 1, I explain the meticulous research involved that shows that the Statue of Liberty is, in fact, the brainchild of the sculptor Bartholdi. Later in Volume 2, you will find even more data on this subject. I would like to note at this point that it was Bartholdi's idea to create the image of the goddess Liberty of Rome. You will see later on in Volume 2 just how the Romans had in fact borrowed the Babylonian goddess.
Babylonians first worshiped Ishtar the goddess of Babylon and the Romans also adopted her but they changed the name to Libertas in Latin, (Liberty, in English). So that, the Statue of Liberty is actually a pagan idol image of Ishtar--the woman pictured in Revelation 17. If you don’t believe it…look at Revelation 17: 4 & 5. Note the word for abomination. The word used here is "bdelugma" and its root word is "bdeoh." Strong’s Code # 946 … " A foul thing, detestable, usually of idols … the root word means to "break wind", or to "pass gas"… indicating the odor smells like natural gas.
Speaking of natural gas …did you know that the torch-cup of the Statue of Liberty burns an eternal flame…fueled by smelly natural gas? Also of course, the Statue is referred to as the Mother of Exiles … an immigrant connection…just as the woman of Rev. 17: 1, 15 is also connected to immigrants. So too was Ishtar. She was the goddess of personal freedom … and an encouragement to immigrants.
#57 Iraq is radioactive
Iraq is now extremely "radioactive" because of America's use of ammunition that uses depleted uranium, the same basic component used for nuclear weapons, only in lesser strength in and of itself. Rifle bullets and artillery shells were packed with small amounts of radioactive, depleted uranium. Once fired, the shells and bullets spread small doses of radio-activity throughout much of Iraq and especially in hot spots like ancient Babylon. Each bullet or shell, was thought to be seemingly harmless in terms of radioactivity. What was not anticipated was the voluminous use of such radioactive materials scattered across the battlefields of Iraq. Such voluminous use has created large quantities of low-level radioactivity that in volume has created a dangerous atmosphere and environment for virtually all of Iraq.
The radioactive dust has found its way into the soil and water supplies, contaminating every-thing it comes into contact with. The radioactivity levels are high enough that Iraq is experiencing contamination levels much like that of a "nuclear dirty-bomb" in terms of the after-effects. Not only are Iraqi's dying from exposure but so are US and allied soldiers.
Uranium is a very reactive metal, easily oxidising to U3O8 and UO2.
A single 120mm Abrams tank DU shell contains 3kg of U-238 (111MBq of activity) and there is 275g (10.1MBq) in a 30mm GAU-8A A-10 Thunderbolt cannon shell. These ‘penetrators’ explode on impact, with up to 80% conversion to tiny long-lived glassy beads of Uranium Oxide from these ‘hot particles’ can travel for very large distances, even hundreds of miles, under the influence of wind, fire and are easily resuspended. The smaller particles can easily pass through the lung into the blood and lymphatic system.
Depleted Uranium has a half-life of 4.5 BILLION YEARS! Radiation levels in Iraq are between 1,000 and 1,900 times above normal. That's 1,000x to 1,900x more than normal.
Would you want to build the world's capital city on top of that kind of radiation rating with a half life of 4.5 Billion years of radioactivity??? We think not. So does the Illuminati. Here's further technical information on depleted uranium.
"On impact, uranium penetrators burn fiercely to give an aerosol of sub micron diameter oxide particles which are largely insoluble and remain in the environment for many years. There is considerable public and scientific concern that these radioactive particles may remain suspended for long periods, or may become resuspended and are therefore available for inhalation by non combatants at some distance from the point of impact. Little research seems to have been carried out on the distance traveled by the uranium aerosols. The military maintain that the uranium remains near the point of impact, and the Royal Society report (2002) also states that the material does not travel more than some tens of metres. On the other hand, measurements of uranium in local populations in Kosovo some nine months after the use of uranium weapons all tested positive for depleted uranium in urine (Priest 2004) and The United Nations (UNEP) found uranium particles in air filters in Bosnia some years after its use. The question of the dispersion of uranium aerosols from the battlefield is of significant legal interest, since if a radioactive weapon resulted in the general contamination of the public in the country of deployment or elsewhere, the weapon would be classifiable as one of indiscriminate effect. There is now conceded to be no safe level of exposure to radiation. Further, there are major scientific questions over the risk models used to assess the health effects of uranium particle exposure from weapons use. In addition there is evidence of ill health in many of those exposed to uranium particles from Gulf veterans to the population of Iraq."
"Terry Jemison at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs stated in August 2004 that over 518,000 Gulf-era veterans (14-year period) are now on medical disability, and that 7,039 were wounded on the battlefield in that same period. Over 500,000 U.S. veterans are homeless."
* In some studies of soldiers who had normal babies before the war, 67 percent of the post-war babies are born with severe birth defects - missing brains, eyes, organs, legs and arms, and blood diseases.
* In southern Iraq, scientists are reporting five times higher levels of gamma radiation in the air, which increases the radioactive body burden daily of inhabitants. In fact, Iraq, Yugoslavia and Afghanistan are uninhabitable.
* Cancer starts with one alpha particle under the right conditions. One gram of DU is the size of a period in this sentence and releases 12,000 alpha particles per second.
The above depleted uranium information can be found at the links below.
From Gulf War 1 usage of depleted uranium, the Babylon region had one of the highest ratings of radioactivity levels as late as 1997.
Here's a link to a film on DU in Iraq.
Sport, Fitness und Ernährung von Eric Blumrich
www.ericblumrich.com
#58 The Messianic Covenant To Abraham Included Babylonia and Babylon
The promises made to Abraham regarding a Promised Land were for Abraham and his descendants and the lands were far more extensive than ever used by Israel up until this point in time.
Often overlooked by many Bible Prophecy “experts” are the prophecies concerning the future borders of Israel when Jesus Christ returns and establishes new borders for Israel’s Millennial Kingdom that will finally fulfill the promises made to Abraham and his descendants.
Israel’s future borders will be extended eastward to encompass much of what today is called Iraq. The area will include all of the old Hittite and Chaldean Empire. Joshua 1:4 notes that it will include “ALL” of the land, which means the ancient site of Babylon and all of Babylonia are to be part of the new Messianic Israel. Scholars now believe that the Chaldeans originally were the Hittites. Not only is the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 15:18-20 [and the Hittite empire is mentioned (which included Babylon) ] but again in Deuteronomy 1:7 to Moses and again to Joshua in Deuteronomy 11:24.
hittiteempiremap006
Above: Map showing Hittite Empire. Green is the main empire - Pink shading along Euphrates shows conquest of Babylonian and Babylon itself by the Hittite (a.k.a Khaldee or Chaldean) Empire.
These Messianic prophecies come into direct conflict with the identity theory, which proposes that Iraq or ancient Babylon is the Mystery Babylon of Bible Prophecy. The conflict arises because the Babylon prophecies indicate that the land of Babylon and all of her cities and the land will remain uninhabited forever.
It should also be noted that there are some anthropologists who have strong linguistic and archaeological evidence to support their claims that the Hittites were in fact the Chaldeans with Hititites begin just a different linguistic name for the same people. Such information again, only underscores the assertion that Babylon and Babylonia of Mesopotamia are to be a part of Jesus Christ's Messianic Kingdom and not buried underwater forever as the Mystery Babylon prophecies of Jeremiah and Revelation 18 indicate because those prophecies refer to a different, end-time super-power that exists outside of the Middle East.
We simply can't have the Millenial Kingdom of Christ and the Israeli boundaries including the lands of Mystery Babylon which are to remain uninhabited forever and under water. Keep in mind that all of the millennial kingdom will be inhabited and prosperous. Clearly, we can not have a destroyed Mystery Babylon being part of Christ's Millennial Kingdom.
If Mystery Babylon is Iraq and ancient Babylon then it cannot be part of the Messianic Kingdom of Jesus Christ because it cannot be both occupied and unoccupied at the same time. The prophecies dealing with Babylon's judgment tell us that this future Babylon will never be inhabited again and will be under water. If, Babylon of Iraq is the "Mystery Babylon" then we have a clear-cut contradiction for which the Bible never contradicts itself. The contradiction is a result of misunderstandings, misapplications, and misinterpretations of the scriptural passages to Iraq as Mystery Babylon when clearly, there are 60 reasons - why Iraq can NOT be Mystery Babylon. Thus, we have no contradiction once we rule out Iraq and ancient Babylon as the future Babylon of prophecy.
#59 America Conquered Iraq and Babylon in 2003 and retains strategic control of that land and will retain that control most likely until America, the Babylon is destroyed in Divine Judgment as the Mystery Babylon.
In March of 2003, The United States of America launched an invasion and military conquest of Iraq. America captured the ancient archaeological site of Babylon. America retains strategic control of that region as well as the actual nation of Iraq which was the originally Babylonia of Nebuchadnezzar's day. Iraq and the ancient ruins of Babylon are under the strategic control of American military forces with a puppet government that appears to be splitting Iraq into three separate regions. There is now talk of being forced to realize three separate regional entities that will no doubt become "protectorates" of the United States, much like Guam became a protectorate after World War 2 or Puerto Rico after the Spanish American War. During the war, America trashed the ancient archaeological site when it established "Camp Babylon." There have been reports that the United States military spirited away from Babylon and Iraq's Museum of Antiquities, key occult artifacts that may well be the fulfillment of the Isaiah 47: 12-13:
12. - Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast laboured from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail.
13. - Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the stargazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee.
Let's not forget also Zechariah 5: 5-11, as we hear of stories in which the US Military and Black Operations Intelligence Groups such as the CIA, DIA and other covert intelligence units may have spirited away certain occult artifacts and put them aboard giant cargo planes and air-shipped them to the United States to join other occult symbols such as The Statue of Liberty and the Goddess of Freedom atop the US Capitol Dome. Do you recall that just after the US took Baghdad, the Iraqi Museum of ancient artifacts was vandalized by thieves shortly after US soldiers on guard were pulled out? Reports indicated that before the general public began looting the museum, special ops forces dressed in black with ski masks entered the building and raided the locked vaults containing secret occult artifacts of ancient Babylon. These have never been returned but most of the remaining looted items have been located and either returned or in the process of return.
We also understand that on Easter Sunday of 2006, an occult ceremony was conducted in secret by US intelligence agents in conjunction with a US military guard and waiting nearby giant air cargo transport planes. This secret operation reportedly involved occult ceremonialism and the removal of key on-site artifacts. Let's see if the Zechariah passage might just fit with such stories.
Zechariah 5: 5-11:
5 - Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth.
6 - And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.
7 - And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.
8 - And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.
9 - Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven.
10 - Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah?
11 - And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.
Regardless of such stories, the fact that America retains strategic control of the land means that from a prophetic standpoint, America IS Babylon. But if you don't wish to believe even this, consider ...
THE MOST LITERAL OF ALL
#60. A Populated city named Babylon on a Deepwater Port entryway to New York City
Revelation 17:18; & 18: 11-19… Did you know that when ships coming in to the harbor facilities of New York City make their final approach to the Harbor channel shipping lanes…they have to come in from the south… heading due North straight for a spot on Long Island called … BABYLON !!! That is right. The city of Babylon, New York features a tall water tower that ship captains use to navigate directly into the harbor channel. They come within view of Babylon before turning west to head into the ports of New York City. It is from this vantage point that I believe Revelation 18: 17-19 takes place.
From this vantage point…on the deck of a ship…one could quite easily read the letters of the name Babylon on the city water tower!!! Talk about literal?? Now that is indeed literal. This is something that theorists who promote the Iraq = Babylon idea can’t match, because ancient Babylon is not a deepwater seaport. It's so far away from the ocean that it can not possibly fit the description of Revelation 18: 17-19… in no way. But the USA can… and especially its chief city… a seaport named NYC/Babylon. Also, Babylon on Long Island derived its name because immigrant Jews founded it in 1872. The group’s rabbis chose the name almost prophetically, because they believed it would be home to a new diaspora.
Why would they think this? Because rabbinical opinions had held that ancient Babylon’s power would be moved… Zechariah 5: 5-11… and Isaiah 18:1 tells us what direction it would be moving. Isaiah 18:1 says that the spirit of Babylon would move west of the most outermost boundaries of ancient Babylon’s western-most border, beyond the rivers of Ethiopia and Egypt. [That is what is meant by the KJV term "Ethiopia"] By virtue of Isaiah’s point of observation being from Jerusalem…then the direction of movement was westward from Jerusalem…beyond the most outer of Babylon’s oldest boundaries… meaning… the occultic power that fueled Babylon would move and take up residence elsewhere in the end times.
Thus, scripture itself negates the "Iraq = Babylon" theory. Why will our "expert" scholars not accept the scriptural passages on this? Is it due to Pride? Is it due to ignorance? However, it seems to me that their hypocrisy shows. Clearly, the only logical interpretation from scripture is that it literally cannot be Iraq because the text tells us it moved. Isaiah 18:1-7 and Zechariah 5:5-11.
Early rabbinical writers commented on this well before the time of Christ. They made note that the "mystical woman of Babylon" had moved out of the Babylonian Empire and had been taken westward beyond the ancient boundaries of Babylonia. Those most westward boundaries were considered to be Egypt and Ethiopia. The woman was taken west of those two countries. They noted that the woman would not be found in its old location of Mesopotamia for the fulfillment of the final prophecies, which would be fulfilled at the coming of Messiah.
These rabbinical commentators believed that a future Babylon that was prophesied by Isaiah and Jeremiah would be located west of Egypt and Ethiopia. They believed the woman of Zechariah 5 was headed west of those boundaries and hence out of uttermost regions of Babylonia/Shinar/Chaldea. Yes, they believed she was being taken west of Egypt and Ethiopia in that basket. Why? Note that the observer's vantage point was already in the land of Shinar.
Shinar is yet another term for the ancient nation of Babylonia or Chaldea. Therefore we must pay attention to that scriptural direction and realize that it must be a new nation that carries the old Babylonian character traits. You'll note that the verse is indicating it is a different Shinar than the Chaldean or Babylonian land called Shinar. How do we know that? Isaiah 18:1-2 tells us from the observer's vantage point of Jerusalem that the phrase beyond the rivers of Ethiopia is an ancient idiomatic reference to the farthest borders of Babylon at the time of Cush, father of Nimrod. Nimrod inherited that land from his father and so that Egypt and Ethiopia were the extreme western border of Babylonia or Shinar or Chaldea.
Now, Isaiah is telling us that a future Babylon would exist at the time of the coming of Messiah and it would be located beyond the old Babylonian Empirical boundaries of Egypt and Ethiopia, which was the Cush empire that Nimrod inherited. It too was Shinar. Zechariah is then referencing that the woman is being flown out of Babylonia/Chaldea/Shinar to a new land of Shinar. This confirms what the prophet Isaiah had written earlier concerning a future Babylon being located west of the old Babylon.
There is reportedly a team of archaeological experts preparing to publish the results of many years of work in which they claim to have documentation that the Babylonians occupied North America and Mexico as colonies as early as around 3,000 BC. If this were true then it may further highlight and underscore the reason for these statements made by the prophets and the rabbinical commentaries.
We do know this…that the nation being referred to is none other than … … America, The Babylon.
Taken from:
60 Reasons America is Mystery Babylon (Not Iraq) – Escape All These Things (Luke 21:36)
escapeallthesethings.com
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