Bible Prophecies

IRAQ

(Babylon!)

The Bible is somewhat a tale of two cities ... Jerusalem and Babylon. Babylon is described as being the fountain of rebellion against God and God’s Word which has spread throughout the whole world. Babylon also represents the global World system today that despises, rejects, and mocks God’s Word. God warns of a coming judgment upon Babylon (modern Iraq) and against the whole world (the coming ‘Apocalypse’). From the Bible, it appears Iraq (Babylon) will rise again as a global economic and religious center ... and then will be utterly destroyed and left uninhabitable.

Great prophecies against Iraq (Babylon) are found in the books of Isaiah 13:1-22 and Jeremiah 51:1-64 ... and also in Zechariah 5:1-11 (where Babylon is called by its ancient name "Shinar.") In the New Testament we find a fearful prophecy against "Mystery Babylon" in the book of Revelation chapters 17-18 (in the Bible a "mystery" is something that had not yet been revealed in Scripture.)

It appears the prophecies against Iraq (Babylon)

will be fulfilled in 3 Phases ...

Although Babylon (southern Iraq) was conquered by the Medes and the Persians in ancient times, it was conquered in such a way it was never destroyed ... in fact, in the past the great city of Babylon was spared and inhabited by its conquerors, including both Persia and Greece. Saddam Hussein (and now others) have spent hundreds of millions of dollars restoring the ancient city of Babylon, including the palace where the prophet Daniel served and interpreted the "handwriting on the wall" the night before the Persians conquered the city (by sneaking in quietly under the river gates.)

So, the total destruction of Iraq (Babylon) as clearly prophesied in the Bible, is still future!

This prophecy against Iraq is fascinating ... and timely. Scoffers and skeptics should take note, for God says He uses prophecy to prove He is who He says He is. The details in this series of prophecies are both remarkable and hard to ignore. As a note, much of this Bible Prophecy study was written before the fall of Saddam Hussein ... which seems to show these Bible prophecies concerning Iraq are now in process and on schedule.

What does God say concerning "The burden against Babylon (Iraq)?"

   "The burden of Babylon (Iraq),

     which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see

     (meaning this is prophetic)

     Lift ye up a banner

     upon the high mountain,

     exalt the voice unto them,

     shake the hand,

     that they may go into

     the gates of the nobles.

     (Warn them judgment is coming)

     I have commanded My sanctified ones,

     (Sanctified means 'set aside’ for God)

     I have also called My mighty ones

     for Mine anger, (a prophetic war)

     even them that rejoice

     in My Highness."

     (God is raising this army)

     (Isaiah 13:1-3)

   "The noise of a multitude in the mountains,

     like as of a great people;

     a tumultuous noise of the

     kingdoms of nations

     gathered together:

     the LORD of Armies (hosts)

     musters the armies (host)

     of the battle."

     (Isaiah 13:4)

     (God gathered these armies control)

Study your history books (and Bible) ... ancient Babylon was conquered by just TWO nations (the Medes-Persians led by Cyrus the Persian) ... without firing a shot! Now, study (and watch the news videos) of the Iraq (Gulf) War I & II ... the combined "coalition" of nations surrounding and invading Iraq was massive!

   "They come from a FAR country,

     from the end of heaven,

     even the LORD,

     and the weapons of His indignation,

     to destroy the whole land."

     (Isaiah 13:5)

Look at a globe to see where the US is compared to Iraq (Babylon) ... then study your history books.

   "Howl ye;

     for the Day of the LORD

     is at hand; (the coming ‘Apocalypse’)

     it shall come as a

     destruction from the Almighty."

     (He links Iraq to the ’Apocalypse’)

     (Isaiah 13:6)

   "Therefore shall all hands be faint,

     and every man's heart shall melt:

     And they shall be afraid:

     pangs and sorrows

     shall take hold of them;

     they shall be in pain

     as a woman that travaileth:

     they shall be amazed one at another;

     their faces shall be as flames."

     (Isaiah 13:7-8)

The Persians took Babylon without a major battle. They diverted (and lowered) the river ... and then snuck in at night to capture the Palace. The Babylonian army didn't know they had been conquered until after it was all over.

The judgment against Iraq is shown as a pre-cursor to the coming Apocalypse and Armageddon. The 'Day of the Lord' is the term used in the Old Testament (Tanakh) for what many call the ‘Apocalypse.’ Apparently this coming destruction of Iraq will somehow be linked to the ‘Apocalypse’ and Armageddon when God will judge ALL the nations and people of the world ...

   "Behold,

     to lay the land desolate:

     and He shall destroy the sinners

     thereof out of it.

     For the stars of heaven

     and the constellations

     thereof shall not give their light:

     the Sun shall be darkened

     in his going forth,

     and the Moon shall not

     cause her light to shine.

     And I (God)

     will punish the world for their evil,

     and the wicked for their iniquity;

     and I will cause the arrogance

     of the proud to cease,

     (this means all nations and people)

     and will lay low

     the arrogance (haughtiness) of the terrible.

     I will make a man more precious

     than fine gold; (very few will survive)

     even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.

     Therefore I (God)

     will shake the heavens,

     and the Earth shall remove

     out of her place,

     in the wrath of the LORD of Armies (hosts),

     and in the Day

     of His fierce anger." (the Apocalypse)

     (Isaiah 13:9-13)

"And like a hunted gazelle,

or like sheep with none to gather them,

each will turn to his own people,

and each will flee to his own land.

A Fierce and Bloodthirsty Army From Northern Iraq  (ISIL??)

Whoever is found will be thrust through,

and whoever is caught will fall by the sword.

Their infants will be dashed in pieces

before their eyes;

their houses will be plundered

and their wives ravished (raped).

God will stir up the Kurds (the ancient Medes) who now live in Northern Iraq. It is interesting that it was the Medes (the Kurds in northern Iraq) who Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons on and killed an estimated 50,000.  The Islamic army (ISIL ... an al-Qaeda offshoot) is Sunni, while Southen Iraq is now controlled by Iranian Shiite Muslims (who hate each other).  This army from the north will have no compassion on the men, women, or children, and will not be interested or swayed by money, silver, or gold to stop their deadly march and slaughter ...

   "Behold, I will stir up

     the Medes (Northern Iraq) against them,

     which shall not regard silver;

     and as for gold,

     they shall not delight in it.

     Their bows also shall dash

     the young men to pieces;

     and they shall have no pity

     on the fruit of the womb;

     their eye shall not spare children."

     (Isaiah 13:17-18)

   "And Babylon,

     the glory of kingdoms,

     the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency,

     shall be as when God

     overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.

     It shall NEVER be inhabited,

     neither shall it be dwelt in

     from generation to generation"

     (This judgment still lies in the future)

     (Isaiah 13:19-22)

Prophecies from the book of Jeremiah ...

Prophecies Against Babylon (southern Iraq) . . .

God would raise up "foreigners" from every side to rise against Iraq ...

(Again - Study and watch old news reports of Gulf-Iraq Wars I & II)

   "This is what the LORD says:

    'I will stir up a destroyer

     against Babylon

     and the people of Babylonia (Iraq).

     Foreigners will come and winnow her,

     blowing her away as chaff.

     They will come from every side

     (Jeremiah 51:1-2) (Study Gulf Wars I & II)

God's judgment against Iraq (Babylon) is not yet complete. Iraq (Babylon) will once again become a powerful enemy against Israel. God explains He will do this because He has NOT forsaken Israel (even though their sin was great) ...

   "Don't let the archers

     put on their armor or draw their bows.

     No one will be spared!

     Young and old alike

     will be completely destroyed.

     They will fall dead

     in the land of the Babylonians,

     slashed to death in her streets.

     For the LORD Almighty

     has not forsaken Israel and Judah.

     He is still their God,

     even though their land

     was filled with sin

     against the Holy One (Messiah)

     of Israel." (Rejection of their Messiah)

     (Jeremiah 51:3-5)

   "Flee from Iraq (Babylon)!

     Save yourselves!

     Don't get trapped in her punishment!

     It is the LORD's time for vengeance;

     He (God) will fully repay her."

     (Jeremiah 51:6)

   "And I heard another

     voice from Heaven saying,

   "Come OUT of her, My people,

     lest you share in her sins,

     and lest you receive

     of her plagues.

     For her sins

     have reached to Heaven,

     and God has remembered

     her iniquities."

     (Revelation 18:4)

   "This is His vengeance against those

     who desecrated His Temple.

     (This will happen again with the Antichrist!)

     Raise the battle flag against Babylon!

     Reinforce the guard

     and station the watchmen.

     Prepare an ambush,

     for the LORD will fulfill

     all His plans against Babylon (Iraq)."

     (Jeremiah 51:12-14)

   "The LORD says to Jerusalem,

    'I will be your lawyer

     to plead your case,

     and I will avenge you.

     I will dry up her river (Euphrates),

     her water supply,

     (see prophecies of Apocalypse)

     and Babylon will become

     (Jeremiah 51:36-37)

This portion may project out even further (see "Mystery Babylon" in Revelation 17:1 - 18) to the final judgment and destruction of all the nations and people of the world who have turned their backs on God and rejected the Jesus Christ’s offer of shelter and protection ...

   "In their drunken feasts,

     the people of Babylon

     roar like lions.

     And while they lie inflamed

     with all their wine,

     I will prepare a different

     kind of feast for them.

     I will make them drink

     until they fall asleep,

     never again to waken," says the LORD.

   "I will bring them

     like lambs to the slaughter,

     like rams and goats

     to be sacrificed.

   "How Babylon is fallen--great Babylon,

     praised throughout the Earth!

     The world can scarcely believe

     its eyes at her fall!

     The sea has risen over Babylon;

     she is covered by its waves.

     Her cities now lie in ruins;

     she is a dry wilderness

     where no one lives

     or even passes by."

     (This has never yet happened )

     (Jeremiah 51:38-44)

God AGAIN pleads with all of His lost sheep to return to Him humbly and in faith, through His Son, Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew). He warns all those living in Iraq (and anywhere in the world) who will hear and believe His Word while there is still time ...

   "Listen, My people (Jews and Christians),

     FLEE from Babylon.

     Save yourselves!

     Run from the LORD's fierce anger."

     (Jeremiah 51:45)

   "But do not panic

     when you hear the first rumor

     of approaching forces.

     For rumors will keep coming

     year by year.

     Then there will be

     a time of violence

     as the leaders fight

     against each other."

     (Carefully watch the events in Iraq)

     (Jeremiah 51:46)

   "For the time is surely coming

     when I (God) will punish

     this great city and all her idols.

     Her whole land will be disgraced,

     and her dead will lie in the streets.

     The heavens and Earth will rejoice,

     for out of the north

     will come destroying armies

     against Babylon," (Southern Iraq)

     says the LORD.

   "Just as Babylon

     killed the people of Israel

     and others throughout the world,

     so must her people be killed."

     (Jeremiah 51:47-49)

Prophecies from the book of Jeremiah ...

   "After these things

     (after the rise of the Antichrist)

     I saw another angel

     coming down from Heaven,

     having great authority,

     and the Earth

     was illuminated with his glory.

     And he cried mightily

     with a loud voice, saying,

   "Babylon the great is fallen,

     For all the nations have drunk

     of the wine of the wrath

     of her fornication,

     the kings of the Earth

     have committed fornication with her,

     and the merchants of the Earth

     have become rich

     through the abundance

     of her luxury."

     (Revelation 18:1-3)

   "Therefore her plagues

     will come in one day --

     death and mourning and famine.

     And she will be

     for strong is the Lord God

     who judges her.

     The kings of the Earth

     who committed fornication

     and lived luxuriously with her

     will weep and lament for her,

     when they see

     the smoke of her burning,

     standing at a distance

     for fear of her torment, saying,

    'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon,

     that mighty city!

     For in one hour

     your judgment has come.'

     And the merchants of the Earth

     will weep and mourn over her,

     for no one buys

     their merchandise anymore:

     merchandise of gold and silver,

     precious stones and pearls,

     fine linen and purple,

     silk and scarlet ..."

     (Revelation 18:8-12)

A Future BLESSING Upon "Assyria" (Northern Iraq) . . .

In Isaiah 19:24 there is also a prophecy (in fact a prophetic blessing) concerning "Assyria" (yes, you read it right, Assyria, not Syria.) Nineveh, the ancient capital of Assyria (see the book of Jonah), is located in northern Iraq not far from the modern city of Mosul. Much of Iraq's Christian population is now located in this area. The people who will be living in the northern Iraq area and who will believe in the Messiah (Jesus Christ) while enduring in faith through the troublesome times and persecutions that lie ahead will be blessed by God and will receive a portion of land that has been set aside with Israel. We are told this blessing will come after Armageddon and the return of Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ha'Mashiach in Hebrew).

   "IN THAT DAY

     (when Jesus Christ returns)

     Israel will be one of three

     WITH Egypt and Assyria --

     a blessing in the midst of the land,

     whom the LORD of Armies (hosts)

     shall bless, saying,

   "Blessed is Egypt My people,

     and Assyria

     the work of My hands,

     and Israel My inheritance."

     (Isaiah 19:24-25)

Believing Christians in Assyria (northern Iraq) and Egypt who are now suffering will one day be blessed in a mighty and wonderful way.

God's Warning . . .

God says NONE of His prophecies shall fail . . .

   "For I am God,

     and there is no other.

     for I am God,

     and there is none like Me..

     Declaring the end from the beginning,

     (Isaiah 46:9-10)

   "Search from the book of the LORD, and read:

     not one of these (prophecies) shall fail;

     not one shall lack her mate.

     For My mouth has commanded it,

     and His Spirit has gathered them."

     (Isaiah 34:16)

   "Indeed I (God)

     have spoken it;

     I will also bring it to pass.

     I have purposed it;

     I will also do it.

     (Isaiah 46:11-12)

   "Before the decree is issued,

     before day passes like chaff,

     before the LORD'S fierce anger

     comes upon you,

     before the day of the LORD'S anger

     comes upon you!

     Seek the LORD,

     all you meek of the Earth,

     who have upheld His justice.

     Seek righteousness,

     seek humility.

     (Zephaniah 2:2-3)

Have a hard time believing in God?  Just watch the news.  The above verses are clear.

Please remember . . . 

The Kingdom of Heaven is available to every man, woman, boy, and girl in this world, no matter who they are, where they live, or what they have done. It is freely offered to any and all who will receive it. Simply learn of Jesus, the promised Messiah, believe He willingly and lovingly died on the Cross for all of your sins and was raised from the grave the third day and is now seated on His Throne in the Kingdom of Heaven waiting patiently while the good news (Gospel) is spread around the world to every tongue, tribe, and nation. Learn of Him and believe in Him ... for He was the only one who has ever loved you enough to substitute Himself for you on the Cross (which represents the suffering that will be found in Hell). He shed His blood, suffered, and died on the Cross to save you from your sins and from the utter darkness, aloneness, and torment of Hell, if you will accept it, believe it, and trust in it. This is why Jesus is called Savior … His Name in Hebrew means "Savior." He now lovingly and graciously offers you life in Heaven, and we are warned it is a ‘take it or leave it’ proposition. We have to consciously receive it and accept it in faith. If you sincerely admit you have sinned (and need a Savior to get into Heaven) and ask Jesus (Yeshua) to come into your life while fully trusting in Him alone to save you from your sins ... and turn back to God while trying to stop doing (and saying) those things God says are wrong, you will go to Heaven ... and with open arms and tears of joy He will receive all who will come to Him in faith and in love ... it's God's promise!!!

The only unpardonable sin is to reject or ignore God's love and His gift of eternal life in Heaven by rejecting His Son (see Psalm 2) ... Jesus Christ... who stepped forth from Eternity ("from of old, from everlasting"... see Micah 5:2) ... not to condemn the sinner, but to save the sinner (from Hell) and who willingly and lovingly shed His blood and bore all of our sins and guilt on the Cross so we can be "washed clean" and forgiven of all our sins, and then clothed in His perfect Righteousness, which makes us acceptable before God and allows us to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

All God asks is we love Him for all He has done for us.    (God's Promise ...)

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