On Stability, and Babylon

Surely, anyone with even a mustard seed's grain of faith knows that Iraq will stabilize, and that it will happen sooner rather than later! How many times did God use other nations to chastize His chosen people? That's rhetoric for 'quite a few'. Why has the Jew been pushed out of every country they've settled in since Titus dispersed them in the 1st century? Has not God had His hand on every move against His people from that time until the Nation of Israel was reborn? Why should they ever be made to feel comfortable in a land that is not their own, just as Christians are instructed to not think of this present life as home? God has a plan. And he's in the business of seeing it through.

How many reading this who know a little something about The Revelation understands that John's description of a city situated upon seven hills refers to Rome? If that which is shrouded in metaphor is an obvious reference to Rome, why then do many assume that Babylon must mean some place else altogether? Like New York? Babylon was inhabited in Jesus' day. How many reading this knew that Babylon was still in existence in Johns' time? The empire was destroyed, but the city remained. Just as it remains today.

Babylon today still sits on the Euphrates, and it is the dream of Iraqis to see it flourish once more...

...Iraqi leaders and UN officials are not giving up on [the project]. They are working assiduously to restore Babylon, home to the Hanging Gardens, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They want to turn it into a cultural center and possibly even an Iraqi theme park.

No one is saying it is going to happen any time soon, but what makes the Pollyannaish project even conceivable is that the area around Babylon is among the safest in Iraq, a beacon of civilization once again in a land of much chaos.

Ancient Babylon, celebrated as a fount of law, writing and urban living, sits just outside the modern city of Hilla, about 100 kilometers, or 60 miles, south of Baghdad. Hilla is neither haunted by Sunni insurgents nor overwhelmed by Shiite militia and, while it is home to both Shiites and Sunnis, it has not been afflicted by the sectarian violence that has paralyzed so many other parts of Iraq.

Emad Lafta al-Bayati, Hilla's mayor, has big plans for Babylon. "I want restaurants, gift shops, long parking lots," he said. God willing, he added, maybe even a Holiday Inn.

The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is pumping millions of dollars into Babylon and a handful of other sites. It has even printed a snazzy brochure to give to wealthy donors. "Cultural tourism could become Iraq's second biggest industry, after oil," explained Philippe Delanghe, a United Nations official helping with the project.

But why is the restoration of Babylon so important? Because it is from this city the Antichrist will reign over all the earth. Look at where we are now, prophetically: Israel is restored to her homeland, The desert flourishes, Jerusalem is no longer "trodden down of the Gentiles". And the generation which sees these things come to pass will, according to Jesus and scripture, see His return. Part of that scenario necessarily includes the restoration (in part or full matters not) of Babylon. It is not a stretch to say Babylon will once again be a great city of commerce, that there will be a world-wide sense of pride and accomplishment at its return.

But Iraq under Saddam has been corrupt and filled with violence, so much so, Babylon was little more than a couple of museums and gift shops... but this hardly describes the great city of Babylon, that falls utterly into ruin, so much so the entire world mourns her fall.

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

--Revelation 18

Is it so far-fetched that God would use a nation in this day and age to set the stage for Babylon's rising? God has used the unrighteous nations the world to chastise His people, would He not also use the United States to clear out Saddam and make it possible for Babylon to rise from the ashes once more?

Stability may not occur within the time left to George W. Bush, but it will come. And with it the rebuilding of Babylon, bringing us all nearer to His return. Which means time is short. In truth, there is nothing more that need happen, prophetically, before the rapture of the Church. Nothing. Time is VERY short. And all this political posturing over the troops; their safety, their sacrifice, is nothing more than the politics of greed and selfishness, clutched greedily to the breasts of greedy, selfish men who care little for the troops, and nothing for God's plan in all this.

Their chief concern is for power. Much like Babylon's future king.