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-For today’s update, I would like for us to step back from the geopolitical forest, so as to better see the bigger prophetic tree, so-to-speak. -A number of years ago, when I was in Russia teaching at the Calvary Chapel Bible College there, one of my students showed me a world map. -She asked me if I noticed anything different about it, and as I looked it dawned on me that instead of the US at the center, it was Russia instead.

-I share that to say this; sometimes we’re too close to the tree of our own world, to see the bigger picture of the forest that’s in the whole world. -We do err in our inability to see the world through the lens of scripture. What happens is we’re then incapable of seeing beyond our own world. -The world map that God has on His wall has Israel at the center, which places all the other Middle-Eastern nations close in proximity to Israel.

-What I find interesting is that all these nations surrounding Israel, all of whom are now Islamic, are all postured perfectly according to prophecy. -The recent news that Russia may deploy their own missiles and withdraw from the New Start nuclear arms reduction treaty fits with Ezekiel 38. -In concert with Russia, you have an increased focus on Iran who has a mutual defense treaty with Russia also fitting into Ezekiel 38’s prophecy.

-Egypt’s recent uprising in Cairo’s Tahrir Square again fits with the prophecy in Isaiah 19, which seemingly foretells a Muslim Brotherhood rule. -Then there’s what appears to be the imminent destruction of Damascus Syria; the fall of Bashar Assad, which fits with the Isaiah 17 prophecy. -In addition to this every nation and people group listed in the prophecy of Psalm 83, are on the cusp of attacking Israel to wipe her off the map.

-Then, if that weren’t bad enough you have the surrounding peoples of the Zechariah 12 prophecy intoxicated by the trembling cup of Jerusalem. -Add to all of this the looming economic collapse right here in our beloved United States of America, and you have the perfect prophetic storm. -There’s one more nation that needs to be factored into the prophecy equation, and it’s none other than the nation of Iraq, home to Babylon.

-I’m of the belief that Iraq may very well have a prominent place in God’s final prophetic program by virtue of it being home to ancient Babylon. -This prophecy concerning a rebuilt Babylon in modern day Iraq though yet future, has profound implications that right now seem very plausible. -Especially on the heals of the sudden and stunning announcement by the President that our troops will leave Iraq by the end of this next month.

-Before I go any further, it’s important to note, the prophecies about Babylon have been a source of much eschatological debate amongst many. -Let me hasten to say that while I am not dogmatic about this, at the very least I am interested in this, as it seems to fit with what’s happening. -First, let me begin by listing some facts related to Babylon, and its potential place in the possible fulfillment of Bible Prophecy in the last days.

1. Babylon is mentioned some 300 times in the Bible. (Only Jerusalem is mentioned more.) 2. Babylon is located in modern day Iraq. (Babylon is approximately 60 miles from Baghdad, the modern day capital city.) 3. Babylon was being rebuilt by Saddam Hussein before he was put to death. 4. Babylon was one of the Seven Wonders of the World with its “hanging gardens,” (The Garden of Eden was thought to be in Iraq.) 5. Babylon is described in Revelation as “The Empire of Man.”

-In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John writes and reveals in graphic detail about the role Babylon plays in the end of days. -It’s important to understand that there is a distinction between the two Babylon’s that are mentioned here in the book of Revelation. -In chapter 17 John, by the Holy Spirit, describes a religious Babylon, and in chapter 18 he describes a political and economic Babylon.

-Some believe that after religious Babylon is destroyed the one-world religion assimilates into the one world government and economy. -In other words, this religious Babylon of chapter 17 is used, then, she’s done away with, which is why she’s referred to as a prostitute. -Once she’s been taken advantage of, the Anti-Christ in chapter 18’s Babylon, controls the world religiously, politically, and financially.

-Bible commentators suggest that religious Babylon comes out of Rome the city of seven hills which has profound prophetic implications.

BABYLON OF REVELATION CHAPTER 17

BABYLON OF REVELATION CHAPTER 18

Religion

Commerce

Mystery

Great

A Harlot

A Great City

On Seven Hills -Rome

On the Coast

Destroyed in the Middle of Tribulation

Destroyed at the End of the Tribulation

-Both the prophets Isaiah (Ch. 13-14) and Jeremiah (Ch. 50-51) record the prophecies of Babylon’s final destruction once it is finally rebuilt. -Here-to-fore, Babylon has only been conquered, but it has never actually been destroyed, so it’s likely that will be rebuilt prior this to happening. -Some believe that this newly rebuilt Babylon will be the headquarters of a “New World Capital,” because of its geography and history.

"Computer studies of the Institute for Creation Research have shown, for example, that Babylon is very near the geographical center of all the earth's land masses. It is within navigable distances of the Persian Gulf and is at the crossroads of the three great continents of Europe, Asia and Africa. Thus there is no more ideal location anywhere for a world trade center, a world communication center, a world banking center, a world educational center, or specially, a world capital! The greatest historian of modern times, Arnold Toynbee, used to stress to all his readers and hearers that Babylon would be the best place in the world to build a future world cultural metropolis." Dr. Henry Morris, “The Revelation Record,” Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton, Illinois 1986 p 349

with the project. …”One day millions of people will visit Babylon," [one] said. "I'm just not sure anybody knows when." http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/04/13/news/babylon.php

Back in June of 2009, Joel Rosenberg posted an article on his website title; BIBLE SKEPTICS TAKE NOTE: BABYLON IS BEING REBUILT, JUST AS PROPHESIED -Regular readers of this weblog and my books know that Bible prophecy says the ancient city of Babylon, Iraq will be rebuilt and become the greatest center of wealth, commerce and power in the “last days” of history. The books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Revelation are explicit on this subject. Skeptics and cynics abound, to be sure, but the fact is Babylon is being rebuilt right now, in part with U.S. taxpayer funds. Iraqi leaders hope that eventually millions of tourists will come to visit, and real progress is being made. … As Iraq becomes increasingly stable and secure, direct foreign investment is going to flood in, and Iraq will become the wealthiest country on the planet. Exxon Mobil, the world’s largest company, for example, is positioning itself to become a major investor in the Iraqi energy sector. Other major oil companies are doing the same. The Iraqi government in recent months has been developing investment incentive packages to draw in such companies. And this week, such energy companies will actually begin bidding for licenses to develop Iraq’s immense but badly atrophied oil exploration, drilling, and refining industry. Consider, for example, this headline from the Associated Press: “World’s big oil companies prepare for return to Iraq.” And this is just the beginning. Skeptics take note: the Bible is coming true, one prophecy at a time. http://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/bible-skeptics-take-note-babylon-is-being-rebuilt-just-as-prophesied/

-If you think about it, where else in the world other than Iraq would you find the one place that needs a government, an economy, and a religion. -By the way, and suffice it to say, the wheels are already in motion; moving full speed ahead as evidenced by this news story from October 14th.

The headline read; “New international organization to bring world religions under one roof” -It appears that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is financing a new organization designed to bring all the world’s religions together. Here are a couple of quick quotes from the article; “The foreign ministers of Austria, Saudi Arabia and Spain signed the founding treaty of a new international organization designed to foster dialogue between the world's major religions on Thursday. Plans envision an organization with a governing body composed of 12 representatives from the world's five largest religions. The governing body is set to be staffed by two Muslims (Sunni and Shiite), three Christians (Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox), a Buddhist, a Hindu and a Jew. … Saudi King Abdullah initiated the idea for the center after visiting Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in 2007, the first Saudi monarch to do so. Shortly thereafter, King Abdullah stated that Christians and Muslims should offer a common message of peace to humanity. Abdullah then initiated an interfaith dialogue in Mecca in 2008 followed by a second meeting in Madrid with Jewish representation. A third meeting took place in Vienna's Hofburg in 2009, where the concept of the organization was agreed upon.” http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15459243,00.html

-In the interest of time, and because I’m looking forward to our study in Romans, I want to encourage you to do your own research on Babylon. -Better yet, be a Berean and search the scriptures to see if what I’m teaching is true or not. Never just take mine, or anybody else’s word for it.

-Lastly, I think we, as watchman on the wall, should start our own “OCCUPY” movement, and call it the “OCCUPY TILL JESUS COMES.” -We won’t occupy Wall Street or Sesame Street, but we will occupy heaven’s Golden Street. -Those golden streets won’t be about man’s socialism ending capitalism it will be about God’s realism ending Satanism. -We won’t even need to have tents put up, because we’ll be getting new tents when we go up. -It won’t be that we are “taking over,” it will be that we are “taken out,” seven years before Jesus will be “taking over.’

Luke 19:13 KJV And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.