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Prophecies of the Nations . . . Iraq (Babylon)
The Bible warns of a coming judgment upon Babylon (modern Iraq) and says southern Iraq (Babylon) will someday be utterly destroyed ... and left uninhabitable.
The Bible tells us clearly what will happen, but we don't know when this will happen . . .
In the Old Testament, two great prophecies against Iraq (Babylon) can be found in the books of Isaiah 13:1-22 and Jeremiah 51:1-64 . . . in the New Testament we find a fearful prophecy against "Mystery Babylon" in the book of Revelation chapters 17-18. Here, we will only look at the prophecies found in Isaiah and Jeremiah . . .
Isaiah 13:1-22 . . . The Burden Against Babylon (southern Iraq)
Note: This prophecy was written by the prophet Isaiah around 700 years before Christ, or over 2,700 years ago. A complete scroll of the book of Isaiah was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls (over 2,100 years old) and is now on full public display in its entirety (including these passages), in a glass case in Israel, for all to see. Also, for those of you who may have any doubts about Babylon (ancient name) and Iraq (modern name) being synonymous, simply go to Babylon News, the official web news-site of Iraq, which is currently run by Saddam Hussein's son, Dr. Uday Saddam Hussein . . .
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 used ) by its conquerors, including both Persia and Greece. Today, Saddam Hussein has 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.
What does God say concerning "The burden against Babylon (Iraq)?"
He first sends a warning to Iraq . . .
The burden of Babylon [Iraq], which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see
[meaning this is prophetic]
shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.
[Warn them judgment is coming] (Sanctified means 'set aside,' much like the word 'holy' ... it is also where we get the word 'saint.') I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, [this will be no mere skirmish] [God is loving and patient ... but much of the Bible warns of His coming anger and wrath] [even] them that rejoice in my highness. [God is calling those who still believe in Him in faith] (Isaiah 13:1-3 KJV)
God will gather
many nations against Iraq ('Desert Storm,' or still future?) . . .
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 hosts (armies) musters the host (armies) of the battle.
The armies will come from a far country, the 'end of heaven' to destroy the whole land . . .
They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, [the US is almost on the opposite side of the globe from Iraq] [even] the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land. (Isa 13:5)
It will be a judgment by God against Iraq . . .
it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty. (Isa 13:6)
Fear will grip the Iraqi soldiers and armies . . .
they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames. (Isa 13:7-8)
The judgment against Iraq may be a pre-cursor to the Apocalypse and Armageddon. The 'Day of the Lord' is used of the times leading to Armageddon . . . Apparently this destruction of Iraq may somehow be linked to events which will lead to the coming Apocalypse, when God will judge all the nations and people of the world . . .
cruel both with wrath and fierce anger,
to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof
out of it.
the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not
cause her light to shine. and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, [this means all nations and people, including the US]
and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible. in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger. (Isa 13:9-13)
Bloody chaos as fear and death will grip the land . . .
they shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into
his own land. and every one that is joined [unto them] shall fall by the sword. (Isa 13:14-15)
Women and children will not be spared . . .
their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished (raped). (Isa 13:16)
God will stir up the Medes (the modern day Kurds) who now live in northern Iraq, Iran, and Turkey. 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 Kurds will have no compassion on the men, women, or children, of Iraq and will not be interested or swayed by money, silver, or gold to stop their deadly march . . .
and [as for] gold, they shall not delight in it. and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children. Isa 13:17-18)
God says He will judge the enemies of Israel, that peculiar nation that He has set aside as His own. Iraq will someday be utterly destroyed in such a way (nuclear, chemical, or biological?) that it will never, ever, be inhabited by man again . . . the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency,
shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the
shepherds make their fold there. and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures;
and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. and dragons in [their] pleasant palaces: and her time [is] near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged. (Isa 13:19-22)
. . . it's sad, for in Daniel chapter 2, God described Babylon as the 'head of gold' of the empires that would rule on Earth before the return of the Messiah, and Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar developed a special relationship as Daniel (the Jewish prophet) was elevated to the number two position in all of the empire ... Nebuchadnezzar himself wrote the words in Daniel chapter 4:34-37 as he praised the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But, as we see today (and in Daniel chapter 5) Babylon (Iraq) again quickly turned against the God of Israel.
And the Prophet Jeremiah Writes . . . The Prophecies Against Babylon (southern Iraq) (From the NLT ... New Living Translation)
God will raise up 'foreigners' from every side to rise against Iraq . . .
This is what the LORD says: "I will stir up a destroyer against Babylon and the people of Babylonia. Foreigners will come and winnow her, blowing her away as chaff. They will come from every side to rise against her in her day of trouble. (Jeremiah 51:1-2)
God is doing 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 of Israel." [Rejection of the Messiah?] (Jeremiah 51:3-5)
God is calling on all who will hear His voice to flee from Iraq . . .
Flee from Babylon! Save yourselves! Don't get trapped in her punishment! It is the LORD's time for vengeance; he will fully repay her. (Jeremiah 51:6)
God finds no joy in any judgment . . .
Babylon has been like a golden cup in the LORD's hands, a cup from which he made the whole earth drink and go mad. [The whole earth will be affected] But now suddenly, Babylon, too, has fallen. Weep for her, and give her medicine. [God never finds joy in judgment] Perhaps she can yet be healed. [He calls for repentance, for people to return to Him] We would have helped her if we could, but nothing can save her now. Let her go; abandon her. Return now to your own land, for her judgment will be so great it cannot be measured. (Jeremiah 51:7-9)
Jerusalem is mentioned over 900 times in the Bible ... but not even once in the Koran . . .
The LORD has vindicated us. Come, let us announce in Jerusalem everything the LORD our God has done. (Jeremiah 51:10)
As mentioned in Isaiah, God will stir up the Medes (Kurds) to march against Iraq . . .
Sharpen the arrows! Lift up the shields! For the LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of the Medes to march against Babylon and destroy her. (Jeremiah 51:11)
God will destroy all who desecrated His Temple in Jerusalem (including Rome - Europe) . . .
This is his vengeance against those who desecrated his Temple. 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. You are a city rich with water, a great center of commerce, but your end has come. The thread of your life is cut. The LORD Almighty has taken this vow and has sworn to it by his own name: "Your cities will be filled with enemies, like fields filled with locusts, and they will lift their shouts of triumph over you." (Jeremiah 51:12-14)
Here, in this "parenthesis" or psalm inside the prophecy against Iraq, God wants us to remember He is God the Creator and that the people of Israel are His people and a special possession, and although He says they will soon be judged terribly by Him for their sins, He will protect them from their enemies, and will destroy all her enemies, even though all the nations of the world will one day come against her . . .
He [God] made the earth by his power, (Jeremiah 51:15-19)
Here, God says the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will one day destroy many nations . . .
"You [may be the Messiah, Jesus] are my battle-ax and sword," says the LORD. "With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms. [When Jesus returns ... Armageddon] With you I will shatter armies, destroying the horse and rider, the chariot and charioteer. With you I will shatter men and women, old people and children, young men and maidens. With you I will shatter shepherds and flocks, farmers and oxen, captains and rulers. (Jeremiah 51:20-22)
But, He (Messiah) will watch as God uses the Medes and the armies from many nations to destroy Iraq, for God says He is going to 'repay' Iraq for what they have done to Israel . . .
"As you watch, [He will watch this battle from above] I will repay Babylon and the people of Babylonia for all the wrong they have done to my people in Jerusalem," says the LORD. "Look, O mighty mountain, destroyer of the earth! I am your enemy," says the LORD. "I will raise my fist against you, to roll you down from the heights. (Jeremiah 51:23-25)
As with Isaiah, God says here that Iraq will be completely destroyed someday . . .
When I am finished, you (Iraq) will be nothing but a heap of rubble. You will be desolate forever. Even your stones will never again be used for building. You will be completely wiped out," says the LORD. (Jeremiah 51:26)
God will "muster" or mobilize many nations against Iraq . . .
Signal many nations to mobilize for war against Babylon. Sound the battle cry! Bring out the armies of Ararat (Turkey?), Minni, and Ashkenaz. Appoint a leader, and bring a multitude of horses! Bring against her the armies of the kings of the Medes [Kurds] and their generals, and the armies of all the countries they rule. (Jeremiah 51:27-28)
Iraq's military will tremble in fear and pain and the land will be left desolate . . .
Babylon trembles and writhes in pain, for everything the LORD has planned against her stands unchanged. Babylon will be left desolate without a single inhabitant. Her mightiest warriors no longer fight. They stay in their barracks. Their courage is gone. They have become as fearful as women. The invaders have burned the houses and broken down the city gates. Messengers from every side come running to the king to tell him all is lost! All the escape routes are blocked. The fortifications are burning, and the army is in panic. (Jeremiah 51:29-32)
As mentioned earlier, God will someday soon severely judge His people, the Jews in Israel, but He tells the rest of the world to "bless them" and leave them alone, for all who come against Israel and Jerusalem will be judged and destroyed . . .
For the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Babylon is like wheat on a threshing floor, about to be trampled. In just a little while her [bloody] harvest will begin." "King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has eaten and crushed us and emptied out our strength. He has swallowed us like a great monster and filled his belly with our riches. He has thrown us out of our own country. May Babylon be repaid for all the violence she did to us," say the people of Jerusalem. "May the people of Babylonia be paid in full for all the blood they spilled," says Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 51:33-35)
Iraq will never be inhabited again after this judgment is completed against her . . .
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, her water supply, and Babylon will become a heap of rubble, haunted by jackals. It will be an object of horror and contempt, without a single person living there. (Jeremiah 51:36-37)
This portion may project out even further (see "Mystery Babylon" in Revelation 17 - 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 offer of Jesus of shelter and protection (see the "The Coming Apocalypse." . . .
"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. And I will punish Bel, the god of Babylon, and pull from his mouth what he has taken. The nations will no longer come and worship him. The wall of Babylon has fallen. (Jeremiah 51:38-44)
God pleads with all of His lost sheep to return to Him humbly and in faith, through His Son, Jesus Christ . . . and warns all those living in Iraq who will hear and believe His words to flee while there still is time . . .
"Listen, my people [Jews and Christians], flee from Babylon [southern Iraq]. Save yourselves! Run from the LORD's fierce anger. (Jeremiah 51:45)
Interesting prophetic insight and details are given here . . .
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. (Jeremiah 51:46)
For the time is surely coming when I 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 [the Medes/Kurds live in northern Iraq] will come destroying armies against Babylon," 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)
This may refer to the Islamic Mosque that now stands on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem . . . as noted, the 'world' system of money, power, and immorality is also said to have been rooted in ancient Babylon, but now has spread across the world . . . the Bible warns not to love the world, or the things of this world, with its riches or its pleasures, but to simply love God and He will give us contentment and a peaceful heart, even in troublesome times . . . remember, from Bible prophecy it appears the US, with so many of its leaders and people turning away from God in their arrogance, immorality, and unbelief, will someday be 'neutralized' by God . . . many believe the only thing saving the United States today is in its support of Israel . . . for the Lord says "He will bless those who bless [Israel] and will curse those who curse [Israel] . . . the Bible says someday soon Israel will have to stand alone against the world, with God. Guess who the Bible says will win . . . Here, God is speaking to Jews of the Diaspora, scattered around the world . . .
Go, you who escaped the sword! Do not stand and watch--flee while you can! Remember the LORD, even though you are in a far-off land, and think about your home in Jerusalem." [God says Jerusalem is for His people, the Jews] "We are ashamed," the people say. "We are insulted and disgraced because the LORD's Temple has been defiled by foreigners." [Just look at a picture of Jerusalem with the big gold Islamic dome sitting on the Temple Mount] "Yes," says the LORD, "but the time is coming when Babylon's idols will be destroyed. The groans of her wounded people will be heard throughout the land. Though Babylon reaches as high as the heavens, [this goes further than just southern Iraq] and though she increases her strength immeasurably, I will send enemies to plunder her," says the LORD. (Jeremiah 51:50-53)
Listen! Hear the cry of Babylon, the sound of great destruction from the land of the Babylonians. For the LORD is destroying Babylon. He will silence her. Waves of enemies pound against her; the noise of battle rings through the city. Destroying armies come against Babylon. Her mighty men are captured, and their weapons break in their hands. For the LORD is a God who gives just punishment, and he is giving Babylon all she deserves. "I will make drunk her officials, wise men, rulers, captains, and warriors," says the King, whose name is the LORD Almighty. "They will fall asleep and never wake up again!" This is what the LORD Almighty says: "The wide walls of Babylon will be leveled to the ground, and her high gates will be burned. The builders from many lands have worked in vain, for their work will be destroyed by fire!" (Jeremiah 51:54-58)
Jeremiah adds a final epilogue . . .
The prophet Jeremiah gave this message to Zedekiah's staff officer, Seraiah son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. This was during the fourth year of Zedekiah's reign. Jeremiah had recorded on a scroll all the terrible disasters that would soon come upon Babylon. He said to Seraiah, "When you get to Babylon, read aloud everything on this scroll. Then say, `LORD, you have said that you will destroy Babylon so that neither people nor animals will remain here. She will lie empty and abandoned forever.' Then, when you have finished reading the scroll, tie it to a stone, and throw it into the Euphrates River. Then say, `In this same way Babylon and her people will sink, never again to rise, because of the disasters I will bring upon her.'" This is the end of Jeremiah's messages. (Jeremiah 51:59-64)
Note 1: There is also a prophecy of Babylon, or "Mystery Babylon," which refers to a time when Babylon (Iraq) or a Babylon "type" of nation (wealthy, immoral, filled with pride, and unbelief) will become the economic center of the world and will be filled with riches and trading, just before its complete destruction . . .
Note 2: There is also (amazingly enough) a prophecy (in fact a prophetic blessing) concerning "Assyria" (yes, you read it right, Assyria, not Syria) which apparently will be a separate group of people living in the northern Iraq area who will believe in the Messiah (Jesus Christ) and will endure in faith through the troublesome times and persecutions that lie ahead. This will be a separate prophecy note . . .
God says none of His prophecies shall fail . . .
"For
I am God, and there is no other.
"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." (Isa 34:16)
"Indeed I [God] have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, who are far from righteousness . . ." (Isa 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. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the LORD'S anger." (Zeph 2:2-3)
When will all this take place?
I honestly don't know. It may happen soon, prior to the "Great Tribulation" (the Apocalypse), or sometime later, during the coming "Great Tribulation" ... the coming burden (judgment) Iraq will suffer may trigger the series of prophetic events which will culminate in the great battle of Armageddon (in Israel), so the two coming judgments may be separated by several years or may happen around the same time. But, Jesus says . . .
"And what I say to you, I say to all - Watch!" (Mark 13:37 NKJ)
Have a hard time believing in God? Just watch the news. We are living in dangerous times. The above verses are clear. God says He is the one who will bring judgment against Iraq ... and against Israel ... and against all the people and nations of the world who will not turn to the God of Israel, through Jesus Christ . . .
Why? God is warning us. God says He is doing these things both as a warning sign to the world and as verifiable evidence the Bible is the true word of God . . .
Please remember, the Kingdom of Heaven is available to every man, woman, boy, and girl in this world, no matter who they are or where they live, and no matter what they have done. It is freely offered to any and all who will receive it. Simply learn of Jesus, invite Him into your life as Lord, believe He died on the Cross for all of your sins and rose from the grave (proving there is a Kingdom of Heaven ... and a Hell). 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. He shed His blood, suffered, and died on the Cross to save you from the utter torment and darkness of Hell, if you will accept it. That is why Jesus is called Savior. He now lovingly and graciously offers you life in Heaven . . . and 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 (which means you will need a Savior) and ask Jesus to come into your life and honestly try to stop doing (and saying) those things God says are wrong, you will go to Heaven . . . It's God's Promise!!!
The only unpardonable sin is to reject God's love and His free offer of life in Heaven by rejecting Jesus Christ, who stepped forth from Heaven ... not to condemn the sinner, but to save the sinner (from Hell) and who willingly and lovingly shed His blood on the Cross so we can be washed clean of all of our sins. The Bible says there will be no peace in our lives until we make peace with God, through His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible also says there will be no peace on Earth until Jesus Christ returns . . .
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