Bible outlook

Babylon is a fallen city of many kings and tribes that took part in major events throughout biblical history. Nimrod was a mighty hunter before God, the son of Cush, and a descendant of Noah, who rebelled against him by building the Tower of Babel. Why Nimrod built this tower was to protect the planet from another flood, attempting to construct it high enough to reach heaven and to unite a government that would rule over civilization. Instead of multiplying the earth and being fruitful, he tried to establish his own importance in the sight of God and humankind.

As a result, he established his throne to become the first king of the Neo-Babylonian Empire. During Nimrod’s reign, he conquered several key territories that included Mari, Assyria, and Akkad, a prominent city within the land of Shinar, from which he expanded across other regions of the northern hemisphere.

The Babylonian Empire imposed new laws that were inscribed in stone, including the Code of Ur-Nammu (2030 BC), the Code of Lipit Ishtar (1860 BC), and the Code of Hammurabi (1750 BC), which took place during its early stages. New laws would pass by after different kings ruled for short periods of time, until the empire would eventually fall.

Finally, the Neo-Babylonian Empire would come to an end after being conquered by the Persians, led by King Cyrus the Great in 539 BC, when he invaded Babylon at the Battle of Opis. Soon after the Jews were in exile against Babylon would the Persian Empire take over Babylonian territory.

Prior to this event were the prophets who predicted what will take place. In the book of Jeremiah, he tells why they would become exiled and how it relates to the future of the world.

The Weeping Prophet

Jeremiah recorded what must happen to Judah: for God to bring disaster upon them over serving other gods, becoming a nation filled with paganism. Judah broke its covenant with God that was given to the Jews if they would obey its terms.

As a result of their wickedness, God decreed judgment upon Israel on the streets of Jerusalem, with young men being put to death by the sword, and their sons and daughters destroyed by famine. Jeremiah tried to warn these people of this calamity, but the Jews would not listen; instead, they plotted against him to have him killed. Fortunately, God revealed to Jeremiah their plan of attack, and instead of allowing him to be slaughtered by the people, he used him to prophesy in his name — for what would take place at the end of the world.

After being held captive for 70 years, God would promise to repay Babylon for all the evil they did against Zion. The land of Babylon, as we see today, has become a complete desolation, a resting point in the region of Mesopotamia. What Jeremiah is referring to is the new Babylon that is designed to control the inhabitants of the earth through its own religious system.

All nations have drunk of her wine; thus says the Lord: “I will stretch out my hand against her, and bring vengeance upon her, for what she did against the sons of Israel.” Babylon will become a fallen city, and then heaven and earth and all that is in them will shout for joy over it, for the destroyers will come to her from the north (Jeremiah 51:48).

The Babylonian: Part 2 of Ezekiel

Much of what was told by the prophet Jeremiah continues into the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel was another prophet and leader of the Israelites who saw visions. He foresaw God’s judgment to come upon the nations of Judah, the restoration of Israel and their deliverance from Babylon. The restoration of Israel is supposed to mean the new earth, and its deliverance is most often referring to his return.

Just as it was told in the book of Jeremiah, God will unleash his spiritual wrath on Babylon; however, it will be used to destroy the rest of mankind — including both Jews and gentiles. That is unless the Bible is speaking of Israel in the literal sense and not the whole church in general. If Israel were being used literally instead of allegorically, then only the Jews would be delivered from the tribulation period.

The captivity of ancient Israel, during the days that Jeremiah experienced, prophesied, and warned his people about, are to come upon the Israelites again . . . but to save the rest of God’s people. In this case, the entire planet will be taken over by Babylon, or the one world religious system, that is led by the false prophet. Therefore, the church will not be on earth when the tribulation period has begun.

Ezekiel was called to be a watchman of ancient Israel, but in the visions that he received, he warns all people of judgment coming upon the earth: For anyone who hears the trumpet but does not give heed will be taken by the sword (v. 33:4).

The false prophet is indeed the last pope who wants to lead all of Judah and the rest of the world into the antichrist’s system. If Israel were taken literally throughout prophecy, how must we both be set free from the antichrist? Jesus must return before he reveals himself to all of Judaism. There are some Jews who may have converted to Christianity to come along with the gentiles who will be raptured.

How can there be a new earth (or new Jerusalem) without the gentiles being excluded from the doctrine of dispensationalism? Dispensationalism means that Christ will reign in a new Jerusalem for a thousand years after the second coming. But Judaism has no effect on Christianity for what’s to be fulfilled in the end times. Instead, Christianity will have an effect on what happens to Judaism—that is, if the Jews refuse to repent before Christ returns. Not only would the Jews be left behind, but Israel will become a fallen nation after the fall of Babylon. Because if a new earth is equal to a new Israel, we must all follow Judaism and Christianity at the same time.

In the book of Ezekiel, God reveals to us his visions that speak about the sinful nation of Israel. He sees how they have become a rebellious people full of abominations for Babylon to fall on their shoulders. But because of the captivity of ancient Judah, He will bring Babylon into destruction within all nations that drink of her wine. All nations include Israel, not only due to their wickedness but also because of the false religion of Judaism. Since most Israelites await the true messiah, how can a new earth reign there for a thousand years when the body of Christ is our kingdom?

In covenant theology, Israel, being the church in general, has to reside in his one body outside of the earth’s destruction. How can the kingdom of God also represent a new earth in a land that’s against Jesus?

Surely, the transgressions are upon all nations of the world, so the Lord must be speaking to all people within the house of Israel to depart from their evil way. What will the nation of Israel become if they’re looking for someone to rescue them from war, famine, and waves of genocide, as well as the threat of a nuclear holocaust?

Judaism is on the lookout for another savior—a false messiah who will lead them into exile—against the Babylonian system that deceives the world. The Antichrist will cause many people to think that he will restore Israel or destroy its existence. It is God who will judge the literal nation of Israel but restore his people, “O house of Israel.” His church will be caught up in the air in a twinkling of an eye at the moment of the last trumpet.

Israel will have become a fallen nation because of its wickedness, according to Ezekiel:

“He will make the land a desolation and waste, her proud might will come to an end, and none will pass through its mountains, for because of their wickedness, he will destroy the land and make known that he is the Lord” (33:28-29).

So how can Israel become a renewed earth if God is against the land but for his own people? We are not part of Judaism; we are not part of the Babylonian or papal system; and we do not follow the beast spirit, but the spirit of Christ alone as our fortress.

The Fall of Babylon

During the seventy-year exile of ancient Judah, a young man named Daniel was taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar. Everything that was foretold by the prophet Isaiah was becoming true. The city of Jerusalem had been besieged because the Jews refused to listen to the prophets who warned them of judgment coming upon them over serving false gods. When Isaiah warned the people of this invasion, they did not take heed; but instead, they continued their evil ways, just as they did in the days of Jeremiah, in the days of Ezekiel, and finally, throughout the years that Daniel experienced. 

After Daniel was held captive, he was thrown into a lion’s den by Nebuchadnezzar, who was troubled by these dreams that he kept receiving from God. But God gave Daniel a chance to interpret his visions by delivering him from the wild beasts. Instead of allowing him to be devoured by them, he gave him the ability to see what will take place at the end times, by interpreting symbols that were shown to the king, who was unable to discern their meaning.

Daniel saw the first beast come up out of the sea, including a lion which had eagle’s wings, with the mind of a man that was given to it, and another beast, one that was like a bear, having three ribs in its mouth that was told to devour much flesh. And the third beast was like a leopard, having four heads and wings on its back, that was given dominion over the nations. Finally, there was the fourth beast that was different from all the other creatures that Daniel saw. It had ten horns that led to a little horn which rises up to represent the Antichrist himself.

These four creatures are to represent four separate kingdoms:

• Babylon — the lion with eagle wings
• Medo-Persia — the bear
• Greece — the leopard
• The Roman Empire — the seven headed beast

All Roads Lead to Rome

As for the little horn, it represents the papal system, of which the Antichrist uses to lead people into his mark of the beast technology—or the number of his name—that will bring people into perdition; thus, if they choose to receive it. Those who do not receive his mark will suffer much and be under attack by the antichrist during the seventieth week that’s also taught in the book of Daniel. That will be the beginning of the 7-year tribulation period in which those who are left behind will have the option to receive his mark or to escape final judgment.

Each symbol that is discussed in the book of Daniel ultimately points to Rome and the revived Roman Empire that will take over the whole planet, leading people astray into a false religious system. But he will use Israel by making people believe that a third temple will be rebuilt in the holy city. The third temple, also known as the abomination of desolation, is taught to mean that God will put an end to pagan sacrifices and offerings set up by the antichrist in Jerusalem.

The northern king will send his army to do terrible things to the temple in Jerusalem. They will stop the people from offering the daily sacrifice. Then they will set up that terrible thing that causes destruction.

Daniel 11:31

According to dispensationalists, a third temple will be built there after the second coming, and the Jews will accept Jesus as their messiah. However, there will not be a third temple reconstructed in the holy land of Jerusalem, but in the resurrected body of Jesus. The rebuilding of a physical temple in Jerusalem was abandoned by Christ in judgment against the Jewish people to restore the gentile world.

There was also a statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream that only Daniel could interpret: it was a giant sculpture made of different metals and clay, much like the creatures mentioned earlier, with both visions representing the same four kingdoms. The golden head represents Babylon; its legs of iron, Rome; its silver arms and chest, Medo-Persia; its bronze belly and thighs, Grecia; and the stone that’s thrown at it represents Christ.

After Daniel saw these visions, the Lord spoke to him by saying:

“I will set up my kingdom that shall never be destroyed, and bring to an end all of these empires that are standing in my way, just as you saw a stone break into pieces this statue made of iron, bronze, clay, silver and gold” (2:44–45).