Babylon Ruins Reopen in Iraq, to Controversy

Posted by on 3 May 2009 | 0 Comments

In the News...

The New York Times.  By STEVEN LEE MYERS.  Published: May 3, 2009

BABYLON, Iraq — After decades of dictatorship and disrepair, Iraq is celebrating its renewed sovereignty over the Babylon archaeological site — the “liberation” of it and other archeological sites, as one official put it — by fighting over the place, over its past and future and, of course, over its spoils. Time long ago eroded the sun-dried bricks that shaped ancient Babylon, the city of Hammurabi and Nebuchadnezzar, where Daniel read the writing on the wall and Alexander the Great died.

Mohammed Taher, an archaeologist and former director of the ruins who opposes reopening Babylon, said what was being done now was little better than what had been done before. “I would like to rebuild Babylon again for scientific research, not like Saddam,” he said as he guided visitors through the remains of Ishtar Gate with bas reliefs of Babylon’s gods; the Temple of Ninmakh; the Processional Way, with brick paving stones mortared with bitumen; and a symbol of Iraq itself, the Lion of Babylon, a 2,600-year-old sculpture.

What was clear during his tour was that nothing had been done to prepare the place for its official opening, now scheduled for June 1. No gates or fences prevent rambunctious tourists from rambling over ruins that can crumble like sand. Its shops, cafe and a museum remain abandoned, shuttered and dusty.  Read More

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Donnie's Remarks...

Is it me or are there more and more news articles, with direct prophetic significance, popping up on the front pages these days?   But this is exactly what we should expect as we get closer and closer to the end times.  Jesus warned us that once things begin to start up, they will gain momentum and occur with great rapidity.

Revelation 22:7 (NASB77)
[7] "And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book."

'Quickly' comes from the Greek word 'tachy'.  We get our word 'tachometer' from it.  Think RPMs.  So, when the 'end times engine' starts, things will begin to 'rev up' very quickly.

This news story may help us to answer a critical question about Babylon.  From a prophetic point of view it is difficult to know whether Mystery Babylon is a metaphor that represents some kind of evil system, or if it refers to the rebuilding of the literal city of Babylon.   Interestingly, the prophet Isaiah calls the Antichrist, the King of Babylon. 

Isaiah 14:3-4 (NIV)
[3] On the day the LORD gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage,
[4] you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended! 

Will Antichrist come to rule Iraq some day soon?   Could it be that the Antichrist will get involved in the restoration of literal Babylon and make it one of his capital cities/thrones as he rises to power?   I am beginning to think Babylon is the literal city in Iraq.  Let's keep watching!