Ancient Babylon was founded immediately after the Flood, and it represents man’s blatant disobedience against God and His order to “be prolific and increase, so that the world may be filled” (Genesis. 9:1). As a result, the establishment of the dominion of man in Babylon was a direct act of rebellion against God. In order to disperse disobedient humans, God intercedes and confuses their languages. Because of God’s punishment on them, the prophets renamed Nimrod’s city Babel, which means “babel” in Hebrew (Genesis 11:1-9). The construction of the Tower of Babel was humanity’s first coordinated effort to thwart God’s plan. People created this first post-flood metropolis specifically to thwart God’s plan for the future of humanity. The people desired unification, power, and independence from God. Babel was to be the location of a superpower state. “Babylon, the city of man attempting to ascend to the heavenly realm, was constructed in direct contravention to God’s design.”
When God led the Southern Kingdom of Israel (Judah) into captivity for seventy years in the sixth century B.C., Babylon was once again in the forefront of the battle. It was at this period that God revealed several of His prophetic visions to Daniel. Babylon is the first of four major kingdoms to develop during the “days of the Gentiles,” and it is the most powerful of them all (Dan. 2 and 7). History tells that Babylon continued to deteriorate until people abandoned it around 200 C.E. The Holy Scriptures teach that people will restore Babylon symbolically during the dictatorship of the Antichrist. Watch for Mystery Babylon to ascend to become a dominating power in the world’s religious, economic, political, and military spheres, as prophesied in Revelation 17-18 and Daniel 10-12, and then it will collapse under fiery destruction.
THE FUTURE OF BABYLON
Babylon has played an important role in history and prophecy indicates it will play a central role in the future. Babylon will likely become the capital for the Anti-Messiah during the coming seven-year tribulation. Ancient Babylon was the most important city in the world for about 2,000 years in the past and the Bible tells us that she will be revived and brought onto the end-time stage symbolically as Mystery Babylon to play a leading role (Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17- 18). End-times prophecy demands that the rebuilt future Babylon is an important city in world affairs during the tribulation. The prophets portray future Babylon in Revelation 17- 18 as the source of ungodly religion, government, and economics. Virtually all unrighteous, end-time aspects of society originate from a Babylonian source. There are six types of Babylon recorded in Scripture. The first Babylon began with King Nimrod. The second Babylon continued with King Nebuchadnezzar II. The third Babylon is a future military power. The fourth Babylon is a future religious power. The fifth Babylon is a future economic power. And the sixth Babylon is a future political power.
THE FIRST BABYLON – NIMROD
The first Babylon began with the Kingdom of Nimrod when he built the step pyramid Tower of Babel. Nimrod was Cush’s son and Ham’s grandson (Genesis 10:8; 1 Chronicles 1:10). “The first man of power on earth” and “a formidable hunter” (Genesis 10:8-9). Nimrod founded the first great empire. He possibly reigned over Babylon, Akkad, and Nineveh in southern Mesopotamia. The term “land of Nimrod” seems to represent Assyria (Micah 5:6). The Old Testament mentions Nimrod as a man of unbending character. He has remarkable abilities. Some academics link him to a 13th century B.C. Mesopotamian monarch who unified Assyria and Babylon. However, this contradicts the passage linking him to Cush, son of Ham, and refers to a connection with the south of Egypt (Genesis 10:8). Nimrod’s popularity and name are firmly entrenched in Judaism and Islam. In the former, he represents both divine wrath and earthly military force. People practiced idolatry and divine allegiance pledged in the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9). The Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9) is “the house of Nimrod” where idolatry was practiced and divine allegiance offered to Nimrod. A few prophecy teachers believe that Nimrod became a Nephilim hybrid.
THE SECOND BABYLON – NEBUCHADNEZZAR II
The second Babylon is the Kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar when he conquered the Middle Eastern powers. Nebuchadnezzar was a king of Babylon (606 -562 BC) who captured and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC He was the son of Nabopolassar and the foremost ruler of the Neo-Babylonian Empire (612-538 BC). The events of the book of Daniel center on Babylon and Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel was among the captives taken to Babylon in 606 BC. Nebuchadnezzar became aware of Daniel when the king had a dream that none of his occult experts could interpret. The Lord gave to Daniel the interpretation of the dream. The metallic human image that the king saw in his dream represented future empires from the New Babylonian Empire to the reign of the Messiah. Babylon was the first Empire represented by the statues head of gold. Persia was the second empire represented by the statues chest and arms of silver. Greece was the third empire represented by the statues stomach and thighs of bronze. Finally, Rome represented the fourth empire represented by legs of iron and feet mixed with iron and clay, and the future revived Roman Empire, which God destroyed with a stone cut out of a mountain.
THE THIRD BABYLON – MILITARY SUPERPOWER
The third Babylon is a future military superpower. The prophets describe this empire symbolically in Daniel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Revelation. This empire will defeat opposing forces throughout the Middle East and North Africa, and elsewhere worldwide. This empire will be a confederation of 10 powerful nations. The Eastern leg of this 10-nation confederation will probably include Turkey, Iraq, Assyria, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Parts of this Eastern leg will be destroyed by fire when the portions of the geographical region of Iran and Iraq and never to be rebuilt again. The Western leg of this confederation will probably include Germany, France, England, Italy, and Greece. This military superpower will be equipped with the most advanced nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons in history.
THE FOURTH BABYLON – RELIGIOUS SUPERPOWER
The fourth Babylon is a future religious superpower. The Holy Scriptures call this Babylon Mystery Babylon in Revelation 13 and 17. The false prophet of Revelation 13 will lead this pagan Babylonian religion. The false prophet will successfully unify Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, and paganism with false miracles and lying signs and wonders. The Antichrist will murder millions of people who reject his pagan religious system. He will resurrect the ancient mystery religions from antiquity. The mystery religions originated in the East, including the cults of Cybele (Asia Minor), Isis (Egypt), Mithras (Persia), and Emesa, the Unconquerable Sun (Syria), whose birthday was celebrated on 25 December. The mystery religions had extensive initiatory procedures. Most had a savior-god who died and rose again. Baptism was typically part of a mystery religion’s ritual of initiation. This mystery religion will be centered around Rome Italy and Saudia Arabia.
THE FIFTH BABYLON – ECONOMIC SUPERPOWER
The fifth Babylon is a future economic superpower. This Babylon is mentioned in Revelation 18. It will be the end-time worldwide economic system. It will enslave the world through commerce, trade, slavery, and petroleum. This economic power will probably operate in London England, Rome Italy, and Saudi Arabia. The beast’s mark is required to deal in commercial or economic transactions involving physical survival. Maybe it helps identify potential martyrs (verses 7-10). It contrasts with the seal of God identifying God’s servants in verse 7:1-8. Thus, in this vision, humanity is split into two classes: Christ disciples and Antichrist followers.
THE SIXTH BABYLON – POLITICAL SUPERPOWER
The sixth Babylon is a future political superpower centered in the region of Iraq, Iran, Assyria, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. This Babylon will be the Eastern Leg of the Revived Roman Empire. The Holy Scriptures mention the Revived Roman Empire in Daniel 2, 7, 10, 11, and 12 and Revelation 17 and 18. The Revived Roman Empire will rule over the entire globe and it will include a Western and an Eastern region. The Western powers will probably include, but not be limited to England, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy; while the Eastern powers will probably include, but not be limited to, Iraq, Syria, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
BABYLON SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS
The word “Babylon” is mystery for many prophecy teachers. Babylon, as described in the Holy Scriptures, sometimes refers primarily to its history under Nimrod and Nebuchadnezzar II; its future religious system; its future political system; its future economic system, and its future military power. The historic Babylon is found primarily in Genesis chapter 11 and Daniel chapters 1 to 7. Political, religious, and economic Babylon is found in primarily Revelation 17 and 18. Military Babylon is found symbolically in Jeremiah 51 and Daniel chapters 10 to 11.
For some prophecy teachers, there is controversy over several questions: Will a literal city called Babylon be rebuilt on the historic site of ancient Babylon, to become the greatest city on earth during the tribulation? Or, is Babylon symbolic of a great political, military, and commercial center or another great city on earth that will be destroyed? Because Revelation 17 to 18 describes future Babylon as a MYSTERY, some prophecy teachers believe Babylon will be located in several places worldwide. Some prophecy teachers identify the future religious and economic Babylon as New York City in America, London England in Britain, Vatican City in Rome Italy, and Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. However, only time will reveal if these modern cities are associated with prophetic MYSTERY BABYLON.
Finally, the Holy Scriptures portray Babylon as a humanistic,
RELATED SOURCES
The Islamic Anti-Christ; John Preacher; 2012. God’s War on Terror; Walid Shoebat; 2008. Prophecy Islam and the Bible DVD; Walid Shoebat; 2008. Unleashing the Beast; Perry Stone; 2010. Understanding the Times; Joel Richardson; 2008. The Book of Revelation DVD; Perry Stone; 2013. The Cosmic Conspiracy; Stan Deyo; 2010. Deciphering End-Time Prophetic Codes; Perry Stone; 2015. Easton Bible Dictionary. The Smith Bible Dictionary. The Holmon Bible Dictionary. The Enclopaedia Britannica. Ice, Thomas., and Demy, Timohty. “Fast Facts on Bible Prophecy.” Harvest House Publishers. 1997. Duck, Daymond R., and Richards, Larry Ph.D. “Gods Word for the Biblically-Inept Series”. Starburst Publishers. 2000. Prophecy Plus Ministries Daymond & Rachel Duck; Epicenter by Joel Rosenberg; The Next World War by Dr. Grant Jeffrey; and Isralestine by Bill Salus. Unlocking the Bible Code Program; Bible Code 2000 Plus Program. Bible Code Matrix by Eliot Elwar; Torah Code Matrix by Rabbi Galzerson. Revelation Road by Bill Salus; In Defense Of Israel by John Hagee; and Atomic Iran by Mike Evans; Rapture Ready Articles on Babylon. Maurice Sklar Visions of Six Babylons