THE TWO BABYLONS IN REVELATION

PART FOUR 

UNFULFILLED OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES ABOUT BABYLON


UNFULFILLED OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY (1)

Let us begin by looking at an unfulfilled Old Testament prophecy about Babylon in Zechariah 5:5-11 of both the Catholic Revised Standard Version and the Protestant King James Version 

 Then the angel who talked with me came forward and said to me, “Lift your eyes, and see what this is that goes forth.” And I said, “What is it?” He said, “This is the ephah that goes forth.” And he said, “This is their iniquity[a] in all the land.” And behold, the leaden cover was lifted, and there was a woman sitting in the ephah! And he said, “This is Wickedness.” And he thrust her back into the ephah, and thrust down the leaden weight upon its mouth. Then I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, two women coming forward! The wind was in their wings; they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between earth and heaven. 10 Then I said to the angel who talked with me, “Where are they taking the ephah?” 11 He said to me, “To the land of Shinar, to build a house for it; and when this is prepared, they will set the ephah down there on its base.” (Zechariah 5:5-11 Catholic Revised Standard Version)  

Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. (6) And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. (7) And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. (8) And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. (9) Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. (10) Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? (11) And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base. (Zechariah 5:5-11, King James Version)

The “Land of Shinar” in Zechariah 5:11 is Babylon (See map above.) - This prophecy in Zechariah 5:5-11 was given in 522 BC during the reign of Darius . . . 20 years AFTER the ‘fall of Babylon’ in 539 BC . . . so, this prophecy regarding the “Land of Shinar” (Babylon) must represent a future fulfillment. [1]

The “ephah” in the prophecy was a basket that held about 3 pints beyond a bushel. Both the ephah and the lead weight are units of measurement, and in this prophecy of Zechariah, they are symbols of commerce. The woman in the basket was representative of wickedness. When putting all three together, the woman, the measure basket, and the lead weight measure, they are representations of wicked greed for profit, materialism, and use of dishonesty for profit.


When the Jewish people returned from Babylon to Jerusalem (after their captivity), they had both a ‘materialism' and 'greed problem’. They only cared about one thing … their possessions! They felt their own homes and money were the important thing and that they would wait to build the Temple.

Haggi 1:2 -  “This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built”.

They had it in their minds that they would build the Temple when it was convenient for them. The people had turned away from God and Haggi told them the reasons why they had done this. It was because they were greedy for things. They only thought about themselves and having possessions. He encouraged them to put God first, build the Temple, and then they would be blessed by God. They obeyed and rebuilt the Temple.[2] 

Zechariah was called by God to prophesy to those Jews who had returned from Babylon regarding their materialism problem. The vision he had from God in Zechariah 5:5-11 spoke to this problem...

And he thrust her [the woman ‘wickedness’] back into the ephah, and thrust down the leaden weight upon its mouth.”   

In this verse God demonstrates His authority over evil [“wickedness”], then in Zechariah 5:9-11, He removes “wickedness” from Jerusalem and sends it [wickedness, greed, materialism, dishonest commercial dealings for profit, etc.] all back to where it originated in the “land of Shinar” [Babylon], where it will eventually be destroyed forever around the Seventh Bowl (Vial) Judgment in Revelation 16:17-21. [3] 

The basket, lead weight cover, and the woman “wickedness” in the prophecy of Zechariah 5:5-11, symbolize the ‘World-wide, 666 Mark of the Beast Commercial System’ (“wickedness”) that will be set up on its BASE” in Babylon, Iraq, and will then be used to support Antichrist’s evil “One World Commerce System”.



UNFULFILLED OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY (2)

In Isaiah 13:19, the Bible predicts that the final condition of Babylon after its destruction will be similar to that of Sodom and Gomorrah, namely the complete and utter desolation of the city as a result of massive amounts of fire. 

Old Testament Scripture says in Jeremiah 50 and 51… 

But she will be completely desolate... (Jeremiah 50:13) -- But you will be desolate forever," declares the LORD....To make the land of Babylon A desolation without inhabitants. (Jeremiah 51:26, 29) -- Her cities have become an object of horror, A parched land and a desert ... (Jeremiah 51:43) . . . there will be nothing dwelling in it, whether man or beast, but it will be a perpetual desolation. (Jeremiah 51:62) 


The trees and green growth immediately surrounding the protected active-archaeological research grounds of today's ancient Babylon


The square flat-base above is all that remains of what is believed to be the foundation of the original Tower of Babel. - Please notice the lush green vegetation and palm trees in the above two photographs. 


Babylon is certainly not desolated like the modern day photo of Sodom and Gomorrah below -->

Ruins of Sodom and Gomorrah

So, from the above photos it can be ascertained that Jeremiah's prophecies about Babylon becoming totally desolate after its final destruction has not yet been fulfilled.



UNFULFILLED OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY (3)

In Isaiah 13:20, the it is predicted in the Old Testament for Babylon

It [Babylon] shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.”

Arab workers who dwell in nearby villages within ancient Babylon are seen here working on an excavation site in the ancient ruins of Babylon. Archaeologist Robert Koldewey, in his 1914 book ‘Excavations At Babylon’, reports that as many as 250 workers reported DAILY for nearly 20 years (1899-1917) at the digs.

Workers building a new school on the grounds of Babylon


Workers on the walls of ancient Babylon


ARABIC VILLAGE OF JUMJUMMA ON GROUNDS OF BABYLON 

    

RESIDENTS OF JUMJUMMA WHO IN INHABIT BIBLICAL BABYLON TODAY

Map above showing residential, public, and commercial LAND DEEDS numbered by ownership WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES of Babylon TODAY! 

I believe that it should be obvious from all of the above photos that ancient Babylon is still inhabited and thereby the Old Testament prophecy of Isaiah concerning Babylon not being inhabited after its destruction has not yet been fulfilled



 UNFULFILLED OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY (4)

In Isaiah 13:20b, it is predicted in the Old Testament for Babylon … 

neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there." 


So, above is ‘photographic evidence’ that Arabs have pitched tents on ancient Babylon grounds since its fall in 539 BC, and thereby Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah 13:20b concerning Arabs not pitching tents in ancient Babylon after its final destruction has not yet been fulfilled.




 UNFULFILLED OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY (5) 

In Jeremiah 51:26, it is predicted in the Old Testament for Babylon … 

"And they will not take from you even a stone for a corner, Nor a stone for foundations, But you will be desolate forever," declares the LORD. 


The above photo is of an actual Babylon-building-stone taken from the thousands upon thousands of Babylon-"mud-bricks" which have been used over centuries to build the houses and buildings of the city of Hillah, which was founded upon the ruins of Babylon in 1101 AD. – Please note the ancient Babylonian text inscribed on the Stone.

 

Typical house made of ‘mud-bricks’ at Hillah which were taken from the nearby ruins of Ancient Babylon.


A house at Hillah revealing the “mud- bricks") taken from the ancient Babylon-ruins from which it was constructed. 

The ‘photographic evidence’ above proves that “mud-bricks” ["stones"] from ancient Babylon grounds have been used to reconstruct other buildings since its fall in 539 BC, and thereby Jeremiah’s Old Testament prophecy in Jeremiah 51:26 concerning the reusing of stones from ancient Babylon after its final destruction has not yet been fulfilled.



 UNFULFILLED OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY (6)  

In Isaiah 13:20c of the Old Testament it is predicted for Babylon …

neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.” 

 

Babylon Shepherd Children & Sheep by Euphrates River, 1914   


BABYLON WIDOWS & ORPHANS WITH SHEEP AT BABYLON (2016) 

 

ARAB SHEPHERDS WITH SHEEP

The ‘photographic evidence’ above proves that Arabs shepherds have flocked their sheep on ancient Babylon grounds since its fall in 539 BC, and thereby Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy in Isaiah 13:20c has not yet been fulfilled.



UNFULFILLED OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY (7) 

In Jeremiah 51:43, it is predicted in the Bible's Old Testament for Babylon … 

 “Her cities ... A land in which no man lives, And through which no son of man passes”. (Jeremiah 51:43)   



Babylon's Greek Theater (rebuilt on original site), and the crowds of people which "pass through Babylon" TODAY! 


Visitors to ancient Babylon observe the map of the "Land of Babylon"      


Students from Hillah view ancient ruins of Babylon unguided 

The ‘photographic evidence’ above proves that people still pass through ancient Babylon grounds since its fall in 539 BC, and thereby Jeremiah’s Old Testament prophecy in Jeremiah 51:43 has not yet been fulfilled. [4]       


BELOW ARE SOME GOOGLE IMAGES OF MODERN DAY PARTIALLY REBUILT ANCIENT BABYLON WHICH PROVE THAT BABYLON IS NOT YET DESOLATE!  

 

Ishtar Gate  

Procession Way - Hillah, Iraq [Babylon]     

A General View of Rebuilt Ruins of Ancient Babylon     

Saddam Hussein Palace Built on Grounds of Babylon

    Ancient Babylon, Iraq - 2024  


 

UNFULFILLED PROPHECY (7)


Looking at Isaiah 13:1-2; 4-6; 9-11; 13, 17 & 19, we are able to determine the timing of the destruction of Babylon in this prophecy of Isaiah, and to understand who the perpetrators are that will accomplish the complete destruction of future Babylon, Iraq for God.   


Isaiah 13:1-2; 4-6; 9-11; 13, 17, & 19, (Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition)  (1-2) The oracle concerning Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw. On a bare hill [Megiddo] raise a signal, cry aloud to them; wave the hand for them [the Medes, the modern day Kurds, see verse 17] to enter the gates of the nobles [Babylon].    (4-6) Hark, a tumult on the mountains as of a great multitude! Hark, an uproar of kingdoms, of nations gathering together! The Lord of hosts is mustering a host for battle. They come from a distant land, from the end of the heavens, the Lord and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole earth. Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; as destruction from the Almighty it will come! (9-11) Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with wrath and fierce anger, to make the earth a desolation and to destroy its sinners from it. 10 For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light; the sun will be dark at its rising and the moon will not shed its light. 11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant, and lay low the haughtiness of the ruthless. (13) Therefore I will make the heavens tremble, and the earth will be shaken out of its place, at the wrath of the Lord of hosts in the day of his fierce anger.   (17) Behold, I am stirring up the Medes [modern day Kurds] against them, who have no regard for silver and do not delight in gold. 
(19) And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pride of the Chalde′ans, will be like Sodom and Gomor′rah  when God overthrew them.

Isaiah 13:1-2; 4-6; 9-11; 13, 17 & 19, (King James Bible) (1-2)  The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. (2) Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain [Megiddo], exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they [ Medes, modern day Kurdistan - Kurds, - verse 17] may go into the gates of the nobles.   (9-11) Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. (10) For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their lightthe sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine. (11) And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.     (13) Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the LORD of hosts, and in the day of his fierce anger.     (17Behold, I will stir up the Medes [modern day Kurdistan – the Kurds] against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.     (19And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.    

When we interpret the above passages of Old Testament Scripture literally, they state that when the OBVIOUS SIGNS of the Battle of Armageddon, and Jesus Christ’s return to earth are seen in the Heavens, then the city of Babylon, Iraq shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 

In all the Old Testament prophecies that I have mentioned so far in this article, they all clearly indicate that they refer to the Babylon that was geographically located in the area of ancient Babylon, thereby eliminating the possibility that these prophetic scriptures could be focused on a symbolic Babylon (another city) located elsewhere in the world. 

Yet some Bible interpreters insist upon interpreting the word “Babylon” in a symbolic sense so that it can represent New York City, USA, or some other large city in the world. But the Scripture wording is very clear in all the foregoing passages of Scripture, that only the Babylon that was in existence at the time of Jeremiah and Isaiah, can be intended. Therefore, the Babylon portrayed in Isaiah 13 and Jeremiah 51 at the time of its destruction (just before the Battle of Armageddon commences in the future), will be the Babylon that is made up today of ancient Babylon, and the adjacent modern-day city of Hillah, Iraq. 


Babylon will receive destruction [be divided into three parts] by an earthquake from God … “such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great”. (This has never happened to Babylon before, and this earthquake will occur during the seventh and last plague upon the earth, just before Armageddon and the Return of Christ. - Revelation 16:16-21). Babylon must then be violently attacked and burned with fire by the Kurds which are the modern day Medes of Kurdistan (Isaiah 13:17, Revelation 18:8-10). 


 ~ THE KURDS ~   

Who are the Kurds? – The Kurdish people are an ethnic minority group without an official state. Before World War I, Kurds lived a nomadic lifestyle until the breakup of the Ottoman Empire, which stripped them of their freedom and divided them across several nation states. 

Today, there are an estimated 25-30 million Kurds, the majority living in a region that stretches across parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Syria and Armenia. Most Kurds are Sunni Muslims, but the Kurdish population has diverse cultural, social, religious and political traditions as well as a variety of dialects. 

The Kurds have never achieved nation-state status, except in Iraq, where they have a regional government called Iraqi Kurdistan. 

In some areas, Kurds have struggled to maintain their identity and continue to face discrimination and policies of persecution. In Turkey, for example, they’re often referred to as “Mountain Turks,” forbidden to wear traditional Kurdish outfits, speak their language or give their children Kurdish names. They continue to face discrimination and policies of persecution. 

In the early 20th century, the Kurds began working toward the creation of homeland known as Kurdistan. In 1920, the Treaty of Sèvres – one of a series of treaties that the Central Powers signed after their defeat in World War I – outlined the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire and called for an autonomous Kurdistan. 

Three years later, after the end of the war, Western allies dropped demands for an independent Kurdish state and the Kurdish region was divided among several countries. ` 

Today, Kurdistan is made up of five different regions: southeastern Turkey, northeastern Syria, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran and southwestern Armenia. 


KURDISTAN DIVIDED INTO FIVE REGIONS


Web Source:  https://edition.cnn.com/2019/10/09/world/kurds-in-syria-explainer-trnd/index.html


~ KURDISTAN IN END TIME SCRIPTURE ~

What importance will Kurdistan and the Kurds have in End Times Scripture? -- 

The following quote by Jack Kelly, “Grace Thru Faith Ministry” helps to answer that question…

[BEGIN QUOTE} - Isaiah 13 … A Prophecy Against Babylon - An oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw: 

Raise a banner on a bare hilltop, shout to them; beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles. I have commanded my holy ones; I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath—those who rejoice in my triumph.  

Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The LORD Almighty is mustering an army for war.  They come from faraway lands, from the ends of the heavens—the LORD and the weapons of his wrath— to destroy the whole country.  

Wail, for the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty. Because of this, all hands will go limp, every man’s heart will melt. Terror will seize them, pain and anguish will grip them; they will writhe like a woman in labor. They will look aghast at each other, their faces aflame.  

See, the day of the LORD is coming —a cruel day, with wrath and fierce anger—to make the land desolate and destroy the sinners within it. The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light.  

I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. I will make man scarcer than pure gold, more rare than the gold of Ophir. (Isaiah 13:1-12

Isaiah begins with a general statement identifying when Babylon’s ultimate destruction will come. It will be during the time when the Lord judges the world for its evil, a time often called The Day Of The Lord, or the Great Tribulation. To make sure we understand this, we see the same reference to the sun, moon, and stars in Matthew 24:29 where they signal the end of the Great Tribulation.

Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger. Like a hunted gazelle, like sheep without a shepherd, each will return to his own people, each will flee to his native land. Whoever is captured will be thrust through; all who are caught will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses will be looted and their wives ravished. See, I will stir up against them the Medes, who do not care for silver and have no delight in gold. Their bows will strike down the young men; they will have no mercy on infants nor will they look with compassion on children. (Isaiah 13:13-18) 

The Medes were partners with the Persians who conquered Babylon in 539 BC. But nothing like what’s described here happened at that timeAs foretold in Isaiah 45, the Medes and Persians took [ancient] Babylon without a battle. In fact it was several days before all the residents discovered they had become a Persian City.


The Medes, called Kurds today, are a fiercely independent people whose homeland straddles the borders of Turkey, Iran and Iraq. Having been persecuted by all three countries, and particularly by Iraq, it won’t take any special incentive for them to settle their score with Babylon when the time comes. Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flocks there. [END QUOTE]

Web Source: https://gracethrufaith.com/end-times-prophecy/the-end-times-according-to-isaiah-part-4/


~ THE KURDISH MILITARY ~   

The Kurdish Military is called “Peshmerga” and it is known for its ‘female fighters’ battling right along-side their male comrades. “Peshmerga”, means, those who face death”. 

The Kurds are a fierce fighting force. The Peshmerga was a force to be reckoned with when ISIS terrorists launched an unexpected attack on Iraqi-Kurdistan in August 2014. - Its fighters heroically held off an invasion on the city of Kobane in 2014 a brutal four-month battle in which they took back the strategically important Mosul Dam.


Kurdish Peshmerga fighters march during their Graduation Ceremony at the Erbil Infantry military center in Soran, Iraq


Balaclava-clad fighters show how ready they are for combat


A pair of soldiers sink their teeth into a snake at graduation ceremony to illustrate the savage and fierce character of the Peshmerga warriors


Kurdish Peshmerga Special Forces demonstrate their skills


These fearsome graduating female warriors are now ready for battle after graduation


These graduating Kurdish warriors are now ready for anything hostile neighbors can throw at them


Web Source for  above photos: 

https://metro.co.uk/2020/02/12/kurdish-soldiers-tear-apart-snakes-rabbits-teeth-graduation-ceremony-12230591/


The Iraqi Kurdish force is renowned for its fight against ISIS. The role of the Peshmerga was key in the eventual toppling of Saddam Hussein in Iraq.


Kurdistan’s Peshmerga Female Warriors Take on Isis

Kurdish Troop Movement


When the ISIS forces burst onto the battlefield in Syria and Iraq capturing large swathes of land, infrastructure and resources, the Kurdish Peshmerga mobilized while the Iraqi Army fell into full retreat.   

Web Source: https://thekurdishproject.org/history-and-culture/kurdish-nationalism/kurdish-peshmerga/


The Peshmerga will most probably be the fighting force in the End Time that will completely destroy the city of Babylon and the Antichrist’s “One World Commercial Headquarter” in Babylon, Iraq at the end of the Great Tribulation Period.      




END NOTES

[1] WIKIPEDIA, “Book of Zechariah”, Accessed September 8, 024, Web: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Zechariah

[2] EE, “Haggi and the Problem of Materialism”, Accessed September 8, 2024, Web: https://www.easyenglish.bible/study/their-problems-and-ours/haggai-and-the-problem-of-materialism/

[3] BLUE LETTER BIBLE, “Two Visions Regarding the Cleansing of God’s People”, Accessed September 3, 2024, Web: https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/zechariah/zechariah-5.cfm

[4] BIBLE PROPHECY AS WRITTEN, “Will Babylon Be Rebuilt in the Last Days?”, Accessed November 3, 2024, Web:  https://bibleprophecyaswritten.com/babylon-to-be-rebuilt-1/