Iraq Rebuilding Babylon

Considerable interest has been aroused among students of the prophetic Scriptures following reports that the Iraqis have begun to restore ancient Babylon, the city made famous by Nebuchadnezzar. He proudly boasted: "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?" (Dan. 4:30).

The immediate emphasis ~ on redeveloping the ancient city as a major tourist attraction. The main hotel is to resemble the Babylonian ziggurat, so will be designed on the lines of a huge terraced pyramid. Other hotels, restaurants and cultural centres are to be built in character with ancient Babylonian architecture, as gleaned from archaeological inscriptions and drawings.

To publicize the development a musical festival was promoted last autumn, featuring many internationally recognized performers. Locations such as Nebuchadnezzar's banqueting hall, and his outdoor theatre, were chosen for some of the festival's performances. The whole exercise was designed to awaken world-wide interest in the revival of Babylon.

From a scriptural standpoint this project touches the much discussed question whether Revelation chapter 18 indicates a literal city at the time of the end in the area of ancient Babylon, or should be figuratively understood. The Babylon of Revelation 18, if a literal city, is represented as a world centre of commercial wealth, religious perversion and political power. It is described as

a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every ... hateful bird ... the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth waxed rich by the power of her wantonness (or, from her excessive luxuries - NIV) (Rev.18:2,3). The sudden destruction of

Babylon in Revelation 18 involves vast economic chaos and loss:

Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, Was there ever a city like this great city? (vv. 17-18 NIV).

If therefore a redeveloped Babylon is to answer to the description given in Revelation chapter 18 it would have to become a commercial centre with a commanding influence on world trade. Its destruction would have repercussions of global magnitude. The present limited exercise by Iraq in promoting Babylon as a tourist attraction should be seen in this perspective. Prophetic studies have often been brought into disrepute by over-hasty conclusions. Nevertheless we live in an era when events are moving forward very rapidly, and students of the Word will be watching the progress of modern Babylon with particular interest.

Devout and respected exponents of prophetic Scripture have debated the possibility of the revival of Euphratean Babylon to become the end-time "Babylon the Great" of Revelation 18:2. Some have thought this to be precluded by the Lord's word through Isaiah and Jeremiah regarding divine punishment on the Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar and his successors. For example;

Babylon, the glory of the kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' pride, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation (Is. 13:19-20).

As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah... so shall no man dwell there, neither shall any man sojourn therein (Jer. 50:40).

How then could Babylon be rebuilt?

Others point to the historical evidence that the decline of ancient Babylon was gradual rather than through sudden overwhelming destruction as with Sodom and Gomorrah. It lost political power and importance; the ancient grandeurs fell into ruin; but it has not been left completely without habitation. The prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah came to pass in regard to the destruction of the ancient Babylonian Empire. But their complete fulfilment awaits the time of the end, when a restored Babylon of even greater world significance will be literally destroyed by sudden divine judgement. In this view, the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah will only find their complete fulfilment through a catastrophe of judgement on literal Babylon similar to the catastrophe which overwhelmed Sodom and Gomorrah. As with many other prophetic scriptures relating to the time of the end, unfolding events will more clearly reveal their correct interpretation.

unknown | Feb 1988
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