Rebuilding of Babylon:
1. Babylon as a literal city is mentioned in the fulfillment of many things which must be after the rapture (Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 18:19; 18:1-24).
2. Zechariah predicted the rebuilding of Babylon (Zech. 5:5-11).
3. Babylon must again be a great commercial center (Rev. 18:3-10).
4. Babylon must again be a great religious center (Rev. 18:2-10,23-24).
5. Her sorceries will deceive all nations after the rapture (Rev. 18:23; 2Th. 2:10).
6. Orders for the martyrdom of saints will go out from Babylon (Rev. 18:24).
7. Babylon will be destroyed at the end of this age (Rev. 16:19; 18:1-24; Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40).
Scriptures Related To The Time of the Destruction of Babylon:
8. In the day of Israel's final restoration (Rev. 16:17-20:6; Isa. 13:6-13; 14:1-7; Jer. 50:4-35)
9. In the day of the Lord (Rev. 16:19; 18:1-24; Isa. 13:6-13)
10. At the end of the great tribulation (Rev. 16:17-21; 18:1-24)
11. Under the 7th vial (Rev. 16:17-21)
12. When the planets are affected (Rev. 16:17-21; Mt. 24:29-31; Isa. 13:10-11)
13. When the world is punished for its sins (Rev. 18:1-24; Isa. 13:11)
14. When Israel is given rule over her oppressors (Isa. 14:1-4)
15. When Israel sings her triumph song (Isa. 14:3-17)
16. At the second coming (Rev. 16:17-21)
17. At the beginning of the Millennium (Rev. 16:17-21; 18:1-20:10)
How Babylon is to be destroyed:
18. By an earthquake (Rev. 16:17-21)
19. By a supernatural destruction (Rev. 16:17-21; 18:8,10,17,19,21; Isa. 13:6-13; Jer. 50:20,40; 51:8)
20. Suddenly in one hour (Rev. 18:8-19; Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40; 51:8)
21. By fire from heaven (Rev. 18:8-18; Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40)
22. With violence (Rev. 18:21)
23. By the earth swallowing her (Rev. 18:21; Jer. 51:62-64)
24. By God (Rev. 18:8,20), as He destroyed Sodom (Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40)
Extent of Babylon's destruction:
a [For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel] Jer. 51:5-8 have a future fulfillment, when Babylon will be suddenly destroyed. God assured Israel and Judah that they had not been forsaken; they were still His people and He would yet fulfill the covenants and promises with them. The way He plans to do this is by permitting the future king of Babylon, the Antichrist, to break his seven-year covenant with them, take over their land, and later seek to exterminate them as a people. They will be forced to turn to God in the time known as Jacob's trouble, and they will then be converted so that He can justly fulfill His obligations with them (Zech. 12:10 -- Zech. 13:1,9; Rom. 11:25-29).
25. Will never be inhabited again (Isa. 13:20; Jer. 50:39-40; 51:29,37,43)
26. Arabs and shepherds will never dwell there afterward (Isa. 13:20)
27. Totally (Rev. 18:21; Isa. 13:9-22; Jer. 50:3-40; 51:26-43)
28. Never to be found again (Rev. 18:21)
29. Her site to be one of the openings of hell (Rev. 19:3; Isa. 14:9-17; 66:22-24)
30. Desert creatures will dwell on the edges of this hell-hole (Isa. 13:21-22
31. People will be astonished at such destruction (Jer. 50:13)
Not one of the above passages has yet been literally fulfilled, so they must refer to a future prosperity and destruction of Babylon.
That a literal city is referred to is proved by its predicted destruction along with the cities of the nations (Rev. 16:19).
In New Testament times "Babylon" was still a city with a Christian church (1Pet. 5:13). 500 years later, the Babylonian Talmud was written there. Since then it has not been destroyed as required in the above references. Even today there is a city called Hillah of nearly 300,000 population built just south of the old site of ancient Babylon. The soil is exceedingly fertile and engineers estimate that the Euphrates and Tigris rivers could irrigate 7,000,000 acres in winter and 3,000,000 in summer to grow varied crops. The whole of the East is rich in oil and other minerals. A commercial city called Babylon could be made here in a few short years.
This city will be the capital of Antichrist before he enters Palestine to make the Jewish temple his capital the last 3 1/2 years of this age (Dan. 11:40-45; 2Th. 2:3-4; Rev. 11:1-2; 13:1-18).
These facts lead us to conclude Babylon will be and IS a literal city in the present and future plan of God relating to National Israel
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