From Jim Fletcher, WND columnist and “now director of the apologetics group Prophecy Matters”
A prominent Bible-prophecy teacher claims the true site of the biblical Tower of Babel is in Saudi Arabia and the concept of “Mystery Babylon” actually refers to Mecca, not the Vatican, as some researchers of Scripture claim.
As I’ve mentioned before, there’s no such thing as a “Bible-prophecy teacher”; there are Biblical scholars, some of whom work on Biblical prophecies in historical and literary context, and there are hucksters who instead impose meanings on the texts for their own purposes. In this instance, Fletcher is referring to Walid Shoebat, whose “Bible prophecy” sideline perhaps the most preposterous – although not the most vicious – aspect of the “ministry” through which he collects funds from undiscerning churchgoers:
…Traditionally, many scholars have placed the tower built in an attempt to reach God, recounted in Genesis 11, near Baghdad, Iraq. Some scholars believe “Mystery Babylon” will be located there. Other Bible prophecy teachers insist “Mystery Babylon” refers to the Roman Catholic Church. Shoebat claims these views are incorrect.
He told WND the key is understanding the ancient place names that correspond to modern sites in Saudi Arabia.
…”When it comes to the destruction of end-days Babylon, Scripture makes no mention of any of the ancient Babylonian cities: Nineveh, Ur, Babel, Erech, Accad, Sumer, Assur, Calneh, Mari, Karana, Ellpi, Eridu, Kish, or Tikrit. All of the literal references in Scripture are in Arabia.”
…”Isaiah says, the burden against Arabia,” said Shoebat. “They [other teachers] most of the time look at the traditions – it’s a traditional interpretation – that doesn’t encompass the entire oracle of Scripture.
This builds on Shoebat’s earlier claim that “666” is actually a misreading of the Arabic “in the name of Allah”, and his son’s suggestion that Allah is a Babylonian god of “violence and revolution”.
First, the Tower of Babel: according to the Bible story, Babel is in the “a valley in the land of Shinar”, which had been colonised by people who had moved eastwards. The previous chapter mentions Nimrod’s empire in “Babel, Erech and Accad”. These locations are all in ancient Iraq, and the author may also have been thinking of Mesopotamian ziggurats. There is absolutely no reason to transpose the story to the peripheral location of Arabia.
Second, “Babylon” in the Book of Revelation: Chapter 17 of the text is an obvious reference to the Roman Empire: the prostitute who bears the name “Babylon the Great” sits on a seven-headed beast: “The seven heads are the seven hills, on which the woman is sitting. The seven heads are also seven emperors”, says the text. Rome, of course, sits on seven hills, and its pagan emperors at the time of writing had begun to persecute the Christians. That’s the context in which the text was written, and the context in which its first readers and listeners would have found it meaningful. The big mistake of “prophecy teachers” is to assume that a difficult text’s full meaning can be discerned only by interpreting it through later events – resulting in a subjective, idiosyncratic, and unhistorical mess.
Third, the “burden against Arabia” in Isaiah 21: this is tacked onto the end of a prophecy about the fall of ancient Babylon (perhaps reworked from a prophecy against Assyria), and a short and obscure passage about Dumah, an oasis in northern Edom. The text urges the inhabitants of Tema to welcome refugees from Dedan: the context is local and specific, and there’s no reason to extrapolate from this short passage to the idea that Arabia is actually a central concern of the author, or to infer that the passage refers to eschatological matters.
Shoebat thinks that “nukes” should “take care” of the Muslim world; and he just so happens to have discovered that the “real” meaning of Bible texts is to warn of the wickedness of a religion that came into existence hundreds of years after the author of Revelation had died. What an amazing coincidence!
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The beast in Revelation is a mix, leopard, lion and bear. Rome is not part of the beast.
The scriptures clearly say Montains not hills.
Jesus was on hearth under the Roman Empire
Jesus never mentined nothing against Rome.
IN FACT NO ONE DID…
It is all about Jakob and Esau.
Please read Obadiah, Esekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiha.
True, no prophecy talks about Rome. The Angel said to John – the beast that u saw WAS, AND IS NOT AND SHALL DESCEND FROM THE BOTTOMLESS PIT. The kingdoms come into view here: The beast that WAS (History) is Greece – leopard. Rome had no beast that’s why Rome is nowhere in Prophecy. The angel said it well – the beast u saw is not (during the Roman empire in which John lived. But shall descend (future) from the bottomless pit. Read Rev. 11 and u see the beast making war with the two prophets in the last 3 and half years of Daniel’s 70th week. That’s the kingdom of AntiChrist (Feet of iron and clay) kingdom of the ten toes and ten horns. Pagan Rome killed christians but doesn’t feature in the endtime prophecy.
UN the last Babylonian Empire ?
Jeremiah’s dual prophecy in Chapter 25:8-12 depicts the downfall of the Babylonian world power and foreshadows the last 70 years of obscured Counsel Government.
Jeremiah 25:8-12
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts (YHVH of armies); Because ye have not heard my words (rebellion, disobedience, corruption, idol worship), Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadnezzar (personified Antichrist ) the king of Babylon (economic and military world powers), my servant (instrument of GOD’s wrath), and will bring them against this land , and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them (in 1945 CE ), and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.
Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.
And this whole land shall be desolation and astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years (1945 CE – 2015/2016 CE).
And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished (2015/2016 CE), that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity (corruption, tyranny), and the land of the Chaldeans , and will make it perpetual desolations.
For further information regarding ‘THE LAST DAYS’: please go to e.g. http://issuu.com/eli.yah/docs/armageddon_2017.docx
The Vatican is not in the desert. The description of Mystery Babylon is in the desert. A desert surrounded by seas. Al Jazeer means desert of the sea. Mount Babel is the 7 mountains. Islam is the final beast Saudi Arabia is the Harlot. Muhammad is the man of sin mentioned in 2Thesalonians 2:3. Anti-Christ is always plural so there have been many. Shoebat isn’t right about much but he is correct that the 7 Mountains are in Mecca. He is also correct about the mark of the beast.
The Lion Bear Leopard suffered a fatal blow. That happened during the Battle of Tours
The UN is just another pawn of the Saudi’s it’s not Mystery Babylon.
1. John brought to desert so he watch harlot that sits on many waters from desert ( harlot sits on waters not desert)
2. Harlot is city of power. Mecca was never city of power none of caliphate capital located in Mecca always another city. Rome was city of power that persecute Christian for hundred of years.
3. God said get out of there my people. in fact no Christian nor Jew allow to enter Mecca beside muslim are those worship the beast they are not God’s people.
4. 10 horned beast is islam while Babylon harlot is Rome and new Rome is European Union that represent liberal movement.
5. Muslim follow strict religious rule while liberal are free to do what they want (spirit of harloting).
6. Harlot said i’m not widow. The concept of married or bride of God only exist in Christianity not in islam.
7. Rev 17 stated 5 fallen – Eqypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, one is – Rome, other not come but when come only short time (islam under mohamed and Rashidun). harlot sits on the beast no because she worship the beast but because she is 6th (Rome) and the beast (muslim) hate her.
8. 8th is the beast come from 7 (7th). 8th is sunni established by muawiya (Dan 7 little horn) after defeating 3 last horns ali, hasan, husein. 10 horns are 10 kings (mohamed, abu bakr, umar, utman,ali,hasan,husein, jafar abut talib, khalid bin walid, abu ubidah) they rule for one hour aka 41.6 years ( a day equals 1000 years) from 620 (isra mijrad) until 661 (fall of rashidun caliphate)
9. the beast will rule for 42 months or 1260 years from 660-1920.
No my friend, quit looking at it out of the FLESH. These beasts are DEMONIC KINGS. Read Daniel 10:13. The Angel was held up in Persia by a chief prince (A demonic spirit) and a demonic king and Michael came and helped him. These 8 Kings are DEMONIC Kings. They are Demonic Kings that ruled over empires and at one time ISLAM during ISLAM’s conquest. We know the name of a couple of them now by reading the Word of God. Here I will show you:
1. Egypt
2. Assyria-Today’s Syria
3. Babylon-Today’s Iraq (Bel/Ba’al was the Demonic King/Prince that controlled Babylon. Bel/Ba’al was thrusted into the Abyss/Sheol the night Belshazzer was killed. This is why Cyrus was able to defeat Babylon. Belshazzer means “Bel who watches over the King”)
4. Persia -Today’s Iran
5. Seluecid Greeks- Today’s Turkey
6- ISLAM
7. Abaddon/Apollyon (The demonic spirit that was given the keys to the Abyss that allowed Bel/Ba’al back out of the Abyss. The 5th Trumpet). Abaddon/Apollyon led ISLAM through their conquering of the mideast.
8. Bel/Ba’al- The Beast out of the Sea (SEA in Revelation means SPIRIT REALM) Bel/Ba’al is the demonic king that had the wounded head. This is why John only sees 7 heads NOT 8 and one of the heads was healed. Bel/Ba’al was released out of the Abyss by Abaddon/Apollyon who was GIVEN the keys. Why? Paul, was SENT to ARABIA and he stayed there for 3 years. Why was he sent there? Because Ishmael’s descendants were there. Jesus loved Ishmael so much that his descendants, just like the Hebrews also had the right to the same GRACE that the Hebrews were given. Why? Because Ishmael was Abraham’s son. Muhammad is a direct blood descendant of Ishmael. But they REJECTED Paul’s message while he was in ARABIA so God had no choice except to send them a delusion because they delighted in wickedness. Everything I just told you about Paul, Paul told us. You must connect what he told us. He told us he went to Arabia and stayed there for THREE years before he even went back to Damascus and then to Jerusalem to see Cepheus (Peter). See how easy people have misunderstood the WORD OF GOD? Just like they have misunderstood Revelation, BIGTIME!!! Church WAKE UP!! Some guy named John Darby has deceived you all with this nonsense of 7 year tribulation period. Its pure hogwash. Revelation period began the day Jesus ascended into Heaven. War broke in heaven because he was the perfect sacrifice that SIN could not be in heaven. Satan and the third were kicked out. These are the TRUMPETS. The SEALS are humans, the TRUMPETS are the fallen angels and how they effected the human realm, in the SEALS. Muhammad was the RIDER on the WHITE HORSE. UMAR was the RIDER on the BLACK HORSE. UMAR/OMAR instituted the ISLAMIC TAX and he didn’t touch the OIL and WINE meaning he didn’t tax the OIL and WINE. UMAR/OMAR fulfilled 31 distinct prophecies of Daniel. UMAR/OMAR is the LITTLE HORN. Understand Hebrew CHIASM and you will understand Daniel’s writings. Nebuchadnezzar’s dreams and Daniels four beast are the same thing. God does this and he always has. Think. Genesis 1 vs Genesis 2. Its like God repeating himself. He does this to make a point. So, since Nebuchadnezzar’s dream and Daniel’s vision of beasts are the same what do they mean? Its very, very simple my friends. I will quickly show you with Daniel’s beasts. Daniel is shown THREE BEASTS. Then on his FOURTH beast he was not shown a beast like a lion or leopard or bear. He was shown this beast would have teeth of iron and bronze of claws. So God tell us right here to go back and look at Nebuchadnezzar’s dream…Its a loop!!! He’s telling us its the same thing!!! The meaning of the beast is this…The FOURTH Beast and the LEGS of IRON is this. The Fourth beast and legs of iron are made up of the PRIOR THREE. Example, the FOURTH BEAST is made up of the LION-Bear-LEOPARD…This is why JOHN seen the beast out of the sea but he seen it in history in reverse looking back at Daniels vision LEOPARD-BEAR-LION…We know these are to be LION (IRAQ)-BEAR (IRAN) and LEOPARD (Syria)…ALL ISLAMIC countries…Whenever ISLAM finished conquering and was finally defeated in France guess where they went? To today’s Baghdad and setup their home there. Guess what is located right down the road? The original Babylon!!!!!! Bel/Ba’al was was wanting to go back to his old stomping grounds but realized it would never happened. Zechariah 5:5-11 told us where his new home would be…The Land of Shinar which in fact was Mecca, Saudi Arabia. And trust me Babel will never be rebuilt. In Revelation it reads “God remembered Babylon”….He remembers BEL/Ba’al not Nimrod. He remembers what Bel/Ba’al did with the children and how Bel/Ba’al caused humans to give up their children to him and they offered their children up to sacrifice to Bel/Ba’al…Do you understand? It has zero to do with NIMROD. Look whenever God brings down a human empire it will never, ever be rebuilt, ever!!! Also whenever God said he will never flood the other again, he means it. So, do not ever think the trumpets are comets or asteroids because they are not. They are fallen angels that are kicked out heaven and how they effect man in the mideast. I can proven 110% I am telling you because I have deciphered ALL of Daniel’s prophetic days to the tee. Nobody and I mean NOBODY has yet to proven them wrong. They can’t because if you use God’s formula he showed us, 1 day = one year then you cannot go wrong. Also here is a tip, time, times and a half = 2500 years not 7 years!!! How do I know these things? I come from the bloodline of Benjamin!!! I’ve studied Hebrew/Aramaic for 24 years. If you only knew what God showed us, it would blow your mind. I can show you that in the very first english words “In the beginning” but in Hebrew God actually told us the end from the beginning!!! Just by those words I can show you the year Jesus was placed on the cross!!! What does that tell you about the Word of God and the Hebrew/Aramaic language? God is real!! Now listen, I don’t set dates, but listen carefully, the window is closing its closing fast. Do you understand? If you understand what I just told you “God told us the end from the beginning” you will understand what I just told you!!! The window is closing quickly!!! Whenever I say quickly within 10 years!!! How will you know? 10 ISLAMIC countries will begin to move against ISRAEL in a surprise move. GOG from the far north (TURKEY) will lead this move against ISRAEL. I know who the 10 are, Read Ezekiel then research history!!! GOG from the land of MAGOG is from TURKEY. GOG is a DEMONIC Spirit. MAGOG was Noah’s grandson who stayed in Turkey!!!! God Bless…
Hate to bust your bubble but the Harlot is the Kaaba Stone in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Quit reading Revelation with your eyes of the flesh!!! Revelation is FIGURATIVE, not literal. Zechariah told us where the Harlot was going to be located. Also 3 horses was from the NORTH and the 4 from the SOUTH, all locations from Jerusalem’s direction. Oh GENTILES you lack wisdom because you know nothing of Hebrew CHIASM that Yahweh taught the Hebrews!!!