Understanding the War in Iraq
through
Bible Prophecy
There are
several ways that God reveals Himself to mankind. The most common one is through His Creation of the universe. "The
heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork." (Psm.
19:1) All
of us who live on this planet called Earth are surrounded by the magnificent
display of God's craftsmanship - the universe gives positive evidence of His
existence, His power, His love and His care.
God chose the nation of Israel and revealed Himself as their heavenly
Father. In order to save mankind from
sin God manifested Himself in the flesh as the Son Jesus Christ. “No
one has seen God at any time. The only
begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” (Jn. 1:18) One aspect of the Bible which is
probably the greatest evidence that God exists is that He has spoken to us in
His holy book through fulfilled prophecy. The Bible contains hundreds of
details of history that were written in advance before any of them came to
pass. Only a sovereign God, who knows the future and can make it happen, can
write prophecy that is accurately and always -- eventually -- fulfilled. The book of Revelation describes the
Remnant Church keeps “the commandments of God and
have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 12:17) And it continues to explain:
“For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of
prophecy.” (Rev. 19:10) True servants of God keep His commandments and have the “spirit of prophecy.”
Biblical
Background of Iraq
Today,
the whole world is focusing on the War in Iraq. In order to fully understand the biblical prophecy of this war it
is essential that we first know some biblical background of Iraq.
The Garden of Eden was
in Iraq – Genesis 2:10-14
Adam & Eve were
created in Iraq – Genesis 2:7-8
Satan made his first
recorded appearance in Iraq – Genesis
3:1-6
Nimrod established Babylon
& the Tower of Babel was built in Iraq –
Genesis 10: 8-10; 11:1-4
The confusion of the
languages took place in Iraq – Genesis
11:5-11
Abraham came from a
city in Iraq – Genesis 11:31 & Acts
7:2-4
Isaac’s bride came from
Iraq – Genesis 24:3-4 & 10
Jacob Spent 20 years in
Iraq – Genesis 27:42-45 & 31:38
The first world Empire
was in Iraq – Daniel 1:1-2 & 2:36-38
The greatest revival in
history was in a city in Iraq – Jonah 3
The events of the book
of Esther took place in Iraq – Esther
The book of Nahum was a
prophecy against a city in Iraq – Nahum
The book of Revelation
has prophecies against Babylon, which was the old name for the nation of Iraq – Revelation
17 & 18.
Prophecy
on the Tower of Babel
The Bible is
very clear about the Tower of Babel. Nimrod was the builder of
the city of Babel (later called Babylon) and several other cities in "the land of Shinar" which is the
nation Babylon or Iraq (Genesis 10:10). He was also the prime mover in the
building of the Tower of Babel. The purpose of the city was to
centralize power into a single kingdom. It was an effort at man-made unity and
one world government (Genesis 11:4-6). In world politics the Tower
of Babel represents the United Nations of today. No wonder the Security Council
of the United Nations wants to protect Iraq.
The tower was erected for the practice of astrology and to worship the
sun. Babel
and its tower is the mother of all false religions. It is not difficult to see why Islam and all the other false
religions are supporting the cause of Iraq.
Prophecy
concerning the Attack on Babylon
This prophecy may
be interpreted from the physical as well as the spiritual aspect.
“The burden
against Babylon [Iraq and false religions] which Isaiah the
son of Amoz saw. “Lift up a banner on the high mountain, Raise your voice
to them [preach to them]; Wave your hand, that they may enter the
gates of the nobles [may be saved]. I have commanded My sanctified
ones [true Christians]; I have also called My mighty ones [leaders of
America, Britain, Australia] for My anger—Those who rejoice in My
exaltation.” The noise of a multitude in the mountains, Like that of many
people! A tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together [coalition of
the willing nations, true believers from different nations]! The Lord of
hosts musters the army for battle. They come from a far country [America,
Britain, Australia and other countries], from the end of heaven [cruise missiles
and G.P.S. guided bombs] – The Lord and His weapons of indignation, to destroy the
whole land [shock and awe weapons such as M.O.A.B. and bunker-busters].
Wail, for the day of the Lord is at hand! It will come as destruction from
the Almighty. Therefore all hands will be limp, Every man’s heart will melt,
And they will be afraid. Pangs and sorrows will take hold of them; They will be
in pain as a woman in childbirth; They will be amazed at one another; Their
faces will be like flames. Behold, the day of the Lord comes, Cruel, with
both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its
sinners from it. For the stars of heaven and their constellations will
not give their light; The sun will be darkened in its going forth, And the moon
will not cause its light to shine.” (Isa. 13:1-10) [sand storm
caused this].
“And Babylon, the
glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be as when God
overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.” (Isa. 13:19)
“Then the LORD
rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the LORD out of the
heavens.” (Gen. 19:24)
The “shock and awe” air attacks on
Baghdad gives an idea of how God rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and
Gomorrah. This is God's judgment on Babylon-Iraq.
Babylon is
fallen, is fallen
“Then I saw
another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to
preach to those who dwell on the earth--to every nation, tribe, tongue, and
people -- saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him,
for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and
earth, the sea and springs of water." And another angel followed, saying,
"Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations
drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." (Rev. 14:6-8)
“And look, here
comes a chariot of men with a pair of horsemen! And he answered and said, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has
broken to the ground.” (Isa. 21:9)
Bible prophecy
may be interpreted in two ways. First,
the spiritual interpretation indicates a surge in global evangelism of the “everlasting
gospel” followed by the fall of Babylon [Iraq]. Second, the physical interpretation
indicates Babylon is fallen twice. The
first fall occurred when the first Babylonian empire of King Nebuchadnezzar
(606 B.C. to 538 B.C.) was toppled by the Medo-Persian empire of King Darius
(538 B.C. to 336 B.C.).
In order
for this biblical prophecy to be fulfilled there must be a reconstruction of
Babylon. Saddam Hussein had considered
himself to be the second Nebuchadnezzar.
When he came to power in Iraq in 1979 he began the rebuilding of the
once renowned metropolis, Babylon, on the banks of the Euphrates River. As the birthplace of the Ancient World's
pagan religion, this city was planned to again emerge as the seat of a false
universal religion. Included in the
master plan is the reconstruction of the ziggurat-shaped Tower of Babel and the
Hanging Gardens that is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. The first phase of the rebuilt city was
inaugurated amid great festivity between September 22 and October 22, 1987.
This festival has become an annual event, and is reported in the media as an
international cultural festival.
In the
first phase of the reconstruction of Babylon, the southern palace of King
Nebuchadnezzar was rebuilt. This part of the palace includes the famous
throne-room where the writing appeared on the wall during the last night of
King Belshazzar's reign. Among the other reconstructed buildings is the gateway
to the temple of Ishtar. Hotels and tourist facilities have also been erected
on the outskirts of the city.
With the
American, British coalition forces surrounding the city of Baghdad Bible
prophecy will again be fulfilled soon.
The modern day Babylon – Iraq “is fallen, is
fallen.”
The
King of Babylon has ceased
“It
shall come to pass in the day the Lord gives you rest from your sorrow, and
from your fear and the hard bondage in which you were made to serve, that you
will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon [Saddam
Hussein], and say: "How the oppressor [Saddam]
has ceased, The golden city [Baghdad] ceased!
The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked [Saddam’s
regime], The scepter of the rulers; he who
struck the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he who ruled the nations in
anger, is persecuted and no one hinders [after
Saddam and his regime are deposed]. The whole
earth is at rest and quiet; They break forth into singing.” (Isa. 14:3-7) [after
the total victory for America, British and the coalition forces].
Armageddon
Unfortunately
the war in Iraq does not end with the victory by the American, British,
Australian and coalition forces over the Saddam Hussein regime. This war that began on March 19, 2003 may some time in the future (only God knows),
lead to the War of all wars called Armageddon which also has a strong prophetic connection with the "River Euphrates" - Iraq.
“Then
the sixth angel sounded: And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden
altar which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet,
"Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."
So the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and
year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of
the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And thus I
saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery
red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like
the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By
these three plagues a third of mankind was killed--by the fire and the smoke
and the brimstone which came out of their mouths. 19 For their power is in
their mouth and in their tails; for their tails are like serpents, having
heads; and with them they do harm. But the rest of mankind, who were not killed
by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should
not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which
can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or
their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” (Rev. 9:13-21)
The
figures given in this prophecy is astounding – “a
third of mankind” will be killed; “the
number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million”. Right now the total combatants in the
present war in Iraq is less than one million.
One third of mankind is more than two billion. This is a global war.
Armageddon is described in Revelation 16.
“Then
the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water
was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be prepared. And
I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon,
out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For
they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the
earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of
God Almighty. "Behold, I am coming as a thief.
Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they
see his shame." And they gathered them
together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.” (Rev. 16:12-16)
Here
verse 16 states “the great river Euphrates, and its water
was dried up, so that the way of the kings from the east might be
prepared.” Many
eschatologists think “the kings from the east” refer
to the Chinese. Actually there are many
other countries east of the Euphrates.
The “axis of evil” countries of Iran and North Korea should be included. We must not forget Afghanistan, Pakistan,
India, Japan and many smaller countries.
Their armies will all cross the Euphrates River to enter northern Israel
where Armageddon is situated. Do not
despair because our Lord Jesus Christ will come before all mankind is
obliterated from the face of the earth.
Maranatha!
Prayer
for Peace in Iraq and in the Middle East
In the Name of our Lord Jesus
Christ we pray.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for
your sure word of prophecy that is and will most certainly be fulfilled. We come to You at this time of war in Iraq
amidst the sufferings of the people in this region. You are the God of peace
that surpasses all understanding and You are also the Prince of Peace. We pray that You will bring love, joy and
peace to all the participants in this war so that they will be touched by Your
Spirit and make decisions for reconciliation towards one another. If it is Your will for the war to be brief
please stop it as quickly as possible.
If the war must go on we pray for your protection of innocent lives and
also reduce the sufferings of everyone in Iraq.
We come to you, our One True God
and only Creator. You are the source of life and beauty and power. When You came to this earth You gave Your
life and Your blood for our salvation.
We pray that You will reveal Your will to all the combatants in Iraq to
lay down their arms and that many will be convicted of their sins and receive
You as their Lord and Savior. We pray
for all the bereaved families that have lost their dear ones during the
conflict and that You will give them comfort and hope.
We pray for the president of the
United States of America, the prime ministers of Great Britain and Australia and
all the leaders of the coalition forces, to give them wisdom and courage to
lead their countries into making bold and correct decisions for the future
peace and prosperity of the world. We
know that You are in control of all things and we pray that You will cause the
leaders of Iraq to have a change of hearts and call for peace. We believe that all things are possible with
You, Almighty God and heavenly Father.
Thank you for listening to our prayers.
Amen.
A Sermon based on this Article was preached by Paul Wong
to a Congregation in Houston, Texas on March 29, 2003
For comments please write first to: arkpw@sbcglobal.net
May God bless you.
Paul Wong is a Christian minister and the
President of ARK International.
His ministry also serves as an architectural service company in Houston.
The ARK Forum on the Internet is international and non-denominational.
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