by pettygrudger 10 Replies latest watchtower bible
I read this thread:
http://www.purelanguage.net/forums/showthread.php?s=e15a84ab92fd9b2062576836c09de936&threadid=6965
And it got me to thinking - & looking - for information on the rebuild of Babylon......I can't seem to find any "well" researched or informed documents - have any of you looked into this "prophecy" - and what were your conclusions?
I think it would be appropriate for the US to direct a dozen or so BLU-52s to the site of rebuilt Babylon, just as a symbolic gesture.
One could take it literaly, on the other hand, Babylon has a very special place in biblical prophecy that is spiritual. Consider "begotten in Babylon" is a term that occurs many times indicating the "return" will include this concept. Check the OT references to Christ's second coming.
carmel
1 Peter 5:13 speaks of the church at Babylon. Now, how could that be if Isaiah said it would be uninhabited? Of course, Catholics say this is an allusion to Rome and doesn't refer to ancient Babylon. The reference to Babylon the Great in Revelation 16:19; 17:5; 18:10, 21 are also said to be symbolical of Rome. What if the Catholics are wrong and this really refers to the rebuilding of the ancient city of Babylon? What, then, of Isaiah's prophecy?
"Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel (Begotten in Babylon) have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent me unto you."
Who laid the foundation of the "House of Israel"? and who will fulfill its completion?
"This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel (Begotten in Babylon) , saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts."
Check out the book of Zechariah. The story of Babylon is as metaphorical as the nation of Isreal.
carmel
Babylon was never dstroyed it was captured a number of times. It was a great and influential city under the Persians the Parthians and the Greeks. Cyrus the Great used the city as one of the administrative Caitals of the empire. In 275 BC the inhabitants were relocated by it's then Greek governors to Leucia for geo/political reasons. The city was not completely abandoned even then. In fact as late as the 2nd century a thriving community existed. Time changes everything,and atrophy of infrastructure and lack of local resources eventually forced the people to abandon her. As happens to nearly all cities. It is only in the furtile mind of Jewish writers that it was destroyed by the Persians and made desolate never to be inhabited. It is only in the equally furtile minds that it will play some role in Bible. Do not believe that if a passage of "prophecy" obviously went unfullfilled it MUST refer to a yet future event. Especially is this illogical when the Bible erroneously insists it was fullfilled, when this has been proven to have been mere exageration for propagandistic purposes.
I just thought I would show the WT comment on the prophecy, It is not exactly the unbiased info that Pettygrunger requested, but here it is:-
*** it-1 237 Babylon ***
I seem to remember the recent plans to rebuild it were dismissed as a "Tourist attraction rather than a real city" in a more recent comment .
Reading the above, if the city did not disappear until sometime in 4th century c.e.,then about 800 or 900 years passed before that time.
Well, nothing is expected to last forever! - hardly a prompt fulfillment of prophecy. The first example of the end being postponed????
It never struck me until now, it shows how you just accepted things when you were a dub.
Thanks all for the replies - chalk up another scare-mongering tactic!
Petty,
As you can see trying to understand the prophecy literally has too many contradictions and would have no lasting meaning anyway. Much like the hagiographical stories of raising someone from the dead only for them to re-die later on. So what is the value? If not a spiritual meaning of lasting import then pretty much a waste of time.
carmel
