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As
a result, God predicted that Babylon would be destroyed some day
in Isa. 13:19-22; Jer. 50:39-40, 51:52-58. This prophecy has been
only partially fulfilled. The horrible descriptions of the destruction
of Babylon have never been completely fulfilled.
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Therefore
the desert creatures will live there along with the jackals;
the ostriches also will live in it, and it will never again
be inhabited . . . (NASB) Jer. 50:39 |
Jeremiah
predicted that Babylon “will never again be inhabited,” but
Babylon is alive today with people. Its complete destruction has
not yet occurred. The prophecy has been only partially fulfilled.
Complete fulfillment is still coming. Babylon will be finally destroyed
and prophecy fulfilled at the end of the Tribulation.
Future
of Babylon. Revelation 9:1-16; 16:12-14; and 18:2
tell us that the Euphrates River and the region around ancient Babylon
will be the center of great demonic activity. At the end
of our last study in Revelation 17, we were told that Babylon
the Great was a city. Now here in Revelation 18, we will discover
that Babylon will also have great economic influence in the world.
The
expression “Babylon” may include modern Bagdad and the
surrounding region since “Babylon” symbolized the ancient
Babylonian Empire. The Babylonian Empire once included the countries
of the Middle East. But the city of Babylon will be God’s main
interest.
Today,
Iraq produces only about 4% of the world’s available oil supply.
This may seem unimportant, but it is the second largest supplier
of oil to the world, since the other nations cannot produce enough
oil to meet their own needs. But Babylon’s future is not necessarily
connected to oil. It appears that the Antichrist will make Babylon
a great economic center, even though he destroys her religious influence.
Both satisfy his desire for greatness and control.
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