We can learn from ancient Babylon, and from Nimrod’s
actions, so that we can better understand the destruction of the future Babylon.
The parallel between ancient Babylon and the future Babylon deals with people turning
away from God as a source of life. There were no atheists that survived the
flood, therefore atheism started up again after the flood. There was a man in
Ur named Nimrod who created a world system of rebellion against God by
inspiring men to separate their lives from God. He twisted their belief system
from dependence and fear of God to independence and reliance on Nimrod himself.
Atheism. Instead of the people looking to God to sustain them, the people were perverted
into looking to their government, who was Nimrod, to sustain them. Nimrod was
going to protect them from God who sent the flood. This is the foundation of
Babylon and its leaders. Nimrod himself
decided he was a mighty man, a gibbor. He was a people oppressor, and controller. Our
first look into history is to see what the first century people thought about
Babylon. This is the lens through which John was writing the book of Revelation
regarding the future tribulation period. Let’s read Josephus.
Josephus Book 1 Chapter 4.
CONCERNING THE TOWER OF BABYLON, AND THE
CONFUSION OF TONGUES.
1. Now the sons of Noah were three, - Shem, Japhet, and
Ham, born one hundred years before the Deluge. These first of all descended
from the mountains into the plains, and fixed their habitation there; and
persuaded others who were greatly afraid of the lower grounds on account of the
flood, and so were very loath to come down from the higher places, to venture
to follow their examples. Now the plain in which they first dwelt was called
Shinar. God also commanded them to send colonies abroad, for the thorough
peopling of the earth, that they might not raise seditions among themselves,
but might cultivate a great part of the earth, and enjoy its fruits after a plentiful
manner. But they were so ill instructed that they did not obey God; for which
reason they fell into calamities, and were made sensible, by experience, of
what sin they had been guilty: for when they flourished with a numerous youth,
God admonished them again to send out colonies; but they, imagining the
prosperity they enjoyed was not derived from the favor of God, but supposing
that their own power was the proper cause of the plentiful condition they were
in, did not obey him. Nay, they added to this their disobedience to the Divine
will, the suspicion that they were therefore ordered to send out separate
colonies, that, being divided asunder, they might the more easily be Oppressed.
2. Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront
and contempt of God. He was the grandson of Ham, the son of Noah, a bold man,
and of great strength of hand. He persuaded them not to ascribe it to God, as
if it was through his means they were happy, but to believe that it was their
own courage which procured that happiness. He also gradually changed the
government into tyranny, seeing no other way of turning men from the fear of
God, but to bring them into a constant dependence on his power. He also said he
would be revenged on God, if he should have a mind to drown the world again;
for that he would build a tower too high for the waters to be able to reach!
and that he would avenge himself on God for destroying their forefathers !
3. Now the multitude were very ready to follow the
determination of Nimrod, and to esteem it a piece of cowardice to submit to
God; and they built a tower, neither sparing any pains, nor being in any degree
negligent about the work: and, by reason of the multitude of hands employed in
it, it grew very high, sooner than any one could expect; but the thickness of
it was so great, and it was so strongly built, that thereby its great height
seemed, upon the view, to be less than it really was. It was built of burnt
brick, cemented together with mortar, made of bitumen, that it might not be liable
to admit water. When God saw that they acted so madly, he did not resolve to
destroy them utterly, since they were not grown wiser by the destruction of the
former sinners; but he caused a tumult among them, by producing in them divers
languages, and causing that, through the multitude of those languages, they
should not be able to understand one another. The place wherein they built the
tower is now called Babylon, because of the confusion of that
language which they readily understood before; for the Hebrews mean by the
word Babel, confusion. The Sibyl also makes mention of this
tower, and of the confusion of the language, when she says thus: "When all
men were of one language, some of them built a high tower, as if they would
thereby ascend up to heaven, but the gods sent storms of wind and overthrew the
tower, and gave every one his peculiar language; and for this reason it was
that the city was called Babylon." But as to the plan of
Shinar, in the country of Babylonia, Hestiaeus mentions it, when he says thus:
"Such of the priests as were saved, took the sacred vessels of Jupiter
Enyalius, and came to Shinar of Babylonia."
We understand that Babylon is a mystery. Babylon is spoken of as a woman, and a mega-city that
rules and controls the kings of the earth. The woman rides the beast with something
written on her forehead, “Mystery Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots and
Abominations of the Earth”. Translated: “Secret Mega Confusion, Mother of Male and
Female Prostitutes and Detestable Idolatry on the Globe”. The confusion was not
just because God confused their language but also because Nimrod confused
people regarding God. Nimrod made himself a god to the people, he was the
provider and the one they needed to fear. Tyranny was the first form of
government. Now that we understand the origins of this secret world system we
can understand that Babylon merchandises, or prostitutes, people. The buying
and selling of men’s souls. We can see the parallel to Lucifer who does the
same. The idea that Babylon is a city is correct, but there is another element
to explore. Babylon is a city system run by spiritual beings that have rebelled
against God the Creator. They run the world in a manner that God disagrees
with, and Lucifer is our window into this insight. Lucifer had sanctuaries and
prospered off the backs of the beings he was in charge of. This is not God’s
plan for humanity. Back to Babylon.
God gives Babylon a title and we have taken it to mean
idolatrous religions. Religions are included in this abomination, but non-religion
or atheism is also included. We picture Babylon as people worshiping idols, but
non-religious people are included here as well because Babylon is about doing
things for yourself, whatever you feel like doing. Therefore the blatant
disregard for God which means “you are your own god”, so to speak, is prideful
behavior that stems from Babylon. Understand that Babylon is truly the
rejection of God and domination of a few people over others.
On earth Babylon rides the beast. What does this
mean? Babylon controls the beast,
oppresses the beast, and governs the world’s economy until the beast rises up
and kills Babylon. This system will continue in this manner until after the
midpoint of the tribulation. The prophet Isaiah told us about Babylon’s end.
The background just prior to chapter 13 is that in chapter 11, The Branch,
Jesus, establishes the millennial reign. Jesus will bring back his people
scattered around the world, Isaiah 11:11. Then chapter 12 is a song of praise.
Chapter 13 starts another prophecy. Let’s read this in the Septuagint.
Septuagint, Isaiah Chapter 13
13:1 THE VISION WHICH ESAIAS SON OF AMOS SAW AGAINST
BABYLON.2 Lift up a standard on the mountain of the plain, exalt the voice
to them, beckon with the hand, open the gates, ye rulers.
This vision was against Babylon. In verse two, the
context is referring to the Medes and Persians. The Medes today are also known
as the Kurds, from Kurdistan and Luristan. The Kurds today are Muslims, but not
necessarily Arabs. This is who will be
putting an end to Babylon.
13:3 I give command, and I bring them: giants are
coming to fulfil my wrath, rejoicing at the same time and insulting.
The word giants
is the word gibbor which is also
translated mighty men. Just as Nimrod called himself. Some want to attribute
this to the Nephilim, however, while Nephilim were large in size, they were
called gibbor because they were dominators, or people who over took others and
oppressed them. That does not mean that the word gibbor used here are people large
in size. David’s men were called gibbor, meaning they were mighty warriors. Nimrod
was probably not large in size but a smooth talking, people controller. God is
saying he is sending gibbor, mighty warring conquerors, to break Babylon. Just
as God used Cyrus for his purposes, God is using the Medes to achieve a
purpose. This also tells us how close or how far we are, time wise, to that
point in the tribulation. If you are alive during the tribulation, look for
this.
13:4 A voice of many nations on the mountains, even like to
that of many nations; a voice of kings and nations gathered together:
the Lord of hosts has given command to a war-like nation, 5 to come
from a land afar off, from the utmost foundation of heaven; the Lord and his
warriors are coming to destroy all the world.
After Babylon is destroyed, the beast rallies the world
to fight Jesus, which is the Day of the Lord, the day the Lord comes back to
earth with his armies. He appoints set
apart warriors to come with him. Sanctified warriors are part of the
called, chosen, and faithful, who are of the redeemed that are caught up before
the tribulation starts. As soon as Babylon falls, the Day of the Lord is close
at hand.
13:6 Howl ye, for the day of the Lord is near, and
destruction from God shall arrive. 7 Therefore every hand shall
become powerless, and every soul of man shall be dismayed. 8 The
elders shall be troubled, and pangs shall seize them, as of a woman in travail:
and they shall mourn one to another, and shall be amazed, and shall change
their countenance as a flame.
Really, the destruction will be so intense that people
will be stunned. In verse 8 the word faces
is used twice, it can be better understood as people will be stunned when
looking at their friends’ faces, the faces will look like flames. Keep in mind,
all the aspects of the tribulation come to bring people on earth to the point
that they either accept or reject Jesus as Lord.
13:9 For behold! the day of the Lord is coming which
cannot be escaped, a day of wrath and anger, to make the world
desolate, and to destroy sinners out of it. 10 For the stars of
heaven, and Orion, and all the host of heaven, shall not give their light; and
it shall be dark at sunrise, and the moon shall not give her light.
This is the day that the sun will become dark which is a
result of Revelation 18:21. Just before the Lord comes with his armies an angel
throws a large millstone down to earth.
Joel 2:10-11 The earth shall quake before them; the
heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall
withdraw their shining:11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army:
for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the
day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? KJV
Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the
moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. KJV
Matt 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those
days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the
stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: KJV
Revelation 18:21 is a clue as to when the Day of the Lord
is near. What we see in the next verses in Isaiah 13 is that God is punishing the
prideful, God punished Lucifer because of pride and destroyed his planet,
Rahab. Nimrod manipulated people into thinking they could live their lives
without God, and Nimrod twisted people’s thinking to feel shame over relying on
God. Where did Nimrod get that idea from?
13:11 And I will command evils for the whole world,
and will visit their sins on the ungodly: and I will destroy
the pride of transgressors, and will bring low the pride of the
haughty. 12 And they that are left shall be more precious than gold
tried in the fire; and a man shall be more precious than the stone that is in
Suphir. 13 For the heaven shall be enraged, and the earth shall be
shaken from her foundation, because of the fierce anger of the Lord of hosts,
in the day in which his wrath shall come on. 14 And they that are
left shall be as a fleeing fawn, and as a stray sheep, and there shall be none
to gather them: so that a man shall turn back to his people, and a
man shall flee to his own land. 15 For whosoever shall be taken shall
be overcome; and they that are gathered together shall fall by the
sword. 16 And they shall dash their children before their eyes; and
they shall spoil their houses, and shall take their wives.
Look at the words “they that are left”. This tells us
that the point of this tribulation and destruction of Babylon is to refine
people. Whoever survives will be more precious than gold. Verse 15 says that the
people on earth after Babylon’s destruction will be killed by the sword. Babies
will be killed also. This happens in Jerusalem as well. Zechariah tells us the
women will be raped in Jerusalem, but Isaiah says Babylon will suffer the same.
Zech 14:2For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem
to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women
ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue
of the people shall not be cut off from the city. KJV
The word ravished
appears in the Hebrew text of Isaiah 13:16, which means raped. This doesn’t sound like a great time on the earth. Babylon
and Jerusalem will be under great distress. Who is doing the distressing? The
Medes and Persians. Remember that the Lord calls his people out of Babylon in
Revelation, this may be why they will suffer the same fate just before the Lord
comes.
13:17 Behold, I will stir up against you the Medes,
who do not regard silver, neither have they need of gold. 18 They
shall break the bows of the young men; and they shall have no mercy on your
children; nor shall their eyes spare thy children.
Isaiah tells us who will attack Babylon, the Medes. Other
nations will rise up against Israel, but the Medes come against Babylon. The
Medes cannot be bribed with money. This point tells us that some in Babylon
think they may be able to escape this war if they bribe this people group.
13:19 And Babylon, which is called glorious by the
king of the Chaldeans, shall be as when God overthrew Sodoma,
and Gomorrha. 20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall any enter
into it for many generations: neither shall the Arabians pass through it; nor
shall shepherds at all rest in it. 21 But wild beasts shall rest
there; and the houses shall be filled with howling; and monsters shall rest
there, and devils shall dance there, 22 and satyrs shall dwell there;
and hedgehogs shall make their nests in their houses. It will come soon, and
will not tarry.
Compare verses 21 and 22 with Revelation 18:2. Babylon,
the earthly city, has always been inhabited. Therefore we know this is still
future, when the only inhabitants will be wild animals. Also, no Arabians will
pass through it for many generations, this tells us that in the millennial
kingdom, when people go to Jerusalem to worship, they will not pass through
Babylon. Babylon is the place where satan established his reign on the earth.
If we remember what the devil told Jesus when Jesus was fasting in the desert,
that he had possession of the kingdoms of the world. While tempting Jesus by
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, we see that
those things all existed in Babylon and were promoted by Nimrod.
Ezra had a dream about the latter days. There are several
interesting aspects of this dream that coincide with Isaiah, Matthew 24, and
Revelation.
2 Esd 13:1-13 And it came to pass after seven days, I
dreamed a dream by night:2 And, lo, there arose a wind from the sea, that it
moved all the waves thereof.3 And I beheld, and, lo, that man waxed strong with
the thousands of heaven: and when he turned his countenance to look, all the
things trembled that were seen under him.4 And whensoever the voice went out of
his mouth, all they burned that heard his voice, like as the earth faileth when
it feeleth the fire.5 And after this I beheld, and, lo, there was gathered
together a multitude of men, out of number, from the four winds of the heaven,
to subdue the man that came out of the sea6 But I beheld, and, lo, he had
graved himself a great mountain, and flew up upon it.7 But I would have seen
the region or place whereout the hill was graven, and I could not.8 And after
this I beheld, and, lo, all they which were gathered together to subdue him
were sore afraid, and yet durst fight.9 And, lo, as he saw the violence of the
multitude that came, he neither lifted up his hand, nor held sword, nor any
instrument of war:10 But only I saw that he sent out of his mouth as it had
been a blast of fire, and out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of his
tongue he cast out sparks and tempests.11 And they were all mixed together; the
blast of fire, the flaming breath, and the great tempest; and fell with
violence upon the multitude which was prepared to fight, and burned them up
every one, so that upon a sudden of an innumerable multitude nothing was to be
perceived, but only dust and smell of smoke: when I saw this I was afraid.12
Afterward saw I the same man come down from the mountain, and call unto him
another peaceable Multitude.13 And there came much people unto him, whereof
some were glad, some were sorry, and some of them were bound, and other some
brought of them that were offered: then was I sick through great fear, and I
awaked, and said,
Ezra asks for the interpretation of his dream. Take
special note, Ezra speaks of those left
behind in those days. Those who were not left behind on the earth, who died
without God, were in heaviness. Going to hades leaves people in heaviness and
sorrow. There are four categories of humans at this point in time; the redeemed
who were caught up before the tribulation, the martyred that go to heaven,
those who died not making Jesus their Lord and go to hades, and those who are
left on earth through the tribulation who the angels gather. The mission of the
redeemed is in heaven after the gathering, and they are witnessing the events
of the tribulation and praying. An angel takes the prayers of the saints and
hurls them to earth, Revelation 8. When the angels gather the elect, we see
their emotions. These are the people who will be more precious than gold.
2 Esd 13:14 Thou hast shewed thy servant these wonders
from the beginning, and hast counted me worthy that thou shouldest receive my
prayer:15 Shew me now yet the interpretation of this dream.16 For as I conceive
in mine understanding, woe unto them that shall be left in those days and much
more woe unto them that are not left behind!17 For they that were not left were
in heaviness.18 Now understand I the things that are laid up in the latter
days, which shall happen unto them, and to those that are left behind.19
Therefore are they come into great perils and many necessities, like as these
dreams declare.20 Yet is it easier for him that is in danger to come into these
things, than to pass away as a cloud out of the world, and not to see the
things that happen in the last days. And he answered unto me, and said,
The angel interprets the dream. There is a point here
that we should not miss. Those on earth will be martyred for their belief in
God, however others who are atheists will be killed as well. Atheists will have
to bow to the beast or be killed. What happens during the tribulation if one
dies for Jesus, that person goes to heaven. What happens during the tribulation
when one dies for oneself? That person will await the resurrection of the dead
for one thousand years, in hades.
2 Esd 13:21 The interpretation of the vision shall I shew
thee, and I will open unto thee the thing that thou hast required.22 Whereas
thou hast spoken of them that are left behind, this is the interpretation:23 He
that shall endure the peril in that time hath kept himself: they that be fallen
into danger are such as have works, and faith toward the Almighty.24 Know this
therefore, that they which be left behind are more blessed than they that be
dead.25 This is the meaning of the vision: Whereas thou sawest a man coming up
from the midst of the sea:26 The same is he whom God the Highest hath kept a
great season, which by his own self shall deliver his creature: and he shall
order them that are left behind.27 And whereas thou sawest, that out of his
mouth there came as a blast of wind, and fire, and storm;28 And that he held
neither sword, nor any instrument of war, but that the rushing in of him
destroyed the whole multitude that came to subdue him; this is the
interpretation:29 Behold, the days come, when the most High will begin to
deliver them that are upon the earth.30 And he shall come to the astonishment of
them that dwell on the earth.31 And one shall undertake to fight against
another, one city against another, one place against another, one people
against another, and one realm against another.32 And the time shall be when
these things shall come to pass, and the signs shall happen which I shewed thee
before, and then shall my Son be declared, whom thou sawest as a man ascending.33
And when all the people hear his voice, every man shall in their own land leave
the battle they have one against another.34 And an innumerable multitude shall
be gathered together, as thou sawest them, willing to come, and to overcome him
by fighting.35 But he shall stand upon the top of the mount Sion.36 And Sion
shall come, and shall be shewed to all men, being prepared and builded, like as
thou sawest the hill graven without hands.37 And this my Son shall rebuke the
wicked inventions of those nations, which for their wicked life are fallen into
the tempest;38 And shall lay before them their evil thoughts, and the torments wherewith
they shall begin to be tormented, which are like unto a flame: and he shall
destroy them without labour by the law which is like unto me.39 And whereas
thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him;
There is a peaceable multitude that the Lord will gather
after the tribulation at the start of the millennial reign. Isaiah 11:11 tells
us a remnant of people come out of several places, including the islands of the
sea. Let’s be clear, no one is lost, God knows exactly where they are. These
people who migrated to other places whether by choice or enslavement are where
they are because God wants them there. Remember the 144,000 are caught up mid-tribulation,
which will be the first revealing as to where they have been. Let’s continue.
2 Esd 13:40 Those are the ten tribes, which were carried
away prisoners out of their own land in the time of Osea the king, whom
Salmanasar the king of Assyria led away captive, and he carried them over the
waters, and so came they into another land.41 But they took this counsel among
themselves, that they would leave the multitude of the heathen, and go forth
into a further country, where never mankind dwelt,42 That they might there keep
their statutes, which they never kept in their own land.43 And they entered
into Euphrates by the narrow places of the river.44 For the most High then
shewed signs for them, and held still the flood, till they were passed over.45
For through that country there was a great way to go, namely, of a year and a
half: and the same region is called Arsareth.46 Then dwelt they there until the
latter time; and now when they shall begin to come,
ARZARETH:
The name of the land beyond
the great river, far away from the habitation of man, in which the Ten Tribes
of Israel will dwell, observing the laws of Moses, until the time of the
restoration, according to IV Esd. xiii. 45. Columbus identified America with this
land. (See Kayserling's "Christopher Columbus," translated by Dr. C.
Gross, p. 15.)
The name, it has been
suggested by Schiller-Szinessy, is taken from Deut. xxix. 24-27, "Because
they forsook the covenant of the Lord . . . and went and served other gods . .
. the Lord rooted them out of their land . . . and cast them into another land
[ereẓ aḦeret] as this day." This passage is made to refer (in Mishnah
Sanh. x. 3) to the Ten Tribes (compare Tosef., Sanh. xiii. 12; Bab. ib. 110b;
Yer. ib. x. 29c; Ab. R. N., ed. Schechter, A, xxxvi.
108, and Bacher, "Agada der Tannaiten," i. 143). But different
opinions are expressed by Akiba and Eliezer—the traditions are rather confused
as to the names—whether the Ten Tribes may be expected to return or not, since
this point is not determined in the Scriptural verse. One of them takes the
words "as this day" to signify that "as the day goeth, but doth
not return, so shall they who are cast off not return"; the other explains
the words: "as the day begins with the darkness of the night, but turns
into day, so shall the darkness of their banishment be turned into bright
daylight" (Mishnah Sanh. l.c.). The fourth Book of Esdras took
the latter view, which was adopted also by R. Judah ha-Nasi in the Tosefta (l.c.),
who refers to Isa. xxvii. 13.
Bibliography:
·
Schiller-Szinessy, in Journal of
Philology, iii. 114;
·
Neubauer, Jew. Quart. Rev. i. 16.
Some consider Arsareth to be the Americas and the
surrounding islands. There is a very strong case for the Native Americans/Original
Americans being of the ten tribes. It may be that Christopher Columbus, who was
Jewish, but because of the inquisition changed his religon, knew where he was
going. Which is why he saw the Caribbean and the Americas as Arsareth. With
this in mind we now have an answer to Markawasi, Peru, where Middle Eastern
images in stone carvings were made by people who had seen and known those
images. As African lions and Pharaoh’s never existed in South America, yet are
carved in stone in Peru. Explorers “discovered” the Americas long before
Columbus arrived, some of which were of the Knights Templar. And whether the
ten tribes came over seas or land bridges, we have to read what Ezra says. They
were taken captive into Assyria, but they eventually left on their own. They decided to go further out of the
land of the heathens to Arsareth/Arzareth. They did not go as captives, they
went because they chose to. There is a great amount of work that has been done
on the subject. Suffice it to say, if Babylon is a cultural and monetary system
associated with peoples that were conquerors, as well as religion and
non-religion, we can see the depths of its influence which spread throughout
the world.
Let’s remember Moses’ prophecy regarding what would take
place if the Israelites did not observe all the words of the law.
Deut 28:64-68 And the Lord shall scatter thee among all
people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt
serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and
stone.65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the
sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling
heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:66 And thy life shall hang in
doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none
assurance of thy life:67 In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even!
and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine
heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou
shalt see.68 And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the
way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again: and there ye
shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy
you. KJV
Moses says God will bring them (the Israelites) out of
captivity. In a way, God doesn’t need our help in this as God also tells us
when that will be. If we send people to live in Israel now, we are only sending
them into persecution. It would certainly be the plan of Lucifer to kill as
many DNA Israelites at one time, in one “convenient” place, Jerusalem. Remember,
the people did not move out over the earth after the flood like God wanted them
to. Instead they depended on Nimrod’s government to keep them safe from God.
Yet later, God says through Moses that he scattered them. They should not have
stayed in Shinar. And maybe some of them did move out of Shinar to Arsareth at
that time, but probably not too many. God wanted his people to connect to Him,
not to other men, so asking them to move from Shinar would have allowed them to
draw near to God on their own.
Deut 30:3-5 That then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity,
and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the
nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee.4 If any of thine be
driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the Lord thy God
gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee:5 And the Lord thy God will
bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess
it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. KJV
Remember, Jerusalem has to call on Jesus: “Blessed is he
who comes in the name of the Lord” before they will see him again. Then Jesus
will come with his armies. When Jesus comes and establishes his Kingdom on
earth (the millennial reign) he will bring the people back from all over the
world. Interestingly, Israel will suffer like Babylon, along with those who
worship idols or profess atheism, then God will bring the people living in
Arsareth back to Jerusalem.
2 Esd 13:47 The Highest shall stay the springs of the
stream again, that they may go through: therefore sawest thou the multitude
with peace.48 But those that be left behind of thy people are they that are
found within my borders.49 Now when he destroyeth the multitude of the nations
that are gathered together, he shall defend his people that remain. 50 And then
shall he shew them great wonders.
There will be some that remain on the earth at the end of
the tribulation and the angels will gather the elect from the four corners of
the earth. However, if one has professed atheism there is no reward or life
during the millennial kingdom. Babylon inspired false worship, idolatrous
worship, self-worship, and non-worship. Babylon also established tyrannical
governments and dependence on governments. This is why God hates Babylon and
inspires the beast to destroy her. She led the whole world astray and made
people prostitute themselves, or sell their souls to her system. At the time of
the dispersion, people left the Middle East for other lands. However, “Babylon”
found those people and oppressed them again so to speak. Babylon’s end will be utter
destruction in the latter days. However, anyone who lives through the
tribulation and believes on Jesus as Lord will be brought back to Israel. Those
people will be refined as gold. I don’t think Ezra was speaking of their
personalities being refined, but their faith in Jesus as Lord would be refined
because God shows them special wonders. There are no lost tribes, God knows
where they are. Even if Babylon’s influence has taken hold of their country,
God calls his people out of Babylon. Today, people should stay in Arsareth (where
ever that may be) until Jesus snatches them up or brings them out.
