T H E P R O S A N D C O N S
(d) Jeremiah said (Jer. 51:26) that the ruins would not be used for building purposes, but through out the centuries the site has been a quarry for building in the neighboring towns. 2. The vision of the ephah in Zechariah 5:5-11 is said to support the idea of a rebuilt city in the land of Shin- ar: 3. It is said that the site of Babylon is a logical com mercial center for the world. The surrounding land is fertile and rich in minerals. It is therefore logical that a city be built there. It is claimed that plans have been made for its construction. 4. It is said that the city of Rev. 18 will be the counter feit of the New Jerusalem, identified with the Bride of Christ. Just as Christ has his capital city, so Anti-christ has his in the revived Babylon. These arguments will be examined in the same order in which they have been presented. 1. The contention that the prophecies concerning the destruction of Babylon have not been fulfilled will be dealt with under its subheads: (a) It is true that Isa. 13:6-13 refers to the future “ day of the Lord” but the actual description of the destruction of Babylon that follows is said to be by the Medes:
“ The Babylon that is here (Isa. 13:17-22) said to be destroyed is said to be overthrown like Sodom and Gomorrah, suddenly and by fire, after which it is to be inhabited no more forever” (Prophetic Questions An swered, p. 162). On the contrary, it is clear that the city was overthrown, not by fire from heaven, as in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah; but by an invading army using bows and arrow's (Isa. 13:18; Jer. 50:14). The point of mentioning Sodom and Go morrah is not to illustrate the manner of the overthrow, but to show that the final result would be the same, i.e., complete destruction and deso lation. Reading the parallel passage in Jeremiah will help to make this clear: “ Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein; and it shall be no more inhabited forever; neith er shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. “ As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighboring citjes thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein” (Jer. 50:39, 40). It is true that Jer. 51:8 teaches the sudden destruc tion of Babylon, but the 11th verse of the same chapter tells us that the overthrow is accomplished by the Medes using shields and arrows. The overthrow of the kingdom of Babylon and the fall of her principal city did take place suddenly, according to both secular and sacred his tory. The account of Babylon’s fall recorded in Daniel should be recalled (Dan. 5:30, 31). Isaiah prophesied that widowhood and the loss of children should come upon Babylon “ in a moment in one day” (Isa. 47:9). How ever, the ultimate decline and destruction of the city took centuries, but this is not in conflict with the pro phecies. Babylon was to have many spoilers in addition to the Medes (Jer. 51:27, 28, 48, 53). (c) This argument is that the prophecies which speak of the utter desolation of the city have not been fulfilled because it was inhabited for centuries and a village is there today called Hillah. It has already been pointed out that the prophecies do not demand sudden desolation for the city, but only a sudden overthrow for the Babylonians. However, if a city is located there today, then it is evident that the prophecy about its never be ing inhabited has not been fulfilled. The follow ing statements are typical of those whQ believe the city is to be rebuilt:
“ Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. Their bows also shall dash the young men to piec es; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare chil dren. And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Go morrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to gen eration: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be pro longed” (Isa. 13:17-22).
This entire passage is quoted because it is referred to so often by both the proponents and opponents of the theory. It is evident that the destruction prophesied here began with the overthrow of Babylon by the Medes, regardless of how many other nations had part before the desolation was complete. The mention of “the day of the Lord” in the context does not assign everything in the chapter to that future day. It is a common feature of prophecy that the near and the far events are often blended or appear side by side. (b) Regarding the manner in which Babylon is to be destroyed, Doctor Keith L. Brooks gives the following: as
“ At the present time a city of some ten thousand (Hillah) is located in the midst of the ruins of ancient Babylon.” (Ibid., p. 163). “ A fact, which is often overlooked, is that this utter demolition prophesied in Isa. 13 THE KING 'S BUSINESS
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