Mystery Babylon

The Bible tells us about the first empire on earth after Noah’s flood.  I propose the area dominated by this original Babylonian Empire (known to scholars as the Uruk Expansion) is vital to our understanding of “mystery Babylon” in Revelation.  Erech=Uruk

And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: why it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (Genesis 10:8-10)

Shinar into Sumer

Mesopotamia litterally means “middle river” in Greek, but is extrapolated to mean the land (khora) between two rivers. This land was called Shinar in the Bible from Genesis to the time of the prophets (Isaiah 11:11, Daniel 1:2, Zechariah 5:11). Shinar is a composite word of the Hebrew words for “two” (shenayim) and “river” (nahar); and also implies the “land” (erets). Thus Mesopotamia and Shinar are geographically equivalent. Shinar was derived from the Akkadian (Ancient Hebrew) word Shumeru, but scholars have shortened it to Sumer; exchanging /sh/ for /s/ as in Shemite to Semite. Over time the upper portion became distinct and was called the land of Akkad, while just the southern part retained the title of Sumer.  But neither Uruk’s empire nor “mystery Babylon” are limited to southern Mesopotamia  

Cush of Ur as Gishur/Gasher in Sumerian King Lis

Cush built the city of Ur and was known as Cush of Ur, or Gishur in the Sumerian King List.  Cush also built his capital city of Kish (a derivative of his name) and the biblical city of Erech which is called ancient Uruk by scholars.  I propose Cush gave his son Nimrod a small city to govern (later called Babel) before Nimrod overthrew his father’s kingdom.

Then Kish was defeated and the kingship was taken to Eanna. In E-ana, Mesh-ki-ang-gasher, the son of Utu, became lord and king; he ruled for 5 ges, 2 u, 5 dis years.
Mec-ki-aj-gacer entered the sea and disappeared. Enmerkar, the son of Mec-ki-aj-gacer, the king of Unug, who built Unug, became king; he ruled for 7 ges years. . . . (Sumerian King List)

Mesh-ki-ang-gasher is the “prince of measured earth, Cush of Ur,” who built Ur and Unug (Uruk = Erech in the Bible).  E-Ana was the ziggurat in Uruk which was most likely built by Cush to worship Inanna. Cush of Ur was the first ruler of Kish and reigned there for 100 years. Utu was the sun god (Ra/Re) whom Ham worshipped in Egypt. Cush of Ur then entered the sea and disappeared, and I propose that he sailed back to his kin in Africa in the land of Cush, later called Ethiopia.

In Sumerian en-me-er-kar₂ mean the following: en is a lord (ensi is a city ruler), me is an office of responsibility or the phenomenal area of a diety's power; er is a lament, tears (woeful waters) or a complaint (whereas ur means warrior); and kar means embankment, harbor, or port authority. Most of these words seem appropriate titles for Nimrod. Together Enmerkar, “lord who storms fortresses,” was the epithet of Nimrod, who conquered all of Shinar and beyond.

Nimrod’s Religious Idolatry

Noah and his family worshipped Creator Elohim (Hebrew for God which is often shortened to El).  Nimrod’s first city was even called Bab-El, meaning ‘gate of God’.  But Ham later chose to worship the sun (Utu), and eventually Nimrod called himself Marutuk, derived from amar-Utu ("bull calf of the sun god Utu"),[i] later pronounced Marduk.  Marduk is often pictured with his snake-dragon.  Nimrod’s father, Cush, worshipped Inanna (in Sumerian, but Ishtar in Akkadian).  Marduk’s wife, Sarpanitu (‘shining one’) represented the moon; and together they usurped biblical Elohim as creator of the Earth.  Their new religion required extravagant offerings and sacred prostitution.  So, yes, the first religion of Babylon was a great whore and the mother of prostitution which spread to many nations and languages.

The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. (Rev. 17:15)

Uruk Expansion

During the Uruk Period, millions of bevel-rimmed bowls (BRB's) 

were mass produced likely to feed slave and corvee workers their daily rations of barley, and possibly to pay soldiers their ration of salt.  At Uruk strata IV-VI, BRB's are accompanied by an influx of cylinder seals; some of which depict scenes of the En (lord) presiding over torture, such as tying arms at the elbows behind the back, possibly inflicted on tax delinquents.[ii] These BRB's are found in abundance throughout Iraq (the Sunni “beast of the sea”) and Iran (the Shia “beast of the earth”).

         Uruk is #42, Judeida is #1, Hama(th) is #2

Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL)

. . . I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image . . . (Rev. 20:5)

These Muslims are following the Koran’s instructions.

“When your lord revealed to the angels: I am with you, therefore make firm those who believe. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them.” (Koran 8:12)

“Therefore, when ye meet the Unbelievers (in fight), strike off their heads; at length; then when you have made wide Slaughter among them, carefully tie up the remaining captives: thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom: Until the war lays down its burdens.” (Koran 47:4)

                    Islamic State also controls portions of Yemen and Libya.

The empire of “Mystery Babylon” is the Islamic State.

And on her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus . . . (Revelation 17:5-6)

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[i] Helmer Ringgren, (1974) Religions of The Ancient Near East, Translated by John Sturdy, The Westminster Press, p. 66.

[ii] Mark A. Brandes, Siegelabrollungen aus den Archaischen Bauschichten in Uruk-Warka, Freiburger Altorientalische Studien 3; Wiesbaden, Frank Steiner, 1979, pp. 17-166.

That Which Withholds Has Been Removed

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed." (2 Thessalonians 2:3-8a)
Barnes' Bible Commentary on this verse: "The most natural interpretation is that which refers it to civil power, meaning that there was something in the form of the existing administration which would prevent this development until that restraint should be removed."

I did not know what to expect on the first day of the Great Tribulation, and so I prayed and asked God for revelation, and I received the song, "This mountain shall be removed by My Spirit, sayeth the Lord."
"This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, said the LORD of hosts. Who are you, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace to it." (Zechariah 4:6b-7)
The "great mountain" during Zerubbabel's time was the empire of Babylon, which is called the "destroying mountain" in Jeremiah 51:24-25. Mountains refer to empires or kingdoms. I think in order for God to accomplish what He intends to do in the Middle East, He needed to remove the United States of America. The first war the United States of America encountered after becoming a nation was with the Muslims in 1801 who had declared war on all Christian nations. They were known as the Barbary Pirates of the Mediterranean. General Eaton told the new Secretary of State, "It is a maxim of the Barbary States, that 'The Christians who would be on good terms with them must fight well or pay well.'" At first the US paid their extortion money for safe passage, but when they took the ship and imprisoned the crew which brought the money, the US marines successfully stormed the shores of Tripoli. [http://www.daddezio.com/italy/barbary/history.html]

Today, President Obama declared to the Turkey parliament, "Let me say this as clearly as I can: The United States is not, and will never be, at war with Islam." He further clarified, "Our partnership with the Muslim world is critical in rolling back a fringe ideology that people of all faiths reject." President Obama continued, "But I also want to be clear that America's relationship with the Muslim world cannot and will not be based on opposition to al Qaeda. Far from it. We seek broad engagement based upon mutual interests and mutual respect. We will listen carefully, bridge misunderstanding, and seek common ground." Each demonstration of American weakness and withdrawal emboldens the jihadists. Now with America subdued, the Antichrist may soon appear and declare himself to be god.

God's Hand ready to put those who hate Him into the Fire
There was also a unique sign in the heavens reported today. "In a new image from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, high-energy X-rays emanating from the nebula around PSR B1509-58 have been colored blue to reveal a structure resembling a hand reaching for some eternal red cosmic light." [http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C512767%2C00.html]
"Your hand shall find out all your enemies: your right hand shall find out those that hate you. You shall make them as a fiery oven in the time of your anger: the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them. Their fruit shall you destroy from the earth, and their seed from among the children of men. For they intended evil against you: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. Therefore shall you make them turn their back, when you shall make ready your arrows on your strings against the face of them." (Psalms 21:8-12)
"Though I walk in the middle of trouble, you will revive me: you shall stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerns me: your mercy, O LORD, endures for ever: forsake not the works of your own hands." (Psalms 138:7-8)

Ten Moon-otheistic Tribes Against Israel

A confederation of ten moon-otheistic tribes seekig to wipe out Israel was first prophesied by Asaph. Asaph was a Levite who was one of the leaders of king David's choir (1 Chronicles 6:39), a skilled in musician, and a "seer" or prophet (2 Chronicles 29:30). The following is his psalm, numbered 83.

1Keep not you silence, O God: hold not your peace, and be not still, O God. 2For, see, your enemies make a tumult: and they that hate you have lifted up the head. 3They have taken crafty counsel against your people, and consulted against your hidden ones. 4They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. 5For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against you: 6The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes; 7Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre; 8Assur also is joined with them: they have helped the children of Lot. Selah. 9Do to them as to the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison: 10Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth. 11Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yes, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna: 12Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession. 13O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. 14As the fire burns a wood, and as the flame sets the mountains on fire; 15So persecute them with your tempest, and make them afraid with your storm. 16Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek your name, O LORD. 17Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yes, let them be put to shame, and perish: 18That men may know that you, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, are the most high over all the earth.

Some Bible commentators say this prophetic psalm was fulfilled during the reign of Jehoshaphat when Ammon, Moab, and those of mount Seir came to cast them out of their inheritance (2 Chronicles 20:10-12). But others say this particular confederation of nations never attacked Israel in Biblical history. All these tribes and the city of Tyre bordered Israel, only the city of Assur was distant.
Edom (in Jordan)
Ishmaelites (Egypt, Saudia Arabia and Iraq)
Moab (in Jordan)
Hagarenes (Saudi Arabia and Jordan)
Gebal (in Lebanon)
Ammon (in Jordan)
Amalek (in Jordan)
Philistines (in Gaza Strip)
Tyre (in Lebanon)
Assur (in northern Iraq)

The “children of Lot” are Edom and Moab from Lot's incestuous relations with his daughters after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sisera and Jabin were located in Hazor (Judges 4:2), on the southwest tip of Hula Lake which is due north of the Sea of Galilee. Oreb, Zeeb, Zebah, and Zalmunna were Ishmaelite kings of Midian (Judges 8:3-5) located in the Arabian Peninsula. When Asaph wrote this psalm, the city of Assur was the capital of the waning Assyrian empire; "the Assyrian" is equated with the antichrist in prophecy. This Muslim confederation of nations attacked Israel in 1967, and God shamed them in the Six-Day War. The main aggressors were Egypt, Jordan, and Syria, but the following nations contributed troops and arms: Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria. In an attempt to deny God's existence, His enemies seek to wipe out His people.

The movie Against All Odds documents how the Arabs in the Six-Day War were "confused and troubled" by supernatural occurrences such as freak "winds" and "storms" or of seeing angels and hearing voices which either paralyzed them or caused them to run in fear. Though Psalm 83 has been fulfilled, it gives clarity to the immediate goal of the beast, as well as to the foundation of its worship.

21Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise you, and fall on us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks. 22Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, Rule you over us, both you, and your son, and your son's son also: for you have delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23And Gideon said to them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you. 24And Gideon said to them, I would desire a request of you, that you would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.) (Judges 8:21-24)

In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon (Isaiah 3:18)

Ornament is sah-har-one'; a round pendant for the neck, a round tire like the moon. Most Muslim flags contain a moon and/or star(s); the root of their religion. Nimrod, “a mighty hunter against the LORD” built the cities of Assur and Babel from whence came the Assyrians and Babylonians. The religious system he implemented was that of worshiping the moon and stars with the aide of cult prostitutes. Nimrod and his ilk changed the godly message of the constellations into a sordid soap opera. The symbols of moon worship (beside the moon itself) were bulls and pyramids. The name of the moon god was Alilah, and eventually Allah. The feminine form 'Allat' is found in the name of Sanballat in the book of Nehemiah. Midian is now Saudi Arabia, and the heart of Islam is Mecca.

The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947, just as the modern state of Israel was being formed. Just before war broke out between Israel and the Hezbollah in July 2006, another miraculous archaeological revelation was given. A bulldozer uncovered a Latin prayer book in Ireland on July 20, 2006. It was opened to Psalm 83, the prophetic psalm of Asaph. Hezbollah had launched Katusha rockets into Israel on July 12th, and a few days later kidnapped two Israeli soldiers; thus began the Lebanon War of July, 2006. Though it was not an all out war as in 1967, it was still a moon-otheistic confederation fighting towards Israel's extinction.