Unleashing the Beast

220 / U NLEASHING THE B EAST

Babylon will be released during the Tribulation, and will work in the heart of the Beast and his 10 kings. This new Babylon will eventually consist of the areas encompassed by Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. T HE M AIN A RGUMENT A GAINST N EO -B ABYLON Scholars may argue that ancient Babylon has been destroyed, and the Bible says it will not be rebuilt. According to Mike Coleman, this is one of the reasons Saddam desired to rebuild Babylon—to prove the Bible wrong! Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets gave grave warning about the utter destruction of Babylon. Many references are found in Jeremiah 50 and 51: 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 for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation (50:39). And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that 1 will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 51:64). In Jeremiah's time Babylon invaded Israel, destroyed Jerusalem, burned the Temple and led the Jews captive. Jeremiah predicted the utter destruction of Babylon; yet, his prophecy parallels the prophecy in Revelation 17 and 18 concerning "Mystery Babylon." Jeremiah's Babylon is a