When I listen to the latest news on TV and read the newspapers, I see biblical prophecy being fulfilled. The Bible tells us that sometime in the future there will be a one-world religious system and a one-world government. Our world is headed for this one-world government and religious system at a very fast rate. If you doubt what I say, then you should read the GATT and NAFTA agreements, and watch how the religious systems are calling for the unity of all religions to cut down on religious strife.
In Revelation chapters 17 and 18, the Bible tells us of the destruction of this one-world religious system and one-world government. The city of Babylon was built by Nimrod (Genesis 10:8-10), and it has always been the breeding ground for false religions. Literally, all false religions originated from the Babylonian religious system. All of the religions of today, even Christianity, have incorporated some of these false and superstitious practices.
For Revelation 18 to come to pass the city of Babylon must be rebuilt, and it must become the center of world commerce. I know that there are some that believe that New York, or some other large city of the world is the Babylon mentioned in Revelation 18. But one rule for Bible interpretation is that when the plain sense of Scripture makes common sense, seek no other sense. And in Revelation 18:11-14 we see the city of Babylon as the center of world commerce.
Saddam Hussein has spent over a billion dollars on the rebuilding of the ancient city of Babylon. Literally, the ancient city of Babylon is being “resurrected.” And I believe that someday it will be the center of world trade. It has been suggested by one of the delegates at the United Nations that since Manhattan is so crowded, the cost of living so expensive, and because of the discrimination against some of the delegates, that the United Nations move to a different location.
The world bankers will be more than happy to finance the rebuilding of Babylon as the greatest city of the world to accommodate the headquarters of this one-world government and one-world religions system. Iraq, an oil-rich country, could guarantee their investment, even if they didn’t have a guarantee from the other nations of the world.
It would be easy, with modern equipment, to dredge the river bottoms to provide harbor facilities and build the railroads. We have modern airplanes that can carry hundreds of passengers anywhere in the world in a matter of hours. There is lots of land to build houses, commercial buildings and long runways. The weather is not inclement, it may be hot, but modern air-conditioning solves that problem.
Now we have 9-11, and the attack on the world trade system that exists today, and on our western society. Our president, George Bush, wants to invade Iraq and put Saddam Hussein out of power. And the only way he can do it without suffering the wrath of the Islamic world is to pacify all the Arabic nations with something so good that they cannot turn it down.
What if the U.S., the European nations, Russia, and all of the Arabic nations got together and decided that the only way to please everyone is to put Saddam out of power and build a massive city and a world trading system that will employ millions of Arabs?
We all know that most Arabs are poor and live at or below poverty level. Only a few of the elite ruling families and their cohorts are reaping the benefits of all the oil money that the rest of the world pumps into these oil rich countries. And if by building a huge city and commerce system in Iraq would bring a better standard of living to these poor Arabs and pacify the Islamic world, then the world’s governments will say, “Why not do it?”
With the world wide internet and phone system, and modern satellite technology that is in place today, it doesn’t take much imagination to believe that it is just as easy to trade stocks at a brokerage in Babylon as it is in New York, Tokyo or London. And with this world commerce system being in Iraq, then it is not likely that some Islamic radical fundamentalist will try to destroy it.
It is a known fact that most Arabs are frustrated because of the fact that their standard of living is so low and the standard of living in Europe and America is so high. In other words, give these Arabs the financial success and power that they are seeking for and they will not be as apt to attack us with their terrorist weapons.
I do not know when or exactly how the city of Babylon will become the center of world commerce, but I know it will happen. Jesus said, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority” (Acts 1:7).
But once this system is in place, it will not have long to survive, for the Lord said, “For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, “I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.‚ Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her. When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: “Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!,” (Revelation 18:5-10).
This judgement of God, that will come upon this worldly religious and commercial system, should be a warning to everyone who have put their trust in stocks, bonds, houses, land, and gaining more wealth, that they are trusting in the wrong things. Their trust should be totally in the Lord.
Jesus said, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36).