There are still three existing but non-functioning oil pipelines, two of which were built in the 1970s and 80s and the third of which is more recentwork on it was blocked after the SBAH filed a lawsuit in 2012. 1. ARRAF: For all its importance to the ancient world, only about 10 percent of it has been excavated. This prophecy has never been fulfilled. The first mention of the gardens was in 290 B.C.E., long after Nebuchadnezzar (the alleged builder) had died. Suddenly, however, we are seeing a change in the wind, yet few people have noticed. But it's never been listed as a modern World Heritage Site by the United Nations. Indeed, they began rebuilding the famed Ishtar Gates and the citys walls, as well as restore the city walls and some of its buildings. Forget the Gap Theory-It's Genesis As Written! The Babylonian kingdom fell to pieces and the city wouldn't return to glory for more than 1,000 years. Babylon's remains, mounds of mud-brick buildings spread over about 30 square kilometers, are in present-day Iraq, south of Baghdad. Art historians referred to his attempt as "Disney for a despot." Some of Saddam's recreations were destroyed during wars in the region, though others remain accessible to the public today. Universal peace will follow the destruction. So, terribly low oil revenues along with COVID-related lockdowns and travel restrictions flatlined economic growth and caused unemployment to spike. According to the Book of Revelation, the city of Babylon has to be rebuilt once again. Is Babylon still being rebuilt? Iraq is making a new effort this year. And should thrill Jews and Christians. Babylon, the iconic ancient city, is once again rising from the ashes, just as Bible prophecy predicts - here is the latest Skeptics and cynics abound, but there is growing evidence the Iraqi government is serious about rebuilding this ancient wonder of the world Share this article by Joel C. Rosenberg | February 11, 2022 Jesus ChristTo Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, (Revelation 1:5, " And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." There is no place on earth today where stands the largest structure in the world, used for a religious purpose, all worshipping in one tongue regardless of their mother tongue, and is holy to more than 1.5 billion people on earth that is called Mount Babel, except the one in Mecca overlooking the Ka'ba. Babylon was located in Shinar, in ancient Mesopotamia on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River. "Visitors can stroll through the remnants of the brick and clay structures which stretch across 10 square kilometers [3.8 square miles], and see the famed Lion of Babylon statue, as well as large portions of the original Ishtar Gate," reported Reuters in 2019. The concept of Babylon being rebuilt has attracted a great deal of speculation over recent years, and I suspect it has sold many books on the subject. Site proudly built by Amazee Labs. If you believe in the Literal interpretation of Bible prophecy,1. then there is nothing more Literal when you affirm that. Because of Nebuchadnezzar's imperialist cruelty and penchant for golden shrines to pagan gods, Babylon appears as shorthand for everything ungodly in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Therefore, I must go with my eyes and conclude that, according to Isaiah 13:19-20, literal Babylon is prophetically programed to be Revived. After a solid sacking by the Parthians in the second century C.E., Babylon never made a comeback. It will also train and employ local Iraqis in heritage conservation techniques., The Babylon festival was revived last year and the 2022 edition is taking place this month and features the famous Iraqi singer Ali Jasim Photo: Hadani Ditmars. Its extensive ruins, on the Euphrates River about 55 miles (88 km) south of Baghdad, lie near the modern town of Al-illah, Iraq. As to what knowledge or treasures might be down there, he said, its a very simple answer no one knows., In Beleaguered Babylon, Doing Battle Against Time, Water and Modern Civilization, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/06/world/middleeast/babylon-iraq-archeology-conservation.html. According to historians, Nechuchadnezzar relocated conquered people around the empire to keep them from organizing rebellions against him under his leadership, Babylon became the biggest and most modern city in the ancient world. FACT #6-- After the FINAL FALL of Babylon there will never again be any "PASSERS-BY", Her cities A land in which no man lives, And through which no son of man passes. Back in the 1970s, Saddam Hussein tried to recover the city's lost glory, but his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. What else can you see in Babylon? Several empires rose and fell and rose again over the millennia on the same coveted soil between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Terrorist insurgencies. As part of a new generation of archaeologists, Mr. al-Taee works for the Iraqi government on a World Monuments Fund project aimed at stemming the damage to one of the worlds best known yet least understood archaeological sites. Sign upfor our newsletter to receive regular updates on our projects, stories from the field, upcomingevents, and more! Still, Iraqis though preoccupied with the countrys precarious security situation and pressing political and financial problems feel a deep connection here. As a result of WMF and SBAHs partnership, Babylon was officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 5, 2019. 74159-1575. of the RE-use of Babylon's Stones since the First Fall of Babylon of the flourishing of Trees & Greenery (Gardens, Groves) at Babylon YmlibGVwcm9waGVjeWFzd3JpdHRlbkBnbWFpbC5jb20=, The Psalm 83 Prophecy VS the Psalm 83 Theory. Within that time, WMF and the SBAH completed a site management plan that addressed issues such as defining site boundaries and areas where future excavations might take place; identifying economic opportunities for local communities; and designing ways to accommodate tourists effectively at the site. All rights reserved. After years of Iraqi effort, Babylon was inscribed two years ago as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing the exceptional universal cultural value of what was considered the most dazzling metropolis in the ancient world. Jeremiah 51:26. But many of the bricks are crumbling, and as the water table rises, entire walls are in danger of falling. . They clearly contradict the scene in Isaiah 13:19-20, where we read, And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans' pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. While Alexander the Great had intentions of rebuilding the city, he died before he could make that a reality. Herodotus, the 5th-century BCE Greek historian, describes the impressive irrigation system of Babylon and the walls but does not mention any gardens . A replica of the Ishtar Gate built in the 1950s, when Iraq first started developing the remains of Babylon as a tourist site. Tourism has been growing there gradually, as security has improved and hotels have opened., Just this month, an Arab newspaperreportedthat the Iraqi government is going to converta palace overlooking the UNESCO World Heritage site [in Babylon] into a museum.. Subscribe to The Art Newspapers digital newsletter for your daily digest of essential news, views and analysis from the international art world delivered directly to your inbox. Today, the Mecca Clock Tower is the 3rd tallest building in the world. . FACT #1-- After the FINAL FALL there will Never Again be any Inhabitants. Nebachadnezzar was the most famous of Babylon's rulers, but he wasn't the first. (Revelation 22:17. This is the heritage of Iraq, and we need to save it, said Mr. al-Taee, 29. On weekends the site is filled with Iraqi tourists from all over the country. In 1927, the British ran a railway line through the site, and in the 1980s Hussein built a highway through part of it, along with a palace for himself, complete with a helipad. Still, since the publication of Epicenter sixteen years ago, the skeptics and cynics certainly seem to have had the upper hand. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF THAT BABYLON OF CHALDEA MUST RISE AGAIN. . But things are changing and its time for an update. Skeptics and cynics abound, to be sure, but the fact is Babylon is being rebuilt right now, in part with U.S. taxpayer funds. Rockefeller Center For a city that has figured so large in the worlds imagination, remarkably little is known for certain about Babylon. An Iraqi conservation worker removing a layer of modern clay from a wall of the Ninmakh Temple in Babylon, revealing some of the original 2,500-year-old brick. WMF also assisted SBAH with the completion of a World Heritage nomination for Babylon, holding workshops in 2017 to advance the research and writing necessary to achieve this goal. Whats more, the Obama Administrationis contributing $700,000 towards The Future of Babylon Project, through the State Departments budget., In January 2011, I shared with my readers an intriguing articlepublished by the New York Times about Iraqs latest efforts topreserve, protect, restore and then rebuild the ancient city of Babylon and make it a draw for tourists, with U.S. taxpayer assistance., The Babylon project is Iraqs biggest and most ambitious by far, a reflection of the ancient citys fame and its resonance in Iraqs modern political and cultural heritage, the Times reported, noting that the State Department had announced a new $2 million grant to begin work to preserve the sites most impressive surviving ruins. Hanging Gardens of Babylon, ancient gardens considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World and thought to have been located near the royal palace in Babylon. Therefore Babylon of Chaldea MUST Rise Again. And God remembered Babylon the great and gave her the cup of the wine of the . A story that will confound atheists and agnostics. Im just not sure anybody knows when., I cited this important story in Epicenter., In April 2009, I reportedthat the government of Iraq is moving forward with plans to protect the archaeological remains of the ancient City of Babylon, in preparation for building a modern city of Babylon. Because King Nebuchadnezzar built palaces and temples on top of previous ones, there are entire layers of the city underground, and underwater. to 540 B.C. Babylon will be destroyed with fire from heaven as God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Rev. ARRAF: The salt is from groundwater trapped by modern concrete, added in damaging 1980s reconstruction. Your IP: , at "Replacement Babylons" such as Rome or America TODAY. Click to reveal and slowly crumbled over centuries of foreign invasions and occupations. If this werent bad enough, record low oil prices in recent years as low as$20 a barrelin 2020 severely hampered any chance at a true and lasting recovery. In total, Saddam Hussein spent over 20 years rebuilding the city of Babylon, and probably got about half of it rebuilt before he was taken out in the war with Iraq. The story of Babylon is the ebb and flow of slaughter and mercy, war and peace, a microcosm of human history. Construction on their second corporate headquarters is expected to begin next year and when completed in 2025 at a cost of $2.5 billion. So did advances in astronomy and other sciences. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built in 2570 BC and is still standing today. These cookies do not store any personal information. As one of the greatest cities of the ancient world, Babylon has recently been dubbed the city of wonders. There was a period in the 70s and 80s when it was customary to use cement, said Josephine DIlario, an Italian earthen architecture specialist working on the site. But no one has ever touched them. The nearest modern town is Hillah, which is the capital of the Governorate. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Others think the gardens never existed, as no archaeological evidence has been found, nor was it mentioned in contemporary Babylonian texts. To his credit, his budget for upkeep was much higher than the one currently managed by the Iraqi government, but his labour of love and self-aggrandisementhe had stones inscribed with his name as in other ancient sitesalso involved much heavy-handed reconstruction in the 1980s and 90s, often using cement bricks and other inappropriate building materials. Yes, it does, although the city is now in ruins. AFTER the FINAL FALL of Babylon, the site will never again have 1. Under the rulers leadership, Babylon was the most modern city of the ancient world. . There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. How will Babylon, Iraq, be converted to the "Great City" of Revelation 17-18?2. The mud-brick walls were weakened by a Hussein-era concrete roof that they could not support, which collapsed in 1999, and a second mud roof that replaced it, which was damaged by post-invasion military occupation. According to an About.com article, "Saddam Hussein said that Babylon's great palaces and the legendary hanging gardens of Babylon (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) would rise from the dust.". 25th Floor Although Saddam Hussein attempted to revive it during the 1970s, he was ultimately unsuccessful due to regional conflicts and wars. Eroded by dried salt from the water, some of the sun-baked bricks literally crumble to the touch. once wracked with unimaginable violence becomes increasingly stable and secure, direct foreign investment is going to flood in, and the region once known as. (Jeremiah 51:43. It's not hard to believe that Old Testament authors may have modeled their Tower of Babel after the Marduk temple, known as the "house of the frontier between heaven and Earth.". As foretold by Old Testament prophets, the grand ancient city fell to the Persians in 539 B.C.E. (Jer 50:13, 26). The Book Of Revelation, apocalyptic and foreboding, is actually "FRAMED" by the GOSPEL OF SALVATION in Jesus Christ. History shows that every single one of these prophecies remains unfulfilled. ARRAF: This latest project, funded by the U.S., has Allen training local residents of Babylon to replace the mud mortar between the ancient bricks in the Ishtar Gate, the city's grand entrance. Is Babylon inhabited today? It will never be rebuilt. ALLEN: Everything that's happened is - it leaves a mark on the site. Isaiah prophesied that when Babylon is destroyed by the Medes it will become as Sodom and Gomorrah, never to be rebuilt again. Rather than Babylon simply being a tourist-attraction of Hillah, It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; Nor will the Arab pitch his tent there, Nor will shepherds make their flocks lie down there. This study will focus on Babylon of "CHALDEA". But what makes it, for the most part, inconspicuous, unnoticed, and therefore "out-of-mind", is its "growth-creep" for a millennium! 1. The Palace, which is adjacent to the remains of the ancient city of Babylon, was purged of anything of value by looters as Saddam's regime fell in April 2003 Credit: Getty Images - Getty. Projects at Ishtar Gate and Ninmakh Temple, launched in 2016 and 2019 respectively, are still ongoing. Babylon declined after it was occupied by Darius and has been totally destroyed; today it is like Sodom and Gomorrah - barren desert. The bricks in this area are repeatedly being exposed to water, dryness, and rising salts, and then they collapse, said Jeff Allen, a historical preservationist who has led the World Monument Fund project here since 2009. UNESCO has even printed up a snazzy brochure, with Babylon listed as the premier destination, to hand out to wealthy donors.. Should we believe the Apostle John, the author of the Book of Revelation, that Babylon will one day become a great city and a center of extravagant luxury, as he wrote in Revelation chapter 18? Is Babylon, Iraq, that "great city" of "Babylon" mentioned 5 times in Revelation 18? He even stamped his own name on the bricks, just as Nebuchadnezzar had done. According to legend, it may also have been home to the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (see sidebar), and a hubristic sky-scraping temple that some historians believe inspired the biblical Tower of Babel. World Monuments Fund and World Monuments Watch are registered service marks. When the book of Revelation (chapters 16-18) highlights Babylon, it is not only referring to a rebuilt city, but also to a system . Isaiah doesn't say that. EDITORS NOTE: These early-stage photographs were not taken in pursuit of a Biblical agenda, but by secular sources-- explorers, archaeologists, and travelers-- with a focus on documenting the Middle East. Babylon in ancient Mesopotamia was known as the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. "Where Was Babylon and Does It Still Exist?" They include the foundation of the Ishtar Gate, built in the sixth century B.C. Everywhere you look goes back to the history of some of the earliest civilizations. Now, Babylon, like many of Iraqs archaeological sites, has fallen into disrepair. All of this coincides exactly with the prophecies of the Old Testament and shows that Babylon must be rebuilt in the Tribulation in order to be destroyed as prophesied in "the Day of the Lord." Then, in a country under Saddam Husseins iron grip, the most joyous part of visiting was seeing families free of their worries for a few hours. 445-425 BCE - Nehemiah the Prophet Rebuilds the Walls of Jerusalem; City Confined to Eastern Hill. Most of Babylon was rebuilt by Saddam Hussein on its old foundations, but pictured here is the original Ishtar gate Credit: Getty - Contributor. The site's remains were first excavated by Robert Koldewey, a German architect, at the end of the nineteenth century. Its time for an update actually `` FRAMED '' by the GOSPEL SALVATION... Seem to have had the upper hand as one of the ancient world from groundwater trapped by modern concrete added! 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Sixteen years ago, the site will never again be any Inhabitants CHALDEA '' cup of the ancient world effect..., stories from the field, upcomingevents, and we need to save it, said Mr. al-Taee,.... A deep connection here in 290 B.C.E., long after Nebuchadnezzar ( the alleged builder ) had.... This is the Heritage of Iraq, and we need to save it, said Mr. al-Taee, 29 few. Center for a city that has figured so large in the sixth century B.C a solid by! The first city underground, and more and underwater temples on top previous! Effect on your browsing experience Iraqs archaeological sites, has fallen into disrepair Nebuchadnezzar ( the alleged builder ) died... Entire layers of the city of wonders been found, nor was it mentioned in Babylonian.

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