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MSD · 06-07-2003, 08:49 PM

I pointed this out before the whole Iraq situation came into the spotlight, I wish I had gotten around to it back then so this can't just be attributed to 20/20 hindsight.

The book of Revelations is allegedly the Bible's account of what will happen leading up to the apocalypse. Chapter 18 seems to be a combination of metaphors and direct references to the war with, and demise of Iraq.

Quote:

18:1 After these things, I saw another angel coming down out of the sky, having great authority. The earth was illuminated with his glory.

18:2 He cried with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, and she has become a habitation of demons, a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird!

Iraq is considered to be the location of ancient Babylon. The demons, unclean spirits, and unclean and hateful birds represent Saddam's regime and his evil sons and followers.

18:3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of her impure passion, the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury."

The wine is the oil that the Iraqi government sold and used money from to buy weapons instead of food and medicine (impure passions)The merchants of the earth who grew rich are the countries who bought the oil, knowing that the money would go to weapon purchases, and the countries who sold them the weapons

18:4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, that you have no participation in her sins, and that you don't receive of her plagues,

Bush's State of the Union Address and Powell's speech to the UN, warning the world not to associate with Iraq, and telling the world that they have bio-weapons (plagues)

18:5 for her sins have reached to the sky, and God has remembered her iniquities.

Bush's whole "God bless America, God is with us" position.

18:6 Return to her just as she returned, and repay her double as she did, and according to her works. In the cup which she mixed, mix to her double.

We destroyed Saddam's regime, destroyed his military, and removed his government. He tried to invade Kuwait, we doubled that and removed him. He tried to assassinate Bush, Sr. and we killed him and his sons for the evil things they did to people (he's as good as dead if we didn't get him)

18:7 However much she glorified herself, and grew wanton, so much give her of torment and mourning. For she says in her heart, 'I sit a queen, and am no widow, and will in no way see mourning.'

"I ... will in no way see mourning" The constant denial that we were winning, the claims that we would be defeated.

18:8 Therefore in one day her plagues will come: death, mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire; for the Lord God who has judged her is strong.

"utterly burned with fire" is a good description of what happened to the government buildings in Baghdad. death, mourning, and famine are the destruction of military units and supply lines.

18:9 The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning,

The suceess of our action scared the hell out of the "Axis of Evil" and other countries who suddenly wanted diplomatic talks to assure themselves that they won't be next. France, who has been accused of having secret diplomatic ties with Saddam's regime, is sufering from a 500 million dollar loss from the US boycott responding to their opposition to the destruction of those ties.

18:10 standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.'

One hour, shock and awe. Great city of Babylon, Baghdad.

18:11 The merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more;

If it is proven that they were supplying terrorists with weapons and funds, that would fit in perfectly here. Otherwise, could it be the loss of so much from stores and businesses due to looting? Or is it the secret ties with countries that supplied weapons to them in exchange for oil?

18:12 merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all expensive wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble;

No more purchases of luxuries to fill Presidential palaces.

18:13 and cinnamon, incense, perfume, frankincense, wine, olive oil, fine flour, wheat, sheep, horses, chariots, bodies, and people's souls.

A continuation of the above, the fine foods, perfumes, cars, and slaves that were owned by Saddam and his sons.

18:14 The fruits which your soul lusted after have been lost to you, and all things that were dainty and sumptuous have perished from you, and you will find them no more at all.

The rulers of the country lost everything, and the museum's treasures were looted and may never be recovered.

18:15 The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, will stand far away for the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning;

Again, those who had covert ties to Saddam's regime suffer.

18:16 saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!
18:17 For in an hour such great riches are made desolate.' Every shipmaster, and everyone who sails anywhere, and mariners, and as many as gain their living by sea, stood far away, 18:18 and cried out as they looked at the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like the great city?'
18:19 They cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had their ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her great wealth!' For in one hour is she made desolate.

In the 'Shock and Awe' campaign, palaces were destroyed, buildings were leveled, represented by the term "in one hour." The last sentence seems to refer to the fact that those who were made rich by their ties to the old regime and oil sales may lose it as the new government forms new diplomatic and economic ties.

18:20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, you saints, apostles, and prophets; for God has judged your judgment on her."

The declaration of victory, telling the pople of the world to rejoice because a 'threat to freedom' was destroyed, as always, with Bush thanking God for guiding America.

18:21 A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and cast it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down, and will be found no more at all.
18:22 The voice of harpists, minstrels, flute players, and trumpeters will be heard no more at all in you. No craftsman, of whatever craft, will be found any more at all in you. The sound of a mill will be heard no more at all in you.
18:23 The light of a lamp will shine no more at all in you. The voice of the bridegroom and of the bride will be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the princes of the earth; for with your sorcery all the nations were deceived.
18:24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on the earth."

These last few lines seem to suggest that more may come, that 'Babylon' will be destroyed by divine intervention. This obviously hasn't happened. IT oculd be that the Bible didn't get it exactly right. It could be that more will happen, possibly renewed fighting. It could be that Saddam loyalists could dig up hidden weapons from Iraq's nuclear weapon program and launch a final attack against coalition forces.

Keep in mind that I thought out most of this half a year ago, before the war, so it's not really the same as making Nostradamus fit every situation. I suppose I may have made some stretches because of what I had expected to happen, but to me, it seemed fairly clear as to what this 'predicted.' I really don't know where I expect a discussion on this to go, but I thought some of you might find this interesting.