Thank God that I had a mind of my own and when I read something in the Bible, I believed the exact, literal words. The eighteenth chapter of the Book of Revelation is not a chapter about a symbolic city that has a likeness to a literal city that used to exist in the Middle Eastern country of Iraq. The author of the Bible is the Creator God Himself, speaking through His Son and by the Holy Ghost. He means what He says and every word is exact. When you interpret the Bible in exact word-for-word meaning, always in context with the whole, you can bank your life on what it says. I sure would love to have everything I have spoken and written for these thirty-six plus years on this subject. I can say without a doubt that God has, to the present moment, fulfilled every word in His Holy Book.

Babylon, Iraq is today the very center of world attention. Biblical prophecy is marching on a straight path to the Great Tribulation and the battle of Armageddon. Iraq is the geographical center of the coming “One World Order.” This central nation of the end time events cannot be a dictatorship. It must be a free nation of free people. Three times in the book of Daniel chapter eleven, where the Antichrist is clearly prophesied, it is stated that he obtains his powers by flatteries, not by military might. The powers of “flattery” is nothing but a prophetic word describing a “skilled politician.” Listen to Daniel’s words, “…and obtain the kingdom by flatteries,… shall he corrupt by flatteries,… but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.” (Daniel 11:21,32,34) Iraq is on its way to becoming a democracy in a sea of dictatorships and despots. Much of the geography where Iraq is located will change to make way for the skilled political tricks of the “man of sin” soon to step into the political arena.

The political mix in Iraq is quite intriguing. The Southern region will be dominant, and that in itself is prophetic. Babylon is clearly part of the Southern geography and will be central to the reign of the Antichrist. At the same time, the Northern region has a large population of Assyrians; and there will come, at least by the end of the Seven Years of Great Tribulation, a sharp divide between the Assyrian of the North and the rest of Iraq. That’s mainly for the future, and not yet evident in the political development. You have not heard much or maybe nothing about the Assyrians. They were largely disenfranchised from voting because of their political design and Christian beliefs. Their future in Iraq is after the reign of the Antichrist and not before.

Just like Jerusalem will be the center of the one thousand year millennial reign of Jesus Christ, the Antichrist will make Babylon and Iraq the center of his reign. It’s the perfect place of his delight and joy. Satan actually delights in Babylon in the perfect imitation of Jesus Christ’s delight and love for Jerusalem. Once the Antichrist gains political power, he will begin in earnest to completely rebuild Babylon and to make it his golden city. This will probably not begin in earnest until after the Rapture. There will be at least three and one-half years to seven years between the Rapture and the beginning of his reign of terror corresponding to the seven years of Tribulation in Revelation. The stage is being set.

The present stirring at the center of the United Nations is a clear part of world development. America is becoming more and more out of step with the United Nations. The antagonism between America and the United Nations officials will make their move out of New York a coming necessity. It is clear that the very nature of the United Nations and its leadership are perfectly fitted to become part of an Antichrist movement. Their agenda is in lockstep with the anti-Semitic movements in Europe and among Arab dictators. Liberal, social programs are front burner actions with this extremely liberal organization. The United Nations is an enemy to the family and Christian values that are still loved by a host of Americans. If the United Nations has not moved out of New York by the time that Hillary Clinton loses her Presidential bid in 2008, that will seal their goodbyes.

Iraq must be a free nation and an intimate part of a world market. Dictatorships and free enterprise are impossible to merge, and Iraq is destined to be the queen of a worldwide economy. The Scriptures say of Babylon, “And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble.” (Revelation 18:11-12)

Daniel described the Antichrist as follows: “And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people. And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Daniel 8:24-25)

These words describe a powerful politician that rules by eloquence of words, crafty leadership, and a captivating personality.

The country of Iraq and the city of Babylon is on its way to becoming the capitol of a world order ruled by a smart politician that the Bible identifies as the final antichrist. The stage is being set, the government to provide civility and a functioning, orderly infrastructure is being trained. Soon the last world ruler will enter the scene. Prophecy has never been more perfectly ordered than what we are witnessing in the Middle East. Only the wise can see the signs of the end and stay prepared to be “caught up” before the last worldwide drama of evil and God’s final judgments.

Joseph R. Chambers