Worship On Fire

Worship on Fire

In this passage of scripture we have a great story of how God can preserve the faithful in the face of certain death. King Nebuchadnezzar was a proud and powerful King who was used to getting his own way.

Background

Babylon means babilu or gate of god. It is an ancient city in the plain of Shinar on the Euphrates River, about 50 miles south of Modern Baghdad. Nebuchadnezzar invaded and plundered Tyre, Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Jerusalem.

2 Kin 24:13-14 And Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon carried out from there all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king’s house, and he cut in pieces all the articles of gold which Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of the LORD, as the LORD had said. Also he carried into captivity all Jerusalem: all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths. None remained except the poorest people of the land.

Babylon was the jewel of the Middle East at this time in history. It was built in the form of a square 14 miles on each side it had 250 towers that were 450 feet high and a wide and deep moat that encircled the city walls.

The Euphrates River also flowed through the middle of the city. Ferry boats and a 1/2 mi. long bridge with drawbridges closed at night. It was home to the famous Hanging Gardens one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world and water was raised from the river by hydraulic pumps.

The Great Temple of Marduk was connected with the planet Jupiter and with water, vegetation, judgment, and magic. Babylon had 180 altars to Ishtar the goddess of fertility her planet was Venus.

Nebuchadnezzar’s palace was considered to be the most magnificent building ever erected on earth. There was a golden image of Baal Marduk and the Golden Table both weighing over 50,000 lbs of solid gold. Also 2 golden lions, a solid gold human figure 18 feet high.

The bible says that he built a golden figure far larger and ordered it to be worshiped. Daniel 3:1

1 King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold, ninety feet high and nine feet [a] wide, and set it up on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon.

In 1985, Saddam Hussein started rebuilding the city on top of the old ruins. To the dismay of archaeologists, he inscribed his name on many of the bricks in imitation of Nebuchadnezzar. One frequent inscription reads: This was built by Saddam Hussein, son of Nebuchadnezzar, to glorify Iraq. These bricks became sought after as collectors’ items after the downfall of Hussein, and the ruins are no longer being restored to their original state.

An article published in April 2006 states that UN officials and Iraqi leaders have big plans for restoring Babylon, making it a gem of a new Iraq as a cultural center complete with shopping malls, hotels, and perhaps a theme park: One day millions of people will visit Babylon and the bible speaks to this.

Habakkuk 1:5-6

5 Look at the nations and watch—

and be utterly amazed.

For I am going to do something in your days

that you would not believe, even if you were told.

6 I am raising up the Babylonians, [a]

that ruthless and impetuous people,

who sweep across the whole earth

to seize dwellings not their own.

And the Bible makes it very plain that Babylon will be the seat of power over all those who are enjoined to it. But only for a short time! Read the Book of Revelation for more of what is to come concerning Babylon.

But before Babylon can rule over anyone, it must first be built. And there is no tokenism in this massive project. This is being done on a scale that could scarcely be imagined. Every effort is being made to reproduce exactly what existed in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, including his very throne room!

Saddam Hussein had rebuilt it on the exact spot where Nebuchadnezzar directed his empire. It was here that Nebuchadnezzar consigned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to the fiery furnace. It was here that Daniel advised him of the meaning of his dream of the great image. The explanation given by Daniel reaches all the way to our time today.

He spoke of four kingdoms that would arise consecutively, and which would all exist in the end time. http://www.zionministry.com/babylon.html

But Saddam Hussein is a mere bit-player in the scenario that is about to unfold. He pales into insignificance against the prophesied beast that will arise. This beast will sweep across the earth and crush everything before him – just like Alexander the Great. God Himself will give him unfettered license to do as he pleases – but only for a short time.