Isaiah 13 - Destruction of Babylon (Iraq) & Building of the Temple

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=125 BGCOLOR="#996699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f467d1erlcll.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>VoiceInWilderness.info</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="VoiceInWilderness.info"><B>home</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="psalms.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Psalms practical details of the Godman ">Psalms</A>   |   <A HREF="zechariah_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Zechariah 11 Beauty and Bonds The Inca">Zechariah 11</A>   |   <A HREF="zechariah_5_6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Zechariah 56 Curse, Ephah, Chariots Ec">Zechariah 5-6</A>   |   <B>Isaiah 13</B>   |   <A HREF="my_unusual_translations.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="My Unusual Translations">My Unusual Translations</A>   |   <A HREF="about_me.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Me">About Me</A>   |   <A HREF="audio.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Audio">Audio</A>   |   <A HREF="hymns.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="hymns">hymns</A>   |   <A HREF="etc.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="miscellaneous subjects">etc</A>   |   <A HREF="contact_me.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me">Contact Me</A>   |   <A HREF="future_subjects.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Future Subjects">Future Subjects</A>  |  </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=399 style="border-right: 1px solid #CCCCCC;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <U>Isaiah 13  - Destruction of Babylon (Iraq) & Building of the Temple</U><U> </U></div> <div> Isaiah 13:1-22</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n1" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">1</A>  The burden of <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(2)</FONT>see.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="2__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n2" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">2</A>  Lift ye up a <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>banner upon the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(2)</FONT>high mountain, <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(3)</FONT>exalt the voice unto them, <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(4)</FONT>shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(5)</FONT>nobles.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="3__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n3" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">3</A>  I have commanded My <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>sanctified ones, I have also called My mighty ones for Mine anger, even them that rejoice in My highness.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="4_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n4" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">4</A> The <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(2)</FONT>kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts musters the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(3)</FONT>army of the battle.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="5__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n5" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">5</A>  They come from a <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(2)</FONT>weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole land.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="6_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n6" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">6 </A>Howl ye; for the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="7_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n7" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">7</A> Therefore shall <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>all hands be faint, and every man's heart shall melt:</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="8_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n8" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">8 </A>And they shall be afraid: <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travails. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(2)</FONT>A man will look at his <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(3)</FONT>neighbor and be amazed; their faces <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(4)</FONT>are faces of Lehabim.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="9_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n9" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">9 </A>Behold, the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>day of the Lord cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="10_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n10" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">10</A> For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="11_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n11" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">11</A> And I will punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogance of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>terrible.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="12__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n12" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">12</A>  <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>I will make a <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(2)</FONT>man more precious than fine gold; <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(3)</FONT>and a <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(4)</FONT>man than the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(5)</FONT>gold of Ophir.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="13_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n13" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">13</A> Therefore I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>day of His fierce anger.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="14_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n14" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">14</A> And it shall be as the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>chased roe, and as a sheep that no man taketh up. <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(2)</FONT>They shall every man turn to his own people, and flee every one into his own land.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="15_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n15" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">15 </A><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >(1)</FONT>Every one that is found shall be thrust through; and every one that is joined unto them shall fall by the sword.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="16_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n16" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">16</A> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >(1)</FONT>Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="17_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n17" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">17</A> Behold, I will <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>stir up the <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(2)</FONT>Medes against them, which <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(3)</FONT>shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="18_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 18 Their bows also shall dash the young men to pieces; and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare children.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="19_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n20" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">20 </A>It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.</div> <div> 21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="22"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_m.htm#n22" TARGET="TRLX_Middle" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">22</A> And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(1)</FONT>and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Helvetica" >(2)</FONT></div> <bR> <div> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jeremiah_50_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Jeremiah 50:1-2 </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > The </FONT>word <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >that Jehovah spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet.  <A NAME="jer50_2"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A>2 Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and lift up a </FONT>banner; publish, conceal not! Say, Babylon is taken, <B>Bel </B>is put to shame, <B>Merodach </B>is dismayed:<B> her images</B> are put to shame, her <B>idols </B>are dismayed.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer50_3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 3 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > For out of the north there cometh up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: both man and beast are fled; they are gone.</FONT></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer50_9"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >9  </FONT> For behold, I will <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#336600" FACE="Arial" >raise</FONT> and cause to come up against Babylon, an <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >assemblage of great nations from the north country</FONT>; and they shall set themselves in array against her: from thence shall she be taken. Their arrows shall be as those of a <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >mighty expert man</FONT>: none shall return empty. </div> <div> <B> <A NAME="5110"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >10</FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT> And Chaldea <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >shall be a spoil: all the spoilers thereof shall be satiated,</FONT> saith Jehovah</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer50_14"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 14 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >Put yourselves in array against Babylon round about, all ye that bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she hath sinned against Jehovah. </FONT></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="5021"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >21</FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Go up against the land of double rebellion, against it, and against the inhabitants of visitation; waste and utterly destroy after them, saith Jehovah, and do according to all that <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >I have commanded </FONT>thee.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer50_25_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >25 </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Jehovah hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >weapons of his indignation</FONT>; for this is a work for the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, in the land of the Chaldeans.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer50_28__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B>28 </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT>The voice of them that flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Jehovah our God, the<B> vengeance of his temple</B>.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer50_29__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 29 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >Call together the archers against Babylon, all those that bend the bow: encamp against her round about; let there be no escaping: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath acted proudly against Jehovah, against the Holy One of Israel.</FONT></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer50_38"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 38 a drought is upon her waters, and they shall be dried up; for <B>it is a land of graven images</B>, and<B> they are mad after frightful idols</B>. </div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer50_39"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 39 Therefore wild beasts of the desert with jackals shall dwell there, and ostriches shall dwell therein; and it shall be no more inhabited for ever, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. </div> <div> 40 As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and their neighbor cities, saith Jehovah, no one shall dwell there, neither shall a son of man sojourn therein.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer50_43__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >43 </FONT> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >The king of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands wax feeble; trouble hath taken hold of him, pangs as of a woman in travail.</FONT> </div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer51_11"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 51:11 Sharpen the arrows; take the shields. Jehovah hath<B> stirred up the spirit </B>of the kings of the Medes; for his purpose is against Babylon, to destroy it; for this is the vengeance of Jehovah, the<B> vengeance of his temple</B>.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="5112"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >12 </FONT> Lift up a <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >banner </FONT>towards the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes; for Jehovah hath both devised and done that which he spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer51_17_"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B>17 </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT>Every man is become brutish, so as to have no knowledge; every founder is put to shame by the <B>graven image</B>, for his<B> molten image</B> is falsehood, and there is no breath in them. </div> <div> 18 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >They are vanity, a work of delusion: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.</FONT></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="5027"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >27</FONT> Lift up a <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >banner </FONT>in the land, blow the trumpet among the nations, prepare nations against her; call together against her the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz; appoint a captain against her; cause the horses to come up as the bristly caterpillars. </div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer51_30__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 30 <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >The mighty men of Babylon have ceased to fight, they are sitting in the fortresses; their might hath failed, they are become as women: they have set her dwelling places on fire; her bars are broken.</FONT></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer51_44__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" >44 </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>And I will punish <B>Bel </B>in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth what he hath swallowed up; and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon is fallen.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="jer51_52__"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B>52 </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT>Therefore behold, days come, saith Jehovah, that I will punish her <B>graven images</B>; and throughout her land the wounded shall groan. </div> <div> <B> <A NAME="daniel_923"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Daniel 9:23-27</FONT> At the beginning of thy supplications the word went forth, and I am come to declare it; for thou art one greatly beloved. Therefore consider the word, and have understanding in the vision: 24 Seventy weeks are apportioned out upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to close the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make expiation for iniquity, and to bring in the righteousness of the ages, and to seal the vision and prophet, and to anoint the holy of holies. 25 Know therefore and understand: From the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem unto Messiah, the Prince, are seven weeks, and sixty-two weeks. The street and the moat shall be built again, even in troublous times. 26 And after the sixty-two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, and shall have nothing; and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with an overflow, and unto the end, war, the desolations determined. 27 And he shall confirm a covenant with the many for one week; and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and because of the protection of abominations there shall be a desolator, even until that the consumption and what is determined shall be poured out upon the desolate.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="matt__246"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> Matt. 24:6-8 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled: for these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet. 7  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places. 8  But all these things are the beginning of <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >birth pangs.</FONT></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="1sam3_1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> KJV 1 Samuel 3:1  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious (rare)  in those days; there was no open vision.</div> <div> KJV Proverbs 25:17 Withdraw (make precious) thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="lehabim"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> Gen 10:13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#669900" FACE="Arial" ><B>Lehabim</B></FONT>, and Naphtuhim,</div> <div> 1Ch 1:11  -And Mizraim begot the Ludim, and the Anamim, and the <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#008000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Lehabim</B></FONT>, and the Naphtuhim,</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="2_cor_313"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 2 Cor 3:13 and <I>are</I> not as Moses, <I>who</I> put a <B>veil </B>upon his face, that the children of Israel should not look steadfastly on the end of that which was passing away:</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="1_kings_926"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> 1 Kings 9:26 And king Solomon made a navy of ships in Eziongeber, which is beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom.</div> <div> 27  And Hiram sent in the navy his servants, shipmen that had knowledge of the sea, with the servants of Solomon.</div> <div> 28  And they came to Ophir, and fetched from thence gold, four hundred and twenty talents, and brought it to king Solomon.</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=355 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> I believe that Isaiah chapter 13 is a prophecy of the 1990-91 Gulf war against modern day country-Iraq, which is the same location as ancient Babylon.  It was foreshadowed by the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus, king of Persia, in the ancient time.   I believe that every word of Isaiah chapter 13:1-14 exactly matches what has happened in the Gulf war, and that the description of the Gulf War in Isaiah 13:1-14 is complete and in sequence. Verses 15-22 have not been fulfilled yet.</div> <bR> <div> The following is notes on of Isaiah 13:1-22. </div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#1" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 1</B></A></div> <div> 1.   Today's Iraq occupies the physical location of the ancient Babylon.</div> <div> 2.   Isaiah recorded what he saw. This differs from <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jeremiah_50_1" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Jeremiah 50-51</A>, which is the word that Jehovah spoke concerning Babylon. Jeremiah 50-51 is much more detailed, and although there are many striking resemblances between it and the Gulf war, every word does not fit to the Gulf War. Jeremiah 50-51 prophesies the destruction of Babylon by Cyrus only, which took place in approximately 538-450 BC.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n2"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#2__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 2</B></A></div> <div> 1.    A banner is raised up to rally supporters for a cause. Saddam Hussein's banner was his boast to destroy Israel. Compare to <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_2" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Jeremiah 50:2</A> in which the ancient banner of Cyrus is mentioned (<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#5112" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Jer 51:12,27</A>). Isaiah does not mention specifically say what the banner was so that this part of his prophecy would apply to both events.</div> <div> 2.     It will be heard over the whole world. Saddam made the boast on international TV.</div> <div> 3.     The striking feature of Saddam Hussein was his “exalting the voice.” That is all he was good at.</div> <div> 4.     Saddam made false promises sealed by handshakes before invading Kuwait.</div> <div> 5.     Nobles are the rich people, who don't have to work hard, i.e. the Kuwait people. (cf. <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#5110" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Jer. 50:10</A>)</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n3"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Helvetica" ><A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#3__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 3</B></A><B> </B></FONT>(cf Jer. 50:<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#5021" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">21</A>, <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_9" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">9</A>)</div> <div> 1.   The history of the U.S. is unique in that it was raised up by the Lord for religious freedom. Sanctified means<IMG SRC="09bfa3d0.jpg" border=0 width="250" height="317" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> separated unto the Lord.  The U.S. was separated from the rest of the world by the 2 oceans until the time of the Reformation. The U.S. Christians enjoy rejoicing in the Lord's highness, which means that they know the Lord. They may be short in other things, but they do rejoice in the Lord's highness, and the Lord says that He appreciates that.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times" >      The similar verses in </FONT>Jer. 50:<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#5021" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">21</A>, <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_9" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">9</A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Times" > say that the Lord commanded the Persians and that they were mighty, but He does not call them sanctified nor rejoicing in His highness. This is because the U.S. Christians know the Lord, but the ancient Persians did not.</FONT></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n4"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#4_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 4</B></A></div> <div> 1.   The war began at night from the air. The Iraqis could not see the attackers, but heard the noise from the sky.</div> <div> 2.   The UN coalition. </div> <div> 3.   KJV has the archaic word "hosts". I replaced it with the modern equivalent, "army".</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n5"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#5__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 5</B></A></div> <div> 1.   The US is the opposite end of the world from Iraq. Many of the soldiers arrived by airplane, traveling through the heavens. Compare to<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_9" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">. Jer 50:9</A>, which was also an assemblage of nations, but not from "a far country, from the end of heaven", but from the north. (cf. <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_3" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Jer. 50:3</A>)</div> <div> 2.   This war was unique in that the most striking thing was the weapons. (cf. Jer <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_9" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">50:9</A>, <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_14" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">14</A>, <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_25_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">25</A>, <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_29__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">29</A>)</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n6"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#6_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 6</B></A></div> <div> 1.    The day of the Lord is mentioned three times in this chapter (vv.6,<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#9_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">9</A>,<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#13_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">13</A>). From the destruction of the temple in AD 70 until the Gulf war, no event in world history was specifically prophesied in the Old Testament. i.e. not World War I nor II, nor Israel's War of Independence nor the 1967 6-day War. The age of grace is a gap not seen by the Old Testament saints <A HREF="id48_daniel_923.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reference Verses">(</A><A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#daniel_923" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Dan. 9:23-27</A><A HREF="id48_daniel_923.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reference Verses">)</A>.  If Isaiah 13 does prophesy concerning the Gulf war, then the 70th week of Daniel is to begin soon. I don't know what "soon" means exactly, but I suppose it means about 40 years, or about the time from the Lord's resurrection until the destruction of the temple in 70 AD, which was the last prophesied event in the Old Testament.</div> <div>        There is no mention of the day of the Lord in the detailed prophecy in Jer 50-51 because Cyrus' destruction of Babylon was not a sign that the day of the Lord comes soon.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n7"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#7_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 7</B></A></div> <div> 1.     The Iraqis' fighting back was very weak. The news reporters wondered where was the Iraqi defense. (<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_43__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Jer 50:43</A>;<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer51_30__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">51:30</A>)</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n8"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#8_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 8 </B></A></div> <div> 1.   Birth pangs precede the great tribulation. (<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#matt__246" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Matthew 24:8</A>)(cf. <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_43__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Jer 50:43</A>;<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer51_30__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">51:30</A>)</div> <div> 2.   The King James translation of the second half of this verse was not very literal. KJV translated the Hebrew <I>ish</I> (man) as “they”. “They” would mean that the subject is the same as in verse 7 and the first part of verse 8 (the Babylonians), whereas “a man” could be someone different. KJV also translated the word “neighbor” as “each other”, which is not as specific.</div> <div> 3.    The most memorable thing about Israel's experience of the war was the neighbors coming together in sealed rooms, looking at one another as though they were aliens because they all had gas masks on.</div> <div>  <A NAME="flames"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> 4.    KJV has “shall be as flames.” Darby gives the literal as “their faces, faces of flames.” The Hebrew word <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino" ><IMG SRC="098bc3c0.png" border=0 width="188" height="316" ALIGN="RIGHT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT>translated as “flames” is found two other places in the Bible (<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#lehabim" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">Genesis 10:13 & 1 Chronicles 1:11</A>) where it is transliterated in both places as “Lehabim”, which is the name of a nation. Flames do not have faces, but Lehabim have faces. The Lehabim were the original inhabitants of Libya, today called the Tuariks. (<I>Bible Encyclopedia and Dictionary</I> by A. R. Fausset). According to any secular encyclopedia and Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, the Tuariks are known as “the people of the veil.” The men, since ancient times, wear a veil over their face 24 hours a day. Even their wives do not see their husbands' faces. (<I>Land of Veiled Men</I>. by Peter Fuchs) The Israelis' faces looked like faces of Lehabim because of the gas masks. Spiritually, this signifies that Israel still has a veil over their face because they do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. (<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#2_cor_313" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">2 Corinthians 3:14-1</A><A HREF="id48_2_cor_313.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reference Verses">5)</A>. This item concerning Israel is hidden in the prophecy because this is still the time of the Gentiles, shortly before Israel's 70th week is about to begin.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n9"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#9_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 9</B></A></div> <div> 1.     See <A HREF="#n6" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">note for v6</A>. This is concerning the day of the Lord, not the Iraq war.</div> <div>  <A NAME="n10"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#10_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 10</B></A></div> <div> 1.     Due to the oil well fires, the stars and the moon did not give any light at all. The sun was darkened; i.e. its light was greatly reduced. This verse directly is about the Day of the Lord, but it is foreshadowed in the Iraq war also.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n11"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#11_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 11</B></A></div> <div> 1.     “Terrible” can also be translated as tyrant, despot or dictator. I think this verse also refers to the day of the Lord, foreshadowed by the Iraq war.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n12"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#12__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 12</B></A></div> <div> 1.     It is the Lord who will make this man so precious, not the man's doing. So the man should not be proud.</div> <div> 2.     In the ancient time, this verse referred to Cyrus, king of Persia (<I>The Works of Flauvius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews</I>, Book XI, p1, translator's note), who was very precious to God (<A HREF="id48_cyrus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reference Verses">Isaiah 41:2,25;45:1-4; 46:11;48:14-15; Jeremiah 50:44</A>). Cyrus accomplished God's judgment on Babylon, released the Jewish captives to return to Israel <A HREF="id48_isa_4513_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reference Verses">(Isaiah 45:13</A>), and commanded that the temple should be rebuilt in Jerusalem (<A HREF="id48_cyrus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reference Verses">Isaiah 44:28; Ezra 1:1-4,7-8</A>).</div> <div>       In 1991 this man was President George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush's father. His prevailingness and uprightness in the war were more amazing than the war itself. He defeated Babylon and released the Jewish captives from the communist and most of the Arab countries.</div> <div> 3.    KJV has “even”. The literal translation is “and”. The word “and” indicates that it may be a second precious man, different from President George H. W. Bush, who makes the way for the temple to be rebuilt. </div> <div> The Hebrew word translated “man” here is “adam”, which could also refer to a woman (<A HREF="id48_ezek_4425.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reference Verses">Ezekiel 44:25</A>). In the ancient foreshadowing, this man was also Cyrus. In the modern fulfillment this is a different man than the man mentioned in the beginning of the verse. The first man mentioned in Hebrew is “enosh”, a gentle man. The second man mentioned is “adam”, an earthy man.</div> <div> KJV has “golden wedge”, but the word “wedge” is not there in Hebrew. I think the precious man here is a man from African descent because of the word “Ophir”. Ophir is Africa; the Hebrew letters correspond to the English letters AFR. Add the “ica” suffix to make it a continent. Ophir is mentioned 13 times in the Bible, always as the place where there is much gold, and was reachable by ship from the southern Israeli port of Eilat on the Red Sea (<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#1_kings_926" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">1 Kings 9:26-28</A>). 60% of the world's known gold reserves are in South Africa. </div> <div> Most modern OT translations, even NKJV, translate the word "more precious" as "rarer". The word is used 64 times in the OT, and always means something precious or costly. In 1 instance, maybe 2, it would be better to translate it as "rare" (<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#1sam3_1" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">1Sam 3:1; Prov 25:17</A>), but the meaning "precious" also holds true. However, in this verse, due to the context, "rare" is not an option, because it is "more precious than the gold of Ophir." Ophir is the place where there is the most gold. It does not make sense to say rarer than the gold of Ophir. If the meaning was "rarer", then it would just say "rarer than gold", not "rarer than the gold of Ophir, where 60% of the world's gold is". The meaning is that God will make this man more precious than all the gold of Ophir.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n13"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#13_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 13</B></A></div> <div> 1.     See<A HREF="#n6" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"> note for verse 6</A>. This refers to the day of the Lord, and was foreshadowed by the bombings in the Iraq war.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n14"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#14_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 14</B></A></div> <div> 1.   After the bombings in v13, the ground war began. When the ground war started, the Iraqi officers fled. The soldiers were literally left as sheep that no man takes up. It is incredible that the Iraqi soldiers became meek and obedient sheep since that is not their culture. They surrendered to cameramen and were praising George Bush when captured.</div> <div> 2.   This 2nd part of the verse refers to the coalition. They will flee back to their own lands due to high costs of maintaining an army there and due to the terrorist attacks against them.</div> <div>  <A NAME="n15"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#15_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 15</B></A></div> <div> 1.     Verse 15 to the end of the chapter has not been fulfilled yet. This will happen to Iraq after the coalition forces leave.</div> <div>  <A NAME="n16"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#16_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 16</B></A></div> <div> 1.     As Iraq did to Kuwait, so it will be done to them.</div> <div> <B> <A NAME="n17"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#17_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 17</B></A></div> <div> 1.    Compare to Jeremiah <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_9" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">50:9</A> in which the Lord says He will “raise” up the Medes, and Jeremiah <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer51_11" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">51:11</A> where the Lord says He will “stir up the spirit” of the Medes. In the ancient fulfillment, God <B>raised up</B> the Medes to be strong and s<B>tirred up their spirit</B>, the highest, noblest part of man. Isaiah is not as specific so that his prophecy can refer to both fulfillments. In the present fulfillment, God will not raise up Iran, but just stir up their flesh, the basest, sinful part of man.</div> <div> 2.   The Medes are present day Iran. </div> <div> 3.   What Iran will do to Iraq, will not profit Iran. It will not make sense. It will be destruction for the sake of    destruction. This phrase also applied to the ancient Medes in that the Medes were noble. They could not be bribed or bought off.</div> <div>  <A NAME="n20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#20" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 20</B></A></div> <div>   1. Verses 19-22 are nearly identical to Jeremiah <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_39" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">50:39-40</A> except that the verses here in Isaiah say that not only will Babylon not be inhabited, but even nomads will not temporarily camp there. The current state of the city of Babylon is exactly as described in Jeremiah 50:39-40, but not to the extent described in Isaiah 13.  On the site of the ancient city of Babylon today there are Arabians' tents and shepherds' flocks. Jer 50 has been fulfilled, but Isa 13:20 has not yet been fulfilled.</div> <div>  <A NAME="n22"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <div> <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#22" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"><B>verse 22</B></A></div> <div> 1.   The utter destruction of Iraq in verses 19-22 will take place soon after the beginning of this prophecy is fulfilled. This phrase is not found in the nearly identical passage in Jeremiah <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_39" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">50:39-40</A>, because the devastation described there occurred about 200 years after Cyrus captured the city.</div> <div> 2.   Idols are not mentioned in Isaiah 13, yet idolatry was the salient characteristic of ancient Babylon (Jeremiah<A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_2" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq"> </A><A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_2" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">50:2</A>, <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_38" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">38</A>; <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer51_17_" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">51:17-18</A>, <A HREF="id48_jer51_44__.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Reference Verses">44</A>, <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer51_52__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">52</A>). This is another indication that Isaiah's prophecy refers to modern Iraq. Modern Iraq is a Moslem country, and Moslems, to their credit, hate idols. Also, Jeremiah <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer50_28__" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">50:28</A> and <A HREF="isaiah_13_l.htm#jer51_11" TARGET="TRLX_Left" TITLE="Isaiah 13 Destruction of Babylon (Iraq">51:11</A> give the reason for the destruction of Babylon: Babylon's destruction of the Temple at Jerusalem. This is also not mentioned in Isaiah 13.</div> <bR> <div> <B>A confirmation:</B></div> <div> I expected Iran would invade Iraq shortly after the 1991 Gulf War as described in verses 15-18.  When this did not happen, I prayed over every word in the section. It seemed at that time that the words became like the Urim and Thummim. A word would “turn black”, meaning it did not seem to fit exactly with the events of the Gulf war. Then I would tell the Lord that this verse did not seem to fit, and I felt that the Lord showed me how it did. This went on until verse 8, “they shall be in pain as a woman that travails.” I said to the Lord that this verse seemed to be unnecessary, and the Lord said that, “it is spiritual.” That was the end of the Lord responding to my questions at that time.</div> <bR> <div> Based on my understanding of verse 12, I expected President George H. W. Bush to be reelected. When this failed, I came back to examine the prophecy again from another angle. Previously I had examined every word of the prophecy to see if it fit with the events. This time I wrote down the striking events of the Gulf war independent of the prophecy, and then compared them to the prophecy to see if they were mentioned in the prophecy in the correct order. I found a major item missing from the prophecy. There seemed to be no mention of the scud attacks on Israel. I prayed, Lord, this must not be a prophecy of the Gulf war because surely You would consider attacks on Your people important. Immediately the first part of verse 13 came to me, “I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place.” I read the verse and its context over and over, but I said, “Lord, this is not specific enough.” Then, immediately part of verse 8 came to me, “A man will look at his neighbor and be amazed,” which I understood to refer to the Israelis in the shelters looking at their neighbors wearing gas masks. But I knew the second half of the verse said, (literal) “because their faces are the faces of flames,” which does not refer to masks. I said, “Lord, if this interpretation is true, then that word must not mean flames. I looked it up in a Hebrew concordance and found that the Hebrew word was Lehabim. In the two other places in the Bible in which it was used, Lehabim was translated simply as Lehabim, the name of a nation. But why would anyone be amazed if someone's face looked like a face of Lehabim? Then I found what I wrote in verse 8 note 3 above. This was the 1st time I had ever come up with my own translation of an Old Testament verse. Some time later I realized that verse 12 actually could refer to two different men.</div> <bR> <div> Pictures of Lehabim from <I>Land of Veiled Men</I>:</div> <div> <IMG SRC="094bc1b0.png" border=0 width="700" height="539" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="09690c20.png" border=0 width="400" height="450" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>Post comment:</B></div> <div>  <form action="http://csbmail.globalscape.com/cgi-bin/csbmail/csbmail.pl" method="POST" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded"><input type="hidden" name="tlx_SortOrder" value="name,email,city,state,comments"><input type="hidden" name="tlx_FormIndex" value="1"><input type="hidden" name="tlx_OKMessage" value="I'll review your comments before posting. 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