Bible Prophecy is True Hymns: 145 (95 (1)) 180 (122) 351 (278) Reading: Isaiah 13:19-22 Bible Prophecy Accurate Detailed Reliable 1
Israel and her Neighbours Example 1 Babylon Isaiah 13:19-22, Jeremiah 51:26 Isaiah 13:19 Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians' pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. 2
Babylon Isaiah 13:20 She will never be inhabited or lived in through all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there, no shepherd will rest his flocks there. 21 But desert creatures will lie there, jackals will fill her houses; there the owls will dwell, and there the wild goats will leap about. Babylon Isaiah 13:22 Hyenas will howl in her strongholds, jackals in her luxurious palaces. Her time is at hand, and her days will not be prolonged. Jeremiah 51:26 No rock will be taken from you for a cornerstone, nor any stone for a foundation 3
Babylon Shall be destroyed It will never be re-inhabited Arabs won t pitch a tent there No sheepfolds there Wild beasts will occupy the ruins The stones will not be taken away The Hanging Gardens of Babylon 4
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Babylon - fulfilled Conquered in 538BC by Cyrus the Great of Persia Still a trading centre in Alexander's time Jews and Christians lived in Babylon in the first century During the Middle Ages, it was left desolate and uninhabited Arabs today are superstitious about Babylon 6
Babylon in Ruins U.S. Marines Inspect the ancient ruins of the city of Babylon in 2003. No one has lived in Babylon for centuries, not even during Saddam s restoration. It has remained desolate even while being unearthed. There are no roofs restored only walls and foundations. Definitely not a true rebuilding project 7
Prophecy Fulfilled Saddam Hussein has tried to rebuild Babylon, but not succeeded (1978-1994) The original stones are still there Example 2 Edom 8
Edom Jeremiah 49:16 "The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle's, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD. Edom Jeremiah 49:17 "Edom will become an object of horror; all who pass by will be appalled and will scoff because of all its wounds. 18 As Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown, along with their neighbouring towns," says the LORD, "so no-one will live there; no man will dwell in it. 9
Edom Petra 10
The Rose Red City of Petra Referred to in the Bible as Teman Bozrah Seir Mount Seir Idumea Victorian Poet: Dean Burgon "Match me a marvel save in Eastern Clime a rose red city, half as old as time" 11
Edom - God's Prophecies Jeremiah 49:16-18 18 Edom shall be desolate Edom shall never be re-inhabited How did it happen? The Edomites moved out, westwards (c.700bc) The Nabateans (near relations) moved into Petra and other Edomite cities (700-600BC) A famous king was Aretas 12
2Corinthians 11:32 "In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me" They eventually moved out 13 May, AD393 - Earthquake did much damage Petra fell into ruin and was lost Petra was rediscovered in 1812 by the Swiss explorer J Burchhardt Fulfilled Edom shall be desolate Edom shall never be re-inhabited 13
Example 3 Tyre Tyre A Great City Tyre means Rock A Great Sea Port The merchants of Tyre became very rich Jeremiah 27:3-6, Isaiah 23:1ff, Ezekiel 26 14
Ezekiel 26 3 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Tyre, and I will bring many nations against you, like the sea casting up its waves. 4 They will destroy the walls of Tyre and pull down her towers; I will scrape away her rubble and make her a bare rock. Ezekiel 26 Ezekiel 26 5 Out in the sea she will become a place to spread fishing nets, for I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD. She will become plunder for the nations, 7 "For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: From the north I am going to bring against Tyre Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, with horses and chariots, with horsemen and a great army. 15
Ezekiel 26 14 You will never be rebuilt, for I the LORD have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD. God's Prophecy (590BC) Nebuchadnezzar to take Tyre Other nations to fight against Tyre Tyre to be made flat like the top of a rock A place for spreading of nets Stones and timber to be thrown in the sea Other cities will fear at the fall of Tyre Old Tyre would never be rebuilt 16
586BC. Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre The siege lasted 13 years 573BC. Tyre fell No profit - all had been taken to the island Nebuchadnezzar Alexander the Great 322BC. Alexander reached Tyre Conquered other coastal cities 17
Alexander the Great Alexander the Great Built a causeway to the island Used the stones and timber from Tyre Other cities feared and gave up to Alexander 18
Old Tyre 19
Tyre Made flat like the top of a rock A place for fishermen to dry their nets Never rebuilt Town of Súr is not on the site of ancient Tyre 20
Babylon 1 in 10 1 in 100 1 in 5 1 in 100 1 in 5 1 in 100 Shall be destroyed It will never be re-inhabited Arabs won t pitch a tent there No sheepfolds there Wild beasts will occupy the ruins The stones will not be taken away 21
Edom Edom shall be desolate Edom shall never be reinhabited 1 in 10 1 in 100 1 in 2 1 in 5 1 in 500 1 in 10 1 in 10 1 in 5 1 in 20 Tyre Nebuchadnezzar to take Tyre Other nations to fight against Tyre Tyre - flat like the top of a rock A place for spreading of nets Stones and timber thrown in sea Other cities will fear at fall of Tyre Old Tyre would never be rebuilt 22
Overall Probability 1 chance in 12,500,000, 000,000, 000,000 Against All Odds 1 chance in twelve and a half million million million This number of 10p coins would cover all the UK to a depth of 100 feet! 23
Bible Prophecy Accurate Detailed Reliable 24