As I began to pray and think about what to write, my mind quickly turned to the many things that have hit the news very recently. Obviously there are many scoffers walking after their own lusts, church members and non-church members who question the promise of His coming (II Pet. 3:3-4).

But when it comes to relating current events to Bible prophecy they have a veil over their minds and they are blind to what is going on (II Cor. 3:12-16).

Concerning the battle of Gog and Magog, the P5 + 1 agreement with Iran could result in a war that will change the world (Ezek. 38-39). With the negotiations dragging on through missed deadlines and overtime sessions  on July 5, 2015 it was reported that the IDF has appointed a special team to plan for a potential Israeli strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities if an attack is needed.

According to the report, Israel believed a planning team was needed at that time because the P5 +1 were close to signing an agreement that would require an Israeli military attack.

Indeed, an agreement was signed that lets Iran get a nuclear bomb in the  next 3 months to 10 years depending upon whether the Mullahs keep the agreement or not; lets Iran sell oil to acquire money that can be used to strengthen its military and fund terrorism; requires Israel, the EU and others to have anti-missile systems to defend against Iranian nuclear missiles, etc.

Almost immediately, Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu said Israel won’t be bound by that agreement. Support for a war with Iran surged in Israel and Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia said it would wreak havoc in the already destabilized Middle East.

Many pundits can’t understand why Pres. Obama would agree to what some are calling an insane document, but it occurs to this writer that he may be deliberately trying to destabilize the Middle East to create a crisis that will allow Globalists to bring in their cherished New World Order (world government).

Concerning the North American Union (perhaps one of the Ten Regions headed up by the Ten Kings), on July 10, 2015 it was reported that Rush Limbaugh spoke out on the controversy surrounding Donald Trump’s quest for the Republican nomination for president of the U.S.

Mr. Trump  has drawn strong criticism over his opposition to sanctuary cities and the failure of government officials to deport Hispanic illegal alien criminals. Mr. Limbaugh believes the root cause of this criticism is the Globalist fear that Mr. Trump could upset the Globalist plan to surrender the sovereignty of the U.S. by merging Canada, Mexico and the U.S. into a North American Union.

According to the Bible, the rise of the Ten Kings is a prerequisite to the rise of the Antichrist (Dan. 7:8). We can look for the Confederate flag to be replaced with the American flag and that to be replaced with the NAU flag.

Concerning the division of Israel, on July 9, 2015 it was reported that the re-established Jewish Sanhedrin has threatened to put Pope Francis on trial  if he doesn’t apologize for misinterpreting Bible prophecy, not recognizing that God gave the Promised Land to Israel forever (Gen. 17:7-8), saying  God has replaced Israel (a false doctrine called Replacement Theology) and officially recognizing the State of Palestine.

The Sanhedrin has accused the Pope of blatant anti-Semitism and it is very upset over his decision to recognize a State of Palestine which would require the division of Israel, and the removal of Jews. It is the main reason why God will drag the nations into the battle of Armageddon (Joel 3:2).

Concerning the rebuilding of the Temple, on July 12, 2015 it was reported that the Temple Institute has started a “Raise a Red Heifer in Israel Fund.” According to the Bible, a third Temple must be built in Israel before the middle of the Tribulation period (Dan. 9:27; Matt. 24:15-16; II Thess. 2:3-4; Rev. 11:1).

Priests who build this third Temple and all who serve there must first be cleansed with water of separation containing the ashes of a sacrificed unblemished three-year old red heifer (Num. 19). So the Temple Institute has started a fund to produce and care for a red heifer without spot and blemish in Israel, which they see as a prerequisite for the building of the  third Temple.

Concerning the coming economic collapse, in addition to the Greek default, Puerto Rico’s problems and the 30%+ decline in China’s stock market, on July 15, 2015 it was reported that Texas will soon establish a bank called  the Texas Bullion Depository. Customers will be allowed to store precious metals (gold, silver, etc.) there and it will be protected from seizure by our broke U.S. government.

It has been an exciting 10 days and there is a lot more that can’t be covered or this article will be too long. Just know that Bible prophecy is advancing very fast and our going home may be closer than many think.

Prophecy Plus Ministries

Daymond & Rachel Duck

The great seminary professor and Bible prophecy scholar Dr. Charles H. Dyer said, “Most events prophesied in the book of Isaiah came true during the prophet’s lifetime… But the events concerning Babylon described in the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters of Isaiah were not fulfilled in Isaiah’s lifetime. They have never been fulfilled (The Rise of Babylon, p.162).

In chapter 13, Isaiah was prophesying about Babylon (Isa. 13:1) when he said, “the day of the Lord is near” (Isa.13:6), “the day of the Lord cometh,” (Isa. 13:9) and he talked about “the day of his fierce anger” (Isa.13:13). The prophecies in this chapter begin when the Tribulation period is near and they continue on into the seven-year time of trouble.

When these prophecies are fulfilled God said, “I will punish the world for its evil” (Isa. 13:11). He will do that during the Tribulation period (Zeph. 1:14-16; 2:8; Dan. 12:1; Rev.6-19).

Notice that God said He “will stir up the Medes (not the Medes and Persians) against them” (Isa. 13:17). Babylon “will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah” (Isa. 13:19). Babylon will “never be inhabited” from generation to generation (Isa. 13:20). And satyrs (demons) shall dance there (Isa. 13:21-22).

The Medes and Persians didn’t destroy Babylon by fire and a few people live there today so every jot and tittle of this prophecy hasn’t been fulfilled.

But Babylon will be destroyed by fire, it will become desolate and it will become the home of demons during the Tribulation period. All of that is prophesied in the book of Revelation (Rev.18:2, 8, 10, 19). They are events that will take place just before the Second Coming of Jesus.

There is more evidence of a future fulfillment. Gentiles will help the Jews return to the Promised Land. Gentiles will serve the Jews. Gentiles will be ruled by the Jews. Israel will have peace (Isa.14:1-3).

The world hates Israel today and Israel doesn’t have peace. But Israel will have peace after the Jews accept Jesus.

Isaiah reveals more coming events, but it is important to note that this future destruction of Babylon will be brought about by the Medes (not the Medes and Persians). Who are the Medes? Dr. Dyer said, “They have been fighting the countries of Turkey, Iran and Iraq in an attempt to establish their own independent country of Kurdistan” (p.173). The Medes are the Kurds.

About one hundred years later, Jeremiah prophesied against Babylon (Jer. 50-51). Many commentators apply his message to the Old Testament attack on Babylon by the Medes and Persians. There are similarities, but there are also differences. There is even reason to believe that Isaiah 13-14, Jeremiah chapters 50-51 and Revelation chapters 17-18 are all about the same thing. And few people doubt that Revelation chapters 17-18 are about the future.

Here is a partial list of similarities:

1) Isaiah chapters 13-14 will be fulfilled close to and during the Tribulation period and Jeremiah chapters 50-51 will be fulfilled about the time that Israel gets saved (Isa. 6:6, 9, 11, 13; Jer. 50:4, 20).

2) A multi-nation attack on Babylon is mentioned in Isaiah chapter 13 and also in Jeremiah chapter 50 (Isa. 13:1-6; Jer. 50:9, 41-42).

3) A later attack by the Medes (Kurds) in mentioned in Isaiah chapter 13 and also in Jeremiah chapter 51 (Isa. 13:17; Jer. 51:11-12, 28).

4) People are told to flee out of Babylon in Jeremiah chapter 51 and in Revelation chapter 18 (Jer. 51:6; Rev. 18:4).

5) Messengers announce the fall of Babylon in Jeremiah chapter 51 and also in Revelation chapter 18 (Jer. 51:31; Rev. 18:2).

6) Jeremiah chapter 51 says Babylon dwells upon many waters and is abundant in treasures and Revelation chapter 17 says the Harlot sits upon many waters and is very rich (Jer. 51:13; Rev. 17:1-4).

7) Jeremiah chapter 51 and Revelation chapter 18 both say Babylon has made the nations drunk on wine (Jer. 51:7; Rev. 18:3).

There is more, but here is a big difference: When Babylon is finally destroyed the walls will be torn down (Jer. 50:15; 51:58). The Medes and Persians diverted the Euphrates River and went under the walls. They didn’t tear them down.

This is the point: The fall of Babylon to the Medes and Persians may have fulfilled part of Isaiah 13-14 and Jeremiah 50-51, but it didn’t fulfill all of it. There is more to come and the Kurds (Medes) will play a major role.

In fact, it has already started. The failure of Iraq and Syria has increased the hopes of the Kurds for their own nation. They are the only group that has fought the Islamic State to a standstill. The U.S. has not given them the weapons they want, but they will get more weapons and the U.S. is giving them air cover.

In Jan. 2015, the Kurds defeated the Islamic State forces in a four-month battle for Kobani. In May 2015, the Kurds captured about 220 towns and villages that the Islamic State had taken in Syria. In early June 2015, a Kurdish supported party won several seats in the elections in Turkey. In mid-June 2015, the Kurds seized an extremely important Islamic State border crossing and supply route from Turkey.

In late June 2015, the Kurds captured an important military base that the Islamic State has held since 2014 and they were only about 35 miles from the Islamic State’s headquarters in Syria. In early July, they took more than 10 more villages from the Islamic State in Syria.

Some say there is not enough time for Babylon to be rebuilt, but the God who spoke the world into existence in six days doesn’t need decades to rebuild Babylon. When He says something will happen it will happen.

It looks like the Rapture can happen any day, but we don’t know when. There appears to be a gap between the Rapture and the Tribulation period, but we don’t know how long that gap is. Much work can be done in a short period of time.

Rebuilt Babylon doesn’t have to be a big city like New York (and the Bible calls it a city not a nation). Ancient Babylon was just 14 miles on each side and much of that was farm land. Some think global trade can be controlled from just a few buildings with super-computers. Also, the False Prophet won’t need a lot of buildings. Whatever is there will burn in one hour.

Just know that the Kurds (Medes) will destroy the city of Babylon at the end of the Tribulation period and they are rising now. Pres. Obama says it will take ten years to defeat the Islamic State, but God can bring them down in one night (especially if they don’t leave Israel alone). Their defeat and the rise of Babylon could be sooner than many think.

Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck