This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. It will be a place for creatures of the night. A new World Monuments Fund (WMF) project in Babylon, funded as part of a $3m donation by the US embassy in Baghdad first bestowed in 2018, aims to repair and restore the famed Ishtar Gate by this summer. Is Babylon being rebuilt today? Back in the 1970s, Saddam Hussein tried to recover the city's lost glory, but his efforts were ultimately unsuccessful. Two millennia of looting and warfare reduced Babylon to the barest of ruins. WMF has been working with Iraqs State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) since 2009 on the Future of Babylon project, including Ishtar Gate. . Skeptics and cynics abound, but there is growing evidence the Iraqi government is serious about rebuilding this ancient wonder of the world. Just days after Hammurabi's death, Babylon's old enemies declared their independence and readied their armies for invasion. Consider today's edition of Stars & Stripes, a U.S. military publication. They certainly have long had a difficult time imagining the rebuilding of the ancient Iraqi city of Babylon, at least on the scale described in the Left Behindnovels about the End Times (written by Evangelicals Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, and which sold more than 60 million books in the 1990s), or any of my novels or non-fiction books. You can see the rebuilt ruins from Saddam Hussein's area. The site's remains were first excavated by Robert Koldewey, a German architect, at the end of the nineteenth century. "And Babylon the Chaldeans' pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. Projects at Ishtar Gate and Ninmakh Temple, launched in 2016 and 2019 respectively, are still ongoing. Because of Nebuchadnezzar's imperialist cruelty and penchant for golden shrines to pagan gods, Babylon appears as shorthand for everything ungodly in the Judeo-Christian tradition. The Book Of Revelation, apocalyptic and foreboding, is actually "FRAMED" by the GOSPEL OF SALVATION in Jesus Christ. Hanging Gardens of Babylon, ancient gardens considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World and thought to have been located near the royal palace in Babylon. Accuracy and availability may vary. The biblical exegesis you did was clear, systematic, comprehensive and captivating doctrinally sound", Mike Gendron, Proclaiming The Gospel Ministries, June 4, 2019, Will the literal city of Babylon, in modern Iraq, be Rebuilt? Nevertheless, what fascinates me is that top Iraqi officials are determined to rebuild both, even though as Muslims they dont believe in the Bible, or know much about the prophecies it contains. Iraqi university students on their first visit to Babylon. Today, there are many countries or groups of countries (e.g. The ancient city of Babylon is a World Heritage Site, but it faces threats old and new. Since Babylon reopened in 2009, tourist numbers have fluctuated, said Alice Fordham. (Isaiah 13:19-20 When I lead a prophecy study on Isaiah 13:19-20, I cannot teach what my eyes do not see. I think rebuilding Babylon is a wonderful idea, as long as it is not done at the expense of the antiquities themselves., He even added that a theme park built near Babylon to draw more tourists would be a good idea, as long as its done outside of Babylon, away from the archeological sites.. Saddam Hussein has attempted to rebuild it in an effort to. No. The sites remains were first excavated by Robert Koldewey, a German architect, at the end of the nineteenth century. TULSA Advocates of Mystery Babylon being a rebuilt Babylon will often claim Babylon wasn't destroyed in the same way as Sodom. Dr. Reagan: One argument against Babylon comes from the book of Isaiah. Babylon declined after it was occupied by Darius and has been totally destroyed; today it is like Sodom and Gomorrah - barren desert. Therefore, Babylon's FINAL FALL is yet to happen in the Future. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. But it's extraordinary. What's so important about the Code of Hammurabi? History carving of Hammurabi Though traces of prehistoric settlement exist, Babylon's development as a major city was late by Mesopotamian standards; no mention of it existed before the 23rd century bce. There are still three existing but non-functioning oil pipelines, two of which were built in the 1970s and 80s and the third of which is more recentwork on it was blocked after the SBAH filed a lawsuit in 2012. In 538BC " Darius the Median " captured Babylon (Daniel 5:31). This, then, is PHOTOGRAPHIC-PROOF that Babylon has NOT YET met its Final Destruction. With the war and insurgencies finally finished, and the ISIS caliphate destroyed, Iraq is finally turning itself around. As soaring melodies from a concert at the amphitheatre built by Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, on the ruins of a third-century BC foundation, drifted over from the newly revived Babylon festival, the WMF programme director Jeff Allen toldThe Art Newspaper: The project will help usher in new tourism initiatives designed to enhance the visitor experience and help the local economy. As some of its walls crumble, preservationists are fighting to preserve the past. Most of Babylon was rebuilt by Saddam Hussein on its old foundations, but pictured here is the original Ishtar gate Credit: Getty - Contributor. (Washington, D.C., June 29, 2009) -- Keep your eye on Iraq. We can only guess how deep it could be, said Dr. Pedersen, one of the worlds leading experts on the archaeology of Babylon. US soldiers take pictures of the Ishtar Gate in the ancient city of Babylon, on September 28, 2003. I see 150-years of photographs and demographics, and I read current and historical accounts of Babylon. Persian Period (539-322 BCE) 539 BCE - Persian Ruler Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylonian Empire, Including Jerusalem. In the 1920s, the British ran train tracks through the archaeological site as part of a Baghdad to Basra railway. It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; Isaiah 13:20DID THAT HAPPEN? And the bricks just fall apart. . The action you just performed triggered the security solution. No, but the site was once again open to tourists in 2009. As NPR's Jane Arraf reports, archaeologists working in the ruins of Babylon in present-day Iraq are hoping to change that. 18 July 2019. Desolate Desert (no greenery; trees, gardens, groves) 5. Does the "King of the North" Prophecy CHANGE with the TIMES ? Among those who accept a tradition (Jeremiah 29:10) that the exile lasted 70 years, some choose the dates 608 to 538, others 586 to about 516 (the year when the rebuilt Temple was dedicated in Jerusalem). In 2009 CE, the local government of Babylon opened the city to the public. Collaborating with the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) until 2015, the WMF performed extensive surveys and documentation and developed conservation plans. Yes, it does, although the city is now in ruins. The year before, many stayed away for fear of being caught up in violence at demonstrations in nearby cities., But some local investors believe in the promise of domestic tourism in places like this that have long been under-visited, she added. For that reason, many Bible students believe that the ancient city of Babylon will be resurrected to power during the Antichrist's end-time, world reign. There IS a buildup of Babylon going on today, and for the past 1000 years. Yet, in every case, there exists PHOTOGRAPHS. 1. So, terribly low oil revenues along with COVID-related lockdowns and travel restrictions flatlined economic growth and caused unemployment to spike. That is "not what my eyes see" in light of the actual data. Brick reliefs of bulls and dragons, referencing Marduk the supreme god of Babylon and facing incoming visitors to protect the city from evils, look on as repairs to a dangerous staircase make the area a safer experience for tourists. As foretold by Old Testament prophets, the grand ancient city fell to the Persians in 539 B.C.E. Inhabitants 2. Like many Iraqis, he feels Babylons past is not just ancient history but his history. It's a sad ending to such a fabled city. That new 'Tower of Babel' now exists in the form of the UN, but once again, the God of Creation has been excluded. 3. Isaiah 13:19. Babylon has seen it all. Nebuchadnezzar II, the most powerful king of the Neo-Babylon Empire, rebuilt Babylon into a magnificent city. Now, Babylon, like many of Iraq's archaeological sites, has fallen into disrepair. Still, since the publication of Epicenter sixteen years ago, the skeptics and cynics certainly seem to have had the upper hand. Allarab News: A fascinating story is being written in the shifting sands of Arabia. Although some of the recreations were damaged during the prolonged occupations of the Iraq War (2003-11), many of the gaudily painted buildings remain and are open to the public, including Saddam's Babylonian palace. FACT #5-- After the FINAL FALL of Babylon there will never again be any "SHEPHERDS", Nor will shepherds make their flocks lie down there. Arab dwellers 3. ARRAF: Iraq is awash in archaeological sites. But things are changing and its time for an update. It is only some large and well-known buildings that are excavated, said Olof Pedersen, professor emeritus in Assyriology at Swedens Uppsala University and a consultant to the World Monuments Fund. A century ago, German archaeologists carted off the most significant parts of the city. But Iraqi leaders and United Nations officials are not giving up on it. Jeremiah 51:12. Whats more, the Obama Administrationis contributing $700,000 towards The Future of Babylon Project, through the State Departments budget., In January 2011, I shared with my readers an intriguing articlepublished by the New York Times about Iraqs latest efforts topreserve, protect, restore and then rebuild the ancient city of Babylon and make it a draw for tourists, with U.S. taxpayer assistance., The Babylon project is Iraqs biggest and most ambitious by far, a reflection of the ancient citys fame and its resonance in Iraqs modern political and cultural heritage, the Times reported, noting that the State Department had announced a new $2 million grant to begin work to preserve the sites most impressive surviving ruins. Few believed me at the time. Babylon in ancient Mesopotamia was known as the site of one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Today there are 193 members, representing countries from all over the world. 7 QUESTIONS That Deserve An ANSWER BELOW. It has a rich past. Just a few short decades after Nebuchadnezzar's death, Babylon was taken by the Persian conqueror Cyrus II, who reduced the city to just another outpost in his vast, Iran-based empire. Therefore, Babylon of Chaldea, Iraq, must Rise Up to meet that Final Destruction. He also ordered parts of Babylon reconstructed, leading to most of the current conservation problems. According to an About.com article, "Saddam Hussein said that Babylon's great palaces and the legendary hanging gardens of Babylon (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) would rise from the dust.". Think of what life was like only 30-40 years ago. According to historians, Nechuchadnezzar relocated conquered people around the empire to keep them from organizing rebellions against him under his leadership, Babylon became the biggest and most modern city in the ancient world. They comfort my soul.. In 2019, UNESCO designated Babylon as a World Heritage Site. Last fall, the Babylon International Festivalwas held again for the first time in two decades. Babylon's remains, mounds of mud-brick buildings spread over about 30 square kilometers, are in present-day Iraq, south of Baghdad. Saddam Hussein, who saw himself as the successor to King Nebuchadnezzar, in the 1980s built a large palace overlooking the excavated remains. For instance, when Saddam Hussein was in power, he vowed to rebuild Babylon and make it the great city it . But there's almost nobody here. The concept of Babylon being rebuilt has attracted a great deal of speculation over recent years, and I suspect it has sold many books on the subject. World Monuments Fund safeguards cultural heritage around the globe, ensuring our treasured places are preserved for present and future generations. 2. Why is the city of Babylon uninhabited? Iraqi leaders hope that eventually millions of tourists will come to visit, and real progress is being made. For thousands of years, the Bible has adamantly stated that Babylon would be rebuilt, and would be the seat of power for the despot of the world. Prophecy scholars are divided in their opinion as to whether or not the city of Babylon will literally be rebuilt again. Historical preservationists estimate it would cost tens of millions of dollars simply to install a system to keep water from seeping in. ALLEN: So be very careful about how you put down so you maintain these edges. People have lived there and are still living there today. Site proudly built by Amazee Labs. We know the Jewish Temple will be rebuilt and sacrifices re-instituted right after the 70th Week of Daniel begins - the Tribulation - because the Antichrist will put a stop to the sacrifices half-way into the 7-year peace period. Its hanging gardens were said to be one of the seven wonders of the world. But it's never been listed as a modern World Heritage Site by the United Nations. The Bible says that at its FINAL FALL Babylon will be "Utterly Destroyed" as Sodom. #Syria Babylon has been inhabited for centuries, was one of the first megalopolises, and is even mentioned in the Bible. But the glory days of Babylon were short-lived. The bricks in this area are repeatedly being exposed to water, dryness, and rising salts, and then they collapse, said Jeff Allen, a historical preservationist who has led the World Monument Fund project here since 2009. To his credit, his budget for upkeep was much higher than the one currently managed by the Iraqi government, but his labour of love and self-aggrandisementhe had stones inscribed with his name as in other ancient sitesalso involved much heavy-handed reconstruction in the 1980s and 90s, often using cement bricks and other inappropriate building materials. 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