WILL HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF?

                                                                                                                                                                         By W. G. Guy

          Many preachers have identified America as the modern day form of the Babylonian Empire.  This is because of the similarities that America has with ancient Babylon.  This writer does not agree with this parallel with the exception of one point, and that is with what led to the demise of that ancient empire and how it was overthrown.

          After the fall of Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian Empire, in 612 B.C. the Babylonian Empire began to rise to prominence with Nebuchadnezzar having the greatest influence.  Babylon reached its height of power under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar by 605 B.C.  This position of dominance lasted less than eighty years as it disintegrated under the rule of Belshazzar, Nebuchadnezzar’s grandson, around 539 B.C. when the Persians took over. 

          What is notable is that the Persians did not defeat Babylon militarily.  Babylon’s fall was due to political depravity as exemplified under the rule of Belshazzar.

Daniel 5:1-5 – Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.  Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.  Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.  They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 

          God put an end to the reign of Babylon, just as He did with the reign of Assyria with the judgment of Nineveh, as prophesied by Jonah; (albeit seventy years later due to the repentance of that generation in Nineveh that heard Jonah).           Daniel was summoned by the king to interpret what the writing on the wall meant as it put the entire party in fear.    

Daniel 5:25-28 – And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.  This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.  TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.  PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.

          That very night, Belshazzar was killed and the Persians took over Babylon.  This take over was without any battle, but by a subtle infiltration that was also a result of an internal conspiracy.  Certain elements within the Babylonian government were colluding with the Persians because they did not like the way Belshazzar was running things.

          This conspiracy and intrigue was fomented by the pagan priests of the Babylon worship of their false god, Marduk, who made league with the Persians.  This worship of Marduk was an integral part of the Babylonian government.  This was evident from what is recorded in the Book of Daniel regarding the three Hebrews that were thrown in the fiery furnace because they refused to bow to the Babylonian idol that Nebuchadnezzar made.

          While Belshazzar was hosting a drunken party, which lasted for several days, he was unaware that the Persians had dammed up the Euphrates River and diverted it around the city.  (Note: the city was built on both sides of the river with bridges connecting each side.)  Thus the river bed dried up and the Persian army marched thru the river bed into the city, without any opposition, and took over. 

          How does the overthrow of ancient Babylon parallel what is currently happening to America today?  Babylon was at its height of power for about eighty years before its fall.  America has been at the height of its power for about eighty years now, from about 1910 to 1990.  (Notice we haven’t won a war since the Gulf war of the 1990’s.)

          America’s leadership is having a drunken party; drunk on power and money.  In addition, there are elements within our government that are colluding with our enemies as well as orchestrating the infiltration of foreigners that are aimed at the overthrown of America.  Many that are here by illegal immigration are saying “death to America”.  Not only that, but there has been an effort of those who worship of the false god, Allah, (as was with Marduk of Babylon), whose goal is the overthrow of America and to bring it under their Sharia Law.  This effort was greatly advanced by the appointment of Barak Hussein Obama as president.  He promoted the Muslim Brotherhood and had many of them installed in high positions in our government, and they are still in positions of influence today. 

          Will history be repeated?  We are well on the way of seeing it happen again; and it is happening as we sit idly by and are not being aware as to what is really going on in this nation.  This is all by plan of the enemy, and God is allowing it because of our immorality and failure to repent of our sinful state.  So much is working against us: our government, the news media, the entertainment industry, keeping us in the dark and lying to us; filling us with useless information and misdirecting us, keeping us from seeing what is really going on.   

          Remember, Nineveh repented at the prophetic words of just one prophet.  God has sent many prophets to, and through, America that have given warning to repent, but we have not!  Even the most significant event in recent history was a call to repent.  The fall of the Twin Towers in New York in 2001 was a call to repent and a warning of future judgment.  But instead of repenting and asking forgiveness, we cried out, ”God Bless America”.  God is not going to bless our sinful and immoral condition!  However He will bring a chastising judgment for failing to heed His Word and the Grace He has provided; all of which too many in our government repudiate and blaspheme.

          So the question is, when will America be overthrown, and by whom?  The warnings have been issued!  We certainly cannot be allowed to continue on the path we are on now.  Will there be any repentance and deliverance?  God’s grace and mercy is waiting for us, if we will respond to His call!

          Babylon was not conquered militarily but by political intrigue and moral depravity.  So is America the modern day Babylon as many preachers declare?  We are soon to find out!  But where do you stand in relation to God and His Word?