A SUMMARY STATEMENT of this 7 part series — in ONE PARAGRAPH
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF This Entire Series
( Summary of the 7 Propositions listed below, each of which encapsulates a subject of this 7-Part series )
Babylon of Chaldea has Survived, slowly rebuilding for a thousand years, awaiting its destiny as
the Throneroom of the Antichrist, the City Chosen by HIM to enforce HIS Authority and HIS Ownership
of the Global Sovereignty, Wealth, and Trade ceded "Overnight" to HIM by the Nations;
Babylon awaits its destiny as "the Great City"—perishing with its Final Fall at the Return of Christ.
(Jeremiah 50-51; Revelation 17-18)
(The "Great" in the "Great City" is the result of its status as the base-city
for the "Great Authority" of its chief occupant, the Antichrist)
(each of the 7 SUMMARY STATEMENTS are in the NOTES section at bottom, with links to the full 7 PARTS)
Now... we conclude with Part 7 below...
Part 7 to "The OVERNIGHT Reemergence of Babylon the "GREAT CITY"
Does Babylon have a TIME Appointment with Destiny?
Babylon, Iraq, has a prophetic-time appointment that parallels that of Israel.
Babylon of Chaldea has a Date With Destiny prophetically scheduled to coincide
with the New Covenant Salvation of Israel at the End Time. (Jer 5-:1-5
This whole 7-part series is Original Research using primary and secondary sources. copyright bibleprophecyaswritten 2020
"the kings of the earth...saying ... ' the great city, Babylon, the strong city! ... such great wealth '
... all the nations were deceived by your sorcery." (Revelation 18:9-10, 17, 23)
The TIME of the Final Fall of Babylon of Chaldea is clearly stated below...
The word which the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, through Jeremiah the prophet: "Declare and proclaim among the nations. Proclaim it and lift up a standard. Do not conceal it but say, 'Babylon has been captured, Bel has been put to shame, Marduk has been shattered; Her images have been put to shame, her idols have been shattered.' "For a nation has come up against her out of the north; it will make her land an object of horror, and there will be no inhabitant in it. Both man and beast have wandered off, they have gone away! "In those days and at that time," declares the LORD, "the sons of Israel will come, both they and the sons of Judah as well; they will go along weeping as they go, and it will be the LORD their God they will seek. "They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. (Jeremiah 50:1-5
Notice above and Graph at right...
1. The subject is Babylon of Chaldea.
2. If there is another "Babylon", as many say, one still must deal with Babylon of Chaldea, for it has an unfulfilled prophecy TIMED to occur at the end-time Salvation of Israel, which both the Old Testament (Jer 30-33) and the New Testament (Rom 11:25-27) declare is scheduled to occur at the Second Coming of Christ.
3. There are 4 witnesses that Babylon of Chaldea did not meet its Final Fall in the days of Daniel... SEE HERE...
4. Some may pick another "Babylon", but Babylon of Chaldea is TIMED by Jer 50:1-5 to meet its Final Fall at the End Time Salvation of Israel. SEE HERE...
5. In the Jeremiah 50:1-5 passage above, we will propose an explanation for three difficulties,
1. How is it that Babylon, which falls in 1 hour (Rev 18:10), "has been captured" ? (Jer 50:2)
2. Since Babylon falls in 1 hour, how can it be "a nation has come up against her out of the north" ? (v 3)
3. Who are the Medes who come against Babylon at her Final Fall in Isaiah 13:17 ? (Jer 51:11, 28)
These 3 Questions are discussed in the Notes Section below.
Jeremiah 50:1-5 ties a "TIGHT KNOT" on the TIMING
Verse 1 — Babylon of Chaldea (Iraq) is the subject.
Verse 2 — Babylon is captured (explained below).
Verse 3 — Babylon is destroyed by a Nation attacking from the "North".
Verse 4 — This ALL happens "in those days and at that time".
Verse 5 — This ALL happens when "the sons of Israel (v 4)...join themselves to the Lord in an EVERLASTING COVENANT
... this destruction of Babylon is clearly associated with the final regeneration and restoration of Israel. Such events never did happen in connection with ancient Babylon...This in turn requires the city of Babylon to be rebuilt.
Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps of the Messiah, Ariel Ministries Press, 1983, p. 226-27.
QUESTION: Since Babylon is the LAST city on earth to fall in the Final Bowl Judgment (Jer 25:26; Rev 16:19), then how is it that the kings and merchants of the world mourn & wail over Babylon's fall rather than the earlier fall of their own cities? (Rev 18:9-11)
Answer: The Great-Authority of Babylon, as the home-base of the Antichrist, so permeates the planet that all eyes are locked on Babylon even AFTER the other world-cities fall. "What city is like the great city:" (Rev 18:18)
RIGHT: The Glorious Finale'
Daniel 2
31 "You, O king, were looking and behold, there was a single great statue; that statue, which was large and of extraordinary splendor, was standing in front of you, and its appearance was awesome.
32 "The head of that statue was made of fine gold [Babylon], its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze,
33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay.
34 "You continued looking until a stone was cut out without hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and crushed them.
35 "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold [Babylon] were crushed all at the same time [End Time 2nd Coming of Christ], and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them was found. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.
NOTES and POSTSCRIPTS:
1. The OVERNIGHT RISE Of The GREAT CITY
COMPLETE SUMMARY STATEMENTS
SUMMARY STATEMENT OF This Entire Series
( Summary of the 7 Propositions listed below, each of which encapsulates a subject of this 7-Part series )
Babylon of Chaldea has Survived, slowly rebuilding for a thousand years, awaiting its destiny as
the Throneroom of the Antichrist, the City Chosen by HIM to enforce HIS Authority and HIS Ownership
of the Global Sovereignty, Wealth, and Trade ceded "Overnight" to HIM by the Nations;
Babylon awaits its destiny as "the Great City"—perishing with its Final Fall at the Return of Christ.
(Jeremiah 50-51; Revelation 17-18)
(The "Great" in the "Great City" is the result of its status as the base-city
for the "Great Authority" of its chief occupant, the Antichrist)
Below are 7 Summary Statements concluded from the Biblical, archaeological and historical evidence presented in this series. Each of the 7 statements corresponds respectively to the 7 Parts of this series, where we will present the evidence that,
1. Babylon of Chaldea (Iraq) has Survived to fulfill its prophesied date with destiny.
Photographs of Conditions said to be impossible after Babylon's Final Destruction prove Babylon has Survived.
2. Babylon has been rebuilding, inconspicuously, and unnoticed, for centuries.
Beginning in the midst of Babylon's ruins, the Literal Stones of Babylon have for 1000 years been recycled and redistributed to expand and build up the city of Hillah —essentially Rebuilding Babylon.
3. Revelation's title "Babylon the Great City" does not require Babylon to be a Super-Large city.
Babylon is "Great"—not because of Great Size--but because of its Great Authority derived from its status as the throne-room City of the Antichrist.
4. The description "the Wealthy City" does not require Babylon to be a city of long-standing wealth.
Babylon becomes the global icon of extreme Wealth, not from Old-wealth, but from Overnight Wealth, bequeathed and bestowed by the Nations.
5. Babylon "the Great" does not require Babylon to be a massive Seaport City.
Babylon is not itself a Giant Seaport City, but it Controls Global Seaports from a distance across continents and seas.
6. Babylon of Chaldea has not been "Replaced" any more than Israel of Mt. Zion has been Replaced.
Babylon has a Biblical-Chaldean GPS Identification of 32.32º x 44.25º which excludes any other city as a Replacement Babylon.
7. Babylon, Iraq, has a prophetic-time appointment that parallels that of Israel.
Babylon of Chaldea has a Date With Destiny prophetically scheduled to coincide with the New Covenant Salvation of Israel at the End Time. (Jer 5-:1-5
If the evidence sustains these 7 points, where is the need for a metaphorical Replacement to the plain, common sense, literal understanding of the word "Babylon"?
In the Jeremiah 50:1-5 passage above, we will propose below an explanation for three difficulties,
1. How is it that Babylon, which falls in 1 hour (Rev 18:10), "has been captured" ? (Jer 50:2)
2. Since Babylon falls in 1 hour, how can it be "a nation has come up against her out of the north" ? (v 3)
3. Who are the Medes who come against Babylon at her Final Fall in Isaiah 13:17 ? (Jer 51:11, 28)
How is it that Babylon of Chaldea is destroyed at the End Time both in 1-hour, and yet by a Nation's Army attacking from the North?
SUMMARY STATEMENT: A Harmony of Jeremiah 50:1-5 and Revelation 18
At the End Time when the New Covenant is bestowed upon Israel, God will instantly crumble Babylon of Chaldea in smoke and fire
and will empower Israel to "swoop down” from the North upon the “sons of the east”
and launch the climactic deathblow to seal Babylon’s Final Destruction.
1. HERE IS HOW WE ARRIVE AT THAT CONCLUSION
Jeremiah 50:1-5 — The Facts
1. Babylon of Chaldea (v 1),
2. ...is Attacked and Destroyed (v 2-3),
3. ...by a Nation coming from the North (v 3),
4. ...at the Time Israel receives the New Covenant (v 4-5,
Has this Prophecy been Fulfilled?
1. The Prophecy gives the fulfillment of the New Covenant (Jer 50:1-5) as its benchmark for the TIMING of this event.
2. The New Covenant will be fulfilled at the End Time in conjunction with the Return of Christ. (Rom 11:26-27; Jer 30-33)
3. Therefore, Jeremiah 50:1-5 has not yet been Fulfilled. The TIMING is clearly stated in the prophecy itself as a Future End Time event.
4. Also the SUBJECT is clearly stated—Babylon of Chaldea—and tied to the Timing-Event by the phrase "in those days and at that time" (Jer 50:1, 4).
5. But "Who?' is the Nation in verse 3 that attacks Babylon from the North at the End Time when God bestows the New Covenant on Israel? And how does the attack by this Nation fit with Babylon's 1-hour destruction in Revelation 18?
2. The "EXCEEDINGLY GREAT ARMY" and the MULTIPLE PHASES of Babylon's Final Fall
1. God empowers Israel as an Exceedingly Great Army when Christ appears. (Eze 37:10; Zec 12:6; Psa 83; Isa 11:14; Mic 4:9-10)
2. Babylon receives multiple deathblows to seal its Final Destruction. (The phrase, "fallen, fallen", Revelation 18:2, as applied to Babylon, and the fact that Revelation 17 portrays the fall of "Harlot" Babylon, while thereafter comes the fall of political Babylon, both within a period of 3½ years, supports the understanding that their may be several phases to the Final Fall of Babylon)
3. A PROPOSED SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
Here is a proposed Sequence of Events to harmonize Jer 50-51 and Rev 18,
Follow the CHART #s, right and below...
1. When Babylon is "laid waste" in smoke and fire— #1 Right— the world is stunned as it mourns and wails the Fall of Babylon.
(Rev 16:18-19; 18:8-10, 19)
2. God bestows the New Covenant — #2 Right—
upon Israel. (Jer 50:4-5; 31:31-34; Eze 36:24-36; Rom 11:26-27)
3. God gives Israel supernatural empowerment — #3 Right — to rise up as His Exceedingly Great Army — #4 Right — (Eze 37:10; Zec 12:8), and "swoop down" to conquer the neighboring nations — its perrennial enemies (Isa 11:14; Psa 83; Zec 12:6), the greatest of which is Babylon.
4. Attacking from the North, Israel, then launches the deathblow to seal Babylon's Final destruction— #5 Right —. (Jer 50:3-5; 51:64; in Isa 11:14 — note "sons of the east" of which Babylon is one--Ammon & Moab were both pillaged by "the sons of the east" in Eze 25:4, 10, which was Babylon.)
4. Therefore, IT IS ISRAEL THAT WILL ATTACK BABYLON FROM THE NORTH AT THE END TIME
1. For a nation [not "nations" — SINGULAR — Israel] is a "NATION" in Exo 19:6, Psa 33:12 = Hebrew "gowy"; & in Acts 10:22; 28:19 & 1 Pet 2:9 = Greek "ethnos", same as Hebrew "gowy" in Septuagint Old Testament ] has come up against her out of the north [traditional path of invasions against Babylon]; it will make her land an object of horror... In those days and at that time," declares the LORD, "the sons of Israel will come... they will come that they may join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten." (Jer 50:3-5)
(on 1Pet 2:9 above, see Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps Of The Messiah, Ariel Ministries, 2003, p. 780-81).
2. Israel will "swoop down" from the North against the "sons of the east" (Isa 11:14, BABYLON), at the Return of Christ. (Jer 50:3-5)
And they will swoop down ... they will plunder the sons of the east; (Isa 11:14; Gen 11:2; Eze 25:4, 10; Babylon is due east of Jerusalem)
RIGHT: Babylon's Biblical basis as a "son of the east"
(For Jeremiah's account of the other Nations [PLURAL] ALSO attacking Babylon from the NORTH, see further below, Notes)
5. Israel is the God-empowered Army from the North in Jeremiah 50:3
Five (5) Great prophecies tell of a time when Israel’s “exceedingly great army” will conquer, once and for all time, those “round-about” nations. That term, “round-about” (Hebrew = “a circle, neighbor”), is the meaning of the term “surrounding” peoples in the Zechariah 12:6 passage below.
This understanding of “surrounding peoples” is made clear in 2 Chronicles 17:10. Thus, the subject-nations of Zechariah 12:6 and Psalm 83:6-8 are equated, and are to be distinguished from “all the nations of the earth” (Zec. 12:3).
Here are all 5 prophecies of Israel's End Time conquests of her neighbor-nations, with their TIMING CONTEXT
1. Zechariah 12:6—
"In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples, while the inhabitants of Jerusalem again dwell on their own sites in Jerusalem."
Zechariah 12 TIMING
Zechariah 12:1-10, is a Second Coming passage, linked into a single time context by “in that day” (v. 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11; 13.1, 2). The term “that day” is a prophetic term for “at that time”. The context defines what period of time is in view—and it is clear. The entire chain of “that day” terms are self- described as the time when “all the nations of the earth will be gathered against [Jerusalem] (12:3)”, and Israel will “look on” Christ and Israel will be saved (12:10; 13:1). There is only one time in history when these events will occur, and that is at the time of the Second Coming of Christ. Israel’s defeat of “all the surrounding peoples” (v.6) occurs “in that day”.
2. Psalms 83:4-8—
"They have said, 'Come, and let us wipe them out as a nation, That the name of Israel be remembered no more.'
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also has joined with them…[and] the children of Lot."
The nations involved according to Psalm 83:6-8 and equated with the “surrounding peoples” of Zechariah 12:6, with their modern place-names, are: Edom, Moab, Gebal & Ammon [Jordon]; Ishmaelites & Hagrites [Saudi Arabia]; Amalek [Egypt]; Philistia [Gaza, Palestine]: Tyre [Lebanon]; Assyria [Syria, Iraq]; Children of Lot [scattered among the Mideast nations].
Psalm 83 TIMING
There are two keys to the timing of this passage (bold-highlighted words below),
1. “with Thy storm...O LORD, Let them be ashamed and dismayed forever... and perish” (v14-17).
The Hebrew word (for “forever”) translates “eternity, everlasting, evermore, perpetually, and world without end.” Two Scriptural examples point out the force of this word:
1. Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever; (Psalms 45:6)
2. For a child [Jesus] will be born to us, ...His name will be called ... Mighty God, Eternal Father, (Isa. 9:6)
The Psalm 83 nations will “perish” as enemies of Israel forever. That can only happen at Christs’ Second Coming.
2. That they may know that Thou alone, whose name is the LORD, Art the Most High over all the earth (v18).
At the time the Psalm 83 nations are destroyed “forever,” they will know only one Name lifted above all names (v.18). Other passages point out that the exaltation on the earth of Christs’ Name above all other names will only occur at His Second Coming.
1. And the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. (Isa. 2:11; 17)
2. ...the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one. Zec.14:9)
Pslam 83 therefore must be scheduled for fulfillment at the Second Coming of Christ.
3. Micah 4:11-13—
"And now many nations have been assembled against you Who say, 'Let her be polluted, And let our eyes gloat over Zion.'... For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. "Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, For your horn I will make iron And your hoofs I will make bronze, That you may pulverize many peoples, That you may devote to the LORD their unjust gain And their wealth to the Lord of all the earth."
5:9 —
"Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, And all your enemies will be cut off."
Israel— a Mighty Conqueror at the Second Coming of Christ !
Spiritual [saved] Israel To Become A Great Conqueror (Micah 5:8-9): Israel shall be as a lion from whom none can deliver, as a mighty warrior who shall cut off his adversaries (v. 9). This warfare will be completed when the “One” shall have put all enemies under his feet (1 Cor 15:25-28). The Wycliff Bible Commentary, Moody Press, Chicago, 1962, page 858.
Micah 4 TIMING
The End Time context is both immediate and extensive on both sides of Micah 4:11-13, and the passage itself gives reference to the metaphorical "child birth pangs" Israel will experience in the Tribulation. (Isa 13:8; Jer 30:6-7; Mat 24:8; 1 Thes 5:3) Leading up to Micah 4:11-13 is the whole of chapter 4 describing the Millennial Kingdom of Christ. In the passage itself, "many nations" are assembled against Israel, echoing Zec 12:3 and 14:2. Immediately following Micah 4:11-13 is a prophetic reference to the birthplace and mission of the Messiah-King (v. 2-3), followed by Christ's Return when "He will be great to the ends of the earth" in the context of the End Time scene which continues throughout chapter 5.
4. Isaiah 11:11-14—
Then it will happen on that day that the Lord Will again recover the second time with His hand The remnant of His people, who will remain, From Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, And from the islands of the sea. And He will lift up a standard for the nations, And will assemble the banished ones of Israel, And will gather the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth. Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, And those who harass Judah will be cut off; Ephraim will not be jealous of Judah, And Judah will not harass Ephraim. And they will swoop down on the slopes of the Philistines on the west; Together they will plunder the sons of the east; They will possess Edom and Moab; And the sons of Ammon will be subject to them.
The first thing we see is that the nations listed in Isaiah 11 agree with those listed in Psalm 83, and are necessarily implied in the phrase “surrounding nations” in Zechariah 12:6.
Isaiah 11 TIMING
Isaiah 11:11-14 actually says Israel will destroy the Isaiah 11/Psalm 83 nations (listing them by name, v.14) at the time when Israel is saved
(12:2- 3; the New Covenant). That epoch event occurs at the Second Coming of Christ (Rom. 11: 26-27). Furthermore, the whole passage is linked into a single time context by the phrase “on that day” (11:10-11; 12:1, 3), “that day” being set in a clear Second Coming-Millennial context (Return of Christ to inaugurate the Millennial Kingdom).
Confirming the "Who" and "When" this "exceedingly great army" will rise up to conquer these “surrounding peoples" is our fifth passage,
5. Ezekiel 37:1, 9-10—
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones...Then He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life." So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life, and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.
NOTE below how Ezekiel and Zechariah agree on Israel's EXCEEDINGLY GREAT ARMY
"...breath came into them, and they came to life, and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army..." (Eze 37:10)
"In that day I will make the clans of Judah like a firepot among pieces of wood and a flaming torch among sheaves, so they will consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples, ...and the one who is feeble among them in that day will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the angel of the LORD before them." (Zec 12:6-8; Is there a greater "exceedingly great army" than the one described here?)
Ezekiel 37 TIMING
There is a very clear sequence to the restoration of life to the “dry bones” in Ezekiel 37’s prophecy—and the creation of Israel’s “exceeding great army.”
1. First, there is the vision of Israel as a vast valley of “dry bones,” which is the graveyard of the nations into which Israel was dispersed for 1900 years. (37:1-2)
2. Next comes the reassembling of the bones into flesh covered bodies, physically alive (37:7-8), but still spiritually dead, and interpreted by the passage itself as “the whole house of Israel” returned to their homeland. (37:11-12)
3. Finally, the salvation of Israel occurs, when the “breath [of] my spirit” (37:9-14), is imparted to Israel by God. Only at that point—at the Second Coming of Christ (Rom. 11:26; Zec. 12:10) —does Israel become the “exceeding great army”—the God-enabled army of Jews seen in our other 4 passages, seen again below,
1) Psalm 83—the army which will rout those nations as in the days of Gideon (v9-11);
2) Isaiah 11—the army which will “swoop down” on them (v14);
3) Zechariah 12—the army which will ”consume on the right hand and on the left all the surrounding peoples” (v6);
4) Micah 4--the army that will "pulverize" the "many nations assembled" against Israel (11-13)
6. Not Only Israel, but THE NATIONS WILL ALSO ATTACK BABYLON FROM THE NORTH AT THE END TIME
The Nations ("many kings"= PLURAL)—in CHAOS and CONFUSION—will attack Babylon from the North. ( Jer 50:41)
Jer 50:41 "Behold, a people is coming from the north, And a great nation and many kings Will be aroused from the remote parts of the earth.
The Jeremiah prophecies are clear about the TIMING of the Final Fall of Babylon. They are not so clear regarding how Jeremiah 50-51 correlates with Babylon's Final Fall as it is described in the Book of Revelation. But this is not an insurmountable problem when Two (2) Facts are kept in view,
1. BLENDED PROPHECY — Jeremiah 50-51 is a foretelling of events spread over time that are blended together into a seemingly single, unbroken parade of events. This is "blended" prophecy, and is sometimes difficult to "un-blend" into a proper time-sequence.
2. ORDERLY-CHAOS —Right
This is a recurring theme, and a Key theme of the events surrounding the Armageddon-Epoch at the Return of Christ.
Chaos reigns on the human side of events at the End Time. But earthly Chaotic events are directed by God to fulfill His Orderly Purpose.
Note the End Time Chaos, Confusion, Hysteria and Terror in these passages; (Zec 12:4; 14:13; also, this Chaos of the nation's armies "turncoating" against each other, in general end-time context, is seen in Isa 19:2; Eze 38:21; Zec 8:10; see also examples in God's historical defense of Israel, Jdg 7:22; 1Sam 14:20; 2 Chr 20:23)
[SPECIAL NOTE: It's true the Antichrist "will prosper" until the end of the Tribulation, but that's exactly "the end" when this CHAOS between the Antichrist-nations occurs; Dan 11:36]
FOR EXAMPLE, above, And it will come about in that day that a great panic from the LORD will fall on them; and they will seize one another's hand, and the hand of one will be lifted against the hand of another. (Zechariah 14:13) The CHAOS of Antichrist's armies at the End Time Armageddon campaign can be compared—from a human standpoint—to a Fireworks Show prematurely misfiring into chaotic explosions and destruction. But from God's standpoint, it is "ORDERLY-CHAOS" since He orders the outcome to His Purposes.
3. BOTH of these concepts, Blended-prophecy and Orderly-Chaos, are common to Bible prophecy, and are particularly apparent in the Babylon prophecies. With this in mind, below are some possible options for understanding these "Nations attacking from the North" in Jer 50-51,
1. Cyrus and the Persians capture 6th century BC Babylon
(perhaps 50:9, because the result, IF this part of the "blended" prophecy ends at v 10, is that Babylon is "taken captive" which is exactly what happened in 539 BC)
2. Antichrist and 10 Kings attack "Harlot" Babylon
(possibly 51:48, because of the Jubilant response in Heaven in Rev 19:1-3) seen when the Antichrist and 10 Kings destroy "Harlot" Babylon.
3. End Time Nations in Chaos attack one another, including Babylon, at the end of the Tribulation. (could be Jer 50:41, because of the reference to Sodom and Gomorrah, v. 40, which refers to Babylon's ultimate destruction. Also possibly 51:48, because of the Joyful outcry in Heaven seen when "Political-Commercial Babylon" is destroyed; see Rev 18:20 and 19:1-3 )
4. A recommended source for another option is,
Arnold Fruchtenbaum, The Footsteps Of The Messiah, Ariel Ministries, 2003, p. 327, 333.
4. How is it that the End Time Nations wail and weep (Rev 18:9-10) at the destruction caused by the giant earthquake (Rev 16:18-19) that drops Babylon, yet attack Babylon (Jer 50:41) ? But that is what a wild whirlwind of a Chaotic, Mutinous meltdown is all about (Zec 14:13) !
5. Whatever the case, the only clear thing about Jeremiah's 'armies from the North' against Babylon is that Chaos among nations, events and movements is explicitly foretold in the End Time prophecies. As such, the chaos of the events and the "blending" of the events in the prophetic narrative can also cause confusion to the reader and will undoubtedly continue to do so until God brings about His Perfect and Orderly Fulfillment. Still, among these OPTIONS we can see there exists a "some-such"-scenario awaiting its time of perfect fulfillment.
6. But the following aspects of Jeremiah 50-51 can hardly be misunderstood,
1. Babylon of Chaldea will meet its Final Judgment at the Time of the New Covenant (Jer 50:1-5)
(note that the time-phrase "in those days and at that time" excludes Jer 50:1-5 as either a blended or double reference prophecy)
2. There is strong Scriptural evidence that Israel is the army from the North. (Jer 50:3 in light of Zec 12:6; Isa 11:14)
3. Babylon will meet a horrific Sodom and Gomorrah-like fate. (Jer 50:40)
4. Babylon will not rise again--Ever! (Jer 51:63-64)
7. A PROPOSED SEQUENCE OF EVENTS — The Nations Attack Babylon from the North at the End Time
1. The world of the Antichrist is characterized by,
1. Boastful pride that it "will never see mourning". (Rev 18:7)
2. Worshipful confidence in the Antichrist; "Who is like him?"; "Who can make war with him?". (Rev 13:4)
2. Then God strikes Babylon — #1 Right — and it is "laid waste" in smoke and fire by a giant earthquake (Rev 16:18-19; 18:21), the world is stunned as it mourns and wails. (Rev 18:8-10, 19)
3. End-Time Israel turns to Faith in Messiah Jesus, and God bestows the New Covenant and Saves Israel — #2 Right —(Jer 50:4-5; Rom 11:26-27)
4. God Confuses and Blinds the armies of the Nations gathered against Israel — #3 Right —
5. At the onslaught of the rapid-fire Bowl Judgments and their foreshadow of the appearance of Heavenly armies — #4 Right — , the nations and armies are terrified — #5 Right — . (Rev 6:12-17)
6. In an ill-fated attempt to gain heavenly-favor by flipping sides, a wave of turncoat-armies — #6 Above — mount an assault from the North against Babylon — #7 Above — in its fallen and smoldering state. (Jer 50:40-41; note the attack is by "many kings" — similar to what happened in Rev 17:16-17 against "Harlot" Babylon ) All of this occurs in addition to the events happening at the same time in the equally chaotic Armageddon Campaign.
7. The unity of the nations fractures as panic-stricken armies turn one against the other — #8 Above — . (Zec 12:4; 14:13 in light of Rev 6:14-17, 19:11)
8. God gives Israel supernatural empowerment to rise up as His Exceedingly Great Army. (Eze 37:10; Zec 12:8)
9. Israel "swoops down" to conquer the neighboring nations — its perennial enemies — including, and especially, Babylon. (Isa 11:14; Zec 12:6; Psa 83, where we note the nation "Assyria in verse 8, which included Babylon")
10. Attacking from the North — #9 Above — Israel, destroys the turncoat-armies of the nations who have wreaked further devastation at Babylon, and then launches the deathblow to seal Babylon's Final destruction. (Jer 50:3-5; 51:64; Isa 11:14, where we recall that Babylon is a son "of the east")
8. BABYLON'S FINAL FALL WILL OCCUR IN STAGES AT THE END TIME (#s 10-12 in Graph above)
1. Phase 1 — "Harlot" Babylon is violently ripped from the heart of the City itself by Antichrist and 10 Kings.
1. Phase 2 — Political-Commercial Babylon is flattened violently by Fire and Smoke, as the nations anguish at the sight.
A captive Jewish Remnant survives in Babylon (Jer 51:48-50; in Isa 11:11, Jews are set free from "Shinar", which is the Land of Babylon) and turn to Messiah at the last moment. (Joel 2:12-13; Zec 12:9-10)
2. Phase 3 — The enemy nations revolving around Israel, terrified and panic-stricken at the turn of events as Jesus and the armies of Heaven are revealed, turncoat in hysterical confusion and chaos and attack Babylon from the North.
3. Phase 4 — Israel's Exceedingly Great Army rushes from the North to rescue the Jewish remnant and clinch the destruction and plunder of Babylon. In the process Israel wipes-out the remains of the Nation-armies which in wild hysteria have attacked Babylon and one another.
4. In the process, Babylon is destroyed in a combination of events similar to Israel's destruction of Jericho as written in the Book of Joshua, 6:1-27.
1. Jericho's Walls fall at God's beckoning and kill many. (Jos 6:20; Heb 11:30)
Babylon is flattened in 1 hour at God's beckoning. (Rev 18:10)
2. ALL life and remnants of Jericho are destroyed in followup attack by Israel. (Jos 6:20b-21, 24)
Babylon receives her Final deathblow in followup attack by Israel. (Jer 50:3; Isa 11:14)
3. Believing Rahab and her family, inside Jericho, have their lives and home spared. (Jos 6:22-23)
Believing Jews are held captive in Babylon and survive. (Jer 51:50-51; "Shinar", Isa 11:11)
4. Rahab and Family are rescued by the invading Israelites. (Jos 6:25)
The Believing Jews in Babylon are rescued by the "Exceedingly Great Army" of Israel. (Jer 50:4-5; Mic 4:9-10; other Jeremiah passages where captive Jews are noted in Babylon, 50:8, 25; 51:6, 45, 50; cmp Joel 3:2, 6-7 and Isa 11:11 Jewish "remnant" in "Shinar").
In both cases God flattened the City and Israel rushed in to seal the Destruction.
JERICHO -- BABYLON MASSIVE CITIES (though Babylon was much larger, they were both considered a great city)
Jericho's prominence (Jos 5-6) and wealth (7:21) suggest a great city. Excavations have shown that Jericho had massive defenses.
NIV Archaeological Study Bible, International Bible Society, Zonderban Corporation, Grand Rapids, MI, 2005, p. 312.
SUMMARY STATEMENT: A Harmony of Jeremiah 50:1-5 and Revelation 18
At the End Time when the New Covenant is bestowed upon Israel, God will instantly crumble Babylon of Chaldea in smoke and fire and will empower Israel to “swoop down” from the North upon the “sons of the east” and launch the climactic deathblow to seal Babylon’s Final Destruction.
What About the Medes?
Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them, Who will not value silver or take pleasure in gold, And their bows will mow down the young men, They will not even have compassion on the fruit of the womb, Nor will their eye pity children. And Babylon, the beauty of kingdoms, the glory of the Chaldeans' pride, Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; Nor will the Arab pitch his tent there, Nor will shepherds make their flocks lie down there. (Isaiah 13:17-20
Is the above reference to the MEDE'S ATTACK ON BABYLON in Isaiah 13
refering to the DAYS OF DANIEL or to the END TIME, or perhaps BOTH?
RIGHT: The TIMING of the Isaiah 13:17-22 MEDES attack on Babylon
1. The Final Fall of Babylon (#2) into the look-a-like state of Sodom & Gomorrah (#3) is TIMED by its chronological relationship to Israel's receipt of the New Covenant (#4).
2. That TIMING is stated clearly in Jer 50. Babylon in v 1, is destroyed totally and finally in v 3 in like manner as Sodom & Gomorrah (see v 40). Babylon is destroyed instantly, and the effect of absolute devastation follows instantly. The cause and the effect are basically ONE EVENT —an Event that occurs "in those days and at that time" —the TIME of the NEW COVENANT (v 5)
3. The Medes attack on Babylon (#1), if a "blended" (compressed) prophecy, happened in (539 BC), and is not related to Babylon's Final "Sodom-like" Fall. But if the Mede's attack causes that Final Fall, then it occurs at the End Time in the days of the Return of Christ and the Salvation of Israel through the New Covenant. BOTH could be true.
Some websites says this about the above Isa 13:17-20 passage,
"Bible prophecy says that after Babylon is conquered by the Medes, it will devolve into rubble, never to be rebuilt again... Babylon will be conquered by the Medes and from then on will become a desolation, like the location of Sodom and Gomorrah." (also references Jer 25:11)
But the Medes are involved in two (2) conquests of Babylon, not just one. How do we know?
1. The 539 BC Medes-Persian conquest didn't result in the "Babylon/Sodom & Gomorrah-Effect; RIGHT>> That is well documented HERE...
Therefore, IF not a blended-prophecy, there remains a FUTURE Medes attack on Babylon.
Furthermore,
1. No Medes attack sets the TIMING for the Sodom &Gomorrah-Effect as prophesied in Isa 13:17-22;
The New Covenant (Jer 50:5) sets the TIMING for the Babylon/Sodom & Gomorrah-Effect (v 3).
Therefore, the New Covenant also sets the TIMING for the Mede's attack on Babylon.
2. The Babylon/Sodom & Gomorrah-Effect is Timed by Jeremiah 50:1-5—as discussed at the top of this page—set to occur at the End Time (Isa 13:19.
3. "...her land (Babylon)...there will be no inhabitant in it...In those days and at that time...the sons of Judah...will come that they may join themselves to the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten." (Jer 50:3-5)
The Babylon/Sodom & Gomorrah-Effect
In all of its uses, the Sodom & Gomorrah-Effect speaks of sudden and catastrophic destruction (Gen 19:24-25; Isa 13:17; Jer 49:18, 50:40; Amos 4:11; Zep 2:9). It is applied to a few cities and countries that were particularly evil and are prophesied to receive a judgment so severe that its effect will resemble the devastated and barren landscape of Sodom & Gomorrah. The depictions of the sudden and overwhelming fate of Sodom & Gomorrah in Genesis 19:23-25 and of Babylon in Revelation 18:9-10 are basically a "mirror-image" scenario—sudden, violent, total, and, unless God steps in — lasting.
To say otherwise removes the force of the Sodom & Gomorrah-Effect prophecies. It would be like a Biblical Archaelologist saying,
"Well, yes, my investigations have shown how the walls of Jericho crumbled into a pile of sand over a period of 500 years, and ended up flat just like the prophecy said in Joshua 6:5."
Of course, this is rediculous because it's not true. But it is no less false than the idea that Babylon was taken peacefully by the Medo-Persians in 539 BC (which it was), BUT THEN, over a 500-year period or so began to resemble the devastated land of Sodom & Gomorrah because of the ravages of time, overrun, and neglect. The same could be said of many ancient cities.
But rather than a gradual descent into a pile of ruins over a span of centuries, Babylon's Final Fall will be fulfilled as it reads—Literally—as THIS prophecy directly applied to it proves: "And her days will not be prolonged." (Isa 13:22) THAT is the Sodom & Gomorrah Effect !
With such an understanding, any comparison to Sodom & Gomorrah that ignores absolute and instant destruction diminishes the unique judgment that event represents, and loses its force entirely!
The Sodom & Gomorrah-Effect is what happens when something EXPLODES INTO NOTHINGNESS ! (Gen 19:24-25 & Rev 18:19)
2. Furthermore, the story of the Medes is also prolonged in both the Bible and history.
1. in Bible Prophecy,
in Jeremiah,
1. In a context that has the hallmarks of a complete destruction of Babylon (Jer 51:6-14) reference is made to "the spirit of the kings of the Medes" (v 11). This implies the Medes will attack Babylon at the End Time.
2. In a rather clear End Time context (51:24-29) we find reference to "the Medes...and every land of their dominion" (v 28) attacking Babylon. This also shows the Medes to be active participants in the Final Fall of Babylon at the End Time.
in Daniel, (see GRAPH above and follow the bold numbers below)
1.Daniel 2:32 shows the second kingdom of the prophecy of the great statue to be "breast and [2] arms" of silver (#1 above). In a corollation of the imagery to history, the 2 arms are widely recognized among Bible scholars to represent the Medo-Persian empire. The prophecy says ALL of the statue-empires will be destroyed "AT THE SAME TIME" — at the End Time Return of Christ (v 35, 44- 45). At the Return of Christ one of those kingdoms destroyed will be Babylon ("head of gold"). The Medes and Persians will be right there with Babylon.
2. Daniel 7:5 portrays the Medo-Persian Empire that captured Babylon in 539 BC as a lopsided "bear", the lopsidedness caused by a shortened leg-foot, depicting the fact that the Persians were dominant over the "shorter" Medes. Both of the "bear-feet" (# 2 above, Medes and Persians) are shown to be trampling the earth at the End Time (v 7, 19).
3. Revelation 13:2, in perfect harmony with Daniel 7, shows the Medo-Persian "feet...of a bear" (# 3 above) to be a part of the Antichrist's End Time "beast" kingdom.
4. Indeed, Bible Prophecy shows the Medes alive and active at the End Time.
2. in History,
1. The historical narrative about the Medes shrinks down to next-to-nothing after they became a subserviant empire-partner with Persia, which eventually relegated them to becoming simply a province of the Persian Empire in the late 6th century BC. After the account of 1 Maccabees 6:56, which shows Media becoming a part of Syria during the time of Alexander the Great's sucessors, the historical record seems to go dark .
Merrill F. Unger, Unger's Bible Dictionary, Moody Press, Chicago, IL, 1957, p. 708.
2. However, the historical record about the Medes after the days of Alexander the Great is actually carried forward by old vintage maps.
BELOW is that story in vintage-era to modern-era MAPS ...
RIGHT:
600 BC
The Median (MEDES) Empire at its height.
Be careful to note the red outline around the word "Median" just to the southwest of the Caspian Sea.
This will be a positional-marker to watch for in the maps that follow as we trace the existance of the MEDES through "map-history" for 2600 years.
RIGHT:
331 BC
The Medes in Alexander the Great’s Empire
Again, as with the core of the ancient Medes Empire above, the location after Alexander the Great conquered the massive Persian Empire was the area where the Persians had assigned to the Medes as a Persian-province— just to the southwest of the Caspian Sea.
RIGHT:
323 BC
North and South Media divided
After the break-up of the Empire of Alexander the Great, the region of the Medes was divided into Media-Atropatene and Media-Magna. That division can be traced more than 2000 years to today's map, as follows,
1. 323 BC-78 AD Northern Media separated from Southern (Greater) Media-Magna and became Media-Atropatene,
2. which over time became simply, Atropatene,
3. which by 1918 became Azerbaijan.
"According to a modern etymology, the term Azerbaijan derives from that of Atropates, a Persian satrap under the Achaemenid Empire."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan#From_the_Sasanid_period_to_the_Safavid_period
Right:
30 AD
At the Time of Pentecost, Acts 2:9-11
The Biblical record of the Medes among the nations at Pentecost in Acts 2:9 reads,
"And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs--we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God."
ABOVE: The MEDES and other nations named at Pentecost. (Acts 2:9-11)
Right:
45 AD
The Medes 15 years after Pentecost
This amazing Woodcut Map was published in "De situ Orbis" by Pomponius Mela.
Mela was the first Roman (born in Spain) geographer. He wrote his book around the year 45.
This map was published in rendition of Mela's book by Sebastian Muenster (1488-1552)
Right:
100 AD
The Medes adjacent to the Eastern Roman Empire
At the height of the Roman Empire the Medes were well entrenched in their geographical homeland as part of the Parthian (later-Persian) Empire.
Several times the Romans occupied and controlled the Area of the Medes, the Assyrians, and Babylonia as part of the Eastern-Leg of the Roman Empire.
This map is one of quiet a number of maps which well-document Armenian history, where the corollary-benefit is a tracking also of the Medes — next door neighbors to the Armenians.
Right:
150 AD
"MEDIA" (MEDES)
PTOLEMY, the Egyptian of the 2nd-century AD with the giant reputation as the early cartographer (map-maker) and geographer. His maps were mostly by meticulous positional-description. This early 1500s woodcut is based on one of his map-descriptions of about 150 AD.
Sure enough, "Media" is found in its expected position under the Caspian Sea — note also a depiction of "Persia" (Iran) during its days as "Parthia".
Right:
500 AD
"MEDIA" (MEDES)
Another of the Armenian history maps showing in the "spin-off" Armenia's neighbor "Media". Rouben Galichian (roubengalichian.com) has contributed enormously to the history of the Medes in maps as he has map-documented the history of the Armenians.
Notes with the map read "The area of Atropatene; (Azerbaijan) is shown within the territory of Media (Persia), to the south of the River Arax." Note "Atropatia" just above "MEDIA" and compare to the 323 BC map above.
Right:
940 AD
Islamic "Jebel" (MEDES)
"Jibal" (here "D. jebel") is not an Arabic transliteration of "Medes, Media, etc.". It is simply the Islamic title given to the province of the Medes which existed in Persia at the time of the 8th-century invasion by the Arab Muslims. Hamadan had been the capital of the Medes.
"The region, originally known as Media in pre-Islamic times, became known as Jibal ("mountain, hill") by the early Islamic geographers, due its mountainous layout. The name was progressively abandoned during the Seljuk era in the 11th-12th centuries, and was incorrectly called ʿIrāq(-i) ʿAjamī ("Persian Iraq") to distinguish it from ʿIrāq(-i) Arab ("Arab Iraq") in Mesopotamia."
Lockhart, L. (1965). "D̲j̲ibāl". In Lewis, B.; Pellat, Ch. & Schacht, J. (eds.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, New Edition, Volume II: C–G. Leiden: E. J. Brill. p. 534. OCLC 495469475 [as documented in Wikipedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Iraq#cite_note-FOOTNOTELockhart1965534-2
Right:
1595 AD
"MEDIA"
Many vintage-maps allow us to trace the survival of the MEDES.
Historians often refer to the downfall of the Median Empire in the mid-6th century BC, but without reference to the continued life of the Medes as a distinct people from that time until today. BUT, Bible prophecy anticipates it, and the maps actually show it.
Right:
1612 AD
"MEDIA"
Antique map showing Persia by Langenes made in 1612.
Notice, as we move further down, that European and many English translated West Asian maps continued to use the term (or variations) "Media", and sometimes also the Islamic terms "Jibal" and "Irak-Ajami", to designate the region of the Medes.
Right:
1700 AD
"MEDI"
Detailed map of 1700-Persia, extending from the Black Sea, Khasikstan and Turkistan in the North to the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Euphrates and the Mediterranean in the South.
Note the name "MEDI", enlarged in the frame because of the difficulty of seeing it on the regular map, but red-underlined in both for positional reference. The geographic location is more to the north, but the yellow region named "Parthia" is also titled "ERAK ATZEM" (in Arabic pronounced "Ajem") , noted above in the 940 AD map as the Islamic name for Media, "Iraq Ajami".
Right:
1718 AD
MEDIA
Here too, we see not only "MEDIA", which would correspond to the "Media Magna" on the 323 BC map above, but also referencing that map we here see at the southwest tip of the Caspian Sea the territorial designation "ATROPATENA", which matches the "Media-Atropatene" on that 323 map—2000 years of historical continuity with the MEDES !
Right:
1831 AD
MEDIA-JEBEL-IRAK-AJEMI
This map shows the 2 Arab-Muslim titles for the region of the MEDES in Iran (Persia). Under the smaller left-bracket is the name "Al Jebel" which we first encountered on the 940 AD map above. There too we also saw the "IRAK AJEMI" (large bracket here; "Iraq Ajami" spelling there) in the notes explaining that map.
Recall that the Mohammadan invasion of Persia renamed the "Media" province to "Jibal". Later the Arabs call it "Iraq-Ajami". The city of Hamadan (red underline), ancient Ecbatana, capital city of the Median Empire, continued as the central city of Media.
Remarkably, this map shows all 3 of those names—echoing a 4th name—MEDIA.
BUT...........
...... what is the red arrow pointing to? "Persian Koordistan" !
Right:
1901 AD
The MEDES intersected right down the middle by KURDISTAN
Remembering the 323 BC Map and the 940 AD Map above, we see on this Map the Azerbaijan-Northern Medes (small red top bracket ) and the "Iraq Ajami-Southern Medes (large red bottom bracket).
Note three things here,
1. The traditional MEDES territory never changes.
2. The KURDS have lived on that territory—for centuries!
(I have overwritten "KURDISTAN" in bold-red— superimposed in both size and position—over the actual faded letters for the sake of better viewing)
CONCLUSION to the MEDES-Map-History above:
The continued existance of the Medes, absorbed, but distinct, within the geo-political sphere of Persia/Parthia/Iran is map-documented for 2600 years until now.
Do we have a problem believing the Medes could take a "backseat" for millennia, only to reappear?
Just as "Edom, Moab, and ...Ammon" have been subsumed into the modern nation of Jordan and its capital city Ammon, yet set to reappear for a prophetic-fulfillment role at the End Time (Dan 11:41, a prophecy every literalist-prophecy expert accepts), in the same way, the Medes have also been subsumed into NW Iran-Persia, with its ancient city of Hamadan/Ecbatan and regions like Azerbaijan, Kordestan, etc., yet, they too, are Biblically-scheduled to reappear for a prophetic-fulfillment role at the End Time against Babylon.
But how do we anticipate that ROLE in PROPHECY? ...below-left
The ROLE OF THE MEDES vs BABYLON in Bible Prophecy
Here are Biblically sound OPTIONS for the Medes Attack on Babylon that don't require a straining of the Time-Context.
1. Media-Persia destroyed Babylon in 539 BC. But, as stated above, verse 19 (Babylon destroyed "like Sodom and Gomorrah") didn't happen, either at that time, or anytime afterward over the centuries.
See HERE... and RIGHT
2. Media-Persia CAPTURED Babylon in 539 BC. (v 17); then, as a blended prophecy, v 18-19 picks up with the Final Fall of Babylon at the End Time.
3. Media’s attack in verse 17 actually refers to the preceding verses 14-16 about the Mede's attacking Assyria in 697BC.
See The Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, eds. SP Publications, 1985, p. 1060. Also, The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Frank E. Gaebelein, ed., Zondervan Publishing, Grand Rapids, MI, 1986, p.102-03.
4. "The Medes" refers to “the spirit... of the Medes” as per Jer 51:11, "The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it...", referring to an attack on Babylon, with the ferocity of the Medes, by end-time nations to destroy Babylon.
5. RIGHT, map, red Medes-overlay and bold-white Kurdistan boundries:
The "Medes" refers to the Medes, just as "Babylon" refers to Babylon. At the End Time, the literal ethnic-Medes arise — perhaps the Medes people of Iran stir up Iran in "the spirit of the Medes" as one of the turncoat-nations which attack Babylon in the raging CHAOS-of-Nations described further above.
The roots and legacy of the Medes still exists in modern Iran (Persia), Iraq (Babylonia), and Turkey (Asia Minor), and possibly through the Kurds (Kurdistan) and other related indigenous peoples. Ethnic-Medes peoples long existing among the Mid-East anti-Israel nations attack Babylon at the end time (literally, the “spirit of the Medes”, i.e., the Medes themselves) as the various nations of the Antichrist empire turn one upon another (i.e., the "Bear-Persia" against the "Lion-Babylon").
The Kurds and proximate Median peoples make this scenario a very literal possibility.
We should not be so quick to dismiss a Kurds-Medes relationship.
1. The Kurds claim that relationship.
2. No one has definitively dis-proven it.
3. And for 3000 years they have shared much of the same territory.
But looking at the 3 map-layers below, we can see why a Kurds-Medes relationship is not required to sustain the Mede's part in Bible Prophecy at the End Time.
LEFT #1,
Some assume that since the Medes are mentioned in Isaiah 13:17:22, then the whole passage from verse 17 on must refer to the 6th century attack on Babylon by the Medes & Persians, making that battle the Final Fall of Babylon of Chaldea, and thus the end — once and for all 2500 YEARS AGO— of Babylon in Iraq.
But that "assumption" (#1 left) is based more on the same Replacement-thesis-methodology that insists on the Replacement of Israel than on a sound basis in Scripture and actual history.
And it either greatly diminishes the impact of verse 19 (the Sodom & Gomorrah-Effect, see above), or simply ignores it. But none of this is necessary since there are several possible options (#2-5) for understanding the participation of the Medes in the End-Time Final Fall of Babylon of Chaldea.
ABOVE:
1. The Yellow is from the 323 BC further above, (in days of Alexanrian Empire) showing "core" Media ("Media Magna, or "lower Media" with capital city of Ecbatana/Hamadan red underlined), and "upper Media" ("Media Atropatene").
2. The red-"bleed" to the northwest is Media-Atropotene growing into Azerbaijan.
3. Bold-white boundary shows the modern Kurds occupancy of NW Iran into Turkey and Iraq.
ABOVE:
Working backwards, when the Kurds are removed, the Medes still remain in #s 1 and 2.
Establishing a relationship of the Kurds to the Medes is not essential to recognizing the continued existance of the Medes.
ABOVE:
Finally, even if the red-Medes-"bleed" (#2, NW expansion into Azerbaijan) is removed, the evidence for the continued existance of the 323-map depiction of the original Alexandrian-era Medes Persian-province (Media Magna and Media-Atropatene) is still strongly in evidence because of the continuance of their ancient capital city "Ecbatana" in the form of modern Hamadan (red underline), one of Irans major cities today.
Expect the Medes to Attack Babylon AGAIN at the End Time
1. Isaiah 13:17-22 shows the Medes in 2 attacks on Babylon in what is called a "DOUBLE REFERENCE" prophecy—reference to the same subject, but like a "blended-prophecy", two (2) events separated by a time span not explicitly stated in the prophecy.
1. The subject is the Medes attack on Babylon.
2. The first time was the Medes "peaceful" conquest and capture of Babylon's in 539 BC., referenced in Isaiah 13, only in verses 1 and 17.
3. The second time will be the Mede's participation in the attack on Babylon by disparate renegade nations at the End Time as part of the Final Fall of Babylon, leaving it like Sodom & Gomorrah, referenced in verses 1, and 17-22.
2. Like so much of the Prophetic Record, Isaiah 13 views the Medes and Babylon as a metaphorical staircase of 10 steps. Each step is a direct succession of real events. There is a view from the first step of the destination floor (the final event). As you step onto the staircase, you look at the first worn-out-stair (event), then looking beyond the next 9 stairs, you focus on the destination floor above (final event).
3. The Mede's capture of Babylon in 539 BC is the first stair. The Mede's part in Babylon's Final Fall is the destination floor. The prophecy of Isaiah 13 sees the "first stair" and the "destination floor", with no reference to the 9 stairs in-between (i.e., double-reference/blended prophecy)
An ABREVIATED HARMONY OF Babylon's Final Fall in Isaiah 13, Jeremiah 50-51, and Revelation 17-18
ISAIAH 13
Behold, I am going to stir up the Medes against them [Babylon] (Isa 13:17
3. Babylon Falls Like Sodom & Gomorrah
And Babylon... Will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation; (Isa 13:19
4. The Time of Babylon's Final Fall
(Salvation of the Jews; context = all of Isaiah chapter 12)
JEREMIAH 50-51
1. The Subject—Babylon of Chaldea
The word which the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans (Jer 50:1
2. Medes Attack Babylon
... The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, Because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it;... (Jer 51:11
Consecrate the nations against her, The kings of the Medes, Their governors and all their prefects, And every land of their dominion. (Jer 51:28
3. Babylon Falls Like Sodom & Gomorrah
"As when God overthrew Sodom And Gomorrah with its neighbors," declares the LORD, "No man will live there, Nor will any son of man reside in it. (Jer 50:40
...tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates, and say, 'Just so shall Babylon sink down and not rise again (Jer 51:63-64
4. The Time of Babylon's Final Fall
"In those days and at that time," declares the LORD, "the sons of Israel will come, ... and it will be the LORD their God they will seek.
"They will ask for the way to Zion, turning their faces in its direction; they will come that they may join themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. (Jeremiah 50:4-5
REVELATION 17-18
1. The Subject—Babylon of Chaldea
2. Medes Attack Babylon
3. Babylon Falls Like Sodom & Gomorrah
...standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' (Rev 18:10
And a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. (Rev 18:21
4. The Time of Babylon's Final Fall
And the seventh angel poured out his bowl ...a loud voice ... from the throne, saying, "It is done [the Tribulation is "done" only when the Jews are saved under the New Covenant]."
... and there was a great earthquake, ... and the cities of the nations fell. And Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath. (Rev 16:17-19
Why the interest in Babylon?
Because God has inserted many references and whole chapters to Babylon, with the number of times its name is mentioned in the Bible being only second to that of "Jerusalem".
And its biggest heyday is yet to come, as a major signal to the Return of Jesus Christ to set up His eternal Kingdom, and consummate our own eternal life with Him in that Kingdom.
This makes me interested in the hundreds of verses about Babylon's coming rise in the Middle East. For as these verses are fulfilled in prophecy, they become as flashing signals that Babylon's DOOM is soon to follow, then it explodes into nothingness—Forever !
The Devil's DOOM is next! Praise God for the Victorious Return of His Son.
The GOSPEL in Revelation:
The 5th verse from the beginning,
Jesus Christ...To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood, (Revelation 1:5
The 5th verse from the end,
"... And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost." (Revelation 22:17
The Book Of Revelation, apocalyptic and foreboding, is actually "FRAMED" by the GOSPEL OF SALVATION in Jesus Christ. Here's how you can be saved...