Day 40 September 18 - Revelation 16-22; Summary of thoughts

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Discussion

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Rev. 16:14-16 The Battle of Armageddon


A. Armies gathered to the valley for battle

Megiddo is about 50 miles north, north-east of Jerusalem. The term Armageddon comes from the phrase har Megiddo meaning the mount of Meggido. While the saints and Jews are gathered to Zion and Jerusalem, Satan will gather his forces to the adjacent valley of Megiddo. The scriptures seem to prophecy of two main locations for this conflict—the valley of Megiddo and the city of Jerusalem. It would seem that the object of the multi-national armies gathered to the valley is to destroy the holy city (Zech. 14:2).

The size of this force will be intimidating, their numbers are described as “more than the grasshoppers, and are innumerable” (Jer. 46:23). Joel was most descriptive about the gathering of these great armies.

For, behold, in those day, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,
I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations… (Joel 3:1-2)

Tradition has it that the valley of Jehoshaphat is the valley between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem, not the valley of Megiddo. However, the location of the valley of Jehoshaphat “is not mentioned in the Bible or Josephus, but is first encountered in the middle of the fourth century. Both Moslems and Jews believe that the last judgment is to take place there.” (Dictionary of the Bible, William Smith, “Jehoshaphat, valley of”) Most LDS commentators have accepted this tradition. However, as with most 4th century traditions, this one should be abandoned. The scriptures would suggest that the valley of Jehoshaphat and the valley of Megiddo are indeed the same. See how well Joel correlates with Revelation in this regard.

Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up:
Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.
Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD.
Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.
Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:9-14)

B. Enemies of Israel to be destroyed

The scriptures are consistent in describing those nations who will be judged, Jehoshaphat means literally, Jehovah judges (Joseph Fielding McConkie, Gospel Symbolism [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1999], 176.) The judgment will come as a destruction on the nations which surround Israel. Those who have plagued the Israelites for millennia will now be recompensed. Nearly all the Old Testament prophets spoke of this judgment.

Zechariah


Open thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.
Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.
There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled. (Zech. 11:1-3)

Zephanaiah


For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up.
Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.
And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.
And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.
I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached my people, and magnified themselves against their border.
Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.
This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the LORD of hosts.
Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by my sword.
And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. (Zeph. 2:4-13)

Jeremiah


For this is the day of the Lord God of hosts, a day of vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries…
… for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee. (Jer. 46:10, 28)

Jeremiah lists the nations which are to be destroyed: Egypt, the Philistines including Gaza, Tyre and Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, Damascus, Kedar (Arabia) and Hazor, Elam, and Babylon. See Jer. 46-51.

Isaiah


The Lord of hosts hath sworn, saying…
That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders (Isa. 14:25-26, see also Isa. 15-19; 31:8-9; 33:1-12)

Ezekiel


See Ezek. 25-32.

C. Confusion among the opposing armies brings destruction upon themselves


Those times when the Lord fought the battles of ancient Israel, he often confused the opposing armies. Gideon’s battle against the Midianites is one example. The Lord needed only 300 men to set separate fires and simultaneously blow their trumpets. Then, the whole host of the Midianites, numbered “as grasshoppers for multitude” (Judges 6:5), began fighting amongst themselves.

And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled… (Judges 7:22)

Similarly, Armageddon will be a battle of confusion for the great army assembled against Jerusalem.

And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness: and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness. (Zech. 12:3-4)

The term Joel uses, valley of Jehoshaphat, makes reference to a similar battle during the reign of this king of Judah. The battle of Jehoshaphat is a type for Armageddon.

And [Jahaziel the prophet] said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.
To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD…
¶ And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa…
¶ And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another (the allied armies began to fight against each other).
And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. (2 Chron. 20:14-25)

“Most critics have suggested that ‘the valley of Jehoshaphat’ derived its name from the expectation that the future judgment would resemble in character the victory which God had given to Jehoshaphat.”(Edersheim, Alfred, Old Testament Bible History, chapter 6, note 22)

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D. Divine cavalry led by the Lord destroys the host


Artistic Representations of the Second Coming don’t show Christ coming on horseback. However, for the battle of the great God Almighty, He comes in regal red, on a white horse, leading the greatest cavalry charge imaginable.

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Rev. 19:11-14)

And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.
And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.
By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.
For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. (Rev. 9:16-19)

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. (Rev. 19:15-20)

E. Battle of Gog and Magog is not the same battle as Armageddon


For years, commentators have equated the Battle of Gog and Magog with the Battle of Armageddon. The chronology of Ezekiel and D&C 29 might suggest that Gog and Magog occurs prior to the Millennium. However, the Prophet Joseph clearly teaches that the Battle of Gog and Magog comes later, declaring, “The battle of Gog and Magog will be after the millennium.” (History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5: 298.) The book of Revelation also suggests these are different battles, Armageddon coming first (Rev. 16:12-16), and Gog and Magog coming later (Rev. 20:7-9).

The Battle of Gog and Magog is described in detail in Ezekiel chapters 38-39. Ezekiel 40 begins his elaborate description of the Millennial temple. If one assumes a chronological relationship between chapters 39 and 40, then Gog and Magog would seem to precede the Millennium. However, these are separate visions. Ezekiel 40:1-2 declares that the temple vision was in “the five and twentieth year” of the Jewish captivity. It is a separate vision with a different subject matter and a different timeline than the content of the preceding chapters.

Truly, there are many similarities between Armageddon and Gog and Magog. In each, nations will come against Israel from the north. In each, destruction rains from heaven with “great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.” (Ezek. 38:22) In each, the fowl and beasts are assembled to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the mighty. However, the battles will be separate. Gog will come against Israel in a day when they have dwelt safely in Israel—a safety enjoyed during the Millennium, “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?” (Ezek. 38:14) The Battle of Gog and Magog will be a case of history repeating itself.

Joseph Smith

The battle of Gog and Magog will be after the millennium. (History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 5: 298.)

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Rev. 16:18 there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth

This earthquake must be more destructive than the earthquake in the Americas at the time of Christ’s crucifixion—an earthquake which buried some cities, covered up others, and changed the whole face of the land (3 Ne. 8:6-19). There have been some great earthquakes in recent history. They have brought unbelievable destruction and death. Apparently, a greater still awaits.

Date Event Death/Property damage
1906
Earthquake in Tokyo
Over 100,000 dead
1976

8.2 magnitude earthquake in Tangshan, China
240,000 dead
January 26, 2001

7.9 earthquake in Gujarat, India.
20,000 dead, 166,000 injured.
December 26, 2003

6.7 earthquake in Bam, Iran
About 30,000
December 26, 2004

9.0 earthquake causes a Tsunami in south-east Asia
286,000 dead
October 8, 2005

7.6 earthquake in Pakistan
79,000 dead; 40,000 injured
May 27, 2006

6.3 earthquake in Indonesia
Est. 5892 dead.

(Earthquakes: News & Videos about Earthquakes - CNN.com)

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Rev. 17:1-7 I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore

“In 1 Nephi 13–14, the prophet Nephi relates a vision in which he saw the future of the world and its kingdoms as it related to his posterity. Nephi’s vision is the type of revelation known in biblical literature as apocalyptic, a type represented in the New Testament most fully by the Revelation of John. The two revelations have more in common, though, than apocalyptic form, for they both deal in part with an often misunderstood concept, the great and abominable church of the devil. The visions together give us prophetic information about the matter.

“…the term great and abominable church means an immense assembly or association of people bound together by their loyalty to that which God hates. Most likely, this ‘church’ is involved specifically in sexual immorality, idolatry (that is, false worship), or both. While the book of Revelation does not use the exact phrase ‘great and abominable church,’ both John and Nephi use a number of similar phrases to describe it. They call it the ‘Mother of Harlots, and Abominations,’ ‘mother of abominations,’ and ‘the whore that sitteth upon many waters.’ (Rev. 17:1, 5; 1 Ne. 14:10–11.)

“The major characteristics of the great and abominable church described in 1 Nephi may be listed as follows:

1. It persecutes, tortures, and slays the Saints of God. (See 1 Ne. 13:5.)
2. It seeks wealth and luxury. (See 1 Ne. 13:7–8.)
3. It is characterized by sexual immorality. (See 1 Ne. 13:7.)
4. It has excised plain and precious things from the scriptures. (See 1 Ne. 13:26–29.)
5. It has dominion over all the earth, among all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. (See 1 Ne. 14:11.)
6. Its fate is to be consumed by a world war, when the nations it incites against the Saints war among themselves until the great and abominable church itself is destroyed. (See 1 Ne. 22:13–14.)

“Another symbol used in the book of Revelation to represent the great and abominable church, as well as worldliness and wickedness in general, is Babylon. Five of the six characteristics identified in 1 Nephi are also attributed to Babylon in the book of Revelation:

1. Babylon is drunk with the blood of the Saints, the martyrs of Jesus, and the prophets. (See Rev. 17:6; Rev. 18:24.)
2. She is known for her enjoyment of great wealth and luxury. (See Rev. 17:4; Rev. 18:3, 11–16.)
3. She is characterized by wanton sexual immorality. (See Rev. 17:1–2, 5.)
4. She has dominion over all nations. (See Rev. 17:15, 18; Rev. 18:3, 23–24.)
5. Her fate is to be consumed by the very kings who, because of her deceptions, have made war on the Lamb. (See Rev. 17:14–16; Rev. 18:23.)

“The one characteristic not common to both prophetic descriptions is Nephi’s statement that the great and abominable church has held back important parts of the canon of scripture. This omission in Revelation is not surprising since John’s record is one of the scriptures Nephi says was tampered with. (See 1 Ne. 14:23–24.)

“In noting the characteristics of Babylon, we should be careful to distinguish between her and the beast in Revelation 17 They do not represent the same things, though the beast supports the great and abominable church. (See Rev. 17:3, 7.) The beast, for instance, is entirely missing in Nephi’s description of the great and abominable church.

“Babylon, the ‘woman … arrayed in purple and scarlet’ described in Revelation 17–18, is specifically the Satanic counterpart of the virtuous woman in chapter 12 who symbolizes the church of Jesus Christ that was forced into the wilderness (see JST Rev. 12:6)—that is, which became inaccessible to human beings. Symbolizing the counterfeit church as an immoral woman underscores the nature of her evil: she is physically and spiritually unfaithful, representing both sexual immorality and idolatry, the twin abominations of the Old Testament. Thus, she is the ‘mother of abominations.’

“It appears in Revelation that while the symbol of the unvirtuous woman represents false religion, the beasts, the image of the beast, and its horns represent other aspects of the devil’s kingdom. The ‘Mother of Harlots’ cannot represent kingdoms or governments—the beast and its horns do that (see Rev. 17:12; also JST Rev. 13:1)—but she can represent the false beliefs and ideologies that often capture and motivate governments. The same evil genius, Satan the old dragon, is behind both, but the beast and the harlot symbolize separate entities with separate functions in the evil empire.

“When the civil governments (the kings of the earth) commit fornication with the false religion—that is, when church and state are joined together—then the wine of their fornication makes all the world drunk, and her sins and plagues reach unto heaven. (See Rev. 17:2; Rev. 18:3–5.) The immorality and idolatry of the great and abominable church, together with the power of the civil states, dominate the economy and the life-styles of all nations and destroy the spiritual equilibrium and discernment of human beings.” (Stephen E. Robinson, “Warring against the Saints of God,” Ensign, Jan 1988, 34-36)

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Rev. 18 Introduction


The story of Revelation 18 is the story of three grand declarations. The first, from a glorified angel (v. 2-3), celebrates the destruction of Babylon. The second, as a voice from heaven (v. 4-20), prophecies that the merchants who have become wealthy through Babylon will mourn as they witness her utter destruction. The last, another mighty angel (v. 21-24), promises that none will be found in Babylon for the city will be wiped off the face of the earth.

Hugh Nibley

Babylon, like Zion, is a real society—a type, place, and environment of human existence, described in the scriptures with great clarity and precision… Though Babylon is vividly described by the prophets, the best way to define her is as the exact opposite of Zion in all things. Babylon is just as pure in its way as is Zion; it is pure evil—for even good, when it becomes contaminated and perverted, becomes an evil. The main thing is that Babylon and Zion cannot mix in any degree. (Approaching Zion, edited by Don E. Norton [Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book Co., Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1989], 30.)

Hugh Nibley

Babylon then, like Zion, is a type. If Zion is wherever the celestial order prevails, Babylon is the culmination of the worldly power wherever it happens. Through the ages, that power has actually culminated in just such world centers as ancient Babylon. Rome itself was entirely eligible for the name. The church of Rome called itself "the church that is at Babylon" (1 Peter 5:13). Rome was Babylon the great in every respect. And in the last days we must have a Babylon, too. For the call has gone forth, "Go ye out of Babylon. Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord. Go ye out of Babylon; gather ye out from among the nations" (D&C 133:7). "Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon" (D&C 133:14). (Approaching Zion, 16.)

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Rev. 18:4 Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins


James E. Talmage

The Lord gave this command: “Send forth the elders of my church unto the nations which are afar off; unto the islands of the sea; send forth unto foreign lands; call upon all nations, first upon the Gentiles, and then upon the Jews. And behold, and lo, this shall be their cry, and the voice of the Lord unto all people: Go ye forth unto the land of Zion… Let them, therefore, who are among the Gentiles flee unto Zion. And let them who be of Judah flee unto Jerusalem, unto the mountain of the Lord's house. Go ye out from among the nations, even from Babylon, from the midst of wickedness, which is spiritual Babylon.” (D&C 188:8-14)

The last sentence of the foregoing quotation expresses the purpose for which this work of gathering the saints from the nations of the earth has been ordained. The Lord would have His people separate themselves from the sins of the world and depart from spiritual Babylon, that they may learn the ways of God and serve Him the more fully. John the Revelator, while in exile on Patmos, saw in vision the fate of the sinful world. An angel came down from heaven, “and he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird… And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” (Rev. 18:2-5)

Israel, Gathering of/The faith of the Latter-day Saints teaches that in the day of the Lord's righteous fury safety will be found in Zion. The importance which they associate with the work of gathering, and the fidelity with which they seek to discharge the duty enjoined upon them by divine authority in the matter of warning the world of the impending dangers, as described in the Revelator's vision, are sufficiently demonstrated by the great extent of the missionary labor as at present prosecuted by this people. (Articles of Faith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1981], 306-307)

Harold B. Lee

As we sit here today, we should be mindful of the fact that we are those of whom these revelations have spoken. We are those who have been gathered from out of spiritual Babylon, or perhaps we represent the second or third or even the fourth or fifth generation of those who heeded the call and felt the spirit of gathering. (Conference Report, April 1948, Afternoon Meeting 56.)

Hugh Nibley

Babylon's time is all but used up, and the only thing for the Saints to do is to get out of her. As we all know, they sought to do this in a very physical as well as a spiritual sense. "I will that my saints should be assembled upon the land of Zion . . . and lift a warning voice . . . by word and by flight" (D&C 63:36-37). How could they stay in the world? "We are trying to be the image of those who live in heaven; we are trying to pattern after them, . . . to walk and talk like them, to deal like them, and build up the kingdom of heaven as they have done." That meant a total renunciation of the world and its ways: "It is useless for us to expect the favor of the world. We have been called out of the world, therefore the world hates us. If we were of the world, then the world would love its own, and we should have no trouble with them." That was what the Lord often told his disciples. You cannot be "in the world but not of the world," "for all that is in the world . . . is not of the Father, but is of the world," and that in the most literal sense (1 John 2:16). (Approaching Zion, edited by Don E. Norton [Salt Lake City and Provo: Deseret Book Co., Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies, 1989], 31 - 32.)

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Rev. 18:22-23 the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers… shall be heard no more at all in thee

Again, the destruction of ancient Babylon becomes a fitting type for the destruction of the wicked. We borrow again from the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah:

Because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues…
As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbour cities thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein…
Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby. (Jer. 50:13,40; 51:43)

And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. (Isa. 13:19-20)

Interestingly, Saddam Hussein began to restore the site of ancient Babylon. Unaware of Jeremiah’s prophecies, he imagined to make Babylon a tourism site. Little did he know that God had pronounced its utter destruction, that it was not to be rebuilt—not to be a site for musicians, weddings or celebrations. As a type for Satan’s kingdom, the land was to be left desolate. It was not to be a place for historical monuments, theme parks, or nostalgic reminiscing. The Gulf War put an end to his reconstructive plans.

In 1985, Saddam Hussein started rebuilding the city on top of the old ruins (because of this, artifacts and other finds may well be under the city by now), investing in both restoration and new construction. To the dismay of archaeologists, he inscribed his name on many of the bricks in imitation of Nebuchadnezzar. One frequent inscription reads: "This was built by Saddam Hussein, son of Nebuchadnezzar, to glorify Iraq". This recalls the ziggurat at Ur, where each individual brick was stamped with "Ur-Nammu, king of Ur, who built the temple of Nanna". These bricks became sought after as collectors' items after the downfall of Hussein, and the ruins are no longer being restored to their original state. He also installed a huge portrait of himself and Nebuchadnezzar at the entrance to the ruins, and shored up Processional Way, a large boulevard of ancient stones, and the Lion of Babylon, a black rock sculpture about 2,600 years old.

When the Gulf War ended, Saddam wanted to build a modern palace, also over some old ruins; it was made in the pyramidal style of a Sumerian ziggurat. He named it Saddam Hill. In 2003, he was ready to begin the construction of a cable car line over Babylon when the invasion began and halted the project.

An article published in April 2006 states that UN officials and Iraqi leaders have big plans for restoring Babylon, making it a gem of a new Iraq as a cultural center complete with shopping malls, hotels, and perhaps a theme park: "One day millions of people will visit Babylon." (Babylon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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Rev. 19:7 the marriage of the Lamb is come

“The marriage of the Lamb, who is Christ (D&C 33:17-18) to his bride, who is the Church (D&C 109:73-74) as well as the New Jerusalem (21:2, 9-10), is a metaphor for the union between the Lord and his people, made possible through the atonement of Christ….There is no sweeter or more meaningful relationship on earth than that between a holy husband and a holy wife; that is the kind of relationship (in depth of feeling and completeness of union) that the Lord is inviting us to. That marriage is between Christ and the church—but the Church is not just an organization on the earth; it is also the individual souls who belong to that organization.” (Donald W. Parry and Jay A. Parry, Understanding the Book of Revelation [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1998], 251 - 252.)

Joseph Fielding Smith

“This prophecy of the marriage of the Lamb is a figure of speech, having reference to the second coming of our Savior and the feast, or supper, that the righteous shall receive at his coming. When teaching the Jews, and more especially his disciples, the Savior spoke of the bridegroom when referring to himself. Such references are found in Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20, and in the story of the ten virgins in Matthew 25.

“In Revelation, Chapter 21, the comparison is made to a marriage of the Lamb with the city, New Jerusalem:

‘And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.
And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God,
Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal.’ (Ibid., 21:2, 3, 9, 10, 11.)

“Doctrine and Covenants, Section 109, verses 73 and 74, we find the following:

‘That thy church may come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners;
And be adorned as a bride for that day when thou shalt unveil the heavens, and cause the mountains to flow down at thy presence, and the valleys to be exalted, the rough places made smooth; that thy glory may fill the earth.’

“The vision of John and the revelation to Joseph Smith both have reference to the same event, the second coming of our Lord in his power and glory, to receive his Church or kingdom, the New Jerusalem being the capital city of the Church, and there is no difference in the meaning whether reference is to the Church or the New Jerusalem, for the righteous will have inheritance in the New Jerusalem. Therefore the bride of the Lamb is the organization of the righteous who have inheritance in the holy city.” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1957-1966], 1: 25.)

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Rev. 19:7 his wife hath made herself ready


When the Lord comes again, New Jerusalem will already be well established. Its inhabitants will be righteous and will joyfully receive Christ as a bride receives her groom. The city will be as righteous as the city of Enoch. However, the parable of the ten virgins teaches us that not all members of the church will be ready. This is a solemn reminder that even though the Church will be ready for Christ, not all of its members will be.

Bruce R. McConkie

“…the gospel net catches fish of all kinds. Only those who make themselves worthy are saved. All who come into the Church must forsake the world, repent of their sins, and keep the commandments; otherwise they will be cast out with the wicked and rebellious and suffer the sorrows of the damned.

“Salvation is a personal matter; it comes to individuals, not congregations. Church membership alone does not save; obedience after baptism is required. Each person called to the marriage feast will be examined separately, and of the many called to partake of the bounties of the gospel, few only will wear the robes of righteousness which must clothe every citizen in the celestial heaven. True it is that the Lord ‘hath bid his guests,’ as Zephaniah said, but ‘all such as are clothed with strange apparel’ shall be cast out. (Zeph. 1:7-8.)” (The Mortal Messiah: From Bethlehem to Calvary, 4 vols. [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979-1981], 3: 368.)

Joseph Smith
“…those who keep the commandments of the Lord and walk in His statutes to the end…are the only individuals permitted to sit at this glorious feast….Reflect for a moment, brethren, and enquire, whether you would consider yourselves worthy a seat at the marriage feast with Paul and others like him, if you had been unfaithful? Had you not fought the good fight, and kept the faith, could you expect to receive?” (History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7 vols., introduction and notes by B. H. Roberts [Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1932-1951], 2: 19 - 20.)