Escape to Zion You Who Dwell with the Daughter of Babylon
Zechariah 2:7 Ho! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon!
I would like to draw attention to a very interesting verse in Zechariah (quoted above), especially as it (almost certainly) pertains to the future of the United States. There is much discussion of whether the US is modern Babylon, with its heart as New York City. The Statue of Liberty (type of a Babylonian woman/goddess) stands prominently in the New York Harbour.
My view is that the US probably fulfils that (Babylonian) role at present, but in His time there will be a shift of economic power to the Middle East (land of Shinar - Zechariah 5).
As with other people, I awoke on New Year’s Day (in Australia) with the incredible pictures of the hotel on fire in Dubai - close to the world’s tallest building!! So we clearly see the emergence of a new Babylon in the Middle East.
Daughter of Babylon – the United States!!??
Future Large Scale Emigration to Israel!!?? Zechariah 2
7 Ho! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon! 8 For thus said the Lord of hosts, after [His] glory had sent me [His messenger] to the nations who plundered you - for he who touches you touches the apple or pupil of His eye.
While the question of whether the US is modern day Babylon is very important, to me it seems highly likely that the US is the Daughter of Babylon!! In the Amplified Bible there are just five references to the Daughter of Babylon (Psalm 137:8, Isaiah 47:1, Jeremiah 50:48, Jeremiah 51:33 and Zechariah 2:7). These are quoted near the end of this letter.
In this letter I focus on the ESCAPE TO ZION (ISRAEL) in Zechariah 2:7. This verse appears to foreshadow a large scale shift of population (new refugees) from the US to Israel!! Just as we have watched Syrian (and others) streaming into Europe, will we (in His perfect timing) witness Jews streaming into Israel, including from the US?
It seems likely that cataclysmic events will come as judgments upon the US, and anti-semitism may exacerbate the impact of these events on the Jewish population in the US, including New York. For the end time prophecies to be fulfilled, there will need to be this large scale emigration from the US to Israel. While it is hard to be too precise on Jewish population size, there are around 6.3 million Jews in Israel and anywhere between 5.2 to 6.3 million in the US, including around 1.5 million in New York.
Jerusalem shall be inhabited - because of the multitude of people!!
Zechariah 2: 4-6 he said to the second angel, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited and dwell as villages without walls, because of the MULTITUDE OF PEOPLE and livestock in it. 5 For I, says the Lord, will be to her a wall of fire round about, and I will be the glory in the midst of her.
6 Ho! ho! [Hear and] flee from the land of the north, says the Lord, and from the four winds of the heavens, for to them have I scattered you, says the Lord.
The verses leading up to Zechariah 2:6 speak of Jerusalem being inhabited, without walls and with a multitude of people!! The events of the Psalm 83 war (probably combined with Isaiah 17 regarding Damascus, although it should be noted that the destruction of Damascus prophesied in Isaiah 17 could come at anytime), could be expected to expand the borders of Israel to accommodate large scale emigration.
Bill Salus’ book Isralestine covers the likely implications of the Psalm 83 War very well.
The Great Regathering of Jews to Israel! Isaiah 11:11
11 And in that day the Lord shall again lift up His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people which is left, from Assyria, from Lower Egypt….12 And He will raise up a signal for the nations and will assemble the outcasts of Israel and will gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the Earth.
Isaiah 11:11 (and verse 12) is a vital verse for 2nd Coming prophecy!! Verse 12 speaks of a regathering from the four corners of the world – including the US, a land not known to Europeans at the time. Emigration from the United States represents a major slice of this Aliyah or homecoming!!
So when could these things be? The most likely time is linked to the Psalm 83 War. This War could happen at any time, but will probably require more unity of the nations around Israel. There is an unusual verse in Psalm 83 (verse 15) that in the Amplified version speaks of tornadoes and hurricanes, used more for the United States than other nations.
Psalm 83: 14 As fire consumes the forest, and as the flame sets the mountains ablaze. 15 So afflict them with Your tempest and terrify them with Your tornado or hurricane.
There is a total solar eclipse that goes across the heart of the United States in 2017 (21 August) and this could presage greater judgments on the US, including earthquakes/ tsunamis (a severe hurricane or Tsunami would bring the water in over some of New York City. In recent weeks we have witnessed the destructive power of tornadoes. So the future as prophesied indicates cataclysmic events in the US, and this may reflect growing anti-semitism, including in some Churches.
To end on a more optimistic note, there are millions in the United States who are strong supporters of Israel, and who have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!!! In time, I believe, a great and true revival will emerge in the great nation of the United States!!
Second Coming events are accelerating across the Earth!! In July 2016 the US will enter the 7th 40 year period since Independence - looking for a great harvest of souls! Where does the Rapture fit in - this could happen at anytime!!
Denis (Canberra, Australia) Maranatha!!
Daughter of Babylon - five Biblical references (Amplified)
Psalm 137:8 O Daughter of Babylon [you devastator, you!], who [ought to be and] shall be destroyed, happy and blessed shall he be who requites you as you have served us.
Isaiah 47:1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O Virgin Daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground [in abject humiliation]; there is no throne for you, O Daughter of the Chaldeans, for you shall no longer be called dainty and delicate.
Jeremiah 50:42 They lay hold of bow, lance, and spear; they are cruel and have no mercy or compassion. They sound like the roaring of the sea; they ride upon horses, every man equipped like a man [ready] for the battle against you, O Daughter of Babylon!
Jeremiah 51:33 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: The Daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time it is [being prepared]; yet a little while and the time of harvest shall come to her.
Zechariah 2:7 Ho! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon!