And I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen!” Revelation 18:1,2
During the past two months, the world has watched as the nations have squared off over a small plot of valuable real estate – Kuwait. The United Nations have declared war on Iraq, a military dictatorship ruled by Saddam Hussein and have boldly demanded: “Get out of Kuwait!”
While some would say that this is a battle for oil, others in the Arab world say that it is a struggle of Islam against “the Great Satan.” But from a biblical perspective, this is a struggle of a much wider proportion. When we speak of Iraq, Kuwait and Iran, nations which have troubled America since the Carter administration, we should understand that these nations encompass lands which once included the ancient kingdoms of the Chaldeans, the Medes and the Persians – known to biblical authors as – Babylon.
The verse in Revelation 18 “Babylon is fallen!” speaks of the ultimate triumph of God’s kingdom and gives us an assurance that His glory will one day fill the whole earth. We have seen this process unfold dramatically in our lifetime.
During the past two years, the world has watched as communism – the great enemy of freedom – has fallen. The people of many nations quickly overturned their communist governments in favor of a more democratic representation of their people. With communism almost eliminated from the contest for the hearts and minds of the human race, there are only two great remaining forces competing for world dominion – Christianity and Islam.
The military conflict in the Middle East is only a reflection of a much greater conflict that is happening in the spiritual realm, or, if you are not inclined to think in such terms, it is a battle of ideas or two conflicting worldviews which cannot co-exist peaceably in the same universe. Both of these two remaining forces insist on total world dominion.
The outcome of the contest is coming quickly to a close. The result of the struggle will be determined by the fact that one group has been instructed that the battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The other company has been taught that power comes through domination; that bloodshed is the key to gaining control. Warfare is relegated to earthly struggles of the armies of the nations against each other. Understanding this, the outcome of this battle can easily be predicted – Islam will be defeated, the back of the world’s largest religion will be broken – and its downfall will take place in a shorter period of time than communism.
Natural Israel and the Church will increase. And millions of Muslims the world over will see at once that their concept of the one, true God – Allah – is not the same as the Father who was revealed through Jesus Christ. When a billion Muslims the world over see the great signs and wonders which are now about to take place, they will call on the name of the Living God – the God revealed through Jesus the only Son of God. And millions of Muslims will be saved.
Governments throughout the Middle East, Africa and Asia will dissolve overnight. Democracies will replace dictatorships; and the resulting freedom of religion will allow a great influx of Christianity, the true salt of the earth, to invade these nations and bring peace – not war – because peace can only be realized when Christ is formed within the hearts of the people.
The military conflict in the Middle East is only a reflection of a much greater conflict that is happening in the spiritual realm, or, if you are not inclined to think in such terms, it is a battle of ideas or two conflicting worldviews which cannot co-exist peaceably in the same universe. Both of these two remaining forces insist on total world dominion.
