Read Europa Conspiracy (Babylon Rising 3) Online
Authors: Tim F. LaHaye
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Modern fiction
Three lectures in a row. I wonder why she's spending so much time at Preston ... and in my class.
"Good morning, class. Today we're going to continue our historical look at the great city of Babylon. We have already seen that it was a huge city with majestic buildings, paved streets, drainage systems, and a vast network of irrigation canals. The dimensions of the largest canal can still be traced. It left the Euphrates at Hit and skirted the desert and ran southeast for over four hundred miles to the Persian Gulf, where it emptied into the Bay of Grane. Over the years, the city has been ruled by a number of great leaders, including Hammurabi, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus the Great, and Alexander the Great.
"In 539 B.C. the Persians captured Babylon. Later King Xerxes I of Persia destroyed part of the city. From that point on the great city of Babylon began to decline. The writer Dio comments that when Trajan visited Babylon in A.D. 116, he saw 'nothing but mound and stones and ruins.'"
Murphy could see a little bit of a glassy stare as the class began to swim in historical details.
Maybe this will recapture their attention
, he thought with a grin.
"Does the name Saddam Hussein ring any bells with you? Are you aware that Saddam began the rebuilding of the city of Babylon in the early 1980s?"
Murphy turned on the PowerPoint projector. Slides of
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many new buildings and huge walls were projected at the front of the room.
"This next slide is a quote from Saddam Hussein given in 1979.
"What is most important to me about Nebuchadnezzar is the link between the Arabs' abilities and the liberation of Palestine. Nebuchadnezzar was, after all, an Arab from Iraq, albeit ancient Iraq. Nebuchadnezzar was the one who brought the bound Jewish slaves from Palestine. That is why, whenever I remember Nebuchadnezzar, I like to remind the Arabs
--
Iraqis in particular--of their historical responsibilities. It is a burden that should not stop them from action, but rather spur them into action because of their history."
Saddam Hussein, 1979
quoted by David Lamb in the
Los Angeles Times
"Before the war in Iraq and the capture of Saddam Hussein, he had three overriding goals: gaining territory, gaining economic power, and eliminating Israel as a nation. Although he will now never be able to accomplish these objectives, we need to keep our eyes on Iraq and the city of Babylon."
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Murphy could see that he had again caught the students' attention.
"In the Bible, the Book of Revelation contains over 404 verses. In Chapters Seventeen and Eighteen there are forty-two verses that deal with what I believe is the literal rebuilt city of Babylon. When you add Revelation Fourteen: Eight and Sixteen: Nineteen, which discuss Babylon's future, you have forty-four verses talking about this city. In other words, it is important enough that ten percent of the Book of Revelation speaks of the fate of Babylon."
"Dr. Murphy, why do you think that Babylon is so important?" Paul Wallach asked.
That's the first time Paul has spoken up in a long time. I'm glad he finally decided to participate.
"That's a good question, Paul. I think it is important because Babylon was the first city where organized rebellion against God took place. We find that in Genesis Chapter Eleven. Babylon was the capital city of the first world ruler, Nimrod. He was also the king of Babylon, as was Nebuchadnezzar, who destroyed the city of Jerusalem and the temple in 586 B.C. Babylon was the city from which four Gentile empires ruled over Jerusalem."
Murphy brought up the next slide on the projector. "Another reason I believe it is important is found in Revelation Seventeen: Five. Look at some pretty strong words from the Apostle John."
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MYSTERY
,
BABYLON THE GREAT
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Revelation 17:5
"The great historian Arnold Toynbee suggested to his readers that Babylon would be the best place in the world to build a future world cultural metropolis. In fact, there are some who believe that not only will Babylon be a cultural center, but it will become an economic center as well. According to bible prophecy, that center will house the one-world government, one-world religion, and one-world commerce."
Wallach raised his hand again. "Why do they think that Babylon is that important?"
"I think there are a couple of reasons, Paul. An obvious answer is that it is in the center of much of the world's oil production. Oil is one of the driving economic factors for all countries. Another reason would be to help rebuild Iraq in such a way as to placate and ease the tensions in the Arab world. The hope might be to take on a more tolerant view of the various radical groups in the Muslim cultures. In this way they might hope to decrease terrorist activities. However, I don't think a renewal of Babylon will accomplish the desired goal."
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Murphy could see that, by now, even Stephanie Kovacs was taking notes.
"Let me come back to the thoughts about Babylon becoming an economic center. For the past few decades, we have witnessed the rise of what is called the European Union. This is a family of democratic European countries that have banded together for the purpose of peace and prosperity. It was initially made up of only six countries: Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Later they were joined by Denmark, Ireland, and the United Kingdom. Greece joined the group in 1981, and Spain and Portugal in 1986. They were followed by Austria, Finland, and Sweden. Even more countries have applied for membership. Some have referred to this union as the United States of Europe. The European Union is growing and needs large supplies of oil. For that oil, the member nations are beginning to turn their focus toward the Arab countries."
Murphy clicked up another slide. "You will notice on this next slide two mottoes, or slogans. Note the difference between them. This has a lot to do with philosophy and focus."
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
"UNITED WE STAND."
EUROPEAN UNION
"UNITY IN DIVERSITY."
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"By uniting together, members of the European Union have raised the standard of living for Europeans during the last half century. They have been fostering cooperation among the member nations while still promoting diversity. One of the ways they have united is by the establishment of a new monetary system utilizing what is called the euro. This has strengthened Europe's voice in the world's marketplace. In fact, the euro is more stable and valuable than the U.S. dollar. The United States is operating with a $435 billion trade deficit; the European Union, however, can boast a $26 billion trade
surplus.
Together the member nations have a fourteen percent larger economy than the United States. The next slide shows what has already been established by the European Union."
European Union
"The motto 'Unity in Diversity' is symbolized by a woman riding the back of a large bull. She is holding a flag with ten stars in a circle. The ten stars represent the original ten countries that founded the union. Also riding on the back of the bull are smaller people all waving the flags of the various member nations."
"What does that symbolize?" Don West asked.
"It comes from Greek mythology, Don. According to the legend, Mother Earth and Father Heaven had two children named Cronus and Rhea. Cronus and Rhea produced a son by the name of Zeus. As the story goes, Zeus was watching a young maiden named Europa playing and talking with her girlfriends."
"It doesn't sound like much has changed," said Clayton Anderson. "We're still watching the girls."
The students whistled and catcalled.
"I guess you're the expert, Clayton," Murphy replied, to the amusement of the class.
"If I may continue. Cupid shot one of his arrows into Zeus, and he fell in love with Europa. He transformed himself into a handsome bull of chestnut color with a silver
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circle on his brow and horns like a crescent moon. Europa and her girlfriends walked up to the bull and petted it. Europa said, 'I bet I could ride the creature. It looks so calm and gentle.' That was her mistake. When she sat on the bull, it got up and ran across the ocean. Europa held on for dear life. Later Zeus married Europa, and they lived on the island of Crete. Their sons became very famous and powerful. Although their names are forgotten, hers is not. It is believed that the continent of Europe was named after Europa. The maiden riding a beast is a reminder of Zeus and Europa. It foreshadows the birth of a continent that will become very famous, powerful, and influential."
As Murphy punched up the next slide, the bell rang. "Hold on a minute, gang. I want to give you a reading assignment for the next session."
There were audible groans from all over the lecture hall.
"I want you to read Chapter Two of the Book of Daniel. It talks about Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a large statue. I think it will help to clarify some issues about the European Union and coming future events."
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TWENTY
AS THE STUDENTS were making their way out of the lecture hall, Stephanie Kovacs walked down the steps to the platform where Murphy was putting away his notes.
"Good morning, Stephanie. I was surprised to see you again."
"I was still in town, Dr. Murphy, and I thought I'd catch your lecture again. I enjoyed it. You have some thought-provoking ideas. Do you really think that Babylon will develop into an economic and cultural center?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. I think it will rise to prominence once again as part of fulfilling the various prophecies in the Bible."
"I'm afraid that I'm not well versed in the Bible, let alone in any prophecies. Can you give me an example of what you are talking about?"
Murphy reached into his briefcase and pulled out his Bible. "Let me read you a passage from the Book of Revelation--Chapter Eighteen, beginning at Verse Nine.
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It's talking about how people around the world will mourn the fall of Babylon.
"The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, Alas, the great city of Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object and most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on
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the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying 'What is like this great city?'
"This prophecy was written by the Apostle John in A.D. 95 after Babylon had already fallen into ruins. He was talking about a future destruction that will come to pass. This is especially interesting since Saddam started the rebuilding of Babylon."
"I was fascinated by the symbol of the woman riding the bull as a symbol of the European Union. Do you have any other information about that?"
"Why don't you come to my next lecture and find out?"
"I wish I could, but I'll be out of town," Kovacs responded.
"Well, let's go over to the student center and get a cup of coffee, and I'll fill you in. Do you have the time?"
"Sure."
Maybe this time Ml be able to tell him.
Kovacs took a sip of coffee and looked around at the students sitting at tables, laughing and flirting with each other.
Those were innocent days. How I wish I could return to them.
"Where would you like to begin?" Murphy asked.
"Do you mind if I take a few notes?"
"Be my guest."
"Tell me about this statue. I don't understand it."
"Well, it started when King Nebuchadnezzar had a dream about a large statue that had a head of gold, a chest of silver, a body of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay mixed together. He couldn't understand this image."