What is the Significance of the Pope's visit to Iraq?
Pope Francis goes to Babel (Babylon) to Call for Unity
by Elene Rodgers
On March 6, 2021, Pope Francis met with the spiritual leader for Iraq's Shiite Muslims to call for unity. According to an article entitled “Pope, Ayatollah join in call for peace, unity” by Democrat-Gazette Staff, this was the first papal visit to Iraq.
Later the same day, the pope met with other religious leaders at “the ancient city of Ur for an interfaith meeting in the traditional birthplace of Abraham, the biblical patriarch revered by Christians, Muslims and Jews.”
Interestingly, according to the article the “meeting was held in the shadow of Ur's magnificent ziggurat, the 6,000-year-old archaeological complex near the modern city of Nasiriyah.” In other words, the meeting with the religious leaders was held in the same area as the tower of Babel.
Surprisingly, he began his speech by stating, "This blessed place brings us back to our origins," Francis said, “to the sources of God’s work, to the birth of our religions. Here, where Abraham our father lived, we seem to have returned home.
The origin of Babel is given in the Bible in Genesis 10:8-10; “And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel...in the land of Shinar.” Nimrod was openly defiant to God. Others, who were also in defiance against God, followed Nimrod and began to worship him. Nimrod became known as the sun god and his followers were united together by this sun worship. Babel is the place of origin for the open defiance to the Creator God through this false sun worship.
It was at Babel that the whole earth was united as one in rebellion against God by Nimrod. There they began to build the tower of Babel and God was displeased and dispersed them. Genesis 11:9 says, “Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”
Babel was not a place blessed by God In defiance of God, Babel could not receive the blessings of God but there was a curse upon it. Jeremiah 50:13 “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.” Even today, this great city which was once the pride of the earth is still desolate which is a sign of the surety of God's word.
Babel became associated with wickedness. In a vision in Zechariah 5:5-11, an ephah (basket used to measure about a bushel of grain) was seen with a woman in the midst of it and the angel decribed the woman as wickedness and when Zechariah asked where the ephah was going to be taken the angel responded in Zechariah 5:11 "And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base." This place in the land of Shinar is the same land of Nimrod's city, the same land of Ur where Abraham was born, and the same place where this wickedness was going to be established. This land of Babel was not blessed because it was the place of Abraham's birth but Abraham was blessed because of His faith and obedience to God. Moreover, Abraham did not return to that land and he did not want his son to return to it as well. (Genesis 24:6)
Babel (same as Babylon) means confusion according to Strong's Hebrew Dictionary reference number H894. The term Babylon is often used to refer to the confusion that is caused by mixing worldliness with godliness as if when you take something that is wordly and put God's name on it, it makes it holy even though it is really against God's command. Putting God's name on something sinful does not make that sin holy, in fact it is even more deceptive and confusing. This Babylonian mixing is often pleasing to people who want to remain in sin and not be converted by God's truth while still claiming to be holy. But, God does not want His pure religion to be defiled by mixing it with sin, He has made provision for people to be overcomers of sin. In John 15:4 Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” Also, Philippians 2:13 says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” All who repent of sin can find forgiveness and cleansing from sin so there is no excuse to stay mixed up in sin. Futhermore, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
Because of the confusion in Ur with the worship of “other gods”, God called Abraham to get out of it. (Joshua 24:2 and Genesis 11:31-12:1) In Revelation, Babylon is used to depict the fallen condition of a religious and governmental system that unites the whole world in rebellion against God. As God called Abraham out of ancient Babylon, God calls His people out of the confusion and wickedness of this corrupt system in the last days. Revelation 18:1-5 gives this earnest plea, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. 2 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. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 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. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”
By going to Babylon and saying that, "This blessed place brings us back to our origins" Pope Francis was acknowleding what the Bible already revealed; Papal Rome's false church system originated in Babylon. In fact, Papal Rome is the mother of Babylon as the head over these false religions. Revelation 17:3-6 gives a picture that describes the character of this system as a woman (church) sitting on a scarlet colored beast. “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”
As the Mother of Babylon this system is the leader over this false worship. In the last days, this leader again unites the world's religions and governments as was done at the Tower of Babel in an effort that wars against the true worshippers of God. Revelation 17:13-14 reveals, “These have one mind [they are united], and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. 14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. And in verses 15 and 18 we see that this woman represents “that great city” known as Babylon which is over people, multitudes, nations, and tongues around the world and “reigns over the kings of the earth.”
It is at this time that God gives a message to all these people that dwell in this great city of Babylon so urgent that it is represented by angels flying in the midst of heaven. Revelation 14:6-11 proclaims, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
That is why the Pope's visit to Babylon is so important and the appeal is given so strong to people around the world today to come out of Babylon – NOW!