If you want Bible stories, be aware that the old kingdom of Babylon is in modern Iraq. That's where the Israelites were held in the second captivity. (This is why Rastafarians refer to the repressive outside world as Babylon.)
The Whore of Babylon - actually, a harlot who declares that her name is Babylon - is also prominent in the Book of Revelation. I suppose everyone knows that, but you can never tell. Some fundamentalists link the Whore with the Roman Catholic Church, but it's not that easy a fit. She's the consort of the Beast of Revelation. Well, one of them. (there's more than one. read at above link.)
Also, one of the signs of the End Times is a great army crossing the Euphrates River. Isaiah 11, Zechariah 9:10, Revelation 16.
From that last:
12The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13Then I saw three evil (unclean) spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14They are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.
15"Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed."
16Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
17The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
So. That's the famous "Battle of Armageddon."
Here's one useful Bible interpretation site that explains how this prophecy actually referred to the Jewish rebellion against Rome in 67 AD. But that ain't the way a lot of literalists see it.
Here's an OK guide to how current events fit into End Times prophecy from an atheist web site.
The basic Armageddon story: a coalition of armies allied behind the Antichrist wage a war against the forces of the Second Coming of Christ.
Possible narrative strategies: In a few of my End Times prophecy stories, I try to leave wiggle room so it's unclear which side is the Antichrist side. Since the Antichrist is a false, deceptive figure with great worldly power.... |
