shunned and abhorred by all men.  Even in the new heaven and new earth

'carcases, worm and fire' shall be an abhorring unto all flesh (Isa. 66:22 -

24).  See article Millennial Studies No. 11 - New Heaven and New Earth9.  In

direct contrast with this will be the glory of restored Israel and the city

of Jerusalem.

We look upon Rome and Romanism as one of many corrupt streams that flow

from Babylon, but do not believe that this most corrupt daughter can be

called the mother of all the abominations of the earth.  The issues are

vaster and deeper than can be contained within the history of the professing

church, and we believe that the united testimony of Scripture demands a

future rebuilt Babylon followed by utter destruction at the coming of the

Another most important prophecy related to those which speak of the

overthrow of Babylon, is the restoration of Israel and Judah to their own

land.  The reader who may have pondered the possibility of a Pre -Millennial

kingdom, will realize the significance of this association of events.  It is

vital.  We have yet to consider the prophecies of the book of the Revelation

and their relationship with the fall of Babylon, and when that is concluded

we shall have a threefold cord that is not easily broken.  One constant

feature of prophecy is that when Israel are in the ascendency, the nations of

the earth are subsidiary, and when Israel are in disgrace or in the state

indicated by the title lo -ammi 'not My people', then the Gentile will be in

the ascendency.  Babylon sums up the character of the Gentile dominion as

seen by God, and it is therefore fitting that the restoration of Israel and

the time of the end should coincide with the judgment of Babylon.  Take such

a passage as Isaiah 43:

'I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I

will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring

My sons from far, and My daughters from the ends of the earth' (Isa.

Here, without doubt, is the re -gathering of a dispersed people.  A

dispersion such as is here indicated by the four points of the compass is

entirely opposed to a state of blessing in which Israel will have been the

central factor.  In this same chapter of restoration, comes the judgment of

'For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their

nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships' (Isa. 43:14).

The reference to 'the ships' links this prophecy with that of the book

of the Revelation:

'For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.  And every

shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as

trade by sea, stood afar off' (Rev. 18:17).

Following this reference to the overthrow of Babylon comes the passage

that speaks of Cyrus, who did two things: (1) He restored Israel; (2) He

overthrew Babylon (Isa. 44:26,28; 45:1 -6).  Just as Isaiah introduces into

his prophecy the story of Sennacherib (Isa. 36 to 39) to assure us that when

the time comes He will handle 'the Assyrian' as effectively, so Cyrus is

introduced here as a pledge of future intervention.  Isaiah 46 opens with the