Prophecy Speaks (E.A.Rowell).pdf

“Here was the magnificent temple of Belus; and here were the world-famous hanging
gardens, piled in successive terraces.
“Babylon was not only mistress of the world, but she reposed securely in the midst of
the most fertile region of the whole known world. The country was so astoundingly fruitful
that Herodotus feared he would be taken for a liar if he related what he had actually seen of
the amazing fertility of the soil there.”
Mr. Dare ceased speaking as Mr. Emerson arose.
“Everybody here knows these facts about Babylon,” he said. “We came here to have
infidelity refuted, not to listen to a lecture on the greatness of Babylon.”
“I am glad that you admit these facts,” smiled the lecturer. “And they most certainly
do bear on my subject; for even before Babylon had become ruler of the world, a prophet
wrote in a book and proclaimed openly that ‘Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of
the Chaldeans’ pride, shall be as when God overthew Sodom and Gomorrah.’ Isaiah 13:19,
A.R.V.
“A simple statement, that, but one which disproves utterly your contention that Bible
predictions are like Delphic oracles, so that no matter what happens, the event may be
interpreted to be a fulfillment of the prediction.
“In effect the daring prophet says: ‘I see the greatness of Babylon; I observe her
apparently impregnable walls. I know that she is mighty and powerful, the greatest city the
world has ever seen. Nevertheless, this apparently imperishable city of Babylon shall be as
completely obliterated as were Sodom and Gomorrah.’
“Looking back over the history of Babylon as we now know it, can anyone here in so
few words, or in any words, better express the present condition of the former mistress of the
world?
“But God saw you, Mr. Emerson, and all other doubters of today, and He caused the
Bible prophet to word His prophecy so plainly that you could never justly accuse Him of
double-meaning predictions. So He went on to say (Verse 20): ‘It shall never be inhabited.’
And for fear some hard-headed doubter might suggest that He meant something else, He
added, ‘Neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation; neither shall the Arabian
pitch tent there; neither shall shepherds make their flocks to lie down there.’
“Now, who can make anything ambiguous out of that? Is there anyone here who does
not understand these words?
“But this is by no means all. Even though the words were plain, the predictions seem
to be so utterly impossible that most readers would decide the writer to be either mistaken or
insane. But Jeremiah comes to the support of Isaiah, and the meaning of what these prophets
wrote is clear indeed, whatever people of any nation or clime or tongue may think of their
message.
“ ‘Thou [Babylon] shalt be desolate for ever.’ Jeremiah 51:26. ‘Babylon shall
become heaps, a dwelling place for jackals, an astonishment, and a hissing, without
inhabitant.’ Verse 37.”
Mr. Emerson indicated that he wished to speak.
“To be forewarned is to be forearmed,” he said. “After such messages of impending
destruction, the people would certainly have been prepared, if they knew of these
predictions.”
“Yes, the people of Babylon might have exerted their strength and ingenuity to ward
off their fate, but it would have availed them nothing, for ‘though Babylon should mount up
to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength, yet from Me shall
destroyers come unto her, saith Jehovah.’ Jeremiah 51:53.
24