Babylon was once a great city and a powerful kingdom six hundred years before the birth of Christ. God used King Nebuchadnezzar as His servant to bring judgment upon Judah, the southern kingdom of Israel. They would serve him for seventy years. (Jer 25:12) But then God would bring destruction on Babylon “for all the evil they have done in Zion…”(Jer 51:24) In fact God said that the destruction of Babylon would be so severe that it “would be desolate forever.” (Jer 51:26) It would be “a land where no one dwells, through which no son of man passes.” (Jer 51:43) Babylon would be “an astonishment and a hissing, without an inhabitant. (Jer 51:37)

The ancient city of Babylon was located in modern day Iraq. The ruins were being built upon by Saddam Hussein. There are still people who pass through the area. It has not become totally desolate forever like the Bible says. So the conclusion by a number of prophecy teachers as well as myself is that its total destruction must be yet future. 

Revelation chapter 18 speaks of Babylon. In fact the merchants of the earth become rich through the abundance of her luxuries. (v. 3) At that time the city is very wealthy. (v.19) However, God judges her and she “shall not be found anymore.” (Rev 18:21) This is just as Jeremiah prophesied over 2,500 years ago. (Jer 51:8, 29) 

But you say there is no city there today. Consider a recent headlines in a U.S. military publication, ‘U.S., Iraqi experts developing plan to preserve Babylon, build local tourism industry.’ The article goes on to say that, “the rapidly improving security situation in surrounding Babil province has persuaded the U.S. State Department and the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage to embark on the preservation project, dubbed the Future of Babylon Project.” Could it be that what the Bible stated thousands of years ago is playing out right before our eyes?