SADDAM HUSSEIN AND BABYLON'S DRAGON-GOD, MARDUK

by Jon R. Welker

The question of where the dragon makes his lair has always been a haunting one. In recent years a string of movies, computer games and literature has revived the interest of the masses in the legends of dragons. Invariably, such plots involve finding the dragon’s lair, his or her weakness and then destroying the creature. This concept is also important to Christians, since the dragon is mentioned often in the Scriptures – especially in the Book of Revelation or The Apocalypse (‘Unveiling’). When this widely recognized symbol, the DRAGON, is mentioned in Scripture, it becomes necessary to understand what is being communicated about “the Devil” or Satan.

“And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne. And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Revelation 12:3-17

The information that the great dragon rules and inhabits a “place” tells us of an objective, created personality. Though his works and ‘wiles’ are often accomplished inside the human mind, he (the dragon) definitely is not an imaginary creature. In various cultures throughout the history of mankind, there has been historical documentation of legends or accounts of creatures and deities associated with the image of the dragon. The Greek god, Typhon, was a dragon, an atmospheric deity that was believed to be the source of stormy winds which brought destruction to both sea and lands (from whence is derived the word “typhoon”). The Caribbean god, Huracan, also a dragon, has given its name to hurricanes, but is also connected with earthquakes. And Marduk, or Merodach, was the chief deity of the Babylonian pantheon of gods. He was depicted as a great dragon-type serpent.

REMEMBER NIMROD?

Nimrod, mentioned in Genesis 10:10 as the founder of Babel, means ‘to rebel or be rebellious’. The “Nimrod” name is believed to be a Hebrew transmutation of “Marduk,” the great dragon god of the Babylonians. Nimrod (‘to rebel’) was to the Babylonians a deified hero (Marduk or Merodach) symbolized in the heavens by the constellation Orion. But to the Hebrews he was a rebel Titan, bound in chains among the stars so that all could behold his punishment. Therefore the question in Job 38:31, “Canst thou…loose the bands [chains] of Orion [Marduk]?” could better be understood by the question, “Canst thou bring down out of their places the stars that make up this figure and so, as it were, set the Titan (dragon-creature) free?”

THE "SERPENT" AND THE SHUTTLE

Of course, it is easy for modern man to dismiss such legends as fanciful or superstitions from primitive peoples and cultures. But consider this testimony of veteran Space Shuttle astronaut Storey Musgrave – made all the more intriguing as a result of the recent tragedy involving the Space Shuttle Columbia on February 1, 2003. The following quotes are taken from interviews with Dr. Musgrave in Omni Magazine (August 1994 issue) and on the Fox Network Sightings program broadcast on November 18, 1994, respectively. Before he retired in 1997, with 30 years at NASA and 6 Shuttle missions under his belt, Dr. Musgrave could be considered a dean of the modern Shuttle program.

On two flights I’ve seen and photographed what I call “the snake,” like a seven foot eel swimming out there. ...In zero g it’s totally free to maneuver, and it has its own internal waves like it’s swimming....(OMNI)

Admitting that he “still [doesn’t] have an explanation,” this elite scientist recount[ed] that on two separate missions he clearly observed a serpent, some six to eight feet in length, following the Shuttle around the upper reaches of the earth’s atmosphere. [!!] (SIGHTINGS)

Could it be that this “eel”-like serpent may have been in proximity to Columbia’s flight path, and had an effect on currents which in turn caused “space junk” in the vicinity to damage the Shuttle, causing its subsequent ‘rupture’ on re-entry? And isn’t it also quite remarkable that this object was seen on two different missions? Definitely a “double witness” for us to seriously consider at this time.]

“And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years….”  Revelation 20:2

Remember that the aspect or character of Satan as a dragon emphasizes an atmospheric deity, or his power over air. In Ephesians 2:2 the King James Version refers to him as “the prince of the power of the air.” But the Greek word for air, aer, does not refer to a direction (up or heavenward) but to a place – the “atmosphere.” Here we enter a strange and mysterious revelation about the atmospheric abode of the dragon who “drew the third part of the stars [angels] of heaven…” wherefore they were cast or confined to a dimension around earth. In II Peter 2:4 and Jude 6 we see this place depicted as a type of “prison home” for fallen angels who are restricted by God to a realm called Tartarus in the Greek. It is not necessarily a far away place, but a place within a dimension that happens to surround the earth. Well, maybe I can share more about this at another time. But…

Do you remember that the Columbia Space Shuttle links with the Holy Spirit and that the name “Columbia” means dove? If you read the article entitled “The Remarkable Space Shuttle Columbia,” you will also see that the Shuttle Columbia symbolized the work of the Holy Spirit which God has appointed to watch over, to select, and in fullness of time to take out of this world a people for the Lord’s Name – even the elect 144,000 Bridal group. Now, consider this – the dragon is depicted as being ready to devour the man child of the woman:

“And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before [can also speak of before in time] the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” Revelation 12:4

I suggest you consider the possibility that we have been shown in the heavens this drama as related to the Columbia Shuttle, for as the astronaut, Dr. Musgrave, observed, that serpent followed the Shuttle around the upper reaches of the earth’s atmosphere. It has been waiting for the right time:

“…Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.” Revelation 12:12-13

And, within "a short period of time" the inhabitants of the earth have experienced “wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath” (Acts 2:10; Joel 2:30) with the destruction of the world (the earth) Trade Towers on September 11, 2001, and now more recently the destruction of the Columbia Space (heavens) Shuttle on February 1, 2003.

THE RECONSTRUCTION OF BABYLON

Now the world’s attention is focused on the area of ancient Babylon (most of modern Iraq), the historical center and promulgator of the dragon deity – Marduk. Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, is said to have built a great temple to Marduk and sought to promote the worship of this deity throughout his empire. It was also Nebuchadnezzar who had his name imprinted on each of the bricks used to build Babylon, therefore it is interesting to note that it has been widely reported in recent years that Saddam Hussein has had his name imprinted in the additional bricks which have been needed to restore or rebuild Babylon. Here then in our “Chat,” we make the link with Saddam Hussein and how he is being used by God to draw our attention to the symbolism of:

“Mystery Babylon the Great – the Mother of Prostitutes! Revelation 17:5NIV

As other Christian teachers have observed, in its most basic symbolism Babylon represents the “commercialism of everything” – even the “souls of men” (Rev. 18:3). It also links with sensuality and more specifically homosexuality, since in ancient Babylon the masculinity of temple personnel known as “kurgarru” and “assinnu” was alleged to have been changed by the goddess Ishtar into femininity. Scholars have been inclined to view these cult servants as homosexuals who also took part in masked ritual dances, possibly as transvestites. This practice is believed by some to have influenced the later folk festivals honoring the goddess Diana which was attended by notorious cross-dressing. The Enares, who served as soothsayers and judges among the upper class Scythians, represented another group in this category. Both Herodotus and Hippocrates described them as biological males who dressed as women. Further information on this subject can be found in Sagg’s Greatness, ppg. 303-304, 371-373; Ashe’s DAWN, p. 162; and “Diana” in Cavendish’s MAN, MYTH, p. 632.

And more recently, gay men have begun to rediscover ‘spiritual role models’ (?) such as shamans and the “berdache” (Native American cross-dressers) according to the gay country journal known as RFD (Radical Faerie Dust).

Saddam Hussein’s name also draws our attention to the present destructions we have experienced recently and which are a prelude to the coming DESTRUCTION. The Center for Biblical Studies has been able to verify that according to the Arabic-English dictionaries, as well as other sources, Saddam means (or links with) “the destroyer” – which draws our attention to that famous Revelation 911 (9:11) Scripture.

“And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”

In Greek, the word Apollyon, Apolluon, and in Hebrew, the word Abaddon, abaddown, both mean destroyer, as well as destruction (according to Young’s Analytical Concordance). That would seem to indicate that an Iraqi Bible could be translated to read: “They have a ruler (king) over them called Saddam.”

“Flee for safety, O sons of Benjamin, From the midst of Jerusalem! Now blow a trumpet in Tekoa, And raise a signal over Beth-haccerem; For evil looks down from the north, And a great destruction.” Jeremiah 6:1 NAS

“A lion has gone up from his thicket, And a destroyer of nations has set out; He has gone out from his place To make your land a waste. Your cities will be ruins Without inhabitant.” Jeremiah 4:7 NAS

Now, I am not claiming that Saddam is the Antichrist or that Iraq will head the Beastial empire, but I am trying to show forth the symbolism being wrought out for us by the Ever-living God. Through the recent events and the build-up of military forces in the Middle East in anticipation of war with Iraq, the world’s attention has been drawn to the imagery of the dragon and serpent, and to the coming destruction or “the destroyer” (Saddam). Saddam Hussein would like to destroy a large number of the population of Israel and bring about widespread destruction to cities in Israel. He would also like to be remembered as a modern “Nebuchadnezzar” like unto his predecessor, who destroyed Israel and carried away the remnant. So, we can expect that if he sees that an attack from the U.S. and Britain is imminent, he will seek to do all that he can to destroy and bring destruction on Israel and as many others as is possible. But this will only be the beginning of that DESTRUCTION which is yet to come. We keep reminding you that it is the Mideast where the spark that ignites the final world conflagration commences. And that it may well be a miscalculation of some sort that will initiate those events which bring about the Great Tribulation.

In Hebrews 1:7 we are told that angels are “spirits”:
“And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.”

Then in Revelation 9:14-15, we read of 4 angels bound at the great river Euphrates:

“Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.
And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.”

So, the angels bound at the Euphrates must be spirits, and within the context of that Scripture we should be correct in assuming that they are “destroying angels.” Since all of the Euphrates area is in Muslim territory, then we must also assume that the spirits given charge there are “spirits” which have been agitating militant Muslims and global terrorists “to slay [destroy] the third part of men.” With such a command given to those angels, we might not like what may be the outcome of a war with Iraq. Consider the spiritual conflict which took place at the time of Daniel in Babylon, when Gabriel sought to make contact with him:

“Then there came again and touched me one like the appearance of a man, and he strengthened me, and said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me.
Then said he, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia [a spiritual principality]: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia [another spiritual principality] shall come. But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth [the ‘gospel of the stars’]: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince [another spiritual principality given charge over Israel and God’s people].” Daniel 10:18-21

There have been various people in the media recently who have echoed a similar thought: an attack on Iraq would result in World War III. I would like to suggest that our readers request the REVELATION UNVEILED APPENDIX (available from our Bookstore) for a quick refresher as to the various events which can be expected to break forth upon the world soon. We have other literature that can also help you to be familiar with the events surrounding the Great Tribulation. For now, that’s it – but there is so much more that could be shared. Keep in touch with us, pray and

KEEP WATCHING!