Nebuchadnezzar as Babylon’s Supreme Pontiff

Seeing the Book of Daniel gives us clues concerning the identity of the son of perdition and Mystery Babylon I thought I would add this entry which sort of ties in with previous entries about Pergamos and Julius Caesar. Let us note that King Nebuchadnezzar was the supreme political head of the Babylonian empire and also its supreme religious head. In other words he was Babylon’s Supreme Pontiff. To properly identify Mystery Babylon and its religious head, the son of perdition (a.k.a. the man of sin), we must look at characteristics of old Babylon and its religious head, the king of Babylon. Let us look quickly at some interesting details about the reign of Nebuchadnezzar :

1) he was a political king who also made religious decrees which all his subjects needed to obey

“Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill.” (Daniel 3:29)

2) he set up an image and decreed that it be worshipped at a certain time accompanied with music and much pomp and ceremony

“Then an herald cried aloud, To you IT IS COMMANDED, O people, nations, and languages, That AT WHAT TIME ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, YE FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP THE GOLDEN IMAGE THAT NEBUCHADNEZZAR THE KING HATH SET UP.” (Daniel 3:4-5)

3) he decreed that those who would not worship his image (i.e. “heretics”) would be burnt

“And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” (Daniel 3:6)

4) he made inquisition regarding religious “heretics”

“Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?” (Daniel 3:13-14)

5) he worshipped a “saint” (e.g. Daniel)

“Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and WORSHIPPED DANIEL, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.” (Daniel 2:46)

6) he mixed the worship of the true God with paganism

“I thought it good to shew the signs and wonders that THE HIGH GOD (the true God) hath wrought toward me…But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of MY GOD (a false one), and in whom is the spirit of the HOLY GODS (there is only one God)…” (Daniel 4:2,8 )

7) he built large and ornate buildings

“The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30)

8 ) he required that the children of God who would serve him learn his language, foreign to them

“Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the TONGUE OF THE CHALDEANS.” (Daniel 1:4)

9) some of his advisors were children of God who were celibate (eunuchs)

“And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his EUNUCHS, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the prince.” (Daniel 1:3)

10) his kingdom was composed of people speaking different languages and living in different countries

“O people, NATIONS, and LANGUAGES.” (Daniel 3:4b)

11) he took treasures of the Old Testament temple of (the true) God and incorporated them into the worship of his false god (see also Daniel chapter 5 and Belshazzar’s blasphemous use of the golden cup taken from the temple of God)

“And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his (Nebuchadnezzar’s) hand, with part of the VESSELS OF THE HOUSE OF GOD: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and HE BROUGHT THE VESSELS INTO THE TREASURE HOUSE OF HIS GOD.” (Daniel 1:2)

As mentioned before in a previous post the Babylonian religion, its pontificate and college of pontiffs went from Babylon to Pergamos years after the Persian Empire came to power. This Babylonian pontificate would later come to be inherited by Rome’s Caesars (starting with Julius Caesar who was both Rome’s supreme pontiff and its political head) after King Attalus III of Pergamos gave his kingdom and its wealth to Rome about the year 133 B.C. Before the end of the Western Roman Empire the emperor Gratian gave the pontificate (which previously belonged to the Caesars for centuries) to the papacy near the end of the 4th century. Since that time the papacy has held the title and office of Rome’s supreme pontiff.

Explore posts in the same categories: AntiChrist, Book of Daniel, Book of Revelation, History, Mystery Babylon

Tags: Son of perdition, Man of sin, AntiChrist, Mystery Babylon, Apostasy, Bible, Book of Daniel, Book of Revelation, Old Testament, little horn, New Testament, Pergamos, Babylon, Rome, Roman empire, Babylonian empire, Julius Caesar, pontifex maximus, Nebuchadnezzar, supreme pontiff, Caesar, Beast, Revelation, Church history, Daniel, false teachers, false church, pontiff, Roman pontiff, Satan's Seat, chief pontiff, Pope Damasus, Gratian, Roman emperors, Daniel chapter 7, Roman Beast, Roman Caesars

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.