“And upon her forehead was a name written, ‘Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth” (Revelation 17:5).
There was a father, a mother, and a son – a trinity that began a mystery. There was a daughter-in-law who became a queen. There was weeping and mourning, baking, incense and drink offerings.
“Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD, that is why it is said, ‘Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.’ The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Erech Akkad and Calneh, in Shinar” (Genesis 10:8-10).
According to Genesis, Nimrod was a mighty hunter. The word ‘hunter’ can be translated from the Hebrew as ‘tyrant.’ “Before the LORD” in its Hebrew idiom can mean “in the face of, against, impudent, anger and battle.” Thus, Nimrod was a man whose face was set against the LORD as in battle and hunted down men to steal their souls from YHVH. This is the ultimate spirit of rebellion and is the beginning manifestation of the the ‘man of lawlessness’ spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 3:4. It was in Nimrod’s kingdom at the order of King Nimrod that the Tower of Babel was built.
Nimrod’s wife, Queen Semiramis, called him the ‘sun god’. Later he became known as Baal, Bel, and Molech.
When King Nimrod died, Queen Semiramis didn’t want ‘Mystery Bablyon’ to end. Being adulterous and idolatrous, Semiramis gave birth to an illegitimate son. Semiramis claimed that her son was supernaturally conceived in order to hide her own deceit and said he was the promised seed – promised by God. (Who but the Adversary himself would know this prophecy?)
She named her son, Tammuz, and declared that he was Nimrod reborn. Not only was the child Tammuz worshipped, but also the woman, as The MOTHER. Nimrod was deified as the god of the sun and father of creation. Semiramis became the goddess of the moon and fertility. Tammuz became the glorified son.
Queen Semiramis received the desire of her heart. Mystery Babylon, the Great Mother of (spiritual) Harlots and Abominations still exists and has her place in the coming apocalypse.
“Then he brought me to the entrance to the north gate of the house of the LORD, and I saw women sitting there, mourning for Tammuz. He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see things that are even more detestable than this” (Ezekiel 8:14)
Tammuz fell in love with the goddess Ishtar (aka Ianna in Sumer). He was a shepherd and and while herding his flocks was slain by a wild boar. Ishtar, his mother/lover, mourned for him and descended into the underworld to deliver him from the embrace of death. She wept for him 40 days which eventually made Ea, god of water and wisdom send a heavenly messenger to the underworld to rescue the goddess and Tammuz with water of life – a potion which gave them power to return to life. Each year a spring festival dramatically represented this ‘resurrection’ from the underworld.
The mourning for Tammuz known as “The Lament of the Flutes for Tammuz” was celebrated in Babylonia by women on the second day of the fourth month (given the name Tammuz). The celebration involved licentiousness and wickedness.
Think About and Discuss Every year before Easter in the liturgical (catholic) church cycle, there is a 6-week or 40-day period called Lent. Discuss what is done during that time period and how it relates to the story of Tammuz and Ishtar.
Lent ends with Good Friday. Christianity says that the reason this Friday is ‘good’ is because of Yeshua’s atoning sacrifical death. However, Yeshua did not die on a Friday so what could be the root of Good Friday with the account of Tammuz and Ishar? (For more information about the timing of Yeshua’s death and resurrection, read “Sign of Jonah: Three Days and Three Nights”.
Think About and Discuss Tammuz’ death was caused by a wild boar. Ham or the ‘flesh of swine’ is eaten at the spring festival representing Tammuz’ resurrection. Do you think this tradition has any significance to do with the roots of Easter (Ishtar)?
“The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes of bread for the Queen of Heaven. They pour out drink offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger” (Jeremiah 7:18).
“The women added, “When we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands know that we were making cakes like her image and pouring out drink offerings to her?” (Jeremiah 44:19).
Ishtar (aka Ianna in Sumer, Ashtoreth in Israel, Astarte in Phonecia, and Easter in Roman Catholicism) was known as the Queen of Heaven. Jeremiah warned the people of Israel (Judah) about honoring her with vows and the idolatry that she represented.
Think About and Discuss The sweet, yeast-leavened bun made with raisins baked on Good Friday is called Hot Cross Buns.
Questions:
1. Babylon had the the first expression of a trinity. Who were the father, son, and spirit of this trinity?
2. Why was Nimrod considered a hunter?
3. What is Queen Semiramis known as in the book of Revelation?
4. Who is Tammuz?
5. What is the lament of Tammuz?
6. What is the prophetic abomination that is happening at the Third Temple in Israel that Ezekiel is able to witness?
8. Who was Ea and what did he do to help Ishtar and Tammuz?
9. What were the women of Israel/Judah doing that Jeremiah had to rebuke them?
10. What modern day celebrations have their roots in Babylon?
Gods and Goddesses of Babylon
Put Ishtar, Tammuz, Ea, on the Chart of God in next to their attribute.
Ishtar
(aka Ianna in Sumer, Ashtoreth in Israel, Astarte in Phonecia, Easter in Roman Catholicism)
Attribute: Queen of Heaven, goddess of fertility, love, war and sex. Personified the planet Venus. Worshipped in Assyria at Nineveh. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, Ishtar wants Gilgamesh to marry her, but he refuses.
Family: The wife of Tammuz. Daughter of Sin.
Tammuz (aka Adonis, Greece)
Attribute: Always called ‘the shepherd’ and had a domain where he pastured his flock. Re-incarnated ‘god of the sun’ – his father Nimrod.
Family: Married to Ishtar.
Ea
Attributes: He was ‘king of the Abyss, creator of everything, lord of all.” His name can mean ‘house of waters’.