This evening I received the Koran (Quran) 911 chain email. The email asked me for my thoughts. So, thanks for the opportunity!
Note the original text of the email is bold italics.
VERY INTERESTING
1. The Garden of Eden was in Iraq
Genesis 2, precise location of Eden is unknown.
From the ESV Study Bible Genesis describes the location of Eden in relation to the convergence of four rivers. While two of the rivers are unknown (the Pishon and the Gihon), the nearly universal identification of the other two rivers as the Tigris and the Euphrates suggests a possible location for Eden at either their northern or southern extremes.
See map.
2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!
Mesopotamia is a region that includes, but not limited to Iraq. See Wikipedia on the cradle of civilization.
3. Noah built the ark in Iraq
The Bible does not tell us exactly where Noah lived. See Genesis 5-9.
4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq
5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq
Genesis 11:28-31. The exact location is unknown. The city of Ur is in Iraq. Ur of Chaldees was likely in Turkey.
6. Isaac’s wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq
Genesis 24:1–67. Nahor is the name of Rebekah’s grandfather. They lived in Haran which is in Turkey.
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq
Rachel is from Paddan-aram (Genesis 28:1-2), which is in the Aram region of Syria.
8. Jonah preached in Nineveh – which is in Iraq
Jonah 1:2. Ninevah sits on the eastern-bank of the Tigris River, across from present-day Mosul.
9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel
In 722 BC, Israel fell into Assyrian captivity.
10. Amos cried out in Iraq
Amos preached in the northern kingdom of Israel. See Wikipedia entry on the Book of Amos.
11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem
In 586 BC, Jerusalem was destroyed for the Babylonians. 2 Kings 24.
12. Daniel was in the lion’s den in Iraq
Daniel was in lions’ den in Babylon (Daniel 6).
13. The three Hebrew children were in the fire in Iraq (Jesus had been in Iraq also as the fourth person in the Fiery Furnace!)
Daniel 3:8-29. Daniel’s three friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did survive the fire through God’s provision of the fourth person (either Christ or an angel).
14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the ‘writing on the wall’ in Iraq,
While Daniel was in Babylonian captivity. Daniel 5.
15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
As previously mentioned, Judah fell in 586 BC to the Babylonians and so began the Babylonian captivity.
16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq
Ezekiel was a member of the exiled Judeans in Babylon.
17. The wise men were from Iraq
The origin of the wise men is unknown, although the idea of tying the wise men to Daniel’s prophecy while in Babylon does make sense.
18. Peter preached in Iraq
There is no evident that Peter preached in Iraq. The reference in 1 Peter 5:13 to Babylon is a reference to Rome where Mark recorded his Gospel account.
19. The ‘Empire of Man’ described in Revelation is called Babylon-which was a city in Iraq
Revelation 17-18. From the ESV Study Bible As a city, Babylon symbolizes humanity’s ambition to dethrone God and make the earth its own.
It is not about Iraq.
And you have probably seen this one: Israel is the nation most often mentioned in the Bible. But do you know which nation is second? It is Iraq! However, that is not the name that is used in the Bible. The names used in the Bible are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. The word Mesopotamia means between the two rivers, more exactly between the Tigris And Euphrates Rivers. The name Iraq means country with deep roots.
Not every use of Israel in the Bible is a reference to the modern nation of Israel. Biblical Israel is not a nation as much as it is the true sons of God (Romans 9, Galatians 3).
Modern Iraq has nothing to do with the Bible despite what this email is trying to present. Babylon of the Bible has many different interpretations. Whether a real city or an allegory, Babylon represents sin and a man-centered universe.
Indeed Iraq is a country with deep roots and is a very significant country in the Bible. No other nation, except Israel, has more history and prophecy associated with it than Iraq. And also, This is something to think about: Since America is Typically represented by an eagle. Saddam should have read up on his Muslim passages…
Again, modern Iraq is not in the Bible. And how did America get brought into this email?
The following verse is from the Koran, (the Islamic Bible)
Koran ( 9:11 ) – For it is written that a son of Arabia would awaken a fearsome Eagle.. The wrath of the Eagle would be felt throughout the lands of Allah and lo, while some of the people trembled in despair still more rejoiced; for the wrath of the Eagle cleansed the lands of Allah;
Ok, here is the American angle. Of course, this is complete garbage. Surah 9 reads…
11. But (even so), if they repent, establish regular prayers, and practise regular charity,- they are your brethren in Faith: (thus) do We explain the Signs in detail, for those who understand.
And there was peace…
Nope, no peace. Just deception and confusion. More Babylon.
(Note the verse number!) Hmmmmmmm?!
Oh, September 11…proof that Iraq was behind the terror attacks not bin Laden! Sorry folks, more lies.
I BETTER NOT HEAR OF ANYONE BREAKING THIS ONE OR SEE IT DELETED. This is a ribbon for soldiers fighting in Iraq. Pass it on to everyone and pray. Something good will happen to you tonight at 11:11 PM. This is not a joke. Someone will either call you or will talk to you online and say that they love you. Do not break this chain. Send this to 13 people in the next 15 minutes. Go.
Here is where this chain email dies. Nothing good will happen forwarding an email. No company is going to pay 5 cents to a charity.
Please DO NOT send chain emails. Save your time and energy. Read your Bible instead. It speaks the truth about the human condition and offers good news for sinners (Americans, Jews, Muslims, Iraqis, everyone) stuck in Babylonian captivity.
We were created by the Triune, creator God of the universe. We rebelled and chose to live in our own Babylons. God is jealous and won’t let his own live apart from him. The Son of God became flesh and dwelt among us. He came and lived a life of perfect obedience. Yet, he suffered and was punished in our place for our rebellion. He died and was buried. On the third day he rose again. Believe in Jesus and his finished work upon the cross to free you from Babylonian captivity. Repent and receive the forgiveness for your sins.