Authors: C. L. Turnage
Marduk made Nebuchadnezzar King of All
There
are several Babylonian texts commemorating the building projects of this
energetic and
successful monarch, king Nebuchadnezzar. These writings reveal the
intimate relationship the king shared with the god Marduk. The same Marduk who
“entrusted to Nebuchadnezzar the kingship of all
peoples”:
“O
Lord Marduk, wisest of the gods, magnificent prince, it was you who created me
and entrusted to me
the kingship of all peoples. . .None of your holy places in the
whole inhabited world did I render more
renowned than your holy place Babylon ,... let me be your faithful
shepherd who keeps your people
safe. . .may the house I built long endure. . .May I receive
therein massive tribute of the kings of the four
world regions and of all
humankind. From horizon to zenith, wherever the sun comes forth, may I have
no opponents, nor
encounter those to affright me. Within it may my descendants hold dominion over
the black-headed folk forever.
283
(“To Marduk”)
Political Struggle Between God of Heaven and Marduk
If one compares this text to Daniel 4:17, and 5:21, 25-26, where
it is the “God of Heaven" who
“bestows rule” on whomever he wishes,” and “sets over it whomever
he wishes,” then it becomes clear
that there was indeed a power struggle for control of earth
between Marduk and the “God of Heaven.”*The terminology of the above text is
very similar to biblical writings. For example, the analogy of the
“faithful shepherd” who
keeps the people of “God” safe is employed. The concept of a universal king ,
placed into power by a
God, over all mankind, may have sparked competition between Marduk and the
God of the Old Testament
for the instituting of such a being. Thus, Jesus Christ became the prophesied
“King of kings,” predicted
to depose his nemesis in the “last days.” The power struggle between the
king of Heaven, and his
Adversary here on earth will be again taking place in the end times, just as it
was in Daniel. In other
words, there will be a conflict between Nannar-Sin, the “God of Heaven,” and
Marduk, the Adversary.
Marduk will have in Iraq, a reincarnated figure of Nebuchadnezzar who will be
acting on his behalf The
God of Heaven will destroy this Adversary with his Son, Jesus Christ, the
Messiah.
Marduk Tells Babylonians to Watch for Sign
Apparently,
the relationship that Nebuchadnezzar had with Marduk, was only a repeat of the
relationship shared by
Nebuchadnezzar the first, for ancient texts exist tying the two together.
“...in
his (Marduk’s) power are casting down and setting up, he reveals to future
peoples how to
watch for his sign. Nebuchadnezzar), king of (Babylon), who sets
in order all cult centers, who
maintains regular offerings, He (Marduk) exalted his (wisdom) and
made him foremost, He (Marduk)
exalted his (wisdom) and made him foremost, He (Marduk) made great
(his might), he exalted his great
destiny.” (
The Seed of Kingship
284
)
Again,
compare this text to Daniel 4:17, and 5:21,25-26. In Daniel 5:21 we are told
that “the
Most High God is ruler over the realm of mankind, and that He sets
over it whomever He wishes.”
There is clearly a power struggle over who will rule earth, and
over which Deity will place their king on
the throne. Curiously, Marduk was revealing to future peoples “how
to watch for his sign.” Since
planet Nibiru was called Marduk in the Babylonian version of the
Enuma Elish, it is intriguing to
consider the possibility that he may have been teaching them about
the return of his planet (“sign”) and
its ramifications. And, that this was to be important to “future
peoples.” In other words, this text is
telling the people of Babylon that in the future, Marduk will
reinstate his Nebuchadnezzar, his
"foremost,” king whom he placed into power, who has an
"exalted destiny.” And, that this would occur
around the time that his
planet reappears in earth’s vicinity, a time in the future. The text goes on to
explain how it was first
necessary to return Marduk (or his likeness) to Babylon from Elam, which had
taken him:
“When
Nebuchadnezzar (the king) dwelt in Babylon ,... (His prayers went up to Marduk,
lord of
Babylon, Have mercy on me ,... on my land which weeps and mourns
,... on my people who will wail and
weep! ...tum your face toward Esagila which you love! (The Lord of
Babylon) heeded
Nebuchadnezzar‘s (prayer), ( ) befell him from heaven, “I command
you with my own lips, (A word
of) good fortune do I send you: (With) my (help?) you will attack
the Westland. “Heed your
instructions, ( ) “take me (from El)am to Babylon. “I (Lord of
Bab)ylon, will surely give you Elam, (I
will) exalt your (kingship) everywhere.” (Nebuchadnezzar and
Marduk)
285
"I
am Marduk, great Lord, the most lofty one, he who inspects, who goes back and
forth through
the mountains, the lofty one, inspector, who smites (?) lands, he
who goes constantly back and forth in
the lands from sunrise to sunset, am I! I gave the command that I
go to Hatti to the test, there I set up
the throne of my supreme godhead. For twenty years I dwelt there.
I made it possible for Babylonians
to send (commercial) expeditions there, and they marketed (7) its
goods and property (in) Sippar,
Nippur, (and Babylon). A king of Babylon arose (and) led (me in
procession to) ...Babylon ,... fair was
the processional way of Babylon! The crown of my (supreme
godhead), and the image of (
workmanship ( ) ...three days ( ) the crown of my (supreme
godhead), and the image of ( )
workmanship to my body did I ( ). I returned, (and for Babylon I
said), “Bring (your tribute, ye) lands
(to Babylon!).
“I am Marduk, great lord, lord of destinies and decision am I!...I
have returned from whence I
have gone, it was I who ordered it. I went to the land of Elam,
and that all the gods went, it was I who
ordered it. I cut off the offering to the temples, I caused gods
of cattle and grain to go away to heaven.
The goddess of fermentation sickened the land, the people’s
corpses choked the gates. Brother
consumed brother, comrade slew his comrade with a weapon...Authority
was restricted, injustice
afflicted the land, rebellious kings diminished the land ,... I
fulfilled my days, I fulfilled my years. I
resolved to return to my city Babylon and to Ekur-sagilla...A king
of Babylon will arise, he will renew
the marvelous temple, the Ekur-sagila. He will create the plans of
heaven and earth in Ekur-sagila, he
will double its height. He will establish exemptions for my city
Babylon. He will lead me in procession
to my city Babylon and bring me into Ekur-sagila. (The Marduk
Prophesy)
286
Marduk Prophesies that “Gate of Heaven” Will Be Rebuilt
The
remainder of the text describes how the coming king (Nebuchadnezzar II?) would
restore
the sanctuaries and bring back all their gods. The “gate of
heaven” was to be opened, and finally,
Marduk and all the gods were to be reconciled with the king who
would accomplish all these things -
Nebuchadnezzar.
287
And, since he who controlled the
Space Port ruled the world, it seems likely that it
was for control of this
“gate of heaven,” the Space Port, that the gods fought. (Babylon means “gateway
of the gods”). Let us take
heed of this text. This prophesy parallels what the Bible predicts in Daniel,
only this text points out
the motivations of Marduk, and may also parallel events to occur in the last
days. There will be a
reopening of the “gate of heaven,” a resurrection of the Space Port. Then,
through his puppet
reincarnated Nebuchadnezzar, the Nibirian Serpent Faction will be reconciled to
mankind.
The
great ziggurat, which was the dominant feature of Babylon was known as the
E.SAG.ILA,
“House whose head is Lofty,” and was apparently used as a launch
tower for spaceships destined for
“heaven.” The Bible describes it as a “tower whose head shall
reach unto the heavens.” And, it was this
tower that was the focal point of the biblical “tower of Babel”
incident.2
88
It was this tower, this Esagila
(house of Great Gods),
that was destroyed during the Babel incident by the gods, when Marduk, with the
help of mankind, tried to
seize control of the Space Port (Genesis ll:l-9); long before the time of
Nebuchadnezzar the first.
289
George
Smith, in his first publication in 1876 reported discovering at Ashurbanipal’s
library in
Ninevah “a mutilated account of part of the story of the tower.”
He concluded that the tale was
originally written on two tablets (K-365 7) and that there had
been six columns of cuneiform text. It was
an Akkadian version of the original Sumerian tale; and it is clear
from the text that the incident was
brought about not by man, but by the gods themselves. Man was
simply a pawn in the conflict.
290
Men,
according to the Greek historian Polyhistor, believed that they could “climb to
heaven” by
means of a lofty tower.” Did Marduk promise his followers that
they could reach Nibiru and
immortality if they helped him construct a new launch tower
― a new loftier Esagila? And, what is
more, Babel was an
incident that had to do with Marduk’s insistence that he, rather than
Nannar-Sin
should be the possessor of Sumer’s next capital; which clarifies
the struggle between the “God of
Heaven,” and Nebuchadnezzar II, the political puppet of Marduk in
the book of Daniel.
”
According to the following
text, Nebuchadnezzar II had rebuilt the “Etemenanki," the temple of
Marduk in Babylon, “the
temple of the foundation of Heaven and Earth.”
293
Was this temple
similar in
function to the Jerusalem temple? Was this the communications
control center where Marduk planned
to speak to “heaven and earth?” Or, in other words, where he
planned to resurrect the first space port,
and control the comings and goings of the Elohim between Nibiru
and earth?
“O Marduk, ...fiercest of the holy gods, noble one, according to
your command the holy place of
the gods is built, its brickwork formed, the sanctuary restored,
the temple completed. According to your
sublime word, which has no alteration, may my offering be sound,
may my handiwork be perfect, may
whatsoever I attempt be lasting and long endure ,... Even as
Etemenanki stands firm for all time, so
sustain my throne forever. O Etemenanki, (foundation of heaven and
earth) bless me, Nebuchadnezzar,
the king who renovated you. When (I shall have completed your
work), according to the commands of
Marduk, (do you, O house, speak favorably of me to Marduk, my
lord).” (See “To Marduk”).
294