Islamic State destroying ancient Nimrud, biblical Calah

Winged Lamassu (Assyrian Deity) in Nimrud

The Islamic State is continuing its campaign to takeover territory.

March 6, 2015

ISTANBUL—

Islamic State militants are demolishing the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud in northern Iraq, a Tigris River archeological site whose destruction is part of a continuing campaign that “constitutes a war crime,” the head of the United Nations’ cultural arm said Friday. …

The militants “defy the will of the world and the feelings of humanity” with their continuing vandalism, Iraq’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said in a statement issued Friday.

An Iraqi official acknowledged the extent of destruction is not yet known. …

Nimrud lies about 30 km (18 miles) southeast of Mosul, where an Islamic State video released last week showed jihadists rampaging through the prized Mosul Museum. They knocked over ancient statues and some replicas, smashing them to smithereens with sledgehammers and drills. In the wreckage was an artifact, dating back nearly 3,000 years, of an Assyrian winged-bull deity.

In the five-minute video, a jihadist announces: “Oh, Muslims, these artifacts behind me are idols for people from ancient times who worshipped them instead of God. The prophet removed and buried the idols in Mecca with his blessed hands. Our prophet ordered us to remove all these statues as his followers did when they conquered nations.”

The Mosul attack sparked global outrage.

Archaeologists had feared Nimrud would be next on the jihadist list. Occupied from prehistoric times, the Assyrian city reached its zenith during the reign of King Ashurnasirpal II between 883 and 859 B.C. He made it the capital of the Assyrian Empire. It was known then as Kalhu and appears in the Old Testament as Calah. …

IS claims ‘idol worship’

It is the past the jihadists are intent on erasing. Since the militants swept across western and northern Iraq last year, seizing a huge swath of land, they have attacked several archaeological and religious sites, claiming they promote apostasy and amount to idol worship. http://www.voanews.com/content/islamic-state-destroys-ancient-city-of-nimrud/2669993.html

As far as idol worship goes, certainly idolatry is wrong (see What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons?). But I would add that it has not been my experience to notice idol worship at ancient ruins similar to those in Nimrud. Instead, I have seen a lot idol worship at active religious sites/shrines/cathedrals.

As far as the city of Calah goes, here is what the Bible mentions about it:

8 Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, 12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city). (Genesis 10:8-12)

So, Calah was founded by Nimrod. Later it was basically named after Nimrod. Notice the following:

Nimrud (Arabic: النمرود‎) is the later Arab name for the ancient Assyrian city of Kalhu located south of Mosul on the river Tigris in northern Mesopotamia. Archeologists believe that the city was given the name Nimrud in modern times after the Biblical Nimrod, a legendary hunting hero (cf. Genesis 10:11-12, Micah 5:5, and 1Chronicles 1:10). The city was known as Calah (Kalakh) in the Bible. (Nimrud. Wikipedia, accessed 03/06/15)

Ther Bible shows that there was a descendant of Noah, through Ham and Cush, named Nimrod:

6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 7 The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.

8 Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel . . . (Genesis 10:6-10).

10 Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth. (1 Chronicles 1:10)

Babel seems to be the first city built after the great flood, but Calah came shortly thereafter.

Notice that Nimrod was a ‘mighty hunter.’ It would seem that people felt that Nimrod could protect them from dangerous animals, and that may have been a reason that people heeded him.

However, what he and his followers wanted to do did not meet with God’s approval:

1 Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. 4 And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 11:1-4)

Of course, God said that He wanted to people to be scattered abroad on the earth (Genesis 9:1), but Nimrod and others did not agree.

Even though God said He would never again use a flood to destroy the world (Genesis 9:11), apparently those in Babel were not going to take any chances and truly believe God. God did not like this, so God took action:

5 But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. (Genesis 11:5-9)

This affected civilization. By having multiple languages and scattering people, this reduced teamwork, cooperation, and knowledge expansion to a significant degree. It greatly increased the time when humans would learn more and more. That time for knowledge to be increased was later prophesied, but that was to be for the end times that we now are in (Daniel 12:4). But even that aspect of civilization was foretold in scripture.

Getting back to the city of Calah itself, here is more information about its history:

The Assyrian king Shalmaneser I (1274 BC – 1245 BC) built Kalhu (Calah/Nimrud) during the Middle Assyrian Empire. However, the ancient city of Ashur remained the capital of Assyria, as it had been since c. 3500 BC.

A number of historians, such as Julian Jaynes, believe that the Biblical figure Nimrod (of whom the far later Arab name for the city was derived) was inspired by the deeds of the real king of Assyria Tukulti-Ninurta I (1244–1207 BC), the son of Shalmaneser I, and a powerful conqueror. Others believe the name derived from the Assyrian god Ninurta, who had a major cultic centre at Kalhu/Nimrud.

The city gained fame when king Ashurnasirpal II of the Neo Assyrian Empire (883 BC–859 BC) made it his capital at the expense of Ashur. He built a large palace and temples in the city that had fallen into a degree of disrepair during the Dark Ages of the mid 11th to mid 10th centuries BC. …

Kalhu remained the capital of the Assyrian Empire during the reigns of Shamshi-Adad V (822–811 BC), Adad-nirari III (810–782 BC), Queen Semiramis (810–806 BC), Adad-nirari III (806–782 BC), Shalmaneser IV (782–773 BC), Ashur-dan III (772–755 BC), Ashur-nirari V (754–746 BC), Tiglath-Pileser III (745–727 BC) and Shalmaneser V (726–723 BC). Tiglath-Pileser III in particular, conducted major building works in the city, as well as introducing Eastern Aramaic as the lingua franca of the empire.

However in 706 BC Sargon II (722–705 BC) moved the capital of the empire to Dur Sharrukin, and after his death, Sennacherib (705–681 BC) moved it to Nineveh. It remained a major city and a royal residence until the city was largely destroyed during the fall of the Assyrian Empire at the hands of an alliance of former subject peoples, including the Babylonians, Chaldeans, Medes, Persians, Scythians and Cimmerians (between 616 BC and 605 BC). (Nimrud. Wikipedia, accessed 03/06/15)

So, this was a long an Assyrian stronghold. Later, the bulk of the Assyrians settled into central Europe (see Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History).

Assyria and Prophecy

Perhaps it should be mentioned that the final Babylonian mystery empire will be ruled by Assyrians (who are mainly based in central Europe (see Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel). The Bible shows that these Assyrians will bring destruction (Isaiah 10:5-11; see also Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy and ) and captivity (see Will the Anglo-Saxon Nations be Divided and Have People Taken as Slaves?).

But the Bible also shows that Jesus will return, have Assyria laid waste, and the remnant freed:

5 And this One shall be peace.

When the Assyrian comes into our land,
And when he treads in our palaces,
Then we will raise against him
Seven shepherds and eight princely men.
6 They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria,
And the land of Nimrod at its entrances;
Thus He shall deliver us from the Assyrian,
When he comes into our land
And when he treads within our borders.

7 Then the remnant of Jacob
Shall be in the midst of many peoples,
Like dew from the Lord,
Like showers on the grass,
That tarry for no man
Nor wait for the sons of men.
8 And the remnant of Jacob
Shall be among the Gentiles,
In the midst of many peoples,
Like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
Like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
Who, if he passes through,
Both treads down and tears in pieces,
And none can deliver.
9 Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries,
And all your enemies shall be cut off. (Micah 5:5-9)

Although those with association with Nimrod will have power for a time, they will ultimately be cut off (see also Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy).

The world needs the return of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God. The destruction and killings by the Islamic State is not the solution to the problems humanity now faces, nor will be the final rise of an Assyrian dominated King of the North beast power.

For more information, please consider studying the following:

Mystery of Civilization Why is civilization like it is? How will it end? What will replace it?Here is a link to a related sermon titled: Mystery of Civilization and How it Will End.
What Did the Early Church Teach About Idols and Icons? Did Catholic and Orthodox “saints” endorse or condemn idols and icons for Christians?
Iraq, the King of the South, Armageddon, and Prophecy What will happen to Iraq? Is it the prophesied Mystery Babylon? What is Armageddon and how does that have to do with Iraq? Here is a related video Iraq, Armageddon, & Prophecy.
The Arab and Islamic World In the Bible, History, and Prophecy The Bible discusses the origins of the Arab world and discusses the Middle East in prophecy. What is ahead for the Middle East and those who follow Islam? What about the Imam Mahdi? What lies ahead for Turkey, Iran, and the other non-Arabic Muslims? An item of possibly related interest in the Spanish language would be: Líderes iraníes condenan la hipocresía de Occidente y declaran que ahora es tiempo para prepararse para el Armagedón, la guerra, y el Imán Mahdi.
Is the Future King of the South Rising Up? Some no longer believe there needs to be a future King of the South. Might Egypt, Islam, Iran, Arabs, or Ethiopia be involved? Might this King be called the Mahdi or Caliph? What does the Bible say? A YouTube video of related interest may be: The Future King of the South is Rising.
The Prophesied ‘Islamic’ Confederation Where is an Islamic caliphate prophesied? Will one happen? Should you be concerned about it? A related video is Will an Arabic Calphiphate Destroy the West?
What is the Origin of the Cross as a ‘Christian’ Symbol? Was the cross used as a venerated symbol by the early Church? A related YouTube video would be Origin of the Cross.
Germany’s Assyrian Roots Throughout History Are the Germanic peoples descended from Asshur of the Bible? Have there been real Christians in Germanic history? What about the “Holy Roman Empire”? There is also a You-Tube video sermon on this titled Germany’s Biblical Origins.
Germany in Biblical and Catholic Prophecy Does Assyria in the Bible equate to an end time power inhabiting the area of the old Roman Empire? What does prophecy say Germany will do and what does it say will happen to most of the German people? Here is a link to a video Is the USA Pushing Germany to Start WWIII?
Who is the King of the North? Is there one? Do biblical and Roman Catholic prophecies for the Great Monarch point to the same leader? Should he be followed? Who will be the King of the North discussed in Daniel 11? Is a nuclear attack prophesied to happen to the English-speaking peoples of the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand? When do the 1335 days, 1290 days, and 1260 days (the time, times, and half a time) of Daniel 12 begin? When does the Bible show that economic collapse will affect the United States? In the Spanish language check out ¿Quién es el Rey del Norte? Here is a link to a video titled: The Future King of the North.
Obama Administration Pushing for an Islamic Empire? Because of the rise of groups such as the Islamic State, the Obama Administration and others are pushing for a coalition of Arab nations along with Turkey. Does this resemble the final King of the South of Bible prophecy? Is there an Islamic antichrist? Does the Bible teach that terrorism and the sword will affect the USA and some of its allies? What does the Bible teach in Ezekiel about a confederation involving Egypt? Will an Arabic confederation end in destruction for those who strongly support it? Are the 10 nations in the Arab coalition the ten kings of Revelation 17:12-13? Are the 10 nations including the USA and Turkey the ten nations of Revelation 17:12-13? Who is? Was the pushing of the Obama Administration to do this predicted by in 2009 in a writing by Dr. Thiel? What does the Bible show?
How Will Middle East Peace be Brought About? Can humans bring peace to the Middle East? Here is a link to a related video: Middle East Peace? When?
The ‘Peace Deal’ of Daniel 9:27 This prophecy could give up to 3 1/2 years advance notice of the coming Great Tribulation. Will most ignore or misunderstand its fulfillment? Here is a link to a related sermon video Daniel 9:27 and the Start of the Great Tribulation.
Does God Have a 6,000 Year Plan? What Year Does the 6,000 Years End? Was a 6000 year time allowed for humans to rule followed by a literal thousand year reign of Christ on Earth taught by the early Christians? Does God have 7,000 year plan? What year may the six thousand years of human rule end? When will Jesus return? 2022 or 20xx? There is also a video titled The 6000 Year Plan: Is the end of humanity’s reign almost up? Here is a link to the article in Spanish: ¿Tiene Dios un plan de 6,000 años?
When Will the Great Tribulation Begin? 2015, 2016, or 2017? Can the Great Tribulation begin today? What happens before the Great Tribulation in the “beginning of sorrows”? What happens in the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord? Is this the time of the Gentiles? When is the earliest that the Great Tribulation can begin? What is the Day of the Lord? Who are the 144,000? Here is a version of the article in the Spanish language: ¿Puede comenzar la Gran Tribulación en 2014 o 2015? ¿Es el Tiempo de los Gentiles? You can also see the English language sermon video: The Great Tribulation from the Mount of Olives.
Anglo – America in Prophecy & the Lost Tribes of Israel Are the Americans, Canadians, English, Scottish, Welsh, Australians, Anglo-Saxon (non-Dutch) Southern Africans, and New Zealanders descendants of Joseph? Where are the lost ten-tribes of Israel? Who are the lost tribes of Israel? What will happen to Jerusalem and the Jews in Israel? Will God punish the U.S.A., Canada, United Kingdom, and other Anglo-Saxon nations? Why might God allow them to be punished first? Here is a link to the Spanish version of this article: Anglo-América & las Tribus Perdidas de Israel. Information is also in the YouTube sermons titled Where are the Ten Lost Tribes? Why does it matter? and British are the Covenant People. A short YouTube of prophetic interest may be Barack Obama and the State of the Apocalypse.