These 10 Bible prophecies were fulfilled about 2500 years ago by the
destruction of the ancient kingdoms of Babylon and Nineveh, which was
the Assyrian capital at that time. According to the Bible, these empires
were destroyed because they had sought to destroy the Holy Land of
Israel and the people of Israel (the Jews).
1. Babylon would rule Judah for 70 years
Bible passage: Jeremiah 25:11-12
Written: sometime from 626 to about 586 BC
Fulfilled: about 609 BC to 539 BC
In Jeremiah 25:11-12, the prophet said that the Jews would suffer 70
years of Babylonian domination. Jeremiah also said Babylon would be
punished after the 70 years. Both parts of this prophecy were fulfilled.
In 609 BC, which is about 2600 years ago, Babylon captured the last
Assyrian king and took over the holdings of the Assyrian empire, to
which the land of Israel previously had been subjugated. Babylon later
asserted its domination by taking many Jews as captives to Babylon, and
by destroying Jerusalem and the Temple. The domination ended in 539 BC,
when Cyrus, a leader of Persians and Medes, conquered Babylon and
brought an end to its empire. Cyrus later offered the captive Jews the
freedom to return to their homeland. The prophecy also might have been
fulfilled in another way too: The Babylonians had destroyed Jerusalem's
Temple in 586 BC, and the Jews rebuilt it and consecrated it 70 years
later, in 516 BC. Having the Temple again showed, in a very important
way, that the effects of Babylonian domination truly had come to an end.
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Jeremiah 25:11-12
"…This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations
will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. But when the seventy years
are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the
land of the Babylonians, for their guilt," declares the Lord, "and will
make it desolate forever."
2. Babylon's gates would open for Cyrus
Bible passage: Isaiah 45:1
Written: perhaps between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: 539 BC
In Isaiah 45:1, the prophet said God would open the gates of Babylon for
Cyrus and his attacking army. Despite Babylon's remarkable defenses,
which included moats, and walls that were more than 70-feet thick and
300-feet high, and 250 watchtowers, Cyrus was able to enter the city and
conquer it. Cyrus and his troops diverted the flow of the Euphrates
River into a large lake basin. Cyrus then was able to march his army
across the riverbed and into the city.
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Isaiah 45:1
"This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand
I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their
armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:
3. Babylon's kingdom would be overthrown, permanently
Bible passage: Isaiah 13:19
Written: perhaps between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: 539 BC
In Isaiah 13:19, the prophet said Babylon would be overthrown,
permanently. History confirms that when Cyrus conquered Babylon in 539
BC, it never again rose to power as an empire. Before the time of Cyrus,
however, Babylon had been defeated by the Assyrian Empire but was able
to recover and later conquer the Assyrian Empire. However, like Isaiah
said 2700 years ago, the Babylonian Empire never recovered from Cyrus'
conquest.
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Isaiah 13:19
Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians' pride,
will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah.
4. Babylon would be reduced to swampland
Bible passage: Isaiah 14:23
Written: perhaps between 701-681 BC
Fulfilled: 539 BC
In Isaiah 14:23, the prophet said that Babylon, which had been a world
power at two different times in history, would be brought to a humble
and final end. It would be reduced to swampland. After Cyrus conquered
Babylon in 539 BC, the kingdom never again rose to power. The buildings
of Babylon fell into a gradual state of ruin during the next several
centuries. Archaeologists excavated Babylon during the 1800s. Some parts
of the city could not be dug up because they were under a water table
that had risen over the years.
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Isaiah 14:23
"I will turn her into a place for owls and into swampland; I will sweep
her with the broom of destruction," declares the Lord Almighty.
5. The Jews would survive Babylonian rule and return home
Bible passage: Jeremiah 32:36-37
Written: sometime from 626 to about 586 BC
Fulfilled: 536 BC
In Jeremiah 32:36-37, the prophet said that the Jews would survive their
captivity in Babylon and return home. Both parts of this prophecy were
fulfilled. Many Jews had been taken as captives to Babylon beginning
around 605 BC. But, in 538 BC, they were released from captivity and
many eventually returned to their homeland.
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Jeremiah 32:36-37
"You are saying about this city, 'By the sword, famine and plague it
will be handed over to the king of Babylon'; but this is what the Lord,
the God of Israel, says: I will surely gather them from all the lands
where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring
them back to this place and let them live in safety.
6. Nineveh would be destroyed, permanently
Bible passage: Nahum 3:19
Written: perhaps 614 BC
Fulfilled: 612 BC
In Nahum 3:19 (and 1:9), the prophet said that Nineveh, which was the
Assyrian Empire's capital and perhaps the most powerful city of the
ancient world, would suffer a wound that would never heal. In 612 BC
(about 2600 years ago), a coalition of Babylonians, Scythians and Medes
conquered the heavily fortified city. According to the Bible, Nineveh
was to be punished for the empire's inhumane treatment of Israel. It is
unknown as to when Nahum delivered this prophecy - some scholars
speculate that it was delivered a few years before the conquest. But, it
is known that Nahum was correct - Nineveh and the Assyrian empire never
did recover from their defeat. (Incidentally, the Assyrian empire had
conquered Babylon many years beforehand, but Babylon was able to recover
from that defeat).
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Nahum 3:19
Nothing can heal your wound; your injury is fatal. Everyone who hears
the news about you claps his hands at your fall, for who has not felt
your endless cruelty?
7. Nineveh's army officers would desert
Bible passage: Nahum 3:17
Written: perhaps 614 BC
Fulfilled: 612 BC
In Nahum 3:17, the prophet said Nineveh's army officers would flee
rather than fight. Babylonian records claim that Assyrian army members
did flee from the battle.
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Nahum 3:17
Your guards are like locusts, your officials like swarms of locusts that
settle in the walls on a cold day-- but when the sun appears they fly
away, and no one knows where.
8. Ninevites would be drunk in their final hours
Bible passage: Nahum 1:10
Written: perhaps 614 BC
Fulfilled: 612 BC
In Nahum 1:10 and 3:11, the prophet said that during the final hours of
the attack on Nineveh, the Ninevites would be drunk. There is evidence
that this prophecy was fulfilled. According to the ancient historian
Diodorus Siculus: "The Assyrian king gave much wine to his soldiers.
Deserters told this to the enemy, who attacked that night." Siculus
compiled his historical works about 600 years after the fall of Nineveh.
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Nahum 1:10
They will be entangled among thorns and drunk from their wine; they will
be consumed like dry stubble.
9. Nineveh would be destroyed by fire
Bible passage: Nahum 3:15
Written: perhaps 614 BC
Fulfilled: 612 BC
In Nahum 3:15, the prophet said that Nineveh would be damaged by fire.
Archaeologists unearthed the site during the 1800s and found a layer of
ash covering the ruins. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica:
"…Nineveh suffered a defeat from which it never recovered. Extensive
traces of ash, representing the sack of the city by Babylonians,
Scythians, and Medes in 612 BC, have been found in many parts of the
Acropolis. After 612 BC the city ceased to be important…"
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Nahum 3:15
There the fire will devour you; the sword will cut you down and, like
grasshoppers, consume you…
10. Ninevites would be wiped out
Bible passage: Nahum 1:14
Written: perhaps 614 BC
Fulfilled: 612 BC
In Nahum 1:14, the prophet said Nineveh would have no descendants to
carry on the prestige of Nineveh. Nineveh's destruction in 612 BC marked
a permanent end to the Assyrian Empire. The city itself never again rose
to any significant importance. Today, Nineveh is an archaeological site
in Iraq.
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Nahum 1:14
The Lord has given a command concerning you, [Nineveh]: "You will have
no descendants to bear your name. I will destroy the carved images and
cast idols that are in the temple of your gods. I will prepare your
grave, for you are vile."
