Many of us who refuse and resist reading the Holy Bible say that the Holy Bible is a very dull book. I disagree with the perception that the Holy Bible is a very dull book. On the contrary, the Holy Bible is a very exciting book that has close relevance to our life in this modern world. There are many Biblical accounts that attest to the fact that the Holy Bible is a very exciting book. An example is the Babylon-Iraq connection.

Not many know that Iraq is the second most mentioned nation in the Holy Bible. Next to Israel. The world Iraq, however, is not mentioned in the Holy Bible. The words used in the Holy Bible for Iraq in the ancient world are Babylon, Land of Shinar, and Mesopotamia. Yes, the land area now known as modern Iraq is identified with Mesopotamia, the land between Tigris and Euphrates mentioned in the Holy Bible. The Euphrates-Tigris Valley referred to sometimes as the Mesopotamian plain/region was called the Fertile Crescent. Mesopotamia is a Greek word that means the land between two rivers. This is where the earth's earliest peoples lived. This is the place where the Bible story begins. This is the historical place where many dynasties and empires rose and fell, such as Sumer, Akkad, Assyria, and Babylonia.

Still on Mesopotamia or the land between two rivers … this is the site of modern Iraq and some Biblical cities like Babylon. In the ancient world, Babylon was the wonder city. Babylon was at the zenith of its power and glory during the days of Daniel, the Hebrew statesman-prophet at Babylon (see the Book of Daniel, Old Testament). Babylon was then known as the Queen City, City of Gold, the Glory of Kingdoms. In the ancient world Babylon was the favorite place of kings and royalties,including Alexander the Great. Until its fall and the fulfillment of this prediction in the Holy Bible (see II Kings, Old Testament).

Today, the glory of Babylonia is a thing of the past. Only the archaeological excavations in modern Iraq confirm that thousands of years ago, the ancient peoples (like the Sumerians, Akkadians, and later the Assyrians) who settled in the fertile plain between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers (see book of Genesis, Chapter 2, Verses 10-14) had flourishing civilizations. Now, for the most part, Babylon is a desert waste.

Unknown to many, Iraq has a rich cultural heritage. Although many of us are more familiar with Iraq as the land of Saddam Hussein. Iraq has hundreds of thousands of archaeological sites. About 10,000 sites have been identified but only a few have been excavated. Meaning that many of Iraq's ancient material past still remains buried. Unfortunately, just after the invasion of Iraq a few years ago in 2003, Babylon was chosen as the site for military base of troops. It was reported that some military commanders set up their camps in the heart of the Babylon, thus damaging the archaeology of Iraq and its cultural heritage to the whole world. In short, the impact on historical ruins brought about by the military vehicles and the thousands of sandbags have outraged archaeologists and antiquities experts from all over the world.

It is not a coincidence that the ancient Mesopotamian capital of Babylon is 55 miles south of Baghdad capital of Iraq. Otherwise stated, Babylonia, one of the most important cities of the ancient world was located in what is now southern Iraq. This fact does not seem important to many of us. Until Iraq came to the limelight a few years ago, Babylonia got its name from the city of Babylon.

Here are some interesting information (especially for those who are reading the Holy Bible) about the Babylon-Iraq connection researched by my daughter Marita:

• The garden of Eden was in Iraq.

• Mesopotamia which is now Iraq was the cradle of civilization.

• Noah built the ark in Iraq.

• The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.

• Abraham was from Ur, which is Southern Iraq.

• Jonah preached in Nineveh, which is in Iraq.

• Daniel, the prophet, was in the lion's den in Iraq.

• Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.

• Assyria which is in Iraq conquered the ten tribes of Israel.

• Belshazzar, king of Babylon, saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.

• Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest Babylonian king, carried the Jews captive into Iraq. While the Babylonian Empire lasted 70 years, Nebuchadnezzar reigned for 45 years.

It is in Babylonia where idolatrous worship that spread around the world originated. Starting with the worship of Baal (sun god), the Babylonians pursued other heavenly and supernatural gods as well as earthly gods until they had accumulated a plurality of gods and goddesses. Before long, these gods and goddesses controlled every aspect of man's life -- his health, his work, his love, etc. The Babylonians later carved for themselves man-made statues, idols, images, and other visual representation of the gods and goddesses they were worshipping. Rituals and ceremonies were later developed to honor and worship these gods and goddesses; like burning incense to them, kissing them, kneeling before the images, and carrying the images, in public processions.

The Biblical account about Babylon is just one of the many exciting narrations in the Holy Bible. Take time to read the Holy Bible and find about the history, culture, and prophecies about nations. All these narrations confirm and reiterate God's exclusive and unique power to predict and control the course of history.

This column continues to give out copies of the Holy Bible for free to those who cannot afford to buy their own copies. If interested, please send your letter-request to Ms. Nelly Favis Villafuerte, 5th Floor, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Roxas Boulevard, City of Manila. Kindly mention if it is the Tagalog, English, Cebuano, or Ilocano version that is preferred.

This column is also giving out for free a 42-page 3x5 inch booklet that briefly explains the doctrine of salvation presented in the Holy Bible. To those who are struggling as to what the Holy Bible really says on how souls can be saved from eternal damnation, please do not hesitate to write me and ask for a copy of this booklet. Let us not forget the Biblical verse that says "What profits a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?"

By Nelly F Villafuerte
www.mb.com.ph