Iraq, the Bible and Quran 9:11

I was forwarded an email today from a friend asking for my "validation". It was obviously a chain email & the friend didn't believe in the foolishness of "forwarding" it to 15 people, but was curious as to the other facts listed. You'll need to read the original email first, then my response:

Interesting Study, please read all the way to the end. VERY INTERESTING!

1. The garden of Eden was in Iraq.
2. Mesopotamia, which is now Iraq, was the cradle of civilization!
3. Noah built the ark in Iraq.
4. The Tower of Babel was in Iraq.
5. Abraham was from Ur, which is in Southern Iraq!
6. Isaac's wife Rebekah is from Nahor, which is in Iraq!
7. Jacob met Rachel in Iraq.
8. Jonah preached in Nineveh - which is in Iraq.
9. Assyria, which is in Iraq, conquered the ten tribes of Israel.
10. Amos cried out in Iraq!
11. Babylon, which is in Iraq, destroyed Jerusalem.
12. Daniel was in the lion's den in Iraq!
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!)
14. Belshazzar, the King of Babylon saw the "writing on the wall" in Iraq.
15. Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, carried the Jews captive into Iraq.
16. Ezekiel preached in Iraq.
17. The wise men were from Iraq.
18. Peter preached in Iraq.
19. The "Empire of Man" described in Revelation is called Babylon, which was a city in 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.

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 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...

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; and there was peace.

(Note the verse number!)
Hmmmmmmm?! God Bless you all Amen !

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 was my response:

1. As for the last part… about not breaking this chain… something good happening at 11:11 tonight, etc. No, I don’t care to validate nor encourage any person in their right mind to consider this as a possibility at all. It’s nothing more than superstition. 

2. As for the Quran quote, chapter 9 verse 11. False. There is only one 9:11 in the Quran and it’s not the one quoted below. 

3. As for the rest, my encouragement to all would be to read God’s Word, not chain emails.

Regarding the “end times” the Scripture is very clear:

Jesus will return, not riding on a donkey in peace as he did before (see Luke 19:28ff), but riding on a white horse coming in judgment and wrath against all who have not placed their faith in Him (see Revelation 19:11ff).
My sincere warning to all is not to fear Iraq, Osama, Obama, McCain, Palin… whoever & where ever you land. 

Fear God. Fear His Son.

When He returns it will be to execute His righteous wrath on sinners. All sin will then be punished.

Either you will pay for your own sin in an endless judgment in a literal hell. Or, you are placing all trust in a sinless Savior who has ALREADY paid for the sins of all who would believe. In other words, you can bow now to Christ and His Lordship, or you will bow later to Christ under his judgment. But we will all bow.

Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. 

I don’t apologize that this sounds like a “fire & brimstone” sermon, but I think we fall prey to too many email hoaxes with some pseudo-Christian theme that try to generate an unnecessary fear in people for the end of the world. I rarely give those much thought, other than an occasional reply like this one. 

The world seems to think that our problems lie outside of ourselves – in government, war, poverty, etc. and they seek for a solution within themselves. This is completely backwards. Our problem lies within each one of us – it’s a sinful and rebellious heart that mocks a holy God. The only solution can be found outside of ourselves – that is the person and work of Jesus Christ – the God and Creator of all things.

It is my life’s desire as a follower of Christ to share the Gospel (good news) of His death on our behalf and to plead with all to bow to His Kingship over your life. I would love to talk to anyone via email or by phone and tell you more of this great love shown to undeserving sinners like me. I am not presenting this to any of you with an attitude of being “RIGHT”, but humbly as one who has been “RESCUED” from sin & hell. 

Please let me know how I can serve you in these regards.

Aaron S. Wilson (included phone number)

How would you have replied?