We first read about Nimrod in Gen. 10:8-12. He was a descendant of Ham. There are a number of characteristics of Nimrod that make him a perfect type of the Antichrist. From these characteristics, we glean a better understanding of Nimrod and his kingdom.
- Nimrod’s name means "Rebel" and he is the 13th from Adam (13 is the number of rebellion). Compare the Antichrist’s rebellion in Dan. 11:36-38 and 2 Thes. 2:4
- Nimrod was "mighty", like the Antichrist will be (Ps. 52:1).
- Nimrod was a "hunter" (evidently of men), like Saul, a type of the Antichrist, who hunted David (1 Sam. 24:1) and like the Antichrist will be (Jer. 16:16).
- Nimrod was a "king" with a "kingdom", just like the Antichrist (Dan. 11:36).
- Nimrod’s kingdom was in "Babel" (Babylon), in Shinar, just like the Antichrist’s kingdom will be in Babylon (Rev. 17-18).
- Nimrod is called the "Assyrian" in Is. 23:13, which connects him to the devil in Is. 10:5-14. The Antichrist will be the devil incarnate (2 Thes. 2:4-9; Rev. 9:11) in the last part of the Tribulation. See another connection between Nimrod and Assyria (Gen. 10:11; 2 Ki. 19:35-36; Mic. 5:5-6).
- Nimrod’s objective was to get the people "together" under one king (a one world government), which the Antichrist will do to destroy the nations (Zeph. 3:8).
- Nimrod set up his kingdom in a "city", just like the Antichrist will reign from a city (Rev. 17:18).
- Nimrod’s reign was connected with a "name", just like the Antichrist will use a name to mark his people (Rev. 13:18).
There are several things about Nimrod’s kingdom, and God’s view of it, that help us to understand why the direction that the world is going is bad.
- "The whole earth was of one language." The use of the English language world wide to improve international relations has exalted man’s accomplishments. God’s view of this in Nimrod’s day was to confound the languages and scatter the people. So, watch out when the world uses words like "United," "Unity," "Unified," etc. These always spell trouble with God.
- They set up their kingdom "in the land of Shinar." This is the wrong place for a central government on earth. God told Abraham to leave this place (Gen. 12:1-3). Abraham told his servant to never let Isaac return there (Gen. 24). God has chosen Jerusalem for the place from which Jesus will rule the world. So, watch out for a government from the area of ancient Babylon (modern day Iraq).
- They said, "let us build us a city and a tower." The city symbolizes the economic center of operations (Rev. 18:18-19) and the tower stands for the center of religious operations (Dan. 3:1-5) (steeples and domes, today). So, watch out for political dealings with any city that is the center of a state religion.
- They wanted a tower, "whose top may reach unto heaven." So, watch out for all attempts by men to get into heaven (religion, works, etc.) or into outer space (space shuttles, sputniks, etc.) by man’s efforts.
- The result of getting people together under a single government is that, "nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." That’s the worst thing that could happen to men since, "the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth," (Gen. 8:21). So, watch out for all inventions (Ps. 106:39) that are sold under the guise of making man’s life "better." In the long run, their end is always disastrous.
- Nimrod’s kingdom was given the name "Babel," which means "confusion." Ultimately, the more that the world’s religions get together, the more "confusion," that will result (1 Cor. 14:33). That’s because you have to throw out all doctrine to get the religions together. So, watch out for all ecumenical movements.
It is truly amazing how much bearing these 14 verses found in the Old Testament have on understanding what’s really going on today. You have seen more truth in studying 45 minutes of doctrine from the old King James Bible than you will find in all of the current newspapers, magazines, television broadcasts, and internet websites put together. So, don’t waste your time with foolishness, study the Bible.