The End of Days - Zecharia Sitchin-pages

Page 69 of 319

Page 69 of 319
The End of Days - Zecharia Sitchin-pages

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61 or droughts, the silting of canals, locusts, and famines. Mother will turn against daughter, neighbor against neigh- bor. Rebellion, chaos, and calamities will occur in the lands. Cities will be attacked and depopulated; kings will die, be toppled, and captured; “one throne will overthrow another.” Officials and priests will be killed; temples will be aban- doned; rites and offerings will cease. And then the predicted event—a great change, a new era, a new leader, a Redeemer— will come. Good will prevail over evil, prosperity will re- place sufferings; abandoned cities will be resettled, the remnants of the dispersed people will return to their homes. Temples will be restored, and the people will perform the correct religious rites. Not unexpectedly, these Babylonian or pro-Marduk proph- ecies pointed the accusing finger of wrongdoing at Sumer & Akkad (and also their allies Elam, Hattiland, and the Seal- ands), and named the Amurru Westerners as the instrument of divine retribution. The Enlilite “cult centers” Nippur, Ur, Uruk, Larsa, Lagash, Sippar, and Adab are named; they will be attacked, plundered, their temples abandoned. The Enlilite gods are described as confused (“unable to sleep”). Enlil is calling out to Anu, but ignores Anu’s advice (some translators read the word as “command”) that Enlil issue a misharu edict—a “putting things straight” order. Enlil, Ishtar, and Adad will be forced to change kingship in Sumer & Akkad. The “sacred rites” will be transferred out of Nippur. Celes- tially, “the great planet” will appear in the constellation of the Ram. The word of Marduk shall prevail; “He will subdue the Four Regions, the whole Earth shall tremble at the mention of his name... After him his son will reign as king and will become master of the whole Earth.” In some of the prophecies, certain deities are the subject of specific predictions: “A king will arise,” one text prophesied in regard to Inanna/Ishtar, “he will remove the protective god- dess of Uruk from Uruk and make her dwell in Babylon . . . He will establish the rites of Anu in Uruk.” The Igigi are also specifically mentioned: “The regular offerings for the Igigi gods, which had ceased, will be reestablished,” one prophecy states. Of Gods and Demigods