Revelation. Vision 4. Christ the Judge. The City of Babylon.

Marilyn C

Marilyn C

THE CITY OF BABYLON

The city of Babylon is being rebuilt and it is destined to become the center of the last Gentile Global Government. The Anti-Christ will rule from Babylon with the 10 Islamic kings, over the whole world. The Political, Economic and Religious aspects of people`s lives will all be controlled from this demonic center.

`Babylon the great .....has become a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit....`(Rev. 18: 2)


The river Euphrates is even now being deepened so that ocean liners can navigate the river right up to the city of Babylon. The wealth of the world will be brought right into the heart of Babylon along the river which flows through it.

`that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth.` Rev. 18: 19)


Historically the city of Babylon was where man attempted to `make a name` for himself. The region was called the land of Shinar and this is where man sought to build a very tall tower to give himself prominence. God however confused their language and thus the name Babylon came to mean confusion.

`they found a plain in the land of Shinar....Come let us build a city and a tower ....Let us make a name for ourselves...The Lord confused their language ...and scattered them....`(Gen.10: 2, 4 & 9)

Babylon – Heb. word `Babel,` meaning confusion.


Now at the end of the Gentile`s rule we see again man `building a city` with the desire for world dominance. This has been foretold by the prophet Zechariah who presented it as a metaphoric picture. Babylon will again become the prominent city at the end of this age.

`this is a woman .....this is Wickedness.` To be set `in the land of Shinar.` (Babylon) (Zech. 5: 7, 8 & 11)

 
Religious Babylon.

The first aspect of Babylon that we are shown is the Religious system. The false prophet brings together all the religions of the world and this is revealed to us in symbolic form as a great prostitute – a great profanity of blasphemy and a violation of sacred things.

`Then one of the 7 angels who had the 7 bowls came & talked to me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute
who sits on many waters,...` (Rev. 17: 1)

Prostitute – Heb. word, `chalal,` figurative meaning - to profane.

This `woman` is the United Nations philosophy of `saving mother earth.` They have spread their (demonic) value system throughout the world - eg. inclusiveness, (of all sexual activity and gender types), respect and tolerate all types of behaviour, (except Christian), etc.

The leaders of the world use this false religion to manipulate the people of the earth by focusing them on `saving the planet,` through the SDG`s, (Sustainable Development Goals). People become `drunk,` as they lose their sense of reality in thinking the planet needs saving and that they can fix it.

`..with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.`
(Rev. 17: 2)


We are given a symbolic picture of this `woman is sitting on a beast.` The angel explains what this means further on. The description reminds us of the `dragon,` in Rev. 12: 3.

`So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.`(Rev. 17: 3)

This great prostitute, man`s religious system is very richly adorned and seduces by offering wonderful things, `a golden cup,` but actually it is filled with abominations & filthiness.

`The woman was arrayed in purple & scarlet, and adorned with gold & precious stones & pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.` (Rev. 17: 4)

These are the works of the flesh – (Gal: 5: 19 – 21)

`And on her forehead a name was written: Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes (profanities) and of the abominations of the earth.` (Rev. 17: 5)

Instead of honouring God their Creator, people are deceived into worshipping the creation. Thus having no accountability they are given over to all manner of wickedness.

 
Political Babylon.

The picture we see is of this religious system that has persecuted believers and killed many. It is in a close relationship with a beastly entity.

`And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marvelled with great amazement. But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has 7 heads and 10 horns.`(Rev. 17: 6 & 7)


The `beast,` is Satan who comes out of hell and is the power behind the Global Government. He takes possession of the Anti-Christ, who seemingly died and came to life again. This is what the phrase `was, and is not and yet is,` refers to.


`The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not and yet is.`(Rev. 17: 8)

We are now given details of the leadership of this Global Government. The 7 heads, are symbolically 7 mountains meaning they have the highest position in the world: its leaders. They are the `7 kings,` the 7 Political leaders who arise consecutively one at a time.

`Here is the mind which has wisdom: the 7 heads are 7 mountains on which the woman sits. and they are 7 kings. (NAS)`(Rev. 17: 9)

There were five leaders prior to the tribulation and the 6th rules during its beginning. Finally the Anti-Christ rises to power and rules for the last three and a half years. Satan is the 8th entity but becomes part of the 7 when he enters the Anti-Christ.

` 5 have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the 8th, and is of the 7, and is going to perdition.` (Rev. 17: 10 & 11)







 
`And the 10 horns which you saw are 10 kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.`
(Rev. 17: 12)

They (Islam) believe that the Anti-Christ is their long awaited Messiah and thus even make war with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

`These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.` (Rev. 17: 13 & 14)


Before this climatic event though, the 10 kings of the Islamic confederation destroy the religious system. They have no more use for it as they desire that all peoples worship their Messiah, the Anti-Christ. Thus all buildings and people associated with the religious system are destroyed.

`And he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues. And the 10 horns will hate the prostitute, make her desolate, and naked, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.`(Rev. 17: 16 & 17)

`And the woman whom you saw is (in) that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.` (Rev. 17: 18)



 
ECONOMIC BABYLON

The city of Babylon will not only be the center of man`s Religious System, which gets destroyed, but also the centre of commerce and finance – the Global Economy. We are now given a picture of this aspect of the city of Babylon. It is called a `prison` and `a habitation of demons.` What a terrifying prospect for those who worship the `beast.`


The Lord with `great authority` and `glory.` declares the judgments upon Babylon -`fallen, fallen,` indicating the downfall of the religious and economic aspects of this demonic government.


`After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with His glory.`
`And He cried mightily with a loud voice saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, And has become a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!` (Rev. 18: 1 & 2)

This center of the world`s trading has made the `merchants of the earth` very wealthy. These are the multi-nationals and traders from all over the world. This selfish abundance of trade is a mark of Satan who by his trade has increased his riches and become proud. (Ez. 28: 5)

`For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury” (Rev. 18: 3)

Fornication – Gk. word, `pornos,` fig. means – idolatry.


Thus judgment has been pronounced, double for her sins. And a warning goes out for any of God`s people who are in that city, to flee before the coming hand of God in judgment.

`And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Render to her just as she rendered to you, and repay her double according to her works; in a cup which she has mixed, mix for her double.` (Rev. 18: 4 – 6)
 
The Judgment of Economic Babylon.

This capital of the world`s economy has boasted that it is secure from any financial and commercial difficulty - `will see no sorrow.` Man has finally put together a system that controls everyone on earth by a mark, number or name. (Rev. 13: 16 & 17) But it is God who will judge this demonic system of abuse of power and corruption.

`In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment & sorrow; for she says in her heart,
“I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.”

Therefore her plagues will come in one day – death and mourning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.`(Rev. 18: 7 & 8)

Now we see all those who profited from this unlawful system.

Firstly the Kings, the leaders of the nations mourned over Babylon`s fall.

“And the kings of the earth who committed fornication (idolatry)and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, “ Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.”(Rev. 18: 9 & 10)


Next we see the merchants, the traders who sold everything from precious stones to the precious bodies and souls of man. How utterly despicable.

`And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise any more: Merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk & scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.` (Rev. 18: 11 – 13)

`And the fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich & splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all.` (Rev. 18: 14)
 
`The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying,
“Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!
For is one hour such great riches came to nothing” (Rev. 18: 15 - 17)

Now we see that the owners of every kind of ship cry out when they see the city of Babylon burning and how quickly it is made desolate.

`And every shipowner, all who travel by sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, “What is like this great city? And they threw dust on their heads & cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, “Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea, became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.”(Rev. 18: 17 – 19)

Here then is the picture of Babylon`s fall. It is a quick and complete work, pulverizing and completely destroying that great city of Babylon.

“Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!” `Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found any more.`
(Rev. 18: 20 & 21)

By sorcery and witchcraft it deceived the peoples of the world – `false signs and wonders,` (Rev. 13: 13 & 14) and shed the blood of prophets and saints. Thus no musicians, or craftsmen or wedding feasts will be celebrated there, for the Lord God has judged it.

`The sound of harpists, musicians, flautists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. And no craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore. And the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. And the light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore.

And the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth`.(Rev. 18: 22 – 24)
 
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