Revelation Chapter Seventeen

The Apostle John has just witnessed the annihilation of the capital city of the beast’s one world government in the previous chapter sixteen. The word Babylon symbolizes the spirit of whoredoms (Hosea 5:4) and rebellion against God. The concept of a one world government originated with Nimrod, who led the people in a rebellion against God’s command to colonize the planet after the flood. This same spirit of rebellion has operated in every world empire.
     The visions in chapter seventeen are designed to illustrate what this spirit is and offers a further explanation of why the destruction of the city is justified.
     John must have been wondering why God was permitting the horror in the vision he had just experienced. An angel comes forward to explain what he has witnessed.

And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters (verse 1).

The waters represent peoples, nations and languages (Rev. 17:15). Therefore this whore spirit is encompassing the entire world empire. Her whoredom represents her unfaithfulness to God and His word. Babylon and the people she influences, are being judged for this rebellion.

With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (verse 2).

This spirit is likened to whoredom. In God’s word sexual purity is the standard. Marriage is used as a symbol of the holy union God desires with His people. The spirit of whoredoms annihilates God’s standards and spreads this spirit of fornication across the entire earth before and during the reign of the beast’s empire.
     All the world leaders that have submitted to and embraced the apostasy represented by this spirit have made themselves one with the whore by their spiritual fornication. Instead of joining themselves to God, men have preferred to prostitute themselves with this licentious spirit that abhors the absolutes of God’s word. Their preference for the things she represents that are abomination to God seals them in her embrace.
     God wants John to see the similitude of this evil spirit. –

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns (verse 3).

The beast, as we have been shown in chapter thirteen, is the last demonically inspired one world empire. The woman is enthroned upon the beast, and she is allowing herself to be carried by it. The spirit of whoredoms causes those who are infected by this spirit to be led by the demon controlled beast system. This spirit seduces those who are not firmly grounded in the truth of God’s word, to mount and ride the beast with her.
She is found in the wilderness, a place of testing. Those who have willingly accompanied her to this location, were led there initially by following their own lusts.

And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication (verse 4).

Because these colors are associated with the Catholic Church, many have interpreted this vision to mean that the whore is that church. But these colors are also associated with Israel (Proverbs 31:21, 22). These are the colors that God has chosen to symbolically associate with His people, those He desires to be faithful to Him alone. The colors that God has used to designate faithfulness are now seen draped upon the whore who wears them in mockery of everything that is associated with the Lord.
     Her worldly wealth is displayed representing her preference for the material wealth of this life, disdaining the true spiritual treasures of faith and holiness.
     We saw in chapter twelve that Israel is sent to the wilderness. As she is christened Sodom and Gomorrah in chapter eleven, we see that the apostasy that infects the Christian church at this time is also infecting Israel and they are unified in their sin upon the beast. Any church and any denomination that has been tested in the wilderness of this life and has abandoned God’s word, is represented by this whore that is carried by the beast. Therefore, her title becomes their title and they share the name whore of Babylon.

And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth (verse 5).

This spirit of rebellion is behind all the abominations that have existed upon the earth from its creation. The whore on the beast is Satan’s bride and his agent of deception. Her rampage against all that is of God cumulates in this last age before the Lord returns. She is symbolic of the spirit behind the people the devil uses to persecute God’s people.

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyr of Jesus…

Satanists drink blood as part of their rituals. This whore is masquerading as a caricature of “religion” that is a façade for Satan worship. She is the epitome of the beast’s version of religion within its empire.
     The Apostle John is amazed by this spectacle of evil.

And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration (wonder) (verse 6).

The angel who has been communicating with John, responds to the apostle’s stunned reaction to what he is beholding.

And the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns (verse 7). The angel is going to reveal the “mystery,” and the mystery is revealed in the form of a riddle.

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition:…

The beast is intangible and evil, demonic in origin and doomed. We know that what we are seeing here is the last world empire that was described for us in chapter thirteen. As a figure of the previous world Empire of Rome, this beast “was,” it existed in another form in the past, and “is not.” The beast John sees in this vision is yet to arrive on the scene in the latter days and this revived version of the previous evil system will be given a new surge of satanic empowerment directly from the pit. This is the empire that the devil will be ruling himself through the antichrist, which distinguishes this empire from all previous world empires.

…and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is (verse 8).

The people who do not belong to the Lord, will be captivated by the emergence of this empire and initially will not see it as something evil. As we were shown in Revelation’s chapter thirteen, in the beginning of the beast’s emergence the people are in favor of a one world ruling government. It will be seen as the perfect solution to the world’s problems at the time. Many of those “problems” will be deliberately engineered to manipulate the people into the acceptance of a new type of government for the world.

And here is the mind which has wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits (verse 9).

As we mentioned in our examination of chapter thirteen, the heads represent intelligences, and these mountains also represent demonic strongholds and the world’s previous empires. The spirit of whoredoms and rebellion contained within the meaning of the word, “Babylon,” has been enthroned upon every one of those previous world empires in every age. The beautiful, seductive woman John sees riding the beast is an ancient spirit who belies her age, appearing with a new face in every manifestation of her evil existence.

and there are seven kings:…

The original language in some of the ancient manuscripts links these kings to the seven mountains.

…five are fallen…

This is referring to the five previous world empires, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia and Greece.

…And one is…

This is the Rome of John’s day.

…and the other has not yet come;…

This is the last world empire represented by the beast with the seven heads. Even though the six previous empires are no longer in existence, the evil demonic kings, or the demons that ruled them, will be cumulated into this last horrific empire.

…and when he comes, he must continue a short space (verse 10).

The time of this beast’s rule will be shortened for the sake of God’s elect (Matthew 24:22) those that are surviving on the earth during this time.

And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goes into perdition (verse 11).

This eighth beast is not referred to as a king in most translations. There are only seven world empires and this eighth symbolizes the totality of all the previous world empires in its evil. As we were shown in Daniel (Daniel 2:34) when the Lord returns and hits the feet of the image, all of the empires represented by that one image are destroyed at the same time. Therefore the reference to the eighth being of the seven is saying symbolically that the eighth is the fulfillment of all seven empires, or a derivative of the seven.

And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast (verse 12),

As we mentioned in our study of chapter thirteen, these kings most likely relate to the crowned heads, or royal bloodlines of Europe who are involved with the development of the one world government.

These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast (verse 13).

The demonic entity the beast represents will have control over these devil worshippers who have contributed to its development. Those who worship the devil are his slaves.

These shall make war with the Lamb,… When God’s people are persecuted those who are fulfilling their roles as their persecutors are actually making war with the Lamb, Jesus Himself, because His church is His body and His representatives on earth.

…and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of Lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen and faithful” (verse 14).

The persecution of God’s people, while devastating, is only temporary. Every soul that remains faithful to the Lord is an overcomer and joins the Lord’s army that will descend with Him to rule and reign (Rev. 19). They are the called; God knows who are His through His foreknowledge (I Peter 1:2), and He calls those He knows will not deny Him. Therefore they are chosen because they are faithful.

And he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues (verse 15).

Here the angel is referring John back to his original vison of the beast emerging from the sea. These waters represent all those in the world who have rejected Jesus and enabled the beast to arise because of their preference for the devil’s world.
The whore who is riding the beast is seated upon these waters as well. In this sense, she is also a representative of those who have enabled the beast’s formation. Among those multitudes are apostate Christians, who have abandoned God’s word to embrace the beast’s liberal one world religion that accepts all religions as valid. The whore has denied the atonement and thus condemns herself and all those who have chosen to ride the beast with her.
     The angel continues. –

And the ten horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire (verse 16).

People who worship the devil hate people. After they have used the masses for their purposes, they will accelerate their depopulation agenda.
     There is a monument located in the state of Georgia in the United States called the “Georgia Guidestones.” Inscribed upon it is the New World Order agenda. One of their goals is to reduce the world’s population to 530 million. This has nothing to do with saving the environment and conserving its resources, but it has everything to do with reducing the population to a level that is easier to control.
     Satanists are controlled by elite demons who view themselves as superior to human beings. Thus those people the demons control harbor the same contempt for everyone who is not part of their elite group. The whore, who represents the people who are allowing themselves to be carried by this demonic system, including the liberal apostate church, will eventually be attacked and dethroned by the ruling elite after they have used them for their purposes, and the whore will be plucked from her seat. In other words, all forms of religion that have co-operated with the beast will be eliminated.

For God has put in their hearts to fulfill His will, …

These people who worshipped the devil, did not realize that he has a Boss. Satan has to submit to God’s will. And here we see an example of how God uses evil to destroy the wicked (Psalm 34:21).

…and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God shall be fulfilled (verse 17).

We can look at the emergence of the beast and realize that God is permitting the arrival of this monster for one purpose, so He can destroy it forever and avenge His people. Praise the Lord! How humiliating it will be when all the wicked players in this drama realize they were being used by God to bring about their own destruction. We need to keep this in mind as we witness the coming of this evil upon the earth. Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. Hold onto the Lord with all the strength of a dependent child, and trust Him for the outcome.

And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (verse 18).

The one world government will have a capitol city which is designated by the Lord as Babylon. Again, this name represents rebellion against God.
The word, whore, is symbolic of the unfaithful rebellious people, who are the symbolic waters that have helped the system to develop. The ensuing, literal destruction of this city represents God’s flaming judgment upon the entire empire and its inhabitants that are cooperating with it. Because the apostate church rejected God’s word and His plan for her salvation, she will be judged with the world, because she has refused to separate herself from it, and she is viewed by the Lord as one with His enemies.
     The seat upon the back of the beast is very comfortable at first, and alluring. The world guarantees a security that is only temporary and those who are willing to go along for the ride are galloping into a future that only assures their ultimate destruction.

Revelation Chapter Eighteen

Babylon, “The great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth;” the symbolic epitome of man’s attempt to usurp God’s authority and replace His worship with the worship of man, is coming to her inevitable and well deserved conclusion.
     At the end of the age, the destruction of this mighty city which is the capital of the beast one world government and its financial center, will be destroyed by a massive act of God.
     The Apostle John has witnessed her destruction in chapter sixteen. He was given some additional insights as to her identity in chapter seventeen. Babylon’s destruction is an event in the future that is spoken of by the great angel in chapter eighteen, as if Babylon’s destruction has already transpired.
John watches this angel descend in a mighty display of power and light.

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory (verse 1).

In the light of this angel, the spiritual darkness that has enshrouded the earth is temporarily blown back. Is this sudden illumination upon the world symbolic of a time that is designed to prepare the people who inhabit this darkness a space to prepare for the end just before Babylon’s destruction? Are God’s people who are alive at this time and resisting the beast’s dominion being giving a heads up, that the time of their rescue is nearing?

And he cried with a strong voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird (verse 2).

The city is the representative of the entire world empire. Its inhabitants are likened to devils and every foul spirit. The people who are possessed by these demons are viewed as unclean birds; untouchable, caged, imprisoned by their own choices.
     God declares things before they actually happen (Rev. 4:17). Centuries will pass from John’s day to the present when the last empire enslaves the earth. Its doom has been sealed from its inception.
     Babylon’s fall was announced at the beginning of the tribulation (Rev. 14:8). The gospel was preached supernaturally and God’s mercy made a provision in the holocaust. With this second proclamation of Babylon’s demise, the space in time that has been designated as the Great Tribulation is coming to its conclusion. The whore who rides the beast, which is the apostate church, and the entire occult system of world rebellion against God, is about to be destroyed.

For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich though the abundance of her delicacies” (verse 3).

The church that has not separated herself from the world, will be judged with the world she has preferred above the one true God of Israel. The apostate church has become a business instead of an emissary for Jesus. Therefore God sees no difference between her and a worldly store.
The literal city is the hub of the world’s economy. Those who have made riches and materialism their god are about to lose their idols.

And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, My people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues (verse 4).

This is the voice of the Bridegroom calling to His beloved, centuries before His return.
     From the beginning, God has called His people out of the pagan nations to be a special jewel unto Himself. The church that has heeded the call before the Great Tribulation, is rewarded by the supernatural deliverance we witnessed in Rev. 11:12. The remnant church is called up to heaven just prior to the sounding of the seventh trumpet which signaled the beginning of the tribulation period.
     The remaining church, and those who have come to the Lord during the tribulation, are being called out again. At this point, the remainder of believers that have not capitulated to the beast’s mark, are to be removed as promised.
     The Lord is about to return and the destruction of this city is the sign that precedes the second coming of Jesus.

For her sins have reached unto heaven and God has remembered her iniquities (verse 5).

God is merciful, and in spite of the gross atrocities this empire represents, His love and kindness has withheld its destruction until this point in time.

Reward her even as she has rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she has filled fill to her double (verse 6).

This same voice of the Bridegroom is telling His people who remain at this time, to avoid co-operation with this system at any level. This spirit’s goal is to destroy God’s faithful elect, therefore the Lord’s people here are reminded to retaliate on a spiritual level and kill this spirit’s influence and not allow it any entrance into the soul.

How much she has glorified herself …

The message of the Bridegroom is selflessness. It was a loving selflessness that compelled Jesus to give His life to save us. The Babylonian empire this city represents exemplifies everything that is in opposition to the principles of Christianity. Babylon is the epitome of selfishness…

…and lived deliciously…

…and self-indulgence.

…so much torment and sorrow give her: …

Children, this is an exhortation to live your lives in such a manner that it brings torment to the devil and his bride. Flaunt the opposite of what these entities represent and live selflessly and moderately; because these are qualities that Babylon hates.

…for she says in her heart, ‘I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow’ (verse 7).

Her pride and arrogance are an affront to the true Christian faith. Therefore, torment her with your humility and submission to God.
     Because of Babylon’s rebellion against God and her affliction of His people, her destruction is sealed and she is powerless to prevent it. In her arrogance she cannot comprehend the true failure she really is.

Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judges her (verse 8).

Again, Babylon represents a spirit of rebellion against God and His people that has operated in every empire since Nimrod. Babylon also represents a literal city, which is the capital of the last world empire that will be physically destroyed in one day prior to the Lord’s return.
     We witnessed the destruction of the city in chapter sixteen by a series of natural disasters; an earthquake with the resulting fires from broken gas lines, hail, and a tsunami. In one twenty-four hour period this mighty symbol of mankind’s rebellion is obliterated; “For strong is the Lord who judges her.”
     Those who have prospered from this evil system and have made it the focus of their financial security and have helped to maintain it by cooperating with it, are now seen mourning its destruction.

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her…

The people who cooperate with this system have shared and delighted in her blatant carnality.

…shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning (verse 9).

The destruction of this city and its stock market represents the coming destruction of the entire empire and the Lord’s return. The violent reminder of Who is really in control, causes the leaders of the earth and the partners with this system to wail. They thought the new world order they created would continue forever. John’s prophecy has been around for centuries. It’s too bad none of them had bothered to take it seriously.

Standing afar off for fear of her torment, …

Apparently this catastrophe is so enormous the entire area is rendered unapproachable.

…saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is your judgment come’ (verse 10).

These words or ones like them, are broadcast through all the news outlets all over the world. And beneath the reports coming out through the beast controlled media, is the suspicion that the destruction of this city is a judgment from God. If we correlate the text here with Jesus’ description of this time period in Matthew twenty-four, we can see that before His visible return, His sign would appear in the sky. Is His cross hovering in the air above Babylon’s burning towers?

And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise anymore: (verse 11).

The destruction of this financial center catapults the world into a massive depression, the ‘famine’ mentioned in verse eight. The stock exchange and the people who operate it have been annihilated.
     The following verses twelve through thirteen, represents the commodities that will no longer be traded through this system.

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, …

These are things that represent financial security to those who have not put their trust in God. Christians know that their treasure is in heaven.

…and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, …

Men wear status outwardly on their bodies displaying their wealth in expensive clothes and fabrics. The colors mentioned, purple and scarlet, are associated with wealth and prosperity. In Jesus’ day, only the very wealthy could afford purple cloth. The dye came from a certain type of snail, and multitudes of these creatures had to be gathered to dye just one bolt of material.
     God’s people only need one covering, and that is the wedding garment given to them through their faith in Jesus’ sacrifice. These ones never lose their status before God.

…and all thyine (fragrant) wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, (verse 12).

These building materials and household objects are made of very expensive materials; marble floors and walls adorn the homes of the wealthy. The god of materialism and status is bludgeoned into rubble on the ground as these objects of man’s worship are removed.

And cinnamon, and perfumes, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil,..

These commodities represent expensive luxury items, some of which were mentioned in Revelation 6:6, signifying those things that are always affordable to the rich, but have become too expensive for the poor. Now it seems that these things are also being removed beyond the reach of the wealthy.

…And wheat, and beasts and sheep, …

Food items are no longer being traded. The manipulated prices of food that were priced beyond the reach of the average worker and the poor are no longer making huge profits for the rich. We can see God’s judgment prophesied in the book of Amos, repeating here. –

Hear this, Oh you that swallow up the needy, even to make the poor of the land to fail (Amos 8:4).
For as much therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and you take from him burdens of wheat (Amos 5:11).
…they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right (Amos 5:12).
Shall not the land tremble for this, and everyone mourn that dwells there? And it shall rise up wholly as a flood; and it shall be cast out and drowned as by the flood of Egypt (Amos 8:8).

These admonishments were directed toward God’s own people who had violated the Lord’s commandments to care for the poor. Their neglect caused them to be attacked by their enemies. Whether God’s word is violated by believers or those in the world, His judgments will fall on any who operate in opposition to His word.

…and horses, and chariots …

Massive profits that have been made on personal transportation are removed from the beast’s system of a manipulated economy that favors the rich at the expense of the poor.
The imbalanced scales of Revelation six, verses five and six, are being evened out with one blow within one hour of earth’s tumultuous history.

…and slaves, and souls of men (verse 13).

This evil system has made merchandise of people, enslaving multitudes within a system that trades human lives for profit. Sex trafficking is rampant in this present day and age. People, and especially children, are kidnaped and sold in a black market that God is going to remove. Nothing has escaped His all-seeing eyes and the wicked who profited from this heinous practice have sealed their own doom with every despicable transaction.

And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and all things wwhich were dainty and goodly are departed from you, and you shall find them which were dainty and goodly are departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all (verse 14).

Those things that were preferred and worshipped above God have been removed, and are no longer being traded and sold. The previous financial system of the one world government has been annihilated. God is not going to allow it to recover.
Billions of dollars, or whatever currency is being used at the time that is associated with the beast’s “mark,” is being consumed by the enormous fires that are blazing over what is left of man’s constructions. The towers of Babylon that were trophies of human accomplishments are disintegrated before their eyes. The world’s merchants are plunged into a state of shock and torment as they witness the source of their security dissolve into flames.

The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing (verse 15).

The destruction of their idols is so massive, and the fires so consuming, they are impossible to extinguish. Therefore, all must “stand afar off.” No one can enter the city because of the extent of the raging destruction.

And saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet and decked with gold, and precious stones and pearls! (verse 16).

The material things that represent status and wealth are gone. All those things that were the objects of man’s worship and lust were temporal, as well as their own lives. The things that God treasures and were never valued by those who followed the beast, are the intangible riches of virtue, holiness, righteousness, compassion, truth and love, and most of all, the gospel. Those who possess and value those things will never lose these treasures, the fruits that are bestowed upon them through their faith in Jesus.

For in one hour so great riches is come to nothing’…

In this moment the great revelation to these men is that everything they valued is now “nothing.” It always was nothing, yet they could not see the vanity of their earthly pursuits. Their souls are left vacant and empty, void and desolate like the burning landscape they are beholding in their agony.

And every shipmaster, and all the company of ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by the sea, stood afar off (verse 17).

The great harbor of this city is no longer approachable because of the devastation. The docks have been destroyed by the earthquake and are piled along the shore like matchsticks waiting to be consumed by the flames. The ships must remain at sea as their crews watch in horror as their idols are consumed.

And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like this great city!’ (verse 18).

These ships also represent those who have helped to construct their own enslavement by supporting this system. They sail on waters that God’s word has told us are “peoples, multitudes, and nations and tongues” (Rev. 17:15).
     This great city whose evil tentacles embraced the entire world with her illusions, sin and vanity is intensely mourned by the entire planet she has deceived. The economy of the whole earth is influenced by the collapse of this representative of the empire’s power. The destruction of the realm’s capital city is a foreshadow of the coming destruction of the entire empire.

And they cast dust on their heads,…

These men do not realize that dust is the symbol of the frail material from which they have come and to which they shall return.

…and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate’ (verse 19).

This response is made in pure shock. Things were continuing on as usual. No one suspected that all their idols, their security, everything that was important to them would be eliminated so quickly.
     Things can change overnight. Destruction can strike at any time. If you are floating on this sea of insecurity, you need to follow God’s instructions to prepare for the hour when your world is suddenly turned upside down.
     While the planet is writhing in shock, and mourning the destruction of a city that has come to represent their security in the place of God, the voice of the Bridegroom shows us that heaven is celebrating. –

Rejoice over her, you heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you on her” (verse 20).

The apostles and prophets here symbolize all of God’s uncompromised remnant that had been the messengers to Babylon’s inhabitants of the gospel and the Lord’s mercy. Because they were true messengers from God, they were also preaching repentance. Their words of warning were ignored. The true gospel was disdained by the masses. God’s messengers were persecuted and martyred. Their voices silenced.
     This great earthquake is the promised vindication of God’s martyrs we witnessed in Revelation, chapter six, verses nine through seventeen.
     The people on the ships that are in the waters surrounding the burning city do not realize that they are in as much danger as the city they are mourning. –

And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all!' (verse 21).

Any hopes that the city can be rebuilt are about to be demolished.
     After the earthquake, a stone is hurled from heaven, (an asteroid or meteor?), and a tsunami rises out of the water to annihilate what remains. The water tower is so massive that it reaches the hills that surround the city in New Jersey and Connecticut, “and the mountains were not found” (Rev. 16:20).
     As the ships disappear, the sounds of mourning from the shipmasters and sailors are replaced with screams that are swiftly drowned in the roar of the wave that consumes them.
     The imagery of the stone smashing into the sea is a repeat of a similar pronouncement of judgment upon ancient Babylon, the site of the Jew’s captivity (Jeremiah 51:63,64). This event in the Old Testament is the foreshadow of Babylon’s destruction in Revelation’s prophecy.
     All those things that made Babylon so attractive to the masses, are removed and would no longer be seen or heard in her forever. –

And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipes and trumpeters, shall be heard no more in you;…

The idol of entertainment in the city is eliminated.

…and no craftsman, of whatever craft he be, shall be found anymore in you;…

The arts flounder in the wake of Babylon’s destruction as well, and all the works of men’s hands that were worshipped in the place of God are destroyed.

…and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you; (verse 22).

The shops, the industry, the commerce, is silenced and immobilized. The cafes and restaurants, the bars and nightclubs are submerged in an instant.

And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the Bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you:…

What little spiritual light they had left to them, any remnant of Christianity that may have survived the beast’s reign, has been removed prior to the city’s annihilation.
     The destruction of the city of Babylon occurs just before the Lord’s return. Before the second coming, Jesus gathers His elect out from the world system that is about to be destroyed (Matthew 24:31).
     The candle, the only light the world had to guide it out of its darkness is now gone completely. The voice of the Bridegroom, the Holy Spirit, has withdrawn, along with any faithful witnesses that have come to the Lord during this season. I have no doubt that underground churches will be in existence throughout the beast’s reign, just as they are in communist countries and other places in the world where the public proclamation of the gospel is forbidden. This removal of the church from Babylon and also the rest of the world, is the only time since the church’s inception that there is absolutely no true Christian church remaining on the earth.

The Old Testament is replete with duel prophecies of this period in the earth’s history. The destruction of the ancient, pagan city of Babylon, the capital of the Babylonian empire, is paralleled to the destruction of its modern day counterpart.
     The elimination of ancient Babylon is also combined with prophecies concerning God’s judgment upon every nation in the entire world, as well as the apostate, whore church. I recommend studying the ancient prophecies and the history of Israel to learn the things that led to her captivity. The prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah particularly relate to this time in our present day.
     The occult practices of ancient Babylon were learned by some of the apostate Jews of the captivity. These ones carried this forbidden knowledge like destructive ants, back into the nest when Israel was restored to her land after the captivity. This witchcraft remained hidden and practiced by the elite for generations. This allegiance with Satan brought a small group if financiers into great power and control over our present world economy, which as of this writing, is enabling the formation of the one world government prophesied in Revelation’s pages.
    The development of this demonic system remained hidden for many generations. The secret formation of this last world empire is represented by the period of time that the beast remained concealed beneath the waters before its visible emergence before the Apostle John in Revelation 13:1. But the entire time it was organizing in secret, nothing could be hidden from the eyes of our all-seeing and all-knowing God. Thus in these last moments of modern occult Babylon’s destruction, the source of the power of this organization is exposed by God’s word. –

…for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries were all nations deceived (verse 23).

The nations were deceived by witchcraft and satanism operating in the highest levels of government and society.
The devil’s goal from the inception of the Christian church, was to destroy the truth of the gospel. Therefore the blood of every martyr that has been slain for the proclamation of that truth is attributed to this demonic system. -

And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth” (verse 24).

The city Babylon represents the same evil motivator that has been behind the massacre of God’s people and every innocent human being from the beginning of creation to this present day. The antichrist who is the last dictator and puppet of the devil to wreak havoc upon the planet is destroyed forever along with the city when Jesus returns.
While the world is writhing in chaos in the wake of Babylon’s destruction, heaven is rejoicing. We are about to join the celebration as we proceed to Revelation’s visions of our not so distant future.

Copyright 2018 by H.D. Shively

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