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‘The Fall of Babylon’ / ‘Babylon is Fallen’ / ‘Babylon the Great is Destroyed’:

“While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands.  It struck the statue … smashed, broke it to pieces … swept the pieces away without leaving a trace.” – Daniel 2:34.  The rock is the Lord Christ and Nebuchadnezzar’s statute, symbolic Babylon, is fallen.

Revelation Chapters 18 and 17 occur near the end of the Great Tribulation.

Chapter 18  – figurative Babylon destroyed – the Beast Empire

In Egypt, there was the plague of darkness.  Next, Pharaoh’s throne and kingdom were devastated by the death of all first born, by an act of God.  Then Pharaoh and his army pursued their arch-enemy, the fleeing Israelites.  Ultimately, Pharaoh and his men were all annihilated in the Red Sea.

In the End Times, there will be darkness on the throne of the Beast and his kingdom with the 5th bowl judgment.  Next, the throne of the Beast and his kingdom will be destroyed, by God, in Chapter 18.  Then the Beast and the ten horns (ten kings) bring to ruin their arch-enemy, ‘the prostitute’ that they hate, in Chapter 17. Ultimately, they are all annihilated with the second portion of God’s wrath at the 7th Trumpet.

The Babylon in Revelation Chapter 18 – the Beast Empire – symbolizes ancient, evil Babylon/Babel, because of its wickedness.  The 5th bowl judgment had just poured out the plague of darkness on the throne of the beast and his kingdom.

‘The throne’ which will be situated in the capital, the epicentre, of the Beast Empire – is in darkness.

The ‘kingdom’ itself – the Beast’s Empire – is in darkness.

Lord Jesus said in Revelation 2:13 – “where Satan has his throne” and “where Satan lives”.  The Lord states this in His letter to the Church in Pergamum.  The Lord Jesus is saying Satan’s throne is, in present tense, in Pergamum, Turkey.  The throne which the Dragon – Satan – gives to the Beast in Revelation 13:2, is the throne in Pergamum.  The Beast Empire – his ‘kingdom’ – spreads out from its capital city, Pergamum, Turkey.  There are so many End Times articles on the internet today about massive invasions on Israel coming from Turkish troops.  A strong spirit of the antichrist exists there, even today.  I’ve written a separate post titled: The Throne of Satan, for those interested in studying more about the history of this city.  And yes, there are many differing opinions also on the internet about which city Revelation 18 is writing about.  Time will tell, but the one thing we can always trust is God’s Word.

In my article, ‘Events Completed – A Scene of Heaven’ I quoted Daniel 12:1 – “There will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time.”  Daniel was referring to the time of Noah and his sons after the Great Flood, before they re-populated mankind in Babel, taking it from Noah’s ‘one nation’ to the 70 nations God scattered.

Everything originated in Babel.  It went from the righteousness of one man, Noah, to 70 nations of evil.  And when the 70 nations were dispersed – they took all their evil, idolatrous ways with them.  Evil, wickedness, sin, idolatries, adulteries, immoralities, murders, deceit, the list goes on, all originated in Babel and scattered over the face of the whole earth.

Babel was wickedness at its core – the original ‘mother’ of evil following the Great Flood.  It spread throughout the world to now be known as symbolic Babylon – figurative Babylon.  Whether it’s called Babel or Babylon, it’s synonymous with evil.

Yet another definition of Babylon: man’s system of rule that is led and deceived by Satan the devil.

Revelation 18 prophecies about the fall – the destruction – of Babylon.  The Beast’s kingdom and his throne are destroyed.

The city – the epicentre of evil – is destroyed. 

In summary, the Fall of Babylon, the kingdom, is the fall/collapse of the entire demonic system – the figurative Babylon/Beast empire and the spiritual Babylon/the false church, next.

The angel had said, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality.’ – Revelation 14:8.  This was the second of the three angels who appeared at the start of the second half of the Tribulation.  The phrase: ‘drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality’ metaphorically means the nations participated (drink) in the sins (wine) of lustful immorality.                                                                                             

Revelation 18:1-3 – “After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illumined with his glory.  And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, ‘Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!  She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison of every unclean and hateful bird [metaphor].  For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality.’ “

The use of the word ‘bird’ is a metaphor.  In the parable of the sower – Matthew 13:4 – “the birds came and ate it up” – is referring to the evil spirits that are everywhere and try with every opportunity to turn new believers away from the one true God.  The parable of the mustard seed – Matthew 13:32 – “the birds of the air come and perch in its branches” – mean that false teachers and heretics infiltrate, sit in positions of authority and influence the very church of the Lord Christ Jesus with false, deceiving doctrines and practices.

The use of the word ‘prison’ is the same Greek word used in Revelation 20:7 – “Satan will be released from his prison”.  The prison is the Abyss –  the bottomless pit – the grave – Sheol – dungeons – Hades.

Again, the verse: ‘the kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth of her sensuality’ metaphorically is referring to how the leaders (‘kings’) of the nations and the ‘merchants’ all quite willingly were deeply involved with the evils of the Beast Empire.

The Woman in a Basket:

“Then the angel who was speaking to me came forward and said to me, ‘Look up and see what this is that is appearing.’  I asked, ‘What is it?’  He replied, ‘It is a measuring basket.’  And he added, ‘This is the iniquity of the people throughout the land.’  Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman!  He said, ‘This is wickedness,’ and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed the lead cover down over its mouth.  Then I looked up – and there before me were two women, with the wind in their wings!  They had wings like those of a stork, and they lifted up the basket between heaven and earth.  ‘Where are they taking the basket?’  I asked the angel who was speaking to me.  He replied, ‘To the country of Babylonia to build a house [prison] for it.  When it is ready, the basket will be set there in its place.’ ” – Zechariah 5:5-11.

Babylon becomes wickedness’ house/prison, as it likewise becomes the dwelling place/prison of the demons and every unclean spirit.  God’s Word.

Isaiah’s passage here is jumping ahead to the day of Armageddon, but it also reveals where all the wicked end up.  “So it will happen in that day [Armageddon], that the Lord will punish the host of heaven on high [the fallen angels], and the kings of the earth on earth.  They will be gathered together like prisoners in the dungeon, and will be confined in prison; and after many days [1,000 years] they will be punished.” – Isaiah 24:21-22

‘Confined in prison’ – is the wasteland of ‘Babylon’.  The host of heaven on high – the fallen angels, demons, unclean spirits, every unclean and hateful ‘bird’; the woman in a basket – “wickedness”; and ‘the kings of the earth on earth’ are all imprisoned in fallen, figurative ‘Babylon’.

‘Earth mourns the destruction of Babylon’:

Revelation 18:9-10 – “When the kings of the earth who committed adultery [immorality] with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her.  Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power!  In one hour your doom has come!’ “

“Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God, like Sodom and Gomorrah.” – Isaiah 13:19

Sodom and Gomorrah were overthrown with ‘fire and brimstone’ (brimstone is the same as sulphur). – Genesis 19:24

“Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboiim, which the Lord overthrew in His anger and in His wrath.” – Deuteronomy 29:23

“Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly and sinners against the Lord.” – Genesis 13:13.  “Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven, and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley and all the inhabitants of the cities.” – Genesis 19:24

Abraham “looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the valley, and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land ascended like the smoke of a furnace.” – Genesis 19:28

Smoke: Revelation 18:9 – “When the kings … see the smoke of her burning”, and in 18:18 – When the mariners “see the smoke of her burning”.

‘One hour’: “In one hour your doom has come!“ – Revelation 18:10.  “In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!” – Revelation 18:17.  “In one hour she has been brought to ruin!” – Revelation 18:19.  ‘One hour’ is stated three times in Revelation 18.

Revelation 18:11-13 – “The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no-one buys their cargoes any more – cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.”

Those verses indicate that this city will be a powerful epicentre of pagan worship.  All the items listed are used in spiritual/’religious’ ceremonies, practices and even includes their animal and human sacrificial offerings.  Point of interest – the item of silk mentioned above is not included when compared with Revelation 17:4, for the whore of Babylon.  Turkey is ranked as being in the top 10 largest silk-producing countries in the world.

Revelation 18:15-16 – “The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment.  They will weep and mourn and cry out: ‘Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!’  (Sounds just like the religious harlot in Revelation 17:4 – “The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls.”  So this city of Babylon will also be a major ‘religious’ centre, to have such apparel.)

Revelation 18:17 – “In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’  Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off.”

Revelation 18:18-19 – “When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, ‘Was there ever a city like this great city?’  They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out: ‘Woe!  Woe, O great city, where all who had ships on the sea became rich through her wealth!   In one hour she has been brought to ruin!’ “

Revelation 18:20 – ” ‘Rejoice over her, O heaven!  Rejoice, saints and apostles and prophets!  God has judged her for the way she treated you!’ “

Note the inclusion of the word ‘apostles’ in Revelation 18:20.  The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of apostle is: “each of the twelve chief disciples of Jesus Christ”.  There were only 12 original disciples called by the Lord Jesus to preach the gospel.  Some of them are receiving special tribute here.  Many early church writings recognize Paul as founding the Church in Pergamum, though scripture only writes, Acts 19:10 – “This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks” while Paul journeyed there.  (Galatians 1:1 – “Paul, an apostle – sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father.”  Ephesians 1:1 – “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God.”).  According to Christian tradition, the apostle John ordained Antipas, the first bishop of Pergamum, during the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian.  It was Domitian who later exiled John to the isle of Patmos “because of the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ”.  It was there that the apostle  John wrote The Book of Revelation.  So there were at least two apostles being told to rejoice over ‘the way she treated you’.  She: ‘Babylon’, the great city – Pergamum, Turkey.

The fall of Satan’s demonic, symbolic Babylon is the reason for the great rejoicing in heaven.

Another point of interest for those doing a deeper study – note The Song of Moses and the Lamb verses, Revelation 15:2-4, which chronologically follow Revelation 18:20.  They are written out in full in the Scripture post: The Fall of Babylon – Revelation 18.  The Song of Moses first appeared in Exodus 15:1-21.  It was a thanksgiving song composed and sung by Moses and the children of Israel after their deliverance from, and the destruction of,  Pharaoh – Pharaoh being a type of antichrist.  How appropriate that the Song of Moses is sung once again – here, after the deliverance of the saints from, and the destruction of, the Beast, the antichrist.  Here are a few select verses: “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation” – Exodus 15:2; “In the greatness of Your excellence You overthrow those who rise up against You; You send forth Your burning anger, and it consumes them as chaff.” – Exodus 15:7; ” … Until the people pass over whom You have purchased.  You will bring them and plant them in the mountain of Your inheritance” – Exodus 15:17.

In summary: the 5th bowl judgment of darkness precipitated the destruction of the city – the epicentre – of power of the Beast’s Empire and his surrounding kingdom.   The seat of Satan’s power is crushed.  The reign is over.

That is why the kings of the earth weep and mourn over her – the world system they had controlled just collapsed; the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her – their economy is ruined; the mariners will stand far off – the local river that’s only 3 miles away from Pergamum ties into the Aegean Sea a mere 15 miles away – thus they “stand far off”, etc.

“You have made the city a heap of rubble; the fortified town a ruin, the foreigners’ stronghold a city no more; it will never be rebuilt.” – Isaiah 25:2

As in Egypt, when Pharaoh and his kingdom were destroyed with God’s judgment, they pursued their enemy.  So it will be the same in the End Times.

The Beast and the ten kings finally turn on their enemy, the ‘harlot’ in Chapter 17 after having been unwillingly controlled by her all this time.

To the Church in Pergamum – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna.  I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” – Revelation 2:17

scripture only: The Fall of Babylon – Revelation 18

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