Babylon Past and Future
Religion of a United World
Nimrod built Babel which was ancient Babylon. He was said to be a mighty hunter before the Lord; this means he was in defiance of the Lord. Babylon was the place where false religion was first organized. The world was united with one language during the days of Babel. Therefore, we might say that Babylon represents a united world religion.
Isa 21:9 And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.
Babylon was a city of many graven images, false gods, and idol worship.
Jer 51:37 And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
God declared that the ancient city of Babylon would be destroyed and would be uninhabited.
Jer 51:44 And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall.
The walls were eighty feet thick and three hundred feet high, but they eventually fell.
Jer 51:47 Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
Babylon trusted in idols and not in God; therefore, God destroyed Babylon.
Jer 51:61-62 And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words; Then shalt thou say, O LORD, thou hast spoken against this place, to cut it off, that none shall remain in it, neither man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate for ever.
Notice that God said that Babylon would be desolate forever; this means it will never be rebuilt, it will never again become a center for false religious worship.
Jer 51:63-64 And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
God's word says that the ancient city of Babylon will never rise again; we can count on it. God's word is correct to the last detail; ancient Babylon will never rise again.
Ezek 23:8 Neither left she her whoredoms brought from Egypt: for in her youth they lay with her, and they bruised the breasts of her virginity, and poured their whoredom upon her.
Ezekiel is speaking of ancient Israel as a whore, an unfaithful wife, because Israel worshiped the false gods of Egypt.
Ezek 23:17 And the Babylonians came to her into the bed of love, and they defiled her with their whoredom, and she was polluted with them, and her mind was alienated from them.
The Babylonians caused Israel to take part in idolatry, to be unfaithful to God; therefore, Babylon became a name used to refer to a place of idol worship.
Ezek 23:30 I will do these things unto thee, because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen, and because thou art polluted with their idols.
God's judgement came upon Israel because of their idolatry.
1 Pet 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.
Peter is not speaking of the ancient Babylon; it was in ruins. Peter was referring to the city from which he wrote his epistle; it was a city of idolatry, the city of Rome.
Rev 14:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
The Babylon mentioned in the book of Revelation is a center of idol worship; it is a city that encourages people to engage in false religious worship. Spiritual Babylon will someday be destroyed for leading people into idolatry.
Rev 16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
God will someday destroy spiritual Babylon with great anger because of its great wickedness.
Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
The term ''great whore'' refers to a large religious system involved in idol worship. The term "many waters" refers to many parts of the world or to many nations. Putting it together we have a large worldwide system of idol worship; false religion controlled by one city, yet covering the entire earth.
Rev 17:2 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.
Fornication here speaks of idolatry. The whore, spiritual Babylon, will be responsible for leading the inhabitants of the world into idolatry.
Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
The woman here refers to the religious system of the world, which will be supported by the antichrist, the scarlet beast. The antichrist will use this united religious system to help him secure power and to unite the world under his government. The woman will not realize she is only being used by the beast for his own purpose; her greed and corruption will bring her downfall.
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
The priest of this religious system will dress in purple and scarlet, the colors of royalty, which are already found in some so-called Christian ceremonies today. They will also use a golden cup in their idol worship.
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
The term "mystery" means that her true identity had been hidden for a period of time. Remember Babylon is where organized false religion got its start. She is the worst of all the worlds false religious systems and she leads the entire world into idolatry, and all other religions of the world will look to her as their mother.
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
False religion has always been responsible for the persecution of true Christians. During the great tribulation period there will be a great persecution of new believers and spiritual Babylon will be responsible. Rev 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. We must remember that these persecuted believers are not Christians who go into the seven year tribulation, but they are people who will come to believe during the Great Tribulation.
Rev 17:7-8 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: 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.
Many demons are now in prison in the bottomless pit. The beast is a demon who will someday be released from the bottomless pit to possess the antichrist. He is identified with the antichrist because he will control him completely. It could be that this one that comes out of the bottomless pit is a very evil demon that has possessed some very evil person in the past, but is now confined in the bottomless pit. He could be the same demon that possessed Nero, the emperor of Rome, since the Roman Empire will be revived during the Great Tribulation. This may explain the statement that he was, and is not, and yet is.
Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
The seven mountains are the seven hills of Rome; Rome will be the home of spiritual Babylon.
Rev 17:10-11 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
These kings are rulers of the Roman Empire who persecuted Jews and Christians, as the beast will. The beast refers to the antichrist. The antichrist will be the ruler of the revived Roman Empire.
Rev 17:12-13 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
These ten world rulers, whoever they are, will only rule for a short period of time. Because the whole world is controlled by the evil one, they will all support the antichrist.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, 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.
When Jesus Christ returns as King of kings, we who believe in Him will be with Him. The nations of the world will gather to wage war against Him, but to no avail.
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
After the rapture takes place, the whore will be able to take control of the many false Christians in this world, and will have unopposed control of the minds of men. Many people who call themselves Christians today will not be raptured because they are not true Christians; they are religious, but they have not been born again. Furthermore, because almost all denominations have many nonbelievers in them they will still be here during the Great Tribulation and will become part of the one world religion.
Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest 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.
The united world government will only use the harlot to gain power. Since the beast wants all the people of the world to worship him only, he will destroy the whore, spiritual Babylon, as soon as he becomes powerful enough to do so.
Rev 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
Even the most wicked unbelievers in this world are the servants of the Lord. In this case, they are used by God to bring judgment upon the harlot, spiritual Babylon.
Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
When the apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation, the city of Rome ruled over the kings of the earth. The kingdom of the antichrist will be the revived Roman Empire.
Rev 18:2-3 And he cried mightily 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. 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 through the abundance of her delicacies.
This false religious system which had so much control over the world will be no more. It is apparent that the false religious system will be very wealthy; it may even have more wealth than all of today's religions combined. She will have so much wealth that she will make the world's merchants rich by her extravagant spending.
Rev 18:4-5 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
God is not only telling His people to separate themselves from the false religion of the tribulation period, He is also telling His people of this day to separate themselves from all forms of false religion, and to put their faith in Jesus Christ, and in Him only. John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. People are saved by faith in Jesus Christ, not by religion.
Rev 18:6-8 Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 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 judgeth her.
There is a day of judgment coming for all the wicked and especially for the world's false religious system. Those who put their faith in religion will be judged for their idolatry because they don't trust in Jesus Christ, the only Savior.
Rev 18:9-13 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
The only reason the merchants of the earth will mourn for her is because she will not be able to buy their products anymore.
Rev 18:14-20 And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 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! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, 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. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.
The world will mourn for spiritual Babylon, but heaven will rejoice over her judgment. The saints, apostles, and prophets all rejoiced over her judgment because she was responsible for so much of the suffering of the true Church in the past, as well as the suffering of the tribulation saints.
Rev 18:21-23 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. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
As the ancient Babylon was thrown down, also the Babylon of the great tribulation will be thrown down, never to arise again. The teaching here is that all false religion will be removed from the face of the earth forever.
Rev 18:24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.
Babylon, representative of all the false religions of the world, is responsible for the death of all those who were slain for their faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Rev 19:1-3 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.
There will be great celebration in heaven over the destruction of the world's religious system.
All Scripture taken from King James Bible
* Bible Studies by Max Swan
Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (NAS) Jer 9:23-24