In the Book of Revelation (Rev 18:4) God gives a command. He admonishes “His people” to come out of Babylon. So, where or what is Babylon, who are “His people”, and why must they come out?
To understand the context of God’s command, we must back up to Rev Chapter 17, where in verses 1-6, it describes a woman, a great harlot (seen by John, a disciple of Jesus, while he is brought up to heaven by Jesus during John's interment on the Isle of Patmos) who appears to John riding on a scarlet beast having 7 heads and 10 horns (v. 7). Verse 5 describes the woman as having a name written on her forehead:
“MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT. THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”.
The remainder of Chapter 17 describes further characteristics of the 7-headed beast. In verse 18, it states that “the woman who you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
So where is this great city Babylon? Is it the ancient city of Babylon in what is now the nation of Iraq? No, that city, which was the principal city of the kingdom of Babylon, was destroyed by Cyrus of the Median/Persian empire in approximately 539 B.C. You can look it up. In fact, Saddam Hussein started to rebuild it, to no avail.
So where is this great city Babylon? Is it the ancient city of Babylon in what is now the nation of Iraq? No, that city, which was the principal city of the kingdom of Babylon, was destroyed by Cyrus of the Median/Persian empire in approximately 539 B.C. You can look it up. In fact, Saddam Hussein started to rebuild it, to no avail.
Is it, as some TV evangelists and others say, the ancient city of Babylon rebuilt in the 21st century? No. Isaiah prophesied in approximately 740 B.C., in his “burden against Babylon” (Is 13: 1, 17-22) that the actual kingdom of Babylon would be destroyed forever and never would again be inhabited. In Jeremiah Chapter 25, it is also prophesied that Babylon shall never be rebuilt. This was written in about 625 B.C. So, this “Babylon the Great” referred to in the Book of Revelation cannot be a rebuilt actual city of Babylon in Iraq.
A careful reading of Chapter 18 of the Book of Revelation describes, in amazing detail, that the Great Harlot – Babylon the Great is indeed an actual city with which most of the world's leaders (political, financial) have “committed fornication” (v. 9), where she has lived luxuriously (v. 7), has made the merchants of the world rich (v. 15), and by her “all the nations were deceived” (v. 23). Her destruction will come about “in one hour.” (vv. 10, 19)
The placement of this description of Babylon the Great in the Book of Revelation is immediately after the 7th angel pours out his bowl of God’s wrath at the end of Chapter 16, which completes God’s wrath against an unrepentant world and the ushering in of the Kingdom of God.
But, Chapters 17 and 18 are considered by many Bible scholars as “parenthetical” in nature, since they are not a real-time description of events occurring on earth or in heaven vis-à-vis the 7 trumpet-initiated events or the 7 bowl judgments. Rather, these chapters are an off-line dialog between John and an angel to reveal to John further detail regarding the judgment by which that city, Babylon the Great, will suffer, including the characteristics of that city.
In another parenthetical chapter, Chapter 14 (v. 8), another angel tells John that “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The phrase “is fallen” is stated twice since the original historical city/kingdom of Babylon has already fallen (by the hand of the Medes), and now the present existing city of spiritual Babylon has fallen. Another explanation for stating this twice is that both the political and religious world systems which originated with ancient Babylon are now fallen.
Either way, the placement of this twice mention of Babylon being fallen in Chapter 14 is just after the description of the rapture of the 144,000 found in verses 1-5. Just prior to that, in Chapter 13, the beast, or anti-Christ, is described, including his authority to continue for 42 months (3 1/2 years). (Rev 13: 5)
Just after the mention of Babylon being fallen in Chapter 14 is a description, beginning in verse 9, of a warning to not worship the beast or his image or to take the mark of the beast. To do so would doom one for eternity.
So, it seems clear that Babylon the Great is an actual city which exists at the time of the beast, i.e. the anti-Christ. I believe that we have only a short time, no more than 10-15 years, or less, before the anti-Christ will indeed be revealed. I can think of no other city and host nation on earth which presently exists that dominates and “reigns over the kings of the earth” (Rev 17: 18) and makes all the merchants of the world rich, aside from New York City and America. Additionally, Rev 18: 19 describes a lament of merchants for the destruction of "that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth." This must be New York City and host nation America, as well.
Some teach that the "great city" is Rome (or more accurately, the Vatican) because it associates the "great harlot" with a false church associated with the false prophet of Rev chapter 13, and they further associate that false church with the Roman Catholic church which is headquartered at the Vatican. But, Rev 18: 19 requires that all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth. I do not believe that Rome, or the Vatican, make all ship owners rich, or engage in the amount of commerce on par with New York City, and also with America.
Some also base this assumption regarding Rome on Rev 17: 9, which gives information about the 7-headed beast on which the harlot sits, whereby it states that "the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits." The use of the term "seven mountains" in this verse, I believe, does not connote the 7 hills of Rome, but connotes rather 7 world kingdoms or nations and not 7 literal mountains.
While I do believe that the city of Rome and the Vatican will become an apostate religious Babylon during Daniel's 70th week, and may indeed be destroyed by the antichrist some time around the mid-point of Daniel's last week (i.e., about 3 1/2 years prior to Jesus' return), I believe these passages of Chap 17 of Rev refer to something else -- a political/economic Babylon. The next verse, Rev 17: 10, confirms this and gives further information about the 7-headed beast by stating that "there are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come." I believe that these 7 kings signify leaders of the 7 "mountains", or world kingdoms, described in Rev 17: 9.
Remember that the angel is speaking to John in approximately the year 90 A.D. At that time in world history 5 world kingdoms had come and gone (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media/Persia, and Greece), one world kingdom then-existed (Roman Empire), and one world kingdom had not yet come (future revived Roman empire). Remember also that the great city has to exert control over leaders of the world in finance and trade, according to the Book of Revelation. No other city in the present world has more influence on the entire world in regard to finance (stock markets and commodity trading located there) and trade. Couple that thought with the huge amount of drug use, pornography, prostitution, same-sex marriage, gay pride activities, and other activities considered abominations to God occurring within New York and within America. Indeed, the cup of her abominations and the filthiness of her fornications are filling to the brim of her golden cup. (Rev 17: 4) Without repentance by the people of this nation, God’s wrath will be carried out and she will be judged.
Some teach that the "great city" is Rome (or more accurately, the Vatican) because it associates the "great harlot" with a false church associated with the false prophet of Rev chapter 13, and they further associate that false church with the Roman Catholic church which is headquartered at the Vatican. But, Rev 18: 19 requires that all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth. I do not believe that Rome, or the Vatican, make all ship owners rich, or engage in the amount of commerce on par with New York City, and also with America.
Some also base this assumption regarding Rome on Rev 17: 9, which gives information about the 7-headed beast on which the harlot sits, whereby it states that "the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits." The use of the term "seven mountains" in this verse, I believe, does not connote the 7 hills of Rome, but connotes rather 7 world kingdoms or nations and not 7 literal mountains.
While I do believe that the city of Rome and the Vatican will become an apostate religious Babylon during Daniel's 70th week, and may indeed be destroyed by the antichrist some time around the mid-point of Daniel's last week (i.e., about 3 1/2 years prior to Jesus' return), I believe these passages of Chap 17 of Rev refer to something else -- a political/economic Babylon. The next verse, Rev 17: 10, confirms this and gives further information about the 7-headed beast by stating that "there are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come." I believe that these 7 kings signify leaders of the 7 "mountains", or world kingdoms, described in Rev 17: 9.
Remember that the angel is speaking to John in approximately the year 90 A.D. At that time in world history 5 world kingdoms had come and gone (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media/Persia, and Greece), one world kingdom then-existed (Roman Empire), and one world kingdom had not yet come (future revived Roman empire). Remember also that the great city has to exert control over leaders of the world in finance and trade, according to the Book of Revelation. No other city in the present world has more influence on the entire world in regard to finance (stock markets and commodity trading located there) and trade. Couple that thought with the huge amount of drug use, pornography, prostitution, same-sex marriage, gay pride activities, and other activities considered abominations to God occurring within New York and within America. Indeed, the cup of her abominations and the filthiness of her fornications are filling to the brim of her golden cup. (Rev 17: 4) Without repentance by the people of this nation, God’s wrath will be carried out and she will be judged.
So, the question remains regarding who God refers to as “My people”. A quick concordance study of the bible shows many, many references in the Old Testament which describe the nation of Israel as “My people” in the eyes of God. Examples are too numerous, but 1 Chron 11: 2 describes a scene where God is speaking to David after David was anointed to be king of Israel, although Saul was still king of Israel at the time. God tells David that he “shall shepherd my people Israel.” (emphasis added)
However, in Rom 9: 25, the apostle Paul tells us, quoting the prophet Hosea (Hos 2:23), that God has included a new group of people as “My people”. Hosea had prophesied that God “will call them my people who were not my people.” (See also, 1 Pet 2: 10) Thus, Gentile Christian believers are now “My people”. I do not believe, however, as many do, that this description by Paul, citing Hosea, gives grounds for Christians to claim that THEY, and only they, are now considered by God as “My people.” This is part of what is known as “replacement theology”, where Christians have become replacements for the Jews in God’s eyes.
I believe that God, as prophesied by Hosea, has simply increased the group of those He considers “My people” and has not substituted one group for another. The nation of Israel, i.e. the Jews, will ALWAYS be his people. He made that promise to Abraham in Genesis Chapter 12. Also, in Deut 14: 2 it is recorded by Moses that God considers the Jews His "holy people" and "a people for Himself." I do not believe that God will ever back-off these promises.
Since both Jews and Christians are considered “My people” in God’s eye, then what does the command mean? In full, Rev 18: 4 states, "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.'" (See also, Jer 51: 45)
UPDATE: So then, if a believer leaves the United States prior to its destruction, where should he/she go? Perhaps verse 50 of Jer 51 offers a clue. God's word says to "let Jerusalem come to mind." It says this in the context of speaking to those who have escaped the sword which has come upon Babylon and has destroyed her. God may indeed be telling such ones who escape His wrath against the United States to seek shelter in Israel. Seek the Lord to confirm this in YOUR heart.
I believe that the harlot of Rev 17 represents the entire Babylonian system, which is a human governmental system and accompanying religious system fostering a way of living which includes pride, false idols and a corrupt God-rejecting government. This Babylonian system originated with Nimrod, great-grandson of Noah, after the flood, and is described in Gen 11. God wants us to "come out" of such a Babylonian system and to seek Him with all our heart by living holy for His kingdom. Be a memeber of the true church, the "Philadelphia church", and not the lukewarm "Laodicean church" of Rev 3. That is, God wants us to be standard bearers for Him and His kingdom -- ambassadors. These Babylonian systems are increasing in strength in America. Do not be overcome, but continue to do good throughout the ever-increasing evil times which are rapidly accelerating around us. The Kingdom of God transcends the Babylonian systems. We live in the world, but we need to operate to show we are in His Kingdom which is spiritual.
So, if New York City is that great city Babylon the Great, then the United States of America is the spiritual nation of Babylon which includes that great city. How can this be? How could God birth America and then bless America for over 200 years only to bring her to nothing?
Read the prophecy found in Ob 1: 1-4. It speaks of the ancient nation of Edom, but it appears equally applicable to the United States. God has indeed set America's "nest among the stars" but also vows to "bring her down" because of her pride and to "make [her] small among the nations." God hates pride, which shows lack of consideration and deference to Him. Clearly, America as a nation has turned away from and forgotten God.
King David wrote over 3,000 years ago that, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Emphasis added) (See, Ps 9: 17-18) There is no exception in that psalm for America. A nation cannot forget God until it first knows God. America was founded on God's word. In the early 1600's, the Puritans who landed at Plymouth Rock in the Massachusetts Bay colony founded that colony on biblical principles and saw America as a New Israel. Recently, however, the president of our nation told the world that America is the world's largest Muslim nation. Insanity. Who does not believe that America as a nation has indeed forgotten God?
Read the prophecies concerning "Babylon" found in Jer chapters 50, 51 and the many descriptions therein which were not fulfilled by ancient Babylon. For example, Jer 51: 6-14 speaks of a "Babylon" which I believe refers to that same "Babylon the Great" of the Book of Revelation. Read it for yourself and note the similarities between that prophecy and America today. Notice the similarities between Jer 51: 6-8 and Rev 14: 8, Rev 17: 2, and Rev 18: 3 regarding the characteristics and destruction of the "Babylon" described therein.
UPDATE: As recorded in Jer 51: 12-14, the prophet Jeremiah hears God's spirit say, "set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; make the guard strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes. For the Lord has both devised and done what He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon. O you who dwell by many waters, abundant in treasures. Your end has come, the measure of your covetousness. The Lord of hosts has sworn by Himself: 'Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts and they shall lift up a shout against you.'” (Emphasis added) I, and others far more scholarly in biblical research than I, believe that this prophecy is against the Babylon the Great of the end times. That is the Babylon described in the Book of Revelation which I and they argue is the United States of America.
UPDATE: Ancient Babylon was not geographically located "on many waters." America is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Great Lakes provide a thousand miles of shoreline in the northern portion of America. Truly, America is a nation on many waters.
UPDATE: I believe that in addition to the destruction of America by external sources, such as a nuclear attack from Russia and/or China, internal foreign forces will cause America to become paralyzed and perhaps go into occupation and control by foreign forces. Jeremiah calls this a takeover by men as numerous and characteristic as locusts. Locusts swarm in large numbers, and they devour.
UPDATE: Verses 41-44 of Jer 51, describe the total destruction of Babylon (Sheshach), the praise of the earth. I believe this description is literal and that it describes America. After a devastating and complete nuclear attack, the great earthquake associated with the 7th Trumpet in the Book of Revelation will shift the land of America in such a way as to have the oceans overflow the land, forever.
UPDATE: In Jer 50: 14-15, the prophet records God saying, "put yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow. Shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. Shout against her all around. She has given her hand, her foundations have fallen. Her walls are thrown down for it is the vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance on her." Verses 29-32 describe further detail regarding America's coming destruction.
UPDATE: Again, I believe this prophecy is for America. Ancient Babylon was taken over in a relatively peaceful invasion by the Medes in one night (See, Dan 5: 26-30) The coming combined invasion and subsequent destruction of America will not occur in one night. Its utter destruction will occur in one day, but the prior invasion by foreign forces will most likely take months.
Some ask, "How could God bless America and then bring her down?" In Jer 18: 7-10, God speaks about any nation which sins against Him and the nation which does, or does not, repent of that sin. Beginning in verse 7 God speaks, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." (Emphasis added)
Does anyone doubt that America today is going in the wrong moral direction vis-a-vis God? Can the need for repentance in America be any more clear to avoid God's judgment and utter destruction? Without such repentance, judgment and utter destruction are coming to New York City, and sadly, I believe to most of America. When? Only God knows, but he has given the warning.
UPDATE: So then, if a believer leaves the United States prior to its destruction, where should he/she go? Perhaps verse 50 of Jer 51 offers a clue. God's word says to "let Jerusalem come to mind." It says this in the context of speaking to those who have escaped the sword which has come upon Babylon and has destroyed her. God may indeed be telling such ones who escape His wrath against the United States to seek shelter in Israel. Seek the Lord to confirm this in YOUR heart.
I believe that the harlot of Rev 17 represents the entire Babylonian system, which is a human governmental system and accompanying religious system fostering a way of living which includes pride, false idols and a corrupt God-rejecting government. This Babylonian system originated with Nimrod, great-grandson of Noah, after the flood, and is described in Gen 11. God wants us to "come out" of such a Babylonian system and to seek Him with all our heart by living holy for His kingdom. Be a memeber of the true church, the "Philadelphia church", and not the lukewarm "Laodicean church" of Rev 3. That is, God wants us to be standard bearers for Him and His kingdom -- ambassadors. These Babylonian systems are increasing in strength in America. Do not be overcome, but continue to do good throughout the ever-increasing evil times which are rapidly accelerating around us. The Kingdom of God transcends the Babylonian systems. We live in the world, but we need to operate to show we are in His Kingdom which is spiritual.
So, if New York City is that great city Babylon the Great, then the United States of America is the spiritual nation of Babylon which includes that great city. How can this be? How could God birth America and then bless America for over 200 years only to bring her to nothing?
Read the prophecy found in Ob 1: 1-4. It speaks of the ancient nation of Edom, but it appears equally applicable to the United States. God has indeed set America's "nest among the stars" but also vows to "bring her down" because of her pride and to "make [her] small among the nations." God hates pride, which shows lack of consideration and deference to Him. Clearly, America as a nation has turned away from and forgotten God.
King David wrote over 3,000 years ago that, "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Emphasis added) (See, Ps 9: 17-18) There is no exception in that psalm for America. A nation cannot forget God until it first knows God. America was founded on God's word. In the early 1600's, the Puritans who landed at Plymouth Rock in the Massachusetts Bay colony founded that colony on biblical principles and saw America as a New Israel. Recently, however, the president of our nation told the world that America is the world's largest Muslim nation. Insanity. Who does not believe that America as a nation has indeed forgotten God?
Read the prophecies concerning "Babylon" found in Jer chapters 50, 51 and the many descriptions therein which were not fulfilled by ancient Babylon. For example, Jer 51: 6-14 speaks of a "Babylon" which I believe refers to that same "Babylon the Great" of the Book of Revelation. Read it for yourself and note the similarities between that prophecy and America today. Notice the similarities between Jer 51: 6-8 and Rev 14: 8, Rev 17: 2, and Rev 18: 3 regarding the characteristics and destruction of the "Babylon" described therein.
UPDATE: As recorded in Jer 51: 12-14, the prophet Jeremiah hears God's spirit say, "set up the standard on the walls of Babylon; make the guard strong, set up the watchmen, prepare the ambushes. For the Lord has both devised and done what He spoke against the inhabitants of Babylon. O you who dwell by many waters, abundant in treasures. Your end has come, the measure of your covetousness. The Lord of hosts has sworn by Himself: 'Surely I will fill you with men, as with locusts and they shall lift up a shout against you.'” (Emphasis added) I, and others far more scholarly in biblical research than I, believe that this prophecy is against the Babylon the Great of the end times. That is the Babylon described in the Book of Revelation which I and they argue is the United States of America.
UPDATE: Ancient Babylon was not geographically located "on many waters." America is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Great Lakes provide a thousand miles of shoreline in the northern portion of America. Truly, America is a nation on many waters.
UPDATE: I believe that in addition to the destruction of America by external sources, such as a nuclear attack from Russia and/or China, internal foreign forces will cause America to become paralyzed and perhaps go into occupation and control by foreign forces. Jeremiah calls this a takeover by men as numerous and characteristic as locusts. Locusts swarm in large numbers, and they devour.
UPDATE: Verses 41-44 of Jer 51, describe the total destruction of Babylon (Sheshach), the praise of the earth. I believe this description is literal and that it describes America. After a devastating and complete nuclear attack, the great earthquake associated with the 7th Trumpet in the Book of Revelation will shift the land of America in such a way as to have the oceans overflow the land, forever.
UPDATE: In Jer 50: 14-15, the prophet records God saying, "put yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow. Shoot at her, spare no arrows, for she has sinned against the Lord. Shout against her all around. She has given her hand, her foundations have fallen. Her walls are thrown down for it is the vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance on her." Verses 29-32 describe further detail regarding America's coming destruction.
UPDATE: Again, I believe this prophecy is for America. Ancient Babylon was taken over in a relatively peaceful invasion by the Medes in one night (See, Dan 5: 26-30) The coming combined invasion and subsequent destruction of America will not occur in one night. Its utter destruction will occur in one day, but the prior invasion by foreign forces will most likely take months.
Some ask, "How could God bless America and then bring her down?" In Jer 18: 7-10, God speaks about any nation which sins against Him and the nation which does, or does not, repent of that sin. Beginning in verse 7 God speaks, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it, if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it, if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it." (Emphasis added)
Does anyone doubt that America today is going in the wrong moral direction vis-a-vis God? Can the need for repentance in America be any more clear to avoid God's judgment and utter destruction? Without such repentance, judgment and utter destruction are coming to New York City, and sadly, I believe to most of America. When? Only God knows, but he has given the warning.
My guess -- the destruction will occur some time during the final 3 1/2 years before Jesus returns, the final 3 1/2 years of Daniel's 70th week, based on the placement of the admonition of God in Rev 18: 4 which occurs after the anti-Christ/beast is revealed. At that time, I believe the principal city of America, "spiritual Babylon", New York City, and most likely much of America, will be utterly destroyed in one hour. This will probably be a nuclear event initiated by a nation such as Russia and/or North Korea, whose leaders have typically had hatred for America. Perhaps China could join in.
God warned Lot to leave Sodom before it was destroyed -- but Sodom was indeed destroyed. Effort should be directed by all born-again (from above) Christians to live as citizens of His Kingdom instead of trying to get God to hold-off on His judgement, which He cannot do since His Word says it will occur. God's people should focus on living holy for Him. When destruction comes to America, He will give His people a way out. Pray that you are counted worthy to escape. (Luke 21: 36)
It could be that after America is destroyed the war of Gog of Magog, described in Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39, will occur. I always wondered how any nation, or group of nations, could come against Israel militarily without America preventing such an action. Once America is destroyed, or severely wounded by a nuclear attack, there would be no world power capable of preventing such a war as described in Ez 38/39.
The "time of trouble" spoken of throughout the Old Testament is indeed just around the corner. It is time to repent and to prepare your heart to seek the Lord to escape things to come and to be hidden in the time of trouble. (Psalm 27: 5; Zeph 2: 3; Rev 3:10)
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