5/08/18 Revelation 18:1-8 “Babylon will reap what she has sown”

 

The question that is often asked is whether there is just the one Babylon or maybe a 2nd one. Because it is referred to as “that great city” in both Revelation 17 & 18, then it would have to be a single different city spoken about in each chapter if more than one Babylon. But Babylon still appears to be described as a single entity. It is, however, possible for there to be 2 different aspects of the same Babylon, one being religious mystery Babylon and the other being the rich trading centre of the world. They might even be centred in 2 separate cities, yet each one being “that great city”. But my view is that Babylon is primarily a great trading city of the world today, a city that controls the trading riches of the world, yet the mystery Babylon is a world-wide religious system that is attached to that great city because it is that religion that has provided the foundation for all that immeasurable wealth of the merchants of the world. The religion is a consequence of that trading, and the trading is a consequence of that religion. The 2 are joined together in a symbiotic relationship; each one feeds off the successes of the other.

 

Thus, I see Babylon as being centred in one of either London, New York or Rome, with London as my preference. However, the religious system is likely to be based upon a one-world religion largely based upon the foundation of the catholic church of Rome. The final empire will be a revived Roman empire which means it will probably have something to do with Rome, and this also implicates Rome as a major player in this game. And, even if London is that great trading city of the world, it will still be the one-world religion based upon the Roman apostasy that will have set up the trading capital of the world. That is, if London (or New York) is that great trading city of Babylon, it will be under the grip of mystery Babylon (of Rome), without which it could never have existed in the first place.

 

Revelation 18:1And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

 

great power – or mega-authority. It doesn’t depict brute strength (as dynamis would) but the power to control and decide by the right of authority vested in this angel.

lightenedphotizo (give light to; shine; illuminate; render evident; be made clear to all; enlighten spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge; instruct; teach; give understanding to)

“after these things” means that this series of events follows on from the downfall of mystery Babylon in the previous chapter.

 

This angel has great authority to give commands and to speak on behalf of the authority of sovereign God. His glory is immense, apparently lighting up the whole earth, yet this is also the glory of God vested in this angel. The angel came down from heaven (obviously from the presence of God) with a statement of great importance from God to be proclaimed to the world. It is clear that those on earth will know that this event is taking place; the angel doesn’t try to hide his presence. Another point to note is that in spite of the acclaimed glory of Babylon (its gardens were said to be one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world), this angel outshines Babylon’s “glory”. Babylon has literally had the spotlight taken off her; she has been upstaged!

 

Revelation 18:2And 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.

 

strong voicemegas phone

is fallenpipto (descend; fall from or upon; be thrust down; metaphorically: to fall under judgment, come under condemnation; be cast down from prosperity; fall from righteousness; perish; disappear; cease)

devildaimon

hold – guard; watch; keep watch; of the place where captives are kept, a prison. The same word is also translated “cage” in this verse.

foul – spiritually unclean; unclean in thought and life. The same word is also translated “unclean” in this verse.

hateful – or detested, detestable.

 

Babylon the great (cf “that great city”) is fallen (come under judgment to fall from prosperity and condemned to perish, disappear, cease)! This is clearly not the physical Babylon that took the Jews captive around 600 BC, for that Babylon has literally not existed for a long time.

 

Note that the physical Babylon was condemned to become a desert after its wickedness against God. Babylon did continue to survive until 275 BC when the inhabitants of Babylon were deported by the Seleucids, one of the mini-empires who took power after the death of Alexander the Great.

Isaiah 13:19-2219 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees’ excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 20 It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there. 21 But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. 22 And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in [their] pleasant palaces: and her time [is] near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.

 

The city itself became an insignificant place after that, and was even settled by Muslims around 650 AD. By the 900s Babylon was supposedly a small desert village named Babel; no reliable record exists of any habitation of Babylon after this time.

So this Babylon that will fall into condemnation and destruction is a symbolic Babylon, representing all that the physical Babylon was, including its riches and wealth, and its mystery Babylon religion which started with the tower of Babel and has continued until now in various forms, but all involved in the worship of satan.

 

Babylon will now become a prison for demons, unclean spirits, and unclean and detested (detestable) birds. It is easy to see the bondage that the destruction of Babylon will bring to those who controlled mystery Babylon – the demons and unclean spirits – but the reference to unclean and hateful birds is not clear. Some Old Testament references (Eg. Isaiah 34:11-15) refer to the desolation of Babylon such that wild birds will live there instead of people, but, if taken literally, this cage (prison) would have to refer to the destruction of Babylon during this final 7-year tribulation period.

 

Revelation 18:3For all nations (ethnos) 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.

 

Revelation 17:2With 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.

Babylon has marketed all the vices and evils that mankind could desire, and in return demanding payment in the form of service to that which Babylon represents, satan.

 

People of all nations (ethnic groups) throughout history (not necessarily all people, for those who never bent the knee to Baal would not be included) have partaken of the intoxication of the spiritual fornication of Babylon, including their leaders who have by their wicked example led their people into that wickedness, that spiritual apostasy: fornication with satan and his demons. And, not only is Babylon spiritually wicked beyond measure; her merchandising of sin has made those who serve her (the merchants) rich beyond measure as well. It was the sin of merchandising that caused the fall of satan, although in his case it was probably the trading of God’s glory that led to satan’s downfall.

Ezekiel 28:16By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.

 

the abundance of her delicacies – the dynamis (power; the power which a person exerts or puts forth; cf dynamite) of her strenos (excessive strength which longs to break forth or out; luxury; eager desire) Thus, the power of her luxuries (or excessive strength?). The merchants of the earth have become mega-rich through the power of Babylon’s luxuries; such goods literally sell themselves and all the merchants have to do is to make them available. They are ultra-desirable!

 

The merchants of the earth would include people such as the Ashkenazis, the rich “Jews” of today, such as Rothschild and Rockefeller, most of the major banking families, and most of the royal families of Europe. These are the people who finance the politics of the world; they are the king-makers of the world. They have made huge fortunes by selling the products of Babylon, which in turn cause the misery of countless people who cannot afford the sin to which they have become addicted.

 

Revelation 18:4And 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.

 

partakerssygkoinoneo (to become a partaker together with others; to have fellowship together) This is another of those “syn” words where many come together to form one single entity, a synthesis.

Here’s another of those “proofs” that demonstrate that the mark of the beast leads to irreversible condemnation in hell. Do not partake together, do not have fellowship with those sinners in such a way that by having such fellowship you become indistinguishable from those sinners; that is, such that you are part of the one single entity with those who partake of the sins of Babylon.

 

God’s people are to remove themselves from any association with the sins of Babylon, or else they will receive the plagues (heavy affliction as a result of their judgment) due such people. This is not just a warning to avoid trouble, but a command to stay away from trouble no matter what.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-2221 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

2 Corinthians 6:14-1814 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

Revelation 18:5For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

 

For the sins of Babylon have reached as high as heaven itself. Genesis 11:4aAnd they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top [may reach] unto heaven

Ezra 9:6bfor our iniquities are increased over [our] head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

reachedakoloutheo (to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him; to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple) Note that it is translated “follow” 91 times and “reached” only once. So the idea is that their sins have followed each other up to heaven. The word can refer to the enemy pursuing his victim so closely that the victim cannot get away; thus sin building upon sin. The meaning can be “cleave to”, as in every sin cleaved to each other, or the idea could be that they came so close to heaven that they literally cleaved to heaven.

 

And their sin has become so prominent that it will not escape the attention (remembrance) of God Himself. Note Revelation 16:19band great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

One way of looking at this is that Babylon has sinned so much that there can be no backing off from their inevitable judgment. (cf the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart)

 

Revelation 18:6Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double (twofold) according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double (twofold).

 

Pay (cause her debt to be settled) Babylon back in like manner as she has sold (traded) her wares. Babylon’s works are the transactions she has had with mankind on behalf of satan; thus she has built up debt against God and His creation, and this debt has to be settled so that the books may be balanced. But, not only equal recompense, for Zacchaeus paid back fourfold for his wickedness (Luke 19:8).

 

The Old Testament law required double payment for theft.

Exodus 22:4; 74 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

7 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man’s house; if the thief be found, let him pay double.

Babylon has committed great wickedness against God and mankind; therefore the accounts may only be settled if she pays back double. If Babylon has filled her cup with fornication (Revelation 17:4) then the cup of judgment she will be made to drink will be double payment; that is, 100% interest!

 

Revelation 18:7 – 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.

 

Just note how much glory Babylon had, how much living the life of luxury she had, all at the expense of the torment and sorrow of mankind, so let her have a taste of what she’s given to others. Babylon has boasted that she is a queen with every right to all she demands. Babylon has boasted that she is no widow, and shall see no sorrow; that is, she is there to enjoy her luxury; there will be no room for mourning (sorrow) anything in her life. She has caused so much torment and sorrow for others without a care for their suffering; now she will find out what it’s like to be given torment and sorrow. As the saying goes, “The boot’s on the other foot now!”

 

Revelation 18:8Therefore 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.

 

Therefore all her judgments will come at once; she will experience death (loss of her life as she has lived it for so long), mourning (for what she once had and never will have ever again) and famine (the scarcity of the basic needs of life). Babylon will now have to do without everything she has lived for; she will now suffer an eternity absent from the life-giver of the universe, sovereign God. This is spiritual starvation which will probably be the most tormenting of all punishments in hell: separation from God. This may refer to being a widow in Vs 7 above, for God’s people will all be part of a type of marriage relationship with God, both Israel and the Church.

 

Babylon will get her just deserts. She will be utterly burned (consumed) with fire; there can be no question over whether this can or will happen, for God who judges her is strong (mighty), fully able to do everything He has promised to do to Babylon.

Luke 1:37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Mystery Babylon will be burned with fire by the 10 kings of the antichrist.

Revelation 17:16And 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 penalty for some forms of fornication was to be burned with fire.

Leviticus 20:14And if a man take a wife and her mother, it [is] wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

Leviticus 21:9And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

The fire could also refer to the fires of hell where the fires are never quenched (Mark 9:43-48).

Revelation 20:10And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

 

All those who associate with Babylon (those who drank the wine of Babylon’s fornication – Revelation 17:2With 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.) will be judged as per Revelation 20:11-1511 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is [the book] of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

 

Those who mistakenly teach that you may take the mark of the beast and still be saved have to do a lot of scriptural twisting to make the Bible even suggest what they want it to say.

How would people take the mark of the beast and be saved when those people have already been described as completely unrepentant?

Revelation 9:20-2120 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

 

Phil Johnson (of MacArthur’s church) says in defence of MacArthur: Taking the mark of the Beast is high treason against Christ and will be judged by God accordingly. Meanwhile, the Lord is “good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon [Him]” (Psalm 86:5). (https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B131030)

But, he seems to have ignored one insurmountable problem: Biblical truth!!

Revelation 14:9-119 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

 

You can teach any heresy you like just one verse at a time!

 

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