Study – Grow – Know

Babylon and Its System, Part 1

December 30, 2019 at 12:51 PM 4 comments

When reading and studying the book of Revelation (or biblical prophetic passages in general), too many people see things that don’t exist. They do so because they think that there are meanings within meanings in prophetic passages instead of continuing to use the proper hermeneutic. In the case of studying Scripture, the grammatico-historical hermeneutic is best because it applies the same rules to every aspect of Scripture.

For instance, some will look at certain numerical values in Revelation and take them literally, while seeing other numbers as figurative. There is no rhyme or reason for them to do so except it seems to make sense to them. Trouble is that when dealing with numerical values in Revelation, it is impossible to prove that they should be taken figuratively. In essence, everything should be taken at face value unless the text and/or context determines another way of understanding the passage. The Bible says one thing or it says nothing.

A discussion of Babylon is a good case in point. Revelation 17 and 18 deal with several aspects of Babylon, that ancient city/kingdom that has its roots all the way back to Genesis 10/11 with a guy named Nimrod. Nimrod was a “hunter of men” (figure of speech), and that essentially means he gathered men to himself. He didn’t hunt to kill them and that is understood from the context.

Nimrod was already a king over an empire (Genesis 10). As such, he was a obviously a very charismatic leader. At that point in history, the Bible tells us that everyone spoke the exact same language so everyone you met if you lived then was clearly understood by all. This made it easier to come together as one major super group or culture and that’s exactly what God wanted. However, the people refused to spread themselves across the globe and simply planted themselves in Babylon.

It is readily conceded by most commentators that Nimrod and his wife began the one primary false religious system that has remained with humanity down through the ages and stands opposed to God and His truth. Though it began as one specific apostate religion (with roots in the Garden of Eden), it continues to exist today in many offshoots, though from the same root, known primarily as New Agism since the tenets are very similar to what began under Nimrod.

Within New Agism, people constantly speak about their “experiences” they believe are from God or angelic messengers. (Just go to YouTube to learn how many people believe they channel a spirit being called “Archangel Michael” as one example.) Visions, tongues, dreams, channeling of other worldly beings and numerous things associated with the “Gnostic” religious heresies are the norms of the New Age religious system.

The New Age religion is, at its root, a religion that teaches people to deify themselves. It’s really connected to what Satan (via the Serpent) used to get Adam and Eve to sin in the first place by making them think they should strive to be “like” God. New Agism incorporates all false religious systems (like Buddhism, Transcendental Meditation, Satanism, and many others). Any religious system opposed to biblical truth qualifies as New Age with roots all the way back to Genesis 11.

The New Age teaches folks to accept themselves as already divine. They then begin to “activate” that divinity within (through meditation, chakras, opening the third eye, etc.), and the sky becomes the limit. New Agers will use any number of biblical passages to support their beliefs. That these passages are taken out of their context or given new meanings devoted to New Agism doesn’t matter. Remember that all “real” religion for New Agers is based on secret knowledge (Greek, gnosis) that is only available to those who desperately seek it by turning inward and tenets from any/all religions are equal.

Again, this all began with Nimrod and his effort to bring people together to build a ziggurat that was to reach to the heavens. This is profound even though they weren’t seriously thinking that they could build a temple that extended high enough to actually reach the heavens. That wasn’t necessary at all. All they needed to do was build a very high temple/ziggurat. They would’ve likely painted the very top to appear as though it was in the clouds. Once done, they would then wait for their gods (reflections of themselves), to come down to meet and greet them inside that temple revealing secret knowledge. Of course, demons would have impersonated these gods. This is exactly why the text says this in reference to that temple/ziggurat:

And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built (Genesis 11:5)…Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another’s speech. (v 7; ESV; emphasis added)

Notice that God is actually using the earth-dwellers’ verbiage when He says, “Come, let us go down…” He’s doing exactly what the people were hoping God would do but of course, they were not expecting THE only God to do that. They wanted their gods to do that. But God had a surprise and introduced languages so the people could no longer understand one another. Because of this, they grouped themselves into clans where the language was commonly understood and then went off with that clan of people to form their civilization. Can you imagine what they must have felt like? One minute you’re talking with your neighbor and the next all you hear out of his mouth is absolute gibberish and that’s all he’s hearing out of yours! No wonder they listened for language they recognized and went with those folks to other areas of land. You and I would’ve done the same thing.

But isn’t it surprising that God, even though He created culture groups that day based on languages, did not destroy Babylon or what became known as the Babylon economic/religious system? In fact, it is clear throughout Scripture that Babylon never really went away.

Babylon was the capitol of Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylonian Empire in Daniel (the first of several Times of the Gentile kingdoms of Daniel 2), and in the book of Revelation, it is mentioned several times. Babylon – the city and religious/economic system – will have a final day of reckoning and it will occur within the framework of God’s perfect timing, during the last three and a half years of the Tribulation period, which is yet future.

As an aside here, please be aware that there are many people – from average Christians to seasoned commentators – who believe the Tribulation has begun, but Daniel 9:24-27 alone makes it very clear that the beginning of the Tribulation period (seven years in length), has two three and a half year periods. The Tribulation itself will not begin until the Antichrist signs a seven-year covenant with Israel and the surrounding nations (mainly Arab nations), which will bring about that seven-year treaty of peace. This will allow Israel to rebuild the 3rd Temple and the Antichrist will desecrate it at the midpoint of the Tribulation (cf 2 Thessalonians 2). It’s all very clearly laid out in God’s Word.

So the Tribulation has not begun yet but when it does, everyone will know it…and most will be taken in by the signing of the peace treaty, especially Israel. Some will recognize the person who brokers that peace treaty as the Antichrist, but many will not be aware of it until the midpoint of the Tribulation.

But what is Babylon? Is the Bible telling us in Revelation 17 and 18 that an actual city will be rebuilt where old Babylon originally stood or is the Bible pointing to an economic and false religious system that was what the original Babylon was built on? I believe it is telling us to look for both. In fact, if we consider it, what Nimrod was building was something that was actually physical (the ziggurat), but underlying that would have been a burgeoning sprawling economic and religious system. It’s difficult to think anything else.

Revelation 17 opens with an angel talking to the apostle John. The angel says he will show him (John) what will happen to the “prostitute/great harlot” who sits on sits upon “many waters.” As usual, the key to understanding this phrase is within the context, not just of Revelation 17 but elsewhere in Scripture. If God is the primary Author of the entirety of the Bible, then obviously, we need to allow the Bible interpret itself regardless of the human author.

I believe it is absolutely clear that the “great harlot” here is Babylon. Why? Because the Bible tells us that’s the case in Revelation 17:5 (ESV).

And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: ‘Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations’.

How can anyone dispute that? Just as in Roman times, prostitutes often wore their names on a headband, the harlot here does nearly the same thing. We don’t know if she’s wearing a headband or if her name is tattooed onto her forehead, but she is Babylon. Does she represent the city or the religious or economic system? I believe all of it because Babylon is secular humanist from the beginning created by Nimrod to elevate humanity through religion (and since Nimrod is a type of Antichrist, it would not have surprised me to learn that Nimrod would’ve eventually forced everyone to worship him and him alone, if God had not intervened early on), and created an economic system to support it.

Babylon was also meant to be a major city through which hundreds of thousands of people would live and trade. The fact that Babylon was in fact, an actual city as well as a religious and economic system is clear from history. What John is seeing here in Revelation 17 is the emphasis on the great harlot herself and her connection to the religious aspect of things as seen verse 6.

And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. (ESV)

Babylon is going to be completely and with finality at some point in the future, judged for her persecution of the saints over the centuries. We know from history that this has been the case and still is the case today in many parts of the world. Just recently, Muslims killed many Christians in Nigeria for simply being Christian. The blood of martyrs that has been spilled over the centuries since Babylon was first created goes into the untold millions and it will continue well into the coming Tribulation period.

What is the great harlot sitting on (or besides; Greek epi)? The text says “many waters.” What does that mean?  There is only one answer and the Bible tells us in Revelation 17:15.

And the angel said to me, ‘The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.’ (ESV)

See? No guesswork needed. The angel tells John the meaning of the many waters, which equals peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. Essentially, by the time we get to Revelation 17, Babylon has become global as a religious system. That is yet future.

But Babylon is not simply the apostate religious system in all its forms. It also includes and is undergirded by the economic system that holds it up and likely will have a physical space on this earth. We know that Saddam Hussein started rebuilding it. How effective a city it will become remains to be seen. But regarding Babylon as an economic system, let’s see what Revelation 18 points out.

By the way, verse 16 of chapter 17 notes that the ten horns (rulers who rule ten areas of the world under the authority of the Antichrist, who will be the final world ruler of Daniel 2), with the Antichrist will completely destroy the religious aspect of Babylon or the “great harlot.” Why? Because Antichrist will no longer need or want it since he will declare himself to be “God” and will do so by waltzing into the rebuilt Jewish Temple of the Tribulation (2 Thess 2). This happens at the midway point and from that moment on, Antichrist will demand that all people worship him and no other. Anyone who objects will be martyred. Antichrist will use and put up with the Babylonian religious system (apostate) until such a time as he has total power over the globe. Sounds fantastic? It is but it will happen because the Bible says it will.

This is the problem I have with those who say we are entering a time of unprecedented peace and great economic times. Many of these people are Christian but they seem unfamiliar with God’s Word. Not only does the world not get better as time goes on, but the evil will become fully dominant as God allows Satan to gain mastery over the world through Satan’s spiritual “son,” Antichrist. Remember, Satan creates a counterfeit “Trinity” during the Tribulation.

While President Trump is accomplishing some good things, he’s also furthering the goals of the evil elite (gun control, continuing to fund sanctuary cities, adding to our national debt, etc.) and he may be doing that unknowingly or unwillingly. Even if President Trump only did wonderful things for America, it will not last and I cannot say that strongly enough, unless of course, the Bible has it wrong. It doesn’t. We are heading toward judgment but before we get there, Antichrist is going to rule the entire world as the most evil dictator this world has ever seen. This goes all the way back to Daniel 2.

I’ll be back next time to discuss aspects of Babylon’s economic system from Revelation 18, which God says will also be destroyed. What will the world have after that? The Bible tells us so join me then.

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