In the past, Babylon had been a city on the Euphrates River, but the name has also been used in the Old Testament as a symbolic reference to Rome. In these passages, the use of this name is probably a symbolic reference for whichever city will be used as the capital during the Tribulation - which will most likely be situated on or near the Euphrates River.
"Babylon" will not only be the center for the world's economy and government, but it will also incorporate the Antichrist's worldwide satanic religious system (a church-and-state, if you will)...
(Revelation 17:1-6) Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, 5 and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” 6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.
Next, an angel will explain what this vision means: Babylon (the Antichrist's capital) is the unfaithful harlot who seduces and influences the world. The scarlet beast is the Antichrist and his allies, who will overthrow all other world empires that are in opposition to them, in order to obtain worldwide control at the halfway point of the Tribulation. Towards the end of this portion of scripture, we see how evil turns on each other. This should come as no surprise. What is the saying? "There is no honor among thieves"...
(Revelation 17:7-13) And the angel said to me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. 9 Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, 10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. 11 The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. 12 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast..."
(Revelation 17:15-18) And he said to me, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. 16 And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. 17 For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled. 18 The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”This next verse gives a quick glimpse into how Babylon will end. When the Antichrist, Babylon and all the allies challenge God at the battle of Armageddon, God will have the victory...
(Revelation 17:14) “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
Today's takeaway: John's "wonder" would have also encompassed worry. It's a worrisome vision - until we are told that Jesus will overcome! Jesus has the victory!
Just as God knows how and when we should NOT know something about the future, God does know when we SHOULD know something about the future. This is one of the future events to know about! As well, the Israelites were told that Jesus, their Messiah would be coming and bringing salvation to the nations. They were told that their covenants would be completely fulfilled when their nation was obedient to God. And we are told that God will have the ultimate victory! This alone should encourage us...
(Jeremiah 32:17) Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You
(Psalm 147:5) Great is our Lord and abundant in strength; His understanding is infinite.
(1 Corinthians 15:55-57) O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Romans 8:31-39) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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