Babel was the first organized rebellion against God, and
Babylon will play a major role in the Antichrist’s government. Resentful of the religion’s demands, the
various states will turn on Babylon as the religious center, destroying
her. After they destroy her they will
begin to understand what a role the religious organizations have played in
their lives. The destruction of Babylon
is announced in Revelation 18:1-3. “And after these things I saw another angel
come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his
glory. 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.”
As the angel explains, the city is destroyed because
religion has seduced people to worship other things rather than God because of
the economic and political benefits of going along with their teachings. Christians are warned not to get involved with
the world’s religious practices, but to stand against them, in Revelation 18:4-6. “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. 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.”
For centuries, false religions have attacked Christianity,
both by frontal attacks, and by trying to infiltrate and corrupt their
beliefs. They have convinced people that
they are the true representatives of God, and as such are superior to other
people. It is that attitude of superiority
that will result in their destruction, according to Revelation 18:7-10. “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.”
The destruction of Babylon will result in a political and
economic vacuum that will have both the political and economic consequences on
the entire world, as described in Revelation 18:9-19. “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. 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.”
The destruction of Babylon will eliminate the middle men who
have facilitated the selling of everything from food and necessities to slaves
and sexual perversion. Those who fear
God will be glad to see the end of the corruption, as Revelation 18:20 tells
us. “Rejoice
over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged
you on her.”
Revelation 18:21-24 describes it as sudden and complete
destruction. “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. And in her was found the blood of prophets,
and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”
The rebellion at Babel against God and his commands laid the
foundation for all the murders and ungodly behavior since the flood. The Tower of Babel has been preserved as the
Temple of Marduk to the present day. It
is a monument to man’s rebellion against God.
Thanks for the fascinating post, Donald! It is amazing to watch the events of today, with the way being paved for a one-world government and one-world religion. Truly it seens that we are in the End Times. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!
ReplyDeleteI agree. the constant efforts to set up a one world government and religion have progressed to a point where it could happen any time, although God may not allow it for some. When it starts, I think it will go very quickly.
Delete