Babylon

Prologue

It seems that the real mystery of the end-time Babylon is her identity. [The Bible often refers to Babylon in the feminine gender, I will use that same reference.] A careful reading of Revelation and Old Testament scriptures about Babylon results in the conclusion that she is both a person or people and a city or place. Although scripture in Revelation refers to her as the great prostitute, many, if not most, that hold a view on her believe that she is the apostate church of the end-time. Some believe that the name Babylon includes the great prostitute, her city and her infrastructure that she needs to survive as the apostate church. Although the name, Babylon, is the same, scripture often makes the distinction between the great prostitute and the city.

Scripture on the destruction of the great prostitute and on the destruction of the city make that distinction; for they are destroyed at differing times, and by different beings. However, both happen near the middle of the Great Tribulation. The ten kings, in Revelation, and the Antichrist destroy the great prostitute—the apostate church. An angel sent from God shows how Babylon—the city, a place—will be destroyed. “‘Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;’” REVELATION 18:21 The great millstone being thrown into the sea and the violence that would cause is given as a comparison of what is going to happen to Babylon. The use of an angel and the use of a method that God created, and not man, will bring about the fall of the city—the place called Babylon.

While “Mystery Babylon” may remain a mystery until further research and another essay, I believe that scripture shines light on the effects that both the great prostitute and the city have on mankind. It has been argued that places and things cannot be evil—that it is people who are evil; but scripture attributes evil to both people and places and things—all called Babylon! This should cause all who study these scriptures to want to avoid getting caught up in their destruction. While I neither fear what is going to happen in the end-time nor what man may do to me, when I saw the Babylon—USA—parallels, my desire to be in the protection of God when these things start to happen became exponentially greater. He is calling us to now, “Come Out of Her, My People!” And before the fall of Babylon, he tells Israel to flee to his protection. So ‘read the fig leaves’ and learn the signs of the times! And flee Babylon, the apostate church, her city and her infrastructure. And reject her doctrines “for the Lord is laying Babylon waste and stilling her mighty voice.”

Come Out of Her, My People!

While the call by God for his people to come out of Babylon is connected with the Fall of Babylon in Revelation, he has been calling for us to flee from the midst of Babylon even in the Old Testament. “Flee from the midst of Babylon; let every one save his life! Be not cut off in her punishment, for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance, the repayment he is rendering her.” JEREMIAH 51:6 Although the Babylon of old has been destroyed, the propensity to sin has not been destroyed. We cannot consistently be “yoked” with this world and not partake of her sins. If we partake of her sins then we will share in her plagues. REVELATION 18:4 “For her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” REVELATION 18:5 Again, we must come out of her. If we sin willfully and continue to sin, then we have not seen him or known Him. I JOHN 3:6 If we keep on sinning then we are “in Babylon” and not “in Christ”and we will share in Babylon’s plagues!

Idolatry is the devil’s substitute for worshipping God. [For very few people openly worship Satan.] God hates idolatry! Idolatry is whoredom! It is sexual immorality! “I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.” ISAIAH 42:8 “Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.” COLOSSIANS 3:5-6  “Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.” I CORINTHIANS 10:14 Come out of her, My People!

The Fall of Babylon—Babylon, the City—Dwelling Place For Demons

The ten kings and the Antichrist will have already destroyed the great prostitute—the apostate church, when her city and her infrastructure are destroyed with great violence. Both the tangible and intangible will be destroyed. The angel announces with a mighty voice that Babylon is fallen. REVELATION 18:2 He says fallen twice. He is saying the great prostitute has fallen and now Babylon—the city is fallen! Then he tells us that only demonic beings will occupy that great and mighty city after she is thrown down with violence.

He states the reasons for the destruction of that mighty city. “For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.” REVELATION 18:3 These are the same things that condemned the great prostitute. Only the mention of the “merchants of the earth have grown rich,” in this scripture, is different from the indictments against her, the great prostitute—the apostate church.

Babylon—the city or place—is the commercial and political part of the apostate church. The “merchants of the earth” are an integral part of her survival. To become a giant apostate church, it takes more than masses of people that have been deceived. It takes the same kind of infrastructure that any commercial business or government would need to function. This place has the evil character of its inhabitants—both will be destroyed.             

For almost two millennia ancient Babylon served as a center of Mesopotamian civilization. King Nebuchadnezzar lived there. So many legends are bound to Babylon that it is hard for archaeologists to separate fact from fiction; but what is known is that many scientific discoveries were made there and it was a city whose rulers conquered many people. One historical account says “the citizens grew wealthy through commerce.” A lot of what is “known” about Babylon are archaeological conclusions instead of actual discoveries. Of course, there is scripture about Nebuchadnezzar, his statute and his attempt to be worshiped as God and his humiliation by the God of Daniel.

There is great deal of scripture about the fall of ancient Babylon that parallels the coming fall of  the end-time Babylon. “And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!” And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.” ISAIAH 21:9 “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them. It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there; no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.” ISAIAH 13:19-20 “Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad. Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; wail for her! Take balm for her pain; perhaps she may be healed.” JEREMIAH 51:7-8 “Though Babylon should mount up to heaven, and though she should fortify her strong height, yet destroyers would come from me against her, declares the Lord.” JEREMIAH 51:53 While the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah were specific to ancient Babylon, those prophecies agree with prophecies about the fall of the end-time Babylon.

“‘For the Lord is laying Babylon waste and stilling her mighty voice. Their waves roar like many waters; the noise of their voice is raised, for a destroyer has come upon her, upon Babylon; her warriors are taken; their bows are broken in pieces, for the Lord is a God of recompense; he will surely repay. I will make drunk her officials and her wise men, her governors, her commanders, and her warriors; they shall sleep a perpetual sleep and not wake, declares the King, whose name is the Lord of hosts. ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: The broad wall of Babylon shall be leveled to the ground, and her high gates shall be burned with fire. The peoples labor for nothing, and the nations weary themselves only for fire.’” JEREMIAH 51:55-58 With so much scripture recounting the fall of ancient Babylon and the parallels with the visions of John in Revelation, there can be no doubt that Babylon is going to be destroyed.

The fall of the Babylon in Revelation is a decisive loss for Satan and his kingdoms of the world. The delicacies and splendors of Satan’s world have failed! The stock market has crashed never to rise again! The Antichrist, with help from the ten kings, has destroyed his religious partner—the great prostitute—the apostate church. Now an angel from God has demonstrated how Babylon will be destroyed and the means by which “… the merchants of the earth have grown rich…” REVELATION 18:3 will be destroyed. The world, at this point in time, is already desolate from all of God’s judgments. All of the earth will soon be like this fallen Babylon now that this last bastion of luxury and commerce has been destroyed. The last three and one-half years of Great Tribulation will be hell on earth. “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.”  REVELATION 18:2

All of her wealth, power, worldly wisdom, glory, pomp, pleasures, false doctrines, luxuries, her gods, and splendor have all failed! She has been brought to naught. Since her destruction is so total—its only use is as the haunt of every unclean thing. Babylon is a “ghost” town!  Once she was the exalted capital of all things evil. Now her judgment has reached up to heaven! JEREMIAH 51:9  Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

Anyone or anything worshipped other than the True God is idolatry. God says idolatry is whoredom! He destroyed whoredom when he put it into the minds of the ten kings to help the Antichrist destroy the great prostitute. Any entity of any kind used in the prostituted worship by the mother of harlots and her children, will be destroyed by violence spoken about by God’s archangel. Now there is nothing visible or tangible left on earth that worships anything but the devil and his Antichrist. Those who do not worship him and take his mark will be killed, martyred! God will soon destroy all evil!

The Judgment of Babylon

for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Pay her back as she herself has paid back others, and repay her double for her deeds; mix a double portion for her in the cup she mixed. As she glorified herself and lived in luxury, so give her a like measure of torment and mourning, since in her heart she says, “I sit as a queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see.” For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her. REVELATION 18:5-8

“Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord's hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad.  Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken…” JEREMIAH 51:7-8 “And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth.” REVELATION 18:24 Her destruction will be final.

The Final Destruction of Babylon

“…the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more; and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and  trumpeters, will be heard in you no more, and a craftsman of any craft will be found in you no more, and the sound of the mill will be heard in you no more, and the light of a lamp will shine in you no more, and the voice of bridegroom and bride will be heard in you no more, for your merchants were the great ones of the earth, and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.’” REVELATION 18:21-23  “…For in a single hour she has been laid waste.” REVELATION 18:19 "Flee from the midst of Babylon; let every one save his life! Be not cut off in her punishment, for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance, the repayment he is rendering her.” JEREMIAH 51:6  “O daughter of Babylon, doomed to be destroyed, blessed shall he be who repays you with what you have done to us!” PSALM 137:8

Babylon—USA—Parallels

Some views hold that the United States of American, for reasons not scripturally known, does not appear in end-time prophecy. There is even a greater number of views on what happens to us before the Tribulation. Scripture witness is sorely lacking for any view on the United States’ role in the end-time; but scripture in Revelation chapter eighteen closely parallels statistics from the United States’ economy.

“…the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.” REVELATION 18:3 Although several countries have now surpassed the United States, throughout the twentieth century the United States was recognized as having the highest standard of living in the world. Nevertheless, many countries of the world have grown rich from the power of our luxurious living—including most of those that now have a higher standard of living!

“And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore.” REVELATION 18:11 “The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud.” REVELATION 18:15 The United States is still the number one importer of goods in the world. In 2022 the value of goods imported was about 3.38 trillion US dollars.

“‘…And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 1and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, ‘What city was like the great city?’ And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste.’” REVELATION 18:17-19 Only China has more container ship traffic than the United States. And China is by far the largest exporter of goods in the world. A good portion of it to the United States.

“‘For this reason her plagues will come in a single day, death and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for mighty is the Lord God who has judged her.” REVELATION 18:8 “Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, ‘So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and will be found no more;’” REVELATION 18:21   

Our Yellowstone National Park doesn’t just have a volcano, it is a volcano. In fact, it is a super-volcano. If this volcano became active the result is sure to be devastating. The degree of destruction to the United States and to the world depends on the scientific source you consult; but by everyone’s calculation the destruction would be catastrophic. The United States could well become “…a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.” REVELATION 18:2 “It will never be inhabited or lived in for all generations; no Arab will pitch his tent there; no shepherds will make their flocks lie down there.” ISAIAH 13:20

Earth Mourns Babylon’s Destruction

And the kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, "Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo anymore, cargo of gold, silver, jewels, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all kinds of scented wood, all kinds of articles of ivory, all kinds of articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls. “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!” The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, "What city was like the great city?” And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, crying out, "Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! For in a single hour she has been laid waste. REVELATION 18:9-19

All the luxury is gone and all the vehicles of sexual immorality in the city, place, called Babylon. In verse thirteen it mentions “slaves, that is, human souls.” This may be referring to the evil subculture of sex traffickers. All the merchants of all luxury items, gold and jewelry and fine linen, are in business no more. There are no buyers or sellers. All shipping has ceased! The stock market has crashed never to recover. There are no employers, except for the devil. Men weep and mourn aloud. The mark of the beast will control what little buying and selling that will happen in their Great Tribulation future. Very little will be available! They have reason to mourn Babylon’s destruction!

I will not attempt to to predict the role that the USA will play in end-time; but to all it should be evident that we, as a country, have supported Babylon, whoever she is, in economy and politics and we have been partakers of all of her sins. For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality. The nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad.

The scripture used in this essay is from the ESV version unless otherwise noted!

End-Time Study “Read the Fig Leaves—Signs of the Times” From Topic 35

Written by Mallard E. Guy Jr.

Over the last four years 2019-2024

Last Edit September 12, 2024