Wednesday: “Babylon the Great”
Read the following texts. What do they teach us about Babylon? Jer. 51:6-7, Jer. 51:53, Jer. 51:57; Zech. 2:7; Rev. 17:5-6; Rev. 18:2-3.
As we saw yesterday, Babylon has a long history as the capital of false worship; so, it is a fitting symbol of an end-time power that deceives the nations.
Compare the dragon, the sea beast, and the scarlet beast (Rev. 12:3, Rev. 13:1-3, Rev. 17:3) . What are the similarities and differences?
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
All three beasts have seven heads and ten horns, which represent the sum total of heads and horns of the beasts of Daniel chapter 7. Each successive empire was built upon those that went before. Similarly, the scarlet beast combines elements of the dragon and the sea beast (symbolizing pagan and papal Rome respectively), as well as of the land beast (Rev. 13:11-14) , grouping “all three powers — all of God’s enemies — into a real coalition”. — Jacques B. Doukhan, Secrets of Revelation, The Apocalypse Through Hebrew Eyes(Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald® Publishing Association, 2002), p. 162. An additional element in Revelation chapter 17 is the woman who rides on the scarlet beast, symbolizing an illicit union of religious and political powers. This woman contrasts sharply with the pure woman of Revelation chapter 12:
| Pure Woman (Rev. 12) | Harlot (Rev. 17) |
| In Heaven | On the Waters |
| Clothed with the Sun | Clothed in Purple and Scarlet |
| Crown of Twelve Stars | Adorned With Gold, Gems, Pearls |
| Attacked by the Dragon | Supported by the Dragon |
| Mother of the Remnant | Mother of Harlots |
As “the Mother of Harlots”, Babylon has been busy reproducing itself. The apostate mother church has many apostate daughters. But God does not take ownership of the errors promulgated and atrocities committed by apostate Christianity. His true people, though attacked by Satan, survive through the centuries.
Revelation 14:8 has already warned people of Babylon’s fall or apostasy from the truth, which eventually leads to the final deception issuing in the mark of the beast (Rev. 14:9-11) . This warning will be repeated with much greater power, culminating in one last appeal for God’s people still in Babylon to come out of her and unite with God’s end-time remnant church (Rev. 18:1-4) .
(47)
Every power great or small stands against God will be brought down.
On that day seven women will take hold of one man and say, “We will eat our own bread and provide our own clothes. Just let us be called by your name. Take away our disgrace!”
seven represents completeness
Women represent the church
One man - representing the groom
Christ is the head of the church but the women illustrated here tells the man:
we can provide for our own food to eat - rejecting the communion offered by God
We will provide our own Clothes - rejecting the righteousness of Christ
BUT
We want to be identified as Christians.
Take away our disgrace in our own merits.
My friend how did you get in here without a wedding garment.
Wedding garment provided by Christ alone is the only qualifier which allows us to enter into heaven.
Newbegin, I saw 34 Amens' to your comments. Must have been pretty powerful. I guess I am in the dark. Please enlighten me. I have read Revelations 12 and 13,and some of the applications to metaphors and symbols, are not outstandingly clear.
Newbegin its true people these days have chosen not to consider Christ as the head of the family that has be adored and cherished but rather they are just taking Church as the social club for the Christians. Church these days is like praying ground were the footballers have to show off their skill for them to earn a better living at the end of the month. but proudly be to those of us just the revelation 1 verses 3 says "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near". all these things that are happening has to take us to the glory of GOD. Amen!!!
It is good to review these symbolic messages! They are safe and sound to those who are aware! These are revelations from a perspective that we would never be able to grasp, if it wasn't for the Bible. God does care in disclosing past, present and future for people! This should give us a sense of security about His love. And it is in this love that we should invest! Because the times that we are living are already messed up. Madness is considered right, and truth is something rare! May we get a hold of this light and pray for the Holy Spirit to hit us strong, so we may be efficient instruments in God's hands to call others! May we all be purified and changed to what God desires for us to reflect! We need a new and fresh start!
It is amazing to me how in Chapter 14 none of the three angels there cry out for God's people to come out of Babylon. It is not until four chapters later that a "Fourth Angel," repeats that "Babylon has fallen." But then John hears "another voice," from heaven (apparently not from that fourth angel,) but from heaven Revelation 18:4, for God's people to come out of her. I am wondering if God himself from heaven cries out one last time for one last chance for people to leave "False Worship," before he finally gives the beastT and the harlot to "the flames" before he rescues his people?
Some call it a \"new world order\" or a \"world church\". One thing is for sure, that the time is coming soon when we will be forced by government to follow the beast or pay the consequences. But have no fear. God won\'t keep us from the tribulations but He will see us through them. \"Babylon the Great\" will fall.
Tribulations are plentiful in this life under the false god of this world, Lucifer. 2 Cor 4:4.
The Tribulation known as the Time of Jacob's Trouble is the final 7 years of the 70th week of Daniel and it is reserved for those who have rejected the New Covenant in Jesus' blood and held to a form of godliness while denying the power. Jeremiah 30;7, 2 Tim 3:5
The legit born-again remnant of The New Creation in Christ (Gal 6:15) are given the authority to be called the sons of God ( 1 John 1:12); which he is gifting them an inheritance not the tribulation. The Time of Jacob's Trouble is for the unbelievers who are detailed as slaves who will not partake of that blessing have two different outcomes. Gal 3 and 4 for clarity on this.
There are more ways of getting us to comply than by force. Persuasion by popular opinion and entertainment, advertisement, TV media, Internet social networking; all of these are major contributors to the development of our mindsets today. We sometimes promoted the idea of "forced compliance", overlooking the gentler more subtle ways that compliance can be achieved. It is a strategy that is as old as human existence. You get people to concentrate on something that gets their attention and then attack them gently so they don't even know it.
We need to pray that we do not fall victim to the gentle attack.