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Babylon the Great,
The Mother of Harlots
“… and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath … I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore …” (Revelation 16:19, 17:1).
“Mystery, Babylon the Great” , that is the name written upon the head of “the great whore that sitteth upon many waters” (Revelation 17:1). Who is this Woman? The Bible says, “the woman … is that great city , which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18). Is she Jerusalem, the USA, perhaps Rome, or any of the other great cities of the world? All of these have been speculated at one time or another by those who have sought to find the meaning behind this woman, but as we go through the Scriptures, I believe we will find it absolutely indisputable as to what great city she signifies.
She was clothed in lavish apparel (Revelation 17:4), and all the inhabitants of the earth were “made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Revelation 17:2). She was also drunk, not with wine but “with the blood of the saints [OT] , and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus [NT] ” (Revelation 17:6). She also rode upon “a scarlet colored beast … having seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:3).
When John saw all these things, he wondered with great amazement. But, the angel of the Revelation said, “I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:7).
It should be interjected here that the word “Revelation” comes from the Greek word apokalupsis , which means unveiling or the revealing of those things that were before hidden or unknown. Here the angel says he will now unveil the mystery surrounding this woman, and of the beast that carries her.
A “mystery” in the New Testament does not refer to something that is mystifying, but to hidden truth now revealed and made plain for us to understand. After the explanation we should wonder no longer for the angel will clearly tell us who she is, and as John looked, he saw a name written on her forehead, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT , THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:5).
She is seen sitting upon “many waters” (Revelation 17:1), which the angel tells us are “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Revelation 17:15). Her influence is worldwide affecting every nation and therefore she is called the “abominations of the earth” .
She is also sitting on a “scarlet colored beast” (Revelation 17:3), which we are told is the “eighth” (Revelation 17:11) and final Gentile kingdom before Christ comes back to set up His kingdom. This final kingdom we are told, “was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit” (Revelation 17:8a). It existed in the past, but did not exist in John's day, but one day it “shall ascend” , and “they that dwell on the earth shall wonder … when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is ” (Revelation 17:8b).
The woman also sits on the “seven heads” of the beast, which we are told, “are seven mountains” (Revelation 17:9), which represent “seven kings” (Revelation 17:10) or kingdoms. Five of these kingdoms when John wrote the Revelation were already “fallen” (Revelation 17:10). Many who study the Scriptures agree that these five kingdoms were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon (Nebuchadnezzars revival of ancient Babylon), Medo-Persia, and Greece.
The one that “is” (6th) was Rome and the one that is “not yet come” (7th) will be a further division of the Roman Empire from East/West (Two legs, Daniel 2:33) into its final form of ten regions (toes/horns). Daniel was told that the Roman Empire “shall be divided” (Daniel 2:41), and “the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise” (Daniel 7:24, which corresponds to the seventh kingdom in Revelation 17:10-17).
But the seven-headed ten-horned beast in its entirety represents “the eighth” (Revelation 17:11) and final kingdom, which in essence is the culmination of all these kingdoms throughout the history of the world, for the eighth “is of the seven” (Revelation 17:11). But as we shall see, the eighth is also a revival of one of the seven kingdoms prior to it.
Finally the angel comes right out and tells John, “the woman which thou sawest is that great city , which reigneth over the kings (kingdoms) of the earth” (Revelation 17:18). We must wonder as John, as to what great city has influenced or reigned over the kingdoms of the world down through history? And now John sees this “woman” (symbol of a great city), carried by this seven-headed ten-horned beast, which is the eighth and final Gentile kingdom of the world.
Not only has she mysteriously influenced the kingdoms of ancient history to this present day, but it also appears that she too will be revived as the capital city of the final Gentile kingdom.
Moreover, this woman must be a city that existed prior to these seven kingdoms in order to spread her influence over them, for the Bible says she “reigneth” (Gr. echo : to have in possession; Revelation 17:18), over all the kings/kingdoms of the earth.
Although she was not what we would consider, a “great city” at the time when John wrote the Revelation (Rome was the principle city of the Roman Empire, the 6th kingdom, when John wrote the Revelation), she existed as a great city in the past and would be revived again. However, down through the ages, she has reigned spiritually over the Gentile kingdoms through her offspring, that is, all those who do not worship the one true God and Creator.
What “great city” is she then? Is she Jerusalem? We must say no, for “Jerusalem … is the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:35) where the Lord said He would put His “name for ever” (2 Chronicles 33:7). The Lord may have lamented, “How is the faithful city become an harlot!” (Isaiah 1:21), but this woman is called the “ mother of harlots” . While Jerusalem is called “ the great city” (Revelation 11:8), it is not “ that great city” (Revelation 17:18) .
Many have speculated that this “great whore” is the USA, but the USA is not a city, it is a nation. She may be a superpower today, but she has never reigned over all the kingdoms of the earth throughout history.
Is she then Rome? We must admit that the overwhelming majority of Christians (especially the so called “Protestants” and “Reformers”) identify the Great Whore of Revelation 17 as Rome, or to be more specific, the Roman Catholic Church, but this cannot be so for several reasons. Rome never reigned over the five kingdoms that had previously come and gone before her. Secondly, the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church is in Vatican City, not Rome.
Who then is this woman? The answer is clearly revealed by the name written on her forehead, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT , THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” . John was told quite explicitly that the “woman which thou sawest is that great city ” (Revelation 17:5, 8) .
Babylon is referred to in the book of the Revelation as an actual city (Rev. 14:8, 16:19, 18:10), not just a symbol, and there is no reason to believe it is other than literal Babylon. The woman is a symbol of a city, and that great city we are told is Babylon. In fact, Babylon is referred to as “that great city” six times (Rev. 14:8, 17:18, 18:10, 16, 19, 21), “Babylon the great” twice (Revelation 17:5, 18:2), “great Babylon” (Rev. 16:19) once and “this great city” (Rev. 18:18) once.
Rome however, is never mentioned in the book of the Revelation. If John meant Rome He would have identified Rome just as Paul when he wrote in his epistle “to all that be in Rome” (Romans 1:7). But John recorded that the woman was “that great city” , “BABYLON THE GREAT” as inscribed on her forehead.
You would have to spiritualize the Scriptures rather than taking a literal interpretation to come up with Rome (much like some who have said that the Church is now Israel). As well, there is nothing to substantiate, as some have professed, that “Babylon” was a “code word” used to identify Rome (p. 68, “A Woman rides the Beast”, By Dave Hunt). Peter's referral to the “church at Babylon” (1 Peter 5:13) was to the Christian Church that was established in Babylonia. There is no reason to believe otherwise.
When we look at “the beast” that carries the “great whore” , we are given further revelation into this great mystery. The seven heads of the beast represented seven kingdoms, but the Beast itself represented an “eighth” kingdom. This kingdom we are told, “was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit” .
It existed in the past but did not exist when John wrote the Revelation, but would be raised up as from the dead to become a great kingdom again. We had previously determined that the “woman” , this “great whore” signified the capital of this “eighth” kingdom and therefore we must conclude that this eighth kingdom will be Babylon revived.
Before the “seven heads”, or kingdoms of this world were ever formed, the city of Babylon, which was “the beginning of [Nimrod's] kingdom” (Genesis 10:10), was built on the plains of Shinar. This was only 101 years after God brought “in the flood upon the world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:5), washing it clean of all corruption and violence. God then told Noah and his sons, “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth ” (Genesis 9:1).
The Bible tells us that God “hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26). It appears that God had from the beginning intended that man multiply and fill the earth, but at Babel, the great grandson of Noah, Nimrod, organized a great rebellion, and with a unified voice they cried, “let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth ” (Genesis 11:4). This was outright defiance in the face of God. They refused to fill the earth but sought rather to build a great political and religious center to unite and bind them together.
However, God intervened, confusing their language, “and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth” (Genesis 11:9) forming the nations of the Gentiles. However, when these rebels were scattered, they brought with them their religious and commercial philosophies from Babel, filling the earth with their abominations.
A study of the world's religions reveals that they are all quite similar, only that their gods have different names because of the different languages formed at Babel. This is documented quite well in the venerable work of Alexander Hyslop entitled, “The Two Babylon's”.
It was this great city whose influence made drunk all the inhabitants of the earth. Babylon is without a doubt the fountainhead of all corruption and false religion. Her wickedness spread throughout the whole world through those rebels who became the Gentile nations. The kings/kingdoms of the earth committed fornication with her and she became “THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” .
The worldwide impact that Babylon would have upon the whole earth was truly a mystery in the Old Testament. Examining parallel passages in the book of the prophet Daniel brings further light as we examine this subject. The colossal image from Nebuchadnezzar's dream in its entirety must also represent this final world kingdom that Christ destroys when He returns to set up His everlasting kingdom (Daniel 2:34, 35, 44b, 45).
The Revelation also makes it clear that the “beast” represents both a kingdom and its king. This may give us credence to believe that Nebuchadnezzar's great image not only represents the final world kingdom but also a man, somewhat like the “image of the beast” (Revelation 13:15) that men will have to worship during the Great Tribulation or be killed.
This woman is also called “the great whore”. The word “whore” comes from the Greek word “porne” which is also similar to “pornos” and “porneia” which is to commit fornication. She is the great fornicator and “All nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her” (Revelation 18:3). In a spiritual sense this would refer to anyone who worships or serves other “gods” rather than the one true God and Creator. This woman has truly spawned all the false religions of the nations that departed from the one true God whether it be Roman Catholicism, Islamism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Animism, etc. Whether they understand it or not, the religions of the Gentiles all have roots that go back to Babel.
Roman Catholicism clearly does not fit the description as the “mother of harlots” (all false religions), but rather, she is just one of the many harlots, bearing resemblance to her great mother Babylon. She may call herself a Christian, but her apparel and doctrine unmistakably reveals whose daughter she is.
Babylon's influence has unquestionably reigned over the kingdoms of this world. She influenced Israel in the Old Testament as Isaiah lamented, “How is the faithful city become an harlot” (Isaiah 1:21)! And since New Testament times, the “church” has jumped into bed with her, primarily the Roman Catholic Church which became the “state church” when Christianity was legalized in the fourth century by the Roman Emperor Constantine.
Many have identified Rome as “that great city” because she is situated on “seven hills”. Even the Encyclopedia Britannica, under the heading “The Landscape” identifies Rome as “The city of the seven hills, of treasures and tourists…” (26:980). It should be noted however, that Rome is said to sit on seven “hills” [Gr. bounos ], NOT “MOUNTAINS” [Gr. oros ] as the Bible says. There is a big difference between a mountain and a hill (See Luke 3:5 which uses both these words)!
In the Scriptures, “mountains” are often symbolic of kingdoms or government (Isaiah 2:2, 13:1-2, 40:4, Daniel 2:34-35, Jeremiah 51:24-25, Zechariah 4:7, Micah 4:1-2), and the angel tells John that “The seven heads are [Gr. “eisi”] seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are [Gr. “eisi”, translated at least 23 times as “they are” or usually just “are” , 135 times] seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come” (Revelation 17:9-10). If we keep our text inside of context, we will clearly see that the seven “mountains” on which the woman sits “are” seven kings/kingdoms.
One kingdom existed when John wrote the Revelation (Rome). The seventh was “not yet come” (a revised or divided Roman Empire ruled by a 10-king confederacy: “ten horns”) and finally, there would be an “eighth” king/kingdom (Revelation 17:11) represented by the seven-headed, ten-horned beast, whose king will be Antichrist.
The “eighth” kingdom however cannot be a “Revived Roman Empire” for we are clearly told that the eighth kingdom “is not” (Revelation 17:8, 11), that is, it did not exist at the time that John wrote the Revelation. When John wrote the Revelation, the Roman Empire ( “one is” ) reigned supreme.
Zechariah's Vision
This is the same picture we have in the Revelation. Chapter 17 depicts Religious Babylon, symbolized by the “woman”, and Chapter 18 deals with Commercial Babylon. Religion and Politics have always held hands throughout history.
The angel then told Zechariah that this was “their resemblance throughout all the earth ... This is wickedness” (Zechariah 5:6, 8). When Zechariah asked where this package of wickedness was to be carried, the angel replied, “To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base” (Zechariah 5:5-11). The Bible tells us that, “the love of money is the root of all evil” (1Timothy 6:10), and religious harlotry is an abomination in the sight of God. And when Zechariah sees this vision, he is told, “this is their resemblance throughout all the earth” .
This great commercial and religious system began back in Babylon. But now that it had permeated the whole earth its headquarters shall be brought back and established once again upon her old foundation back in the “land of Shinar” (Daniel 1:1-2), which is also referred to as “the land of Nimrod” (Micah 5:6). Here Nimrod began building his kingdom (Genesis 10:10). In the latter days Babylon will be reestablished as the Antichrist's center of world government, in fact it will be the political, commercial and religious center of the whole world as described in Revelation chapters 17 and 18.
The capital of Antichrist's New World Order, this great and magnificent center, will make many filthy rich in its re-establishment “by reason of her costliness” (Revelation 18:19). But the merchants shall wail greatly when she is quickly, and finally, brought to desolation and overthrown in the same manner as “Sodom and Gomorrah” (Jeremiah 50:40). She will be “utterly burned with fire” (Revelation 18:8), and finally “cast … into the sea” (v. 21).
Twenty-six hundred years ago, the prophet Jeremiah said that Babylon shall be overthrown as “Sodom and Gomorrah” (Jeremiah 50:40). This has never been fulfilled in the history of the world. However, many of the prophecies of the Bible have a near and far application and not all are fulfilled in the first application (Somewhat like the Olivet Discourse). When the Medes initially conquered Babylon, she was not overthrown as Sodom and Gomorrah, but one day in the future, Babylon shall “be utterly burned with fire” (Revelation 18:8).
The Middle East is known for its great oil reserves, and perhaps you will
remember the Gulf War of '91, when many oil wells were left burning after the
liberation of Kuwait. It took over a year with the help of the International
Community to get all of those wells put out.
Imagine when Babylon is destroyed as Sodom and Gomorrah, the world “shall see the smoke of her burning” (Revelation 18:9) via satellite TV, with the merchants “stand [ing] afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing” (v. 15), for they “cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!” (v. 18), and none can save her.
With such a great overthrow, how could this fire ever be put out? It will take more than an international effort, it will take the intervention of God, and so we read, Babylon shall be “cast… into the sea” (v. 21). “Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise…” (Jeremiah 51:63-64).
Jeremiah also said that Babylon, “shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation” (Jeremiah 50:39). This has not yet been fulfilled, for the fallen dictator of Iraq has been building up ancient Babylon for some time, trying to revive the Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar's antiquity.
There are many similar Scriptures that are reiterated concerning Babylon and its future establishment. John was told that this harlot “sitteth upon many waters” (Revelation 17:1, 15). Jeremiah said the same, “O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness” (Jeremiah 51:13).
John said, “the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Revelation 17:2). Jeremiah said, “Babylon hath … made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad” (Jeremiah 51:7).
The ancient cry was “My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD” (Jeremiah 51:45). This cry will be echoed in the future just prior to the judgment of God on Babylon, “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” (Revelation 18:4-5).
As God called Lot out of Sodom and Gomorrah before its destruction, so too will God call his people out of Babylon before her final judgment.
These Scriptures clearly identify this woman as Babylon. We just need to believe the literal account that God has given us for, “the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple” (Psalms 19:7).
The Beast
With Seven Heads and Ten Horns
Just as we are told the mystery of the Woman, so we are told the mystery of
the Beast. It is quite unambiguous as to what this beast signifies, for the
angel plainly tells John that the
“the beast … is the eighth”
king/kingdom (Revelation 17:11). Further details tell us that this Beast
“was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into
perdition”
(v. 8). The language is clear that this eighth kingdom that is yet to come
existed in the past, but did not exist at the time when John wrote the
Revelation,
but one day it
“shall ascend”
.
With Seven Heads and Ten Horns
The Beast then is clearly a revived kingdom, but could not be a "Revived Roman Empire", as some have suggested, for the Roman Empire existed ( “one is” ) at the time when John wrote the Revelation , whereas, the Beast we are told “is not” , that is, it did not exist when John wrote the Revelation. One “is” and the other “is not” . If we would understand history aright, we would see that the Roman Empire never really ceased to exist, but was “divided” (between east and west represented by the two legs of Daniels vision, 2:33) down through the past two millennia and lives on in the nations of the day. The Roman Empire was never defeated as its predecessor kingdoms, but rather, it was divided into the global structure we see throughout the world today.
Daniel said that this “kingdom shall be divided” (Daniel 2:41), and that it would “be partly strong, and partly broken” (v. 42), and finally divided into a ten-nation confederacy, as represented by the ten toes of Daniels image (Daniel 2:41-42). The ten toes also correspond to the ten horns of the Beast as seen in Daniel chapter 7 and Revelation chapters 12, 13 and 17.
This beast also has “seven heads” , which represent seven successive kingdoms throughout history. However, we are told that the beast “is of the seven” (Revelation 17:11), that is, it's the consummation of these successive world kingdoms that have been molded together, forming the eighth and final world kingdom as depicted by the seven-headed Beast.
In the book of Daniel we see this final kingdom formed in a similar fashion. The kingdoms of this world appear to be built one upon the other to form one great abominable idol that the Lord will smash when He returns.
Daniel saw this image and gave us the following description. The “head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay” (Daniel 2:32-33). Daniel then proceeded to tell us what this meant. He said, the "head of gold" was Babylon (Daniel 2:38, Jeremiah 27:5-7), the “breast and his arms of silver” was the Medo-Persian Empire (Daniel 2:39, 5:28, 6:28, 7:5, 8:20, 11:1-2), the “belly and his thighs of brass” was the Grecian Empire (Daniel 2:39, 7:6, 8:5-8, 21-23, 11:3-4), and finally, the “legs of iron, his feet [and toes] part of iron and part clay” represented the Roman Empire (Daniel 2:40-44, 7:7-8, 19-27). But the idol, in it's erect and final form, represented the final kingdom of the latter days.
Daniel had a similar vision after this of “four great beasts” (Daniel 7:2-3), which represented these same Gentile kingdoms. Daniel was told, “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth” (Daniel 7:17). He was also told that the fourth beast (representing the Roman Empire) had “ten horns” (Daniel 7:7) and that it would devour the whole earth. It was then clarified that "the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise” but also, that “another shall arise after them ” (Daniel 7:23-24).
If we go back to the Revelation and examine “the beast … which hath the seven heads and ten horns” , we will see the relationship between Daniel's vision and what John saw. The seven heads represented seven kingdoms. In John's day the Roman Empire was dominant over all the earth but five kingdoms had already “fallen” (Revelation 17:10). For certain, at least from Daniel's point in time, the Babylonian, Medo-Persian and Grecian empires had all come and gone. This leaves two more that had already fallen before the time of Daniel. These were likely Assyria (Jeremiah 50:17) and Egypt (Exodus 1:1-14), which like the others, were in opposition to the one true God, and His people.
So five had fallen and one existed ( “one was” ; the sixth = Roman Empire) when John wrote the Revelation, and the seventh was “not yet come” , which is represented by the ten horns (ten kings) that would arise “out of this kingdom” (the Roman Empire). It would arise out of it rather than conquering it. So it is really a revision rather than a revival of the Roman Empire. Edward Gibbons wrote a popular book called “The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire”. Although it is very good in its estimation of Rome, the title is misleading for the Roman Empire never really fell, rather, as Daniel said, it “shall be divided; but there shall be in it the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with clay … the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken” (Daniel 2:41-42).
We are clearly told that the kingdom would be divided and that it would be partly strong, and partly broken, but never are we told that it would cease to exist and then be revived. In its final division it would take on the form of a ten king confederacy, but after this Daniel saw another horn “arise after” them, “another little horn” (Daniel 7:8), which is synonymous with “the beast that was and is not, even he is the eighth” (Revelation 17:11). The ten king confederacy of the seventh kingdom are said to “give their power and strength … [and] their kingdom unto the beast” (Revelation 17:12-13, 17). But, from where shall he reign? Where will the Antichrists “throne” (Revelation 13:2) be?
So far we have proved quite clearly that this beast is the eighth and final kingdom of world history before Christ returns and sets up His everlasting kingdom. But now it appears that this beast is also a man.
Before we go on, lest anyone become confused, it should be understood that this beast is both a king and a kingdom. Every kingdom has a king, and who is really a king without a kingdom? These terms are synonymous (example: Daniel 7:17, 23), and this is how we have used this term (king/kingdom) throughout this article. So we will find that this beast represents the eighth kingdom and it's king. It should be noted also that every kingdom has a center of government found in a capital city where the king reigns from.
As we have discussed, this beast/kingdom (eighth) existed in the past and shall be revived, but which of the “seven kings” would it be? The greatest kingdom that ever “was”, was Babylon, described by God as “the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency” (Isaiah 13:19), and “the golden city” (Isaiah 14:4). It was also described as the “head of fine gold” (Daniel 2:32).
However, this kingdom was only a refinement or reincarnation of ancient Babel, which was “the beginning of Nimrods kingdom” (Genesis 10:10). Nebuchadnezzar revived Nimrod's religion and philosophy, however, this great kingdom with its beautiful capital fell in one night under the reign of Nebuchadnezzar's grandson, Belshazzar. The decree of God had gone forth, “God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it … In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain” (Daniel 5:22-30), and his kingdom was taken by the Medes.
Now twice we are told that this beast shall ascend “out of the bottomless pit” (Revelation 11:7, 17:8), but how can a king or a kingdom ascend out of Hades? It is actually quite remarkable how this takes place. If we turn to the prophet Isaiah, we find a very interesting proverb.
The Lord said, “take up this proverb against the king of Babylon , and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased” (Isaiah 14:4)! Here we have the “ king of Babylon” (likely Belshazzar, Daniel 5:30) and his “golden city” , which are both about to come to an end. But what is the end of this great king and his kingdom? We are told “ Hell (Heb. Sheol , equivalent to Gr. Hades ) from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming … Thy pomp is brought down to the grave (Heb. Sheol) , and the noise of thy viols” (Isaiah 14:9, 11).
Here we have the king who represents the kingdom brought down to Hades, but can he ascend out of Hades? Can he “ascend out of the bottomless pit” , and be raised up again to become a great king and kingdom? We think not for, “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). As well, Jesus Christ has the “keys of hell (Hades) and death” (Revelation 1:18), and He alone can unlock this door.
But further reading reveals to us that not only is the king the power behind Babylon, but there is someone behind the king, and it is none other than the archenemy of God and His people, Lucifer. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer … thou shalt be brought down to hell (Heb. Sheol) , to the sides of the pit” (Isaiah 14:12, 15). It appears that Lucifer accompanied the king of Babylon down to Hades, and one day he will be “bound” there for a thousand years (Revelation 20:1-2), but for now he is free to roam about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.
So the human king, who represented Babylon, was really possessed and energized and brought to power by Lucifer. As the Bible says, one day this beast will “ascend out of the bottomless pit” , at least symbolically, revived and energized by Satan, to become a great world kingdom.
God put a stop to the building of Babylon when He confounded their language and scattered the rebels upon the face of the earth. This was Satan's masterpiece and he has ever since been seeking to revive it again. It was revived once under Nebuchadnezzar and there is no reason not to believe it will be revived again.
The Beast then could only represent the king/kingdom of Babylon that will one day be revived by Satan, but in the end shall “go into perdition” (Revelation 17:8). And the woman that is carried by this beast must literally be “that great city Babylon, that mighty city” (Revelation 18:10).
The Beast existed in the past and this woman as well sat on the seven mountains that represented all the kingdoms of history, past, present and future. Her influence reigns and has reigned over the kingdoms of the earth even though she was not distinctly present. But she has her spawn of “harlots” of whom she is the “mother” , representing her through the ages whose personality they manifest and whose agenda they fulfilled.
These seven kingdoms all have roots that go back to Babel in the land of Shinar, where that first great rebellion took place, when the post Flood population sought to build a city and a tower unto heaven in direct disobedience to God. But one day soon the Lord will return and “The kingdoms of this world [will] become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15), and the children of iniquity will no longer “fill the face of the world with cities” (Isaiah 14:21).
The Kingdoms of this World
The fact that these seven heads (kings) are on the dragon explicitly reveals that these seven kingdoms were satanically controlled. It is no wonder then, when Satan showed Jesus “all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time” (Luke 4:5), that they were in his possession to give them to whomsoever he willed. The devil said, “All this power [Gr. exousia ] will I give thee, and the glory of them … if thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine” (v. 6-7).
Then, in chapter 13, John “saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns ” (Revelation 13:1). His likeness was similar to Daniel's vision of the “four great beasts [that] came up from the sea” (Daniel 7:3). But now it says, “the dragon gave him his power , and his seat [throne], and great authority [Gr. exousia ]” (Revelation 13:2). This beast is now identified as a man who receives the “power” and “authority” previously offered to Christ in His temptation in the wilderness.
Satan finally finds his man to whom he can give the kingdoms of the world and he is none other than the “antichrist” (1 John 2:18), “that man of sin … the son of perdition” (2 Thessalonians 2:3), “that Wicked” (2 Thessalonians 2:8), the “little horn” (Daniel 7:8), and the “prince that shall come” (Daniel 9:26). He may be fittingly described as Satan incarnate. This man was willing to gain the whole world in exchange for his soul and so become a willing vessel, to be possessed by the Devil, much like when “Satan entered into” Judas (John 13:27) and used him for his wicked plans.
But then we read, “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast” (Revelation 13:3). Here we have another picture of what John saw all along, the kingdom that “was, and is not, and yet is” (or “shall be”). One of the beasts seven heads received a deadly wound but would be healed. Would it be Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, or Rome divided?
There has been much talk of a Revived Roman Empire these days, but as we have previously stated, the Roman Empire never ceased to exist, it has only become “partly broken” and “divided” (Daniel 2:41-42). The only legitimate candidate left we believe is Babylon.
This beast is not only a kingdom, but a king, “whose deadly wound was healed” (Revelation 13:12). This no doubt is a mock resurrection for it says he was “ as it were wounded to death” . In Revelation 11:7, “the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit” is a man who slays God's two witnesses, while in chapter 17, the beast that “shall ascend out of the bottomless pit” (v. 8) is a kingdom. Both of these are energized by Satan, “And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast” (v. 4)?
The world will “wonder” (17:8) when they see that great city Babylon and its king which “was, and is not, and yet is” (Revelation 17:8), revived and “brought back to life” so to say, and energized by the Dragon. The question is asked, “who is able to make war with the [beast] ” (Revelation 13:4)?
He overcame and killed God's “two witnesses” (Revelation 11:17), who for the first three and a half years of the Tribulation, smote “the earth with all plagues, as often as they will” (Revelation 11:10), “torment [ing] them that dwell on the earth” (v. 10). It should only be fitting then that the 10 kings of the of the seventh kingdom should “give their kingdom unto the beast” (Revelation 17:17), “whose deadly wound was healed” (13:12).
This eighth beast/kingdom is civic and geographical Babylon revived, and the throne of the beasts kingdom (Revelation 16:10) shall be there, which he receives from the Dragon. The great city Babylon will also be rebuilt back on its old foundation in the “land of Shinar” (Zechariah 5:5-11), and when John sees all this, he wonders with great amazement when he sees “the woman” , Babylon the Great, as she influenced the kingdoms of this world down through the ages with her religion, politics and commerce, revived once again, and now carried prominently by this seven headed ten horned beast.
Satan has energized this eighth and final world kingdom and its king. It is his infernal design and the consummation of his desire to sit as king of the cosmos, reigning through Antichrist. But Christ shall return to destroy the kingdoms of this world and rid the earth of all His enemies (Isaiah 13:9-13), and then He will set up His everlasting kingdom.
The saints have prayed down through the centuries, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10), and finally “the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory” (Matthew 25:31), and He shall not tarry.
Conclusion
If you are a disciple of Christ, continuing in His Word (John 8:31), “ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Philippians 1:29). “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
It is a fact of the matter, that if you “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11), and turn away from all ungodliness, you will suffer persecution. The Bible says, especially in the last days, that men shall be “despisers of those that are good” (2Timothy 3:3). But, “our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
Dear brethren, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:15). It is impossible to sit on the fence so to say when you become a Christian, to continue on in the ways of the world and to walk as Jesus gave us example to walk. One cannot do both simultaneously. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other” (Matthew 6:24).
We must ask then, where do our affections lie? What in life are we seeking? Are you a “lover of pleasure” (2Timothy 3:4), seeking to entertain our self with the “CARNALvals” and “afFAIRS” of this world? “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4).
We are told, “be not conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2), for “the whole world lieth in wickedness” (1John 5:19), and “the works thereof are evil” (John 7:7). Therefore we are admonished “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:4).
A church that calls itself Christian and yet courts alliance with the godless system of this world commits spiritual adultery. The apostle James says, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4). It is Jesus “who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4), “wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).
Have you “escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4)? Or are your affections on the things of this world? Is your time consumed with the programs, activities and organizations of the world no matter how “good” they may appear to be? One can never be an effective witness for Christ if your affections are on the things of this earth for “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word” (Mark 4:19). Therefore, James says, “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this … to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17).
When we look to the great faith chapter we find that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob sojourned in the land as in a strange country dwelling in tents. Abraham would not secure anything more than his tent pegs to this earth. He was not interested in building cities as the rebels shortly after the Flood, but rather he “looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:9-10). They too were looking for the coming kingdom of God and “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (v. 13). Their home was in heaven where they longed to be, with Christ, “wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” (v. 16).
Speaking of Moses, “when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible” (v. 24-27).
It appears that there were two paths before Moses, a position of great esteem in the house of Pharaoh where he could enjoy the pleasure of sin for a season and all the treasures of Egypt. But leaving this there only remained “suffering”, “affliction”, “reproach” and “wrath”.
Friends, if you are a believer, all that this Babylonish world system has to offer you is a cross. Do not seek to be friends with the world and ruin your testimony for Christ, but as Christ said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). And to “him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne” (Revelation 3:21).
But now, “the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world ; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14).
Last Update: 11/3/2005
| Wake up true Saints of Yahshua(Jesus) | Eric Djukic | North Royalton, Ohio | ladd777@sbcglobal.net | October 26, 2005 12:12 AM |
You have to be spiritually blind not to see that America is this future Babylon, or Mystery Babylon, that the Bible speaks of. Take a second look at the Washington monument. This is an obelisk, which represents an erect male reproductive organ, which is a pagan symbol or idol, of nature and sun worship, straight out of Egypt and Babylon. This is an idol, condemned by Yahweh(God), in the old testament, and Yahweh commanded they all be torn down and burned, when Joshua entered the promised land(old testament of the bible). All of Washington D.C.has been designed,(by the Masons), with hidden occult symbols, numbers and names of pagan gods, incorporated in the street layouts, names, and most can only be seen through viewing from the air, above the city. All hidden, in plain sight, as all occultists do. Most all the original founding fathers including Washington, were Mason's and other occultists, who worship Lucifer/satan, not the true Creator(Yahweh). Worst of all, they've changed the name of our Saviour Yahshua, to Jesus, which in Greek means, son of zeus (satan). It is the Masons, and other secret satanic societies, who rule the world, and control the information and knowledge that they feed the profane,(anyone not considered worthy of the truth), us. Because of this, it was very easy for them to alter the translations of the Holy, Sacred Names of the Creator and His Son. Do a search on the net under the Sacred Names of God. They already have most of the world deceived through other false religions, even those who worship in today's anti-christ, Babylonian chuches,(Christians), who unknowingly worship the wrong one. The true Saviour's name is Yahshua, in Hebrew, or Joshua is the English translation, of His Name. How else do you think satan, gets the whole world, to worship him. It is through deception, not by force, and the Bible speaks of this, as the endtime delusion, God(Yah) will send to a sinful unrepentant world, especially Babylon(America). Wake up people, we've been lied to, in our churches and by the media. The pastor's and teacher's in our churches are wolves in sheep's clothing. Everyone knows or should know, Saturday is the seventh day. Just look at any calendar. Yet they tell us, we should worship God on Sunday, which God, satan. All pagan and satanic mystery religions and cults in the past, worshipped the sun, on Sunday(first day of the week), as god, the creator and sustainer of life. Lucifer/satan is that sun god. Lucifer is known as the "bright and shiny one". Judgement is coming soon to America(Babylon). "Come out of Babylon,My people", or you and your loved ones will be a partaker in her plagues and judgements. Babylon(AMERICA), will be destoyed, utterly burned with fire. Rev. ch. 18, v.8.
| Belshazzar | Noel | Canada | noel@accordingtothescriptures.org | November 24, 2004 7:32 PM |
I can find only six "kings of Babylon" specifically mentioned by name in the Scriptures, and it was Belshazzar who was "king" (Daniel 5:30, 7:1), and was slain when general Darius "took the kingdom". Whether he was co-regent with his father Nabonidus or not is irrelevant. As far as the Scriptures are concerned, Belshazzar was "king".
Daniel said to Belshazzar, thou "lifted up thyself against the LORD of heaven" (5:23), and for this he was judged. I believe it was to this event that Isaiah was refering to, but as I said, many Scriptures have a near and far application, and all the Scriptures in the "Burden of Babylon" (Isaiah 13:1-14:26) may not necessarily refer to him, but are looking ahead to the future king of Babylon, the beast, known as antichrist.
Belshazzars last party could well be refered to in Isaiah 14:11, "Thy pomp is brought down to the grave (sheol), and the noise of thy viols..." What is interesting to me is how this proverb takes an about face at this point and states that Lucifer will be "brought down to hell (Sheol), to the sides of the PIT". I do not find it unreasonable to think that the king of Babylon may have been possessed by Satan. He possesed Judas to fulfill his neferious plans, and he inhabited a serpent in the garden. Whether Satan actually attended Belshazzar down to Sheol or not may be questionable, however, Satan is free to roam about the earth (Job 1:7, 1 Peter 5:8) and yet somehow still has access to heaven. At any rate, it is evident that Satan will one day be brought down to Sheol and bound there (Rev. 20:1-3), and finally cast into the "lake of fire" (re: go into perdition) (Rev. 20:10).
If Satan attended Belshazzar, at least symbolically as king down to Sheol, it clears up some hard Scriptures in Revelation 17, at least for me anyway. Revelation 17:8 states that "the beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition...." The imagery in Revelation points out that this seven headed ten horned beast is Satan (Rev 12), a man (Rev. 13) and a kingdom (Rev. 17). If Satan was the real power behind the king of Babylon, a revived Babylon (the "eighth" Rev. 17:11, and final Gentile kingdom of history) with a Satan possessed antichrist as its king in the last days appears more of a reality. This beast existed in the past, did not exist when John wrote the Revelation, but will ascend out of the pit, and finally go into perdition. To me this sounds like Babylon, Satans masterpiece, revived once again.
Daniel said to Belshazzar, thou "lifted up thyself against the LORD of heaven" (5:23), and for this he was judged. I believe it was to this event that Isaiah was refering to, but as I said, many Scriptures have a near and far application, and all the Scriptures in the "Burden of Babylon" (Isaiah 13:1-14:26) may not necessarily refer to him, but are looking ahead to the future king of Babylon, the beast, known as antichrist.
Belshazzars last party could well be refered to in Isaiah 14:11, "Thy pomp is brought down to the grave (sheol), and the noise of thy viols..." What is interesting to me is how this proverb takes an about face at this point and states that Lucifer will be "brought down to hell (Sheol), to the sides of the PIT". I do not find it unreasonable to think that the king of Babylon may have been possessed by Satan. He possesed Judas to fulfill his neferious plans, and he inhabited a serpent in the garden. Whether Satan actually attended Belshazzar down to Sheol or not may be questionable, however, Satan is free to roam about the earth (Job 1:7, 1 Peter 5:8) and yet somehow still has access to heaven. At any rate, it is evident that Satan will one day be brought down to Sheol and bound there (Rev. 20:1-3), and finally cast into the "lake of fire" (re: go into perdition) (Rev. 20:10).
If Satan attended Belshazzar, at least symbolically as king down to Sheol, it clears up some hard Scriptures in Revelation 17, at least for me anyway. Revelation 17:8 states that "the beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition...." The imagery in Revelation points out that this seven headed ten horned beast is Satan (Rev 12), a man (Rev. 13) and a kingdom (Rev. 17). If Satan was the real power behind the king of Babylon, a revived Babylon (the "eighth" Rev. 17:11, and final Gentile kingdom of history) with a Satan possessed antichrist as its king in the last days appears more of a reality. This beast existed in the past, did not exist when John wrote the Revelation, but will ascend out of the pit, and finally go into perdition. To me this sounds like Babylon, Satans masterpiece, revived once again.
| Belshazzar | M. Bogerd | Canada | mav@vandentech.com | November 24, 2004 1:35 PM |
When considering whether or not Belshazzar could be in view as the man referenced in Isaiah 14:16 there are a couple of points worth mentioning: To begin with, although Daniel strongly rebukes Belshazzar for not honouring God the way his father Nebuchadnezzar had (that is his ancestor or grandfather since Nabonidus was actually Belshazzar's immediate father who ruled the entire Babylonian empire but was in Teima at the time the Medes and Persians defeated Babylon), we cannot immediately conclude that Belshazzar went to hades unless there are other supporting verses for this beyond my knowledge. That his own wickedness brought on his death is true but whether or not there was opportunity for repentance after his discussions with Daniel in the moments remaining in his life is unknown to us except that a verse be found that explicity condemns the man. Daniel was rewarded for his interpretation of the writing on the wall and whether this afforded him any other opportunity with Belshazzar is not given to us so I think we're taking some liberties here otherwise.
Furthermore I am not aware of any verses or historical reasons for believing that Belshazzar was not buried in a tomb, contrary to what is recorded in Isaiah 14:18-20.
Also, Belshazzar was not the primary king of Babylon at the time of its first defeat at the hands of Cyrus king of the Medo/Persian empire. His father Nabonidus was and neither he nor his father were the conquering king described in Isaiah 14:16 who "made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms" since they were both heirs to Nebuchadnezzar who truly spear headed Babylon's rise to power and defeat of Israel (specifically Judah and its capital Jerusalem) but we know from Daniel that Nebuchadnezzar repented and honoured God in the end, acknowledging Him as the supreme King of kings (not a characteristic of the man in view in Isaiah).
Also, where is there scripture that shows explicitly that Satan has access to hades, that he can go into it and assend at will, when Revelation teaches that Jesus alone holds the keys to the Abyss which you equate with hades? The context of Isaiah demonstrates that it is not by either Satan's nor the man's will that they are in the pit. The verbs used belong to the agency of a third party intervener. In verse 15 we are told that he will be "thrust down to Sheol (NASB)", or "brought down to hell" (KJV). Thus another (i.e. God) is forcing them to be brought low, there's no excercise of free will in view here, hence the surpise of those other spirits in hell (vs.9,10) that such a powerful (and evil) person(s) who seemed unbeatable should eventually appear in hell (Sheol in most translations) just as they had.
Again, if my thoughts are wrong on a specific point, please give me God's word on that particular point so that I can see more clearly where I am in error but I am having a hard time connecting your last thoughts with what I can read and know.
Furthermore I am not aware of any verses or historical reasons for believing that Belshazzar was not buried in a tomb, contrary to what is recorded in Isaiah 14:18-20.
Also, Belshazzar was not the primary king of Babylon at the time of its first defeat at the hands of Cyrus king of the Medo/Persian empire. His father Nabonidus was and neither he nor his father were the conquering king described in Isaiah 14:16 who "made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms" since they were both heirs to Nebuchadnezzar who truly spear headed Babylon's rise to power and defeat of Israel (specifically Judah and its capital Jerusalem) but we know from Daniel that Nebuchadnezzar repented and honoured God in the end, acknowledging Him as the supreme King of kings (not a characteristic of the man in view in Isaiah).
Also, where is there scripture that shows explicitly that Satan has access to hades, that he can go into it and assend at will, when Revelation teaches that Jesus alone holds the keys to the Abyss which you equate with hades? The context of Isaiah demonstrates that it is not by either Satan's nor the man's will that they are in the pit. The verbs used belong to the agency of a third party intervener. In verse 15 we are told that he will be "thrust down to Sheol (NASB)", or "brought down to hell" (KJV). Thus another (i.e. God) is forcing them to be brought low, there's no excercise of free will in view here, hence the surpise of those other spirits in hell (vs.9,10) that such a powerful (and evil) person(s) who seemed unbeatable should eventually appear in hell (Sheol in most translations) just as they had.
Again, if my thoughts are wrong on a specific point, please give me God's word on that particular point so that I can see more clearly where I am in error but I am having a hard time connecting your last thoughts with what I can read and know.
| Satan and Antichrist | Noel | Canada | noel@accordingtothescriptures.org | November 24, 2004 12:52 AM |
M. Bogerd,
When I read through the "burden of Babylon" which occupies Isaiah 13:1-14:26, I see a necessity to view it as prophecy with near and far applications. Isaiah wrote his prophecy during the time when the 10 northern tribes of Israel were taken captive by the Assyrians, over 100 years before Babylon became a dominant nation. It is obvious that Isaiah's prophecy has near and far applications for it speaks of the "day of the LORD" (13:6). This can be observed if we cross-reference other Scriptures as well, such as Isaiah 13:10 with Mt. 24:29 and Rev. 6:12 & 8:12, Isaiah 13:13 with Rev. 6:13-14 and 16:18-20, Isaiah 13:19-20 with Rev. 18:8, 18, 21 etc.
I certainly agree with you when you say that it appears that a man is also in view besides Satan in this proverb. I think that Isaiah was looking ahead to the time when Babylon fell to the Medes, and Belshazzar, king of Babylon was slain, and descended down to Hades. But within the context it appears that Lucifer possessed that man and descended down to Hades with him (Isaiah 14:12-15), although not confined there for the moment.
The "kings of the nations" (14:9-10) then continue their conversation as they view the king of Babylon and say, "Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble...?" I find your observation interesting as you point out the correlation between Isaiah 14:18-20 and Rev. 19:20 to which the prophet Daniel agrees, "I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame" (7:11).
In the Scriptures, I have found that prophecy is sometimes only partially fulfilled in the first application and therefore has a near and far fulfillment, as in this case. This is further confirmed when the Lord concludes this "burden" saying, "Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: That I will break the Assyrian in my land [cref. Dan. 8:25], and upon my mountains TREAD HIM UNDER FOOT: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations" (14:24-26). The Assyrian is no doubt, a foreshadow of the future Antichrist that will be possessed by Satan, but as the primeval promise goes, Satan and his seed shall be trodden underfoot. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15).
When I read through the "burden of Babylon" which occupies Isaiah 13:1-14:26, I see a necessity to view it as prophecy with near and far applications. Isaiah wrote his prophecy during the time when the 10 northern tribes of Israel were taken captive by the Assyrians, over 100 years before Babylon became a dominant nation. It is obvious that Isaiah's prophecy has near and far applications for it speaks of the "day of the LORD" (13:6). This can be observed if we cross-reference other Scriptures as well, such as Isaiah 13:10 with Mt. 24:29 and Rev. 6:12 & 8:12, Isaiah 13:13 with Rev. 6:13-14 and 16:18-20, Isaiah 13:19-20 with Rev. 18:8, 18, 21 etc.
I certainly agree with you when you say that it appears that a man is also in view besides Satan in this proverb. I think that Isaiah was looking ahead to the time when Babylon fell to the Medes, and Belshazzar, king of Babylon was slain, and descended down to Hades. But within the context it appears that Lucifer possessed that man and descended down to Hades with him (Isaiah 14:12-15), although not confined there for the moment.
The "kings of the nations" (14:9-10) then continue their conversation as they view the king of Babylon and say, "Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble...?" I find your observation interesting as you point out the correlation between Isaiah 14:18-20 and Rev. 19:20 to which the prophet Daniel agrees, "I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame" (7:11).
In the Scriptures, I have found that prophecy is sometimes only partially fulfilled in the first application and therefore has a near and far fulfillment, as in this case. This is further confirmed when the Lord concludes this "burden" saying, "Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: That I will break the Assyrian in my land [cref. Dan. 8:25], and upon my mountains TREAD HIM UNDER FOOT: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations" (14:24-26). The Assyrian is no doubt, a foreshadow of the future Antichrist that will be possessed by Satan, but as the primeval promise goes, Satan and his seed shall be trodden underfoot. "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel" (Genesis 3:15).
| Mystery Babylon | M. Bogerd | Canada | mav@vandentech.com | November 23, 2004 1:29 PM |
Dear Sir,
Thank you for taking the time to review my previous comments and I will certainly consider yours and follow up on your suggested link when opportunity affords it. My primary interest however at the moment is to better understand some of the more prophetic aspects and as you drew again my attention to Isaiah chapter 14 I would like to put forward some ideas that you might care to again comment on.
I agree from verses 9 to 15 that it most certainly appears that Satan is in view here, especially given that he "fell from heaven" and that he is the "morning star" and the "son of the dawn" (there are other reasons as well). As we read on however I cannot help but wonder if there is another individual in view here also given some interesting thoughts expressed in verses 16 through to 20 such that the prophesy may have a dual purpose.
In Isaiah 14:16 we read that those who see him will ponder his fate saying "Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble...?". It appears therefore that a man is also in view.
To solidify this interpretation we read on to discover that unlike previous kings who went to their tombs (places of burial), this individual is denied burial being cast out of his tomb (vs.18,19). He is the rejected branch because of the destruction he caused and for killing his people (vs.19-20).
Satan does not die as a man dies physically and burial in a tomb seems superfluous to his being. Tombs pertain to mortal men hence the reason for my thoughts in respect of these verses.
In Revelation 19:20 we read that the beast and false prophet were captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire. The beast is effectively denied burial while we read in Rev.19:21 that the "rest were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider (Christ)". So while the general rule is that men die and are buried, both Isaiah and Revelation make it plain that there will be exceptions.
Again, I would appreciate any additional insights that you might offer in this matter.
Thank you for taking the time to review my previous comments and I will certainly consider yours and follow up on your suggested link when opportunity affords it. My primary interest however at the moment is to better understand some of the more prophetic aspects and as you drew again my attention to Isaiah chapter 14 I would like to put forward some ideas that you might care to again comment on.
I agree from verses 9 to 15 that it most certainly appears that Satan is in view here, especially given that he "fell from heaven" and that he is the "morning star" and the "son of the dawn" (there are other reasons as well). As we read on however I cannot help but wonder if there is another individual in view here also given some interesting thoughts expressed in verses 16 through to 20 such that the prophesy may have a dual purpose.
In Isaiah 14:16 we read that those who see him will ponder his fate saying "Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble...?". It appears therefore that a man is also in view.
To solidify this interpretation we read on to discover that unlike previous kings who went to their tombs (places of burial), this individual is denied burial being cast out of his tomb (vs.18,19). He is the rejected branch because of the destruction he caused and for killing his people (vs.19-20).
Satan does not die as a man dies physically and burial in a tomb seems superfluous to his being. Tombs pertain to mortal men hence the reason for my thoughts in respect of these verses.
In Revelation 19:20 we read that the beast and false prophet were captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire. The beast is effectively denied burial while we read in Rev.19:21 that the "rest were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider (Christ)". So while the general rule is that men die and are buried, both Isaiah and Revelation make it plain that there will be exceptions.
Again, I would appreciate any additional insights that you might offer in this matter.
| Bottomless pit = Hades | Noel | Canada | noel@accordingtothescriptures.org | November 18, 2004 12:31 PM |
M. Bogerd, It appears that you have done your homework. It is an increasing rare commodity to find individuals who are willing to invest their precious time to study the Scriptures. We will herein try to satisfactorily address some of your comments. It appears that what is not demonstrated to your satisfaction is a clear correlation between the Abyss (bottomless pit) and Hades. One Scripture that may clarify this is Romans 10:6-7, "But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) Or, Who shall descend into the DEEP? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)" The word "deep" is from the Greek "abussos", also translated as the "bottomless pit". From this Scripture I think it is possible that the bottomless pit can be equated with Hades. Paul wrote in Ephesians, "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)" (Eph. 4:8-10). It appears that Hades is in the "heart of the earth" (Mt. 12:40) where Christ descended for three days, then He led all those OT saints who were in Hades up into heaven. That it would be the "bottomless pit" is recognized by the fact that there would be no farther down one could go, with only ceilings all around. Perhaps this could be resolved by understanding that Hades has several compartments. Certainly the rich man and Lazarus were in two different locations (Luke 16:19-31), "Tartarus" (Jude 6) is likely one of these compartments also. "God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (Tartaros) , and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment" (2Peter 2:4). It is the same place where all unbelievers go when they die, to be "reserved . . . unto the day of judgment" (2Peter 2:9) at the Great White Throne. This is the place prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt. 25:41), which agrees with the "lake of fire" , which is the final Hell.
I agree that a portion of the demons occupy the Abyss, but the lost are there also. It is where Satan will be imprisoned in the future for 1000 years. If you care to have a brief study of hell, this may help in discerning some of these intrigueing questions. http://www.accordingtothescriptures.org/sermons/hell.html
I agree that a portion of the demons occupy the Abyss, but the lost are there also. It is where Satan will be imprisoned in the future for 1000 years. If you care to have a brief study of hell, this may help in discerning some of these intrigueing questions. http://www.accordingtothescriptures.org/sermons/hell.html
| Great Article! | M. Bogerd | Canada | mav@vandentech.com | November 15, 2004 4:13 PM |
While the article as a whole is quite intriguing and informative, there are some points where I found the logic to be somewhat fuzzy or unsatisfying. The Abyss appears in the new Testament several times but always in connection with demons as a place of confinement (a dungeon). People are never seen to be in the Abyss or bottomless pit.
Also, I do not believe that it is to be generally equated with Hades, death, or Sheol. Revelation uses both terms distinctly and in respect of their unique meanings.
In Rev.1:17 Jesus explicitly states that He alone holds the keys to death and Hades however in Rev.9:1,2 the Greek word Abyss is introduced. Now we know from the Gospels that the demons begged Jesus not to cast them into the Abyss as He prepared to drive them from the possessed man, affirming that demons really don't want to be there.
But Revelation 9 demonstrates that the Abyss will unlease its unhappy tenants sometime in the future. From the original article, it seems that the Abyss is being spirtualized rather than taken literally and I doubt that is what the author (Noel) intends when applying it to the beast using the reference in Isaiah (and again I don't see Isaiah as talking about the Abyss). Clearly if we want to approach scripture literally than we must be consistent in doing so.
Thus we believe the Abyss to be a literal prison for the demons, as aluded to in Jude also. What Rev.9 reveals is that a "star" is given the key to the shaft leading to the Abyss. The previous star in Rev.8:10 is seen to be a physical star (meteriorite?). In Rev.9 however, the sounding of the fifth trumpet reveals a star that has fallen from the sky (heaven?) and is personified as "he" in Rev.9:2 thus indicating that a person is in view here. The term "fallen" most probably denotes a demon or fallen angel who was given the keys (note he didn't possess them of his own accord, they were given to him with the purpose of those in the Abyss a time of freedom, though constrained as always by God's will).
Thus when we read in Rev.11:7 and 17:8 that the beast is from the Abyss, what John may well be communicating is that some terrible demon of long ago has been unleashed to embody the beast of the future.
That the beast is possessed and empowered by a demon is manifest in Rev.16:13. Revelation 13:2 teaches also that the dragon (Satan) will give his power and throne to the beast that shall arise out of the sea, again showing where the beast's power comes from.
Thus, I believe that since only demons occupy the Abyss (for we only ever see the Abyss connected with the imprisonment of demons, including Satan at the beginning of the 1000 years, Rev.20:1-3), and since the "beast" does have an indwelt demon (Rev.16:13) that that is probably what is in view in Rev.11:7 and Rev.17:8 unless I can be persuaded otherwise.
Also, I do not believe that it is to be generally equated with Hades, death, or Sheol. Revelation uses both terms distinctly and in respect of their unique meanings.
In Rev.1:17 Jesus explicitly states that He alone holds the keys to death and Hades however in Rev.9:1,2 the Greek word Abyss is introduced. Now we know from the Gospels that the demons begged Jesus not to cast them into the Abyss as He prepared to drive them from the possessed man, affirming that demons really don't want to be there.
But Revelation 9 demonstrates that the Abyss will unlease its unhappy tenants sometime in the future. From the original article, it seems that the Abyss is being spirtualized rather than taken literally and I doubt that is what the author (Noel) intends when applying it to the beast using the reference in Isaiah (and again I don't see Isaiah as talking about the Abyss). Clearly if we want to approach scripture literally than we must be consistent in doing so.
Thus we believe the Abyss to be a literal prison for the demons, as aluded to in Jude also. What Rev.9 reveals is that a "star" is given the key to the shaft leading to the Abyss. The previous star in Rev.8:10 is seen to be a physical star (meteriorite?). In Rev.9 however, the sounding of the fifth trumpet reveals a star that has fallen from the sky (heaven?) and is personified as "he" in Rev.9:2 thus indicating that a person is in view here. The term "fallen" most probably denotes a demon or fallen angel who was given the keys (note he didn't possess them of his own accord, they were given to him with the purpose of those in the Abyss a time of freedom, though constrained as always by God's will).
Thus when we read in Rev.11:7 and 17:8 that the beast is from the Abyss, what John may well be communicating is that some terrible demon of long ago has been unleashed to embody the beast of the future.
That the beast is possessed and empowered by a demon is manifest in Rev.16:13. Revelation 13:2 teaches also that the dragon (Satan) will give his power and throne to the beast that shall arise out of the sea, again showing where the beast's power comes from.
Thus, I believe that since only demons occupy the Abyss (for we only ever see the Abyss connected with the imprisonment of demons, including Satan at the beginning of the 1000 years, Rev.20:1-3), and since the "beast" does have an indwelt demon (Rev.16:13) that that is probably what is in view in Rev.11:7 and Rev.17:8 unless I can be persuaded otherwise.
| Great Article! | clint | Cincy | cmatthew99@aol.com | February 14, 2007 6:36 PM |
I am eager to learning to the prophecy, that according to knowing the book of Revelation and Daniel. I wish some one will discuss with us more about this prophecy. thanks!
| beast that was is not a revised rome | Richard | UK | richard@spendiff.fslife.co.uk | May 21, 2007 9:03 AM |
Dan 8:22 As for the horn that was broken, in place of which four others arose, four kingdoms shall arise from his nation, but not with his power.
Dan 8:23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise.
This latter end kingdom that rises is not rome but a continuation of the beast that was alexanders's conquests:-
Dan 8:8 Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.
Dan 8:9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
The horn that was Alexander is broken (verse 8)but a couple of thousand (plus some) years later arises another, little horn (verse 9), the final antichrist. Alexander was a kind of first incarnation/role model of the final man of sin. Now it becomes cleear that the beast that was and is not (at the time of john writing) and yet shall be is the one I have described. Simple.
Dan 8:23 And at the latter end of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a king of bold face, one who understands riddles, shall arise.
This latter end kingdom that rises is not rome but a continuation of the beast that was alexanders's conquests:-
Dan 8:8 Then the goat became exceedingly great, but when he was strong, the great horn was broken, and instead of it there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.
Dan 8:9 Out of one of them came a little horn, which grew exceedingly great toward the south, toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
The horn that was Alexander is broken (verse 8)but a couple of thousand (plus some) years later arises another, little horn (verse 9), the final antichrist. Alexander was a kind of first incarnation/role model of the final man of sin. Now it becomes cleear that the beast that was and is not (at the time of john writing) and yet shall be is the one I have described. Simple.
| Beast that "was and is not" is Babylon | Noel | Canada | noel@accordingtothescriptures.org | June 11, 2007 12:20 PM |
I believe that the Scriptures are clear concering the identity of the Beast that "was, and is not; and shall ascend" (Revelation 17:8). It is the Babylonian kingdom revived, which "is the eighth" (v. 11) kingdom.
What I have described in this article is that the sixth kingdom or "head" of the beast ("one is" v. 10) is clearly Rome, which parallels with Daniel's "fourth kingdom" (Daniel 2:40) represented by the legs and feet of iron and clay of the "great image" (v. 31). This kingdom we are told "shall be divided" (v. 41) first into two, represented by the two legs (Rome and Constantinople), and finally into a ten nation confederacy represented by the ten toes of the image. This parallels with the ten horns on the seventh head of the beast in Revelation. This seventh kingdom is Rome reviSed, NOT reviVed, for it did not really cease to exist, it was transformed or as Daniel puts it "divided" and it "shall be partly strong, and partly broken" (Daniel 2:42).
In the Revelation, the seven headed, ten horned beast in its entirety "is the eighth, and is of the seven" (Revelation 17:11). The seventh kingdom is ruled by the ten kings who give their kingdom to the antichrist. This is the final culmination of mans efforts to build his own kingdom on this earth. This is the same as what Daniel saw, only in a different form, the "great image" in its entirety that has been built up into a great idol that Christ will smash to pieces when He returns to set up His everlasting kingdom. Simple.
What I have described in this article is that the sixth kingdom or "head" of the beast ("one is" v. 10) is clearly Rome, which parallels with Daniel's "fourth kingdom" (Daniel 2:40) represented by the legs and feet of iron and clay of the "great image" (v. 31). This kingdom we are told "shall be divided" (v. 41) first into two, represented by the two legs (Rome and Constantinople), and finally into a ten nation confederacy represented by the ten toes of the image. This parallels with the ten horns on the seventh head of the beast in Revelation. This seventh kingdom is Rome reviSed, NOT reviVed, for it did not really cease to exist, it was transformed or as Daniel puts it "divided" and it "shall be partly strong, and partly broken" (Daniel 2:42).
In the Revelation, the seven headed, ten horned beast in its entirety "is the eighth, and is of the seven" (Revelation 17:11). The seventh kingdom is ruled by the ten kings who give their kingdom to the antichrist. This is the final culmination of mans efforts to build his own kingdom on this earth. This is the same as what Daniel saw, only in a different form, the "great image" in its entirety that has been built up into a great idol that Christ will smash to pieces when He returns to set up His everlasting kingdom. Simple.
| Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots | Edgar A. Badlissi | Miami, Florida | ebadlissi@hotmail.com | Tuesday, April 15, 2008 10:49 AM |
Were is Babylon located, what does the bible mean that it sit in waters, who is the modern Babylon, is it Iraq the land of the caldeans, is Babylon the fallen Eden?
I appreciate if you can answer theses questions.
Thank you,
I appreciate if you can answer theses questions.
Thank you,
| Babylon | Noel | Canada | noel@accordingtothescriptures.org | April 18, 2008 11:00 PM |
Historically, Babylon is located in modern day Iraq. This is a city that was originally built shortly after "The Flood" by those who rebelled against the will of God and was spearheaded by that insurgent Nimrod, the great grandson of Noah. God put down that rebellion by confusing the language of the rebels and scattered them throughout the world. They in turn became the nations of the world.
Nebuchadnezzar, many years later, revived the religion and city of Babel (same as Babylon) but that kingdom eventually fell to the Medes and the Persians and from that time forward diminished from being a significant world power. There is an indication that Babylon will be revived again (Zechariah 5:5-11), much like in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, back on her old foundation, in the last days.
Revelation 17:1 says that judgment will come upon "the great whore that sitteth upon many waters". In verse 15 we are told, "The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." She also sat upon a seven headed, ten horned scarlet colored beast which represents the kingdoms of this world down through history.
Nebuchadnezzar, many years later, revived the religion and city of Babel (same as Babylon) but that kingdom eventually fell to the Medes and the Persians and from that time forward diminished from being a significant world power. There is an indication that Babylon will be revived again (Zechariah 5:5-11), much like in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, back on her old foundation, in the last days.
Revelation 17:1 says that judgment will come upon "the great whore that sitteth upon many waters". In verse 15 we are told, "The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." She also sat upon a seven headed, ten horned scarlet colored beast which represents the kingdoms of this world down through history.
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