CHAPTER 4 BABYLON THE GREAT
This study is going to concentrate upon Revelation chapters 17 & 18. Up to this point we have been looking at the Book of Revelation through the eyes of the rest of Scripture rather than as a treatise that stands alone. While it may at first glance appear that there is no rhyme or reason to our approach of Jesus' revelation of end time truths to John, I believe that if you will bear with me for a few more chapters, the reasons for this method of study will become apparent.
In the preceding three chapters we have seen that several common teachings about this last book of the Bible may in fact be completely invalid when viewed in light of the rest of God's Word. We found this to be true when it was shown that for the most part, Revelation chapters 4 thru 16 are talking about a 3 1/2 year period, and not a 7 year time frame (see Chapter 1). In Chapters 2 & 3 we saw that Rev.11:1-13 is not predicting the return of two men who have gone before, but is showing us more of God's pattern which leads to a Church that is victorious and overcoming in the midst of trial and tribulation. In this chapter we will examine the teaching which says Revelation chapters 17 & 18 are talking about the city of Rome, New York, a rebuilt Babylon, or some future city.
Before proceeding with this study it is imperative that you read these two chapters. It would be helpful if you then had your Bible open to these chapters as we go through this lesson. To begin with, I would like you to temporarily set aside those portions of Revelation 17 & 18 which deal with the beast which is associated with Mystery Babylon. It is my desire to spotlight Babylon in this study, not the beast. In our next study we will take a closer look at the beast and his mark.
Chapter 17 verses 1,2 & 4 make it very clear that the woman who rides the beast is the most notorious prostitute of all times. Verse 5 even goes so far as to call her the "Mother of Prostitutes." This theme is continued in Rev.18:3 wherein we are told that all the nations and kings of the earth committed adultery with this woman. The question now before us is "Who?" or better yet, "What is this harlot?"
Part of the answer to that question is found in Rev.17:9 wherein we are told that the "women" sits on 7 hills. This leads us to believe that we are talking about a "what" as opposed to a who when we are discussing the great harlot (see also 17:1 wherein the harlot is said to sit on "many waters"). The fact that the great harlot sits on 7 hills causes many people to believe that the harlot is in fact a city. With this I agree, in part. However, I do not agree with the theory which tells us that city in question is some future version of modern day Rome which some teachers say is supposed to become the capital of the ten member common market nations. While it is true that Rome has 7 hills, I believe that we must look beyond this single verse in order to answer the question of the harlot's identity.
Verse 6 of chapter 17 and verse 24 of chapter 18 each tell us that the blood of the saints and prophets will be found in this harlot city. Now, while it can be said that the blood of many New Testament saints was spilled in Rome, I would ask you this question, "Which Old Testament prophet died in Rome?" The answer of course is "none." In what other city then can we find the blood of both Old Testament prophets and New Testament saints? There would seem to be only one answer to that question "Jerusalem." Isaiah 4:4 confirms this in part by telling us that the time will come when the "...bloodstains" from Jerusalem will be cleansed by a spirit of judgment and fire.
Matt.23:35 and Lk.11:50 solidifies the link between Jerusalem and the blood of the saints when we see that it is in Jerusalem that you will find the blood of all the righteous and all the prophets from the beginning of time until then (see also Matt.23:37 & Lk.13: 34). The link becomes ironclad when we read Jesus' statement as recorded in Lk.13:33 which says that "...no prophet can die outside Jerusalem." (Note, this gives us a clear indication that the Jerusalem referred to is both a city and a system. As such, as we will see later in this study Babylon the Great is both a city and a system. However, for now let us keep our attention focused upon the city.) As to those New Testament saints who died after the time of Jesus, all you need do is turn to Paul's testimony as found in Acts 22:2-5 wherein we read that Jerusalem is clearly related to the blood of those martyrs also.
A serious dilemma now faces those teachers who hold that some future city will be held accountable for the blood of all the prophets and saints. If Jesus said that Old Jerusalem was going to be held accountable for the blood of all saints and prophets, and that is exactly what He did say, what Scriptural justification exists for now passing that responsibility off on Rome or some other city? (Matt.23:36 & Lk.21:22) Again, the answer is "none" I am not forgetting the other identification marks listed for the harlot city. However, since many pretribulation rapture teachers seem to totally ignore the clear inter-relationship between Rev.17:6, 18:24 and Matt.23:35, Lk.11:50, Lk.13:34 & Matt.23:37, I wanted to first address that issue. The blood of the prophets is found only in Jerusalem, and therefore no other city but old Jerusalem can fulfill the requirements of Rev.18:24.
Let us now examine the question of those 7 hills. I suggest that you look at any old map showing the topography of Jerusalem immediately prior to 70 AD. In so doing I believe that you will find that the 7 hills of Moriah, Ophel, Zion, Bezetha, Golgotha, Bareb and Offence are all or partially located within the confines of Jerusalem as it existed at that time. No wonder John was "greatly astonished" (Rev.17:6) when he saw who the woman on the beast was. He was seeing the city of his ancestry, the city over which Jesus wept (Lk.19:41), the city of David's highest joy (Ps.137:6) as it really was He was seei ng the true spirit that dwelt just below the surface of religious piotism. He was seeing the "brood of vipers" (Matt.23:33) and the depth of hypocrisy which ran through out the religious system of his day (Matt.23:23-28 & Lk.20:45-47). He was seeing the "Mother of Prostitutes" (Rev.17:5) as she really was.
Most times throughout Scripture, Israel in general and Jerusalem in particular is likened unto a harlot whenever she exchanged the worship of God for that of false idols. In Chapter 9 of The Last Enemy the issue of spiritual prostitution was covered rather extensively. (For a quick reference to this see Jer.3:8, 13:27, 29:23, Ez.23:4&11, 16:3, Ju.8:27 & II Chron.21:13-14) Rev.18:3 tells us that the "...kings of the earth committed adultery.." with the Mother of Prostitutes, and Ez.16:26,28&29 show us that it is Jerusalem who was guilty of that breach of God's commandments, not some future version of New York or Rome (see also Ez.23:4 with 12&14).
As to the great wealth of the Harlot City referred to in the last portion of Rev.18:3, I call your attention to the fact that at one time Jerusalem was one of, if not the center of wealth in the Middle East (II Chron.1:5; I Ki.3:13 & II Chron.9:22-23). Solomon's temple alone cost in excess of 24 billion dollars (I Chron.22:14), and Hiram, king of Tyre, was paid abundantly well for the materials and workman he supplied in its construction (I Ki.5:11). In addition, II Chron.9:14 and I Ki.10:15 also leave no doubt that Jerusalem was a great center of trade (see also I Ki.9:26, Ez.27:17 & Neh.13:20).
Verses 4&5 of Rev.18 also give us a clear picture of Jerusalem when they are read in context with the only other Scripture wherein Jesus directs His people to flee a city; namely, Matt.24:15 & Lk.21:20-21. In the Luke account Jesus said, "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near ... let those in the city get out and let those in the country side not enter the city." This verse is extremely important, for as you will recall, in Chapter 1 we saw that these two verses related to the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus in 70 AD. For the first time then we are given a clear indication that the fall of Babylon referred to in Rev.18 has already taken place. For John, in 68 AD, the fall of Babylon (Jerusalem) was still future in nature, but for us today, it is a prophecy which we know has already been fulfilled. It is not one of the yet to be fulfilled signs of the end times.
Rev.18:5 tells us that it was Harlot Babylon's sins which were heaped up to heaven, and I Thes 2:16 shows us that it was Jerusalem's sins which were piled before the throne. Rev.18:6&7 says that the great whore will be paid back double for what she has done, and she will drink from the cup of grief. This however refers to Jerusalem, not Rome or some reconstructed Babylon, for Scripture continually makes reference to a double payback for Jerusalem (Jer.16:18, Isa.40:2 & 51:19, Ps.75.8, Jer.13:13 and Ez.23:32-33). The one who boasts she is a queen in Rev.18:7 is not New York, but Jerusalem (Ez.16:13). Indeed, she boasted she would never be a widow, but Lam.1:12 proves otherwise.
A careful study of Scripture will reveal that all the commodities listed in Rev.18:11-13 were to be found in large quantities in Jerusalem to wit: gold & silver (II Chron.1:150, precious stones(Ez.16:11, I Ki.10:2 & I Chron.29:2), pearls (Matt.13:45 - pearls must have been known, why else would Jesus have used them in a parable?), linen, purple, silk & scarlet cloth (II Chron.5:12, Prov.31:24, Ju.8:26, Ez.16:10&13 & Nu.4:8), costly/Citron wood (II Chron.2:3, I Ki.6:14-15), Ivory (II Chron.9:17), Bronze (I Chron.22:3), iron (I Chron.22:14), marble (I Chron 29:2), cinnamon and spice Prov. 7:17, Ex.30:23, II Chron. 9:1, I Ki.10:10), incense (I Chron.6:49 & II Chron.2:4), myrrh (Ps.45:8 & Ex.30:23), Frankincense (Ex.30:24 & Lev.24:7), wine (I Chron.16:3 KJV & II Chron.2:10),olive oil (I Ki.5:11 & II Chron.2:10), flour & wheat (I Ki.4:22, Ez.16:19, I Ki.5:11 & II Chron.27:5, cattle (II Chron.7:5 NIV), sheep (I Ki.8:5), horses II Chron.8:6, 9:25), chariots (II Sam.8:4 & I Ki.10:26), bodies and souls (I Ki.9:22 with II Chron.2:17-18, Neh.5:5-8, Ex.21:1-6). The point is, Jerusalem, which was clothed in fine linen (Rev.18:16 & Ez.16:1&3), more clearly fits the description of the doomed harlot of Rev.18 than does any other city.
Rev.18:20 tells the saints, apostles & prophets to rejoice for the city has been judged. While we have already seen that Jerusalem was accountable for the blood of all the prophets, saints and apostles, that point bares repeating, for it is stressed again in Rev. 18:20&24. Acts 7:51-53 and Acts 8:1-3 (in addition to the verses we saw earlier) reemphasize the fact that it was Jerusalem in general, and its religious system which had become perverted by man's rules in particular, that persecuted those men of God (Matt.23:23-24 & vs13).
It was THAT generation of Pharisees and Sadduces and those who followed them that would be held accountable for all that carnage (Matt.23:36). That is why Jesus warned the Jews to pray that their chance to flee Jerusalem when its destruction became imminent would not arise on a Sabbath (Matt.24:20). You see, Jews would not go more than 2,000 cubits - a Sabbath day's journey. Whereas Christians who were in Jerusalem would not hesitate to leave if their chance to leave came on a Sabbath or any other day of the week. Why not? Simple, the Christians were no longer under the old law (Gal.2: 15). They had not rejected Jesus. They were no longer bound by the system which had refused to recognize its own Messiah. The only ones who would die when Jerusalem (Babylon the Great) was destroyed would be the very ones who had rejected both the Messiah Himself, and His messengers (Matt.23:29-32).
In 70 AD that is exactly what happened. Jerusalem was utterly destroyed, but it was not the Church of Jerusalem that was destroyed. The Christians left either before the seige began, or when Titus allowed all who wanted to leave to leave. The ones who stayed were the zealots of a system that had rejected Christ, and were bound by traditions that led to death (Gal.5:1 & Gal.2:16). Babylon the Great, ie. the Mother of Prostitutes was destroyed in 70 AD. Therefore, we are not looking for some other city to be destroyed in order that the words of Rev.17 and 18 might be fulfilled. The law has been fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus (Matt.5:17, Eph.2:15 & Col.2:13-14). The religious system which both perverted the law and refused to recognize its fulfillment and had punished those who prophesied its fulfillment and later preached its fulfillment (John 11:48) was punished in 70 AD just as Jesus said it would be (Matt.23:36). The voice of the Bridegroom and Bride (Rev.18:23) will not come from this system. God will never again be pleased with the sacrifice of bulls and oxen. The Bride comes from the overcoming Church (Rev.21 :9&7), not from the harlot system represented by the Scribes and Pharisees (Mk.12:40 & Lk.20:47).
Do not misunderstand what I am saying. Many times it is assumed that the Sonship message which has been carefully developed in the 4 volumes which precede this book, of necessity eliminates the nation of Israel from any further part in God's plan. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are two extreme views on this topic. One view says that Revelation chapters 4 - 18 deals only with the nation of Israel because the Church has already been raptured into heaven before any of these events transpire. Needless to say, such a position is totally inconsistent with the overcoming Sonship message found throughout Scripture. The pretribulation rapture position is an escapist theory that leads to physical death, not overcoming (Ps.90:10). The other extreme says that since Babylon the Great (Old Jerusalem) has already fallen there is nothing more in God's Word that applies to physical Israel. Those who maintain this position would take all Scriptures which refer to a future Israel and apply them to the overcoming Church.
This later position clearly ignores Ro.11:11-36 wherein we are told that God is not done with the Jews. I believe that the very manifestation of the Sons of God which Ro.8:19 talks about is linked to Ro.11:12 which, while referring to the natural Jews says, "... if their transgression means riches for the world ...riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring?" Verse 15 of that chapter goes on to remind us that acceptance of Jesus Christ brings life from death, and I believe that that verse is referring to the physical life as well as eternal spiritual life. God is not through with the natural descendants of Abraham. They will be grafted back into the olive tree (Ro.11: 24). Then the body of Christ will be completed - but not until then. This will happen (Matt.23:39) !!
There are several prophecies which deal with physical Israel that have not been fulfilled as of this date (Ez.38 for instance). However, those who are looking for a physical temple to be built in which the anti-Christ can later roast a pig, or demand to be worshipped, are making the same mistake the Pharisees did when they were looking for the literal return of Elijah in John 1:21 (see Chapter 2). This is not to say that some zealots will not build a physical temple in Jerusalem (financed in no small part by all the pretribulation rapture Christians who think that the construction of such a temple will hasten their departure). However, that temple will not be the fulfillment of any prophecy, but rather the fulfillment of the same legalistic approach to Scripture that brought Jesus to the cross the first time. And no body is going to get away with figuratively crucifying Jesus a second time (Heb.6:6 & Nu.20:11-12). God is through with man's perversions of such systems. He is finished with the corrupted hypocritical perversion of religion that Jerusalem stood for and was epitomized by the Scribes and Pharisees.
The Jews were a called out people (Gen.12:1-3) through whom God was going to display His glory to all the earth (Is.44:23). They were to be a light in the world of darkness (Is.60:3). But their leaders rejected that light (John 9:4, 12:35, Mk.12:1-2). God then rejected that entire priesthood (Hosea 4:6, Heb.7:12 & Matt.23:36). It is at this point that the prophetic warning of Rev.18 comes into view. Today we are to be the light of the world (Matt.5:14-16 & Acts 13:47). We are to be a chosen generation (II Pe.2:5&9 & Rev.5:10); however, just as the spirit of prostitution once invaded the Old Covenant system, it has also invaded the organizations that have grown up with the New Covenant.
There were false prophets in the time of Ezekiel who said that nothing could possibly happen to Jerusalem (Jer.13:21-23). They were wrong (Jer.52), and they were destroyed (Jer.13:21-23). There are false prophets today who say that God would never allow any harm to befall His Church. They say that what we see around us and call "the Church" will be raptured into the very physical presence of God, regardless of her state of prostitution (impurity) They ignore the clear teachings of Isaiah 35:8-10, Heb.12: 14, Ez.44:16, Ps.15:1-2, Ps.24:3-4 and I John 3:3 which all tell us that only the pure in heart and soul shall physically stand before the Lord without first tasting of death.
We are not to look for some future city to be destroyed. That part of Rev.18 was fulfilled when the Old City of Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD. Nor are we to look for the resurrection of a system which could not recognize the Lord when He came the first time. However, we cannot afford to ignore the Lord's call to come out of any harlot system that seeks less than 100% commitment to the fullness of Christ. Remember, we are to seek God with all of our spirit, all of our soul, and all of our body so that the whole package may be presented to Him when he returns (I Thes.5:23).
The first part (spirit) depended upon the sacrifice of Jesus. The second part (soul) is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit within us now. The third part (body) will be the work of the Father, after the second is completed. To proclaim less than this is to proclaim less than the full will of the Father (Acts 20:27). And anything but the full will of the Father is likened to some degree or another, to spiritual impurity, and as we have seen so often before, the Bride of Christ will be pure before she is taken into the Groom's presence (Rev.19:7-8).
We cannot now claim to be manifested sons of God (Ro.8:19-23) for it is obvious that all creation has not yet been liberated from its bondage to decay. Before that manifestation will take place, our soul must be thoroughly purified and renewed (Ro.11: 2). That renewal and purification will never be completed by the old harlot system or any revival of it, or by any present day system which places man's teachings and traditions above the Word of God (Col.2:8&20-23, I Pe.1:18 and Matt.15:6). I shall close this chapter with this word of caution. Each of us should search our hearts daily to make sure that the great harlot, known as Babylon the Great, does not gain a foothold in our lives. For the harlot we are to watch out for will be found in an impure soul, not on a map of the Mediterranean Sea.