Contents

1. PREFACE

2. 1. THE PROSTITUTE

3. 2. BABYLON

4. 3. BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS

5. 4. TODAY’S BABYLON

6. 5. THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON

7. 6. COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE!

8. 7. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

1. NOTE: MOUNTAINS, HEADS, AND KINGS

BABYLON

...will be utterly burned with fire

by David W. Dyer

“A GRAIN OF WHEAT” MINISTRIES PUBLICATION

Second printing 2006

Third “revised” edition 2012

Fourth printing 2014

Unless otherwise indicated, all quotations are from the New King James version of the Bible.

Copies are available from the website: agrainofwheat.com

Author’s email: davidwdyer@yahoo.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. THE PROSTITUTE . . . . . . . . . . 7

2. BABYLON . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

3. THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS . . . . 19

4. TODAY’S BABYLON . . . . . . . . . 29

5. THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON . . 47

6. COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE . . . 63

7. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH . . 81

PREFACE

How easy it is to criticize others but to think well of ourselves! It comes to us so naturally to perceive the deficiencies of others but not be aware of our own errors and failings. It is actually quite common for us to think of ourselves as not really being as bad, as erroneous or as misled as “those others.”

But, as you already know, those who think this way are just exposing their own hearts, revealing the pride and self-centeredness which is within them. They are failing to understand the true nature of their own soul.

The truth is that at the bottom of our hearts, no one is better than anyone else. All of us are sinners of the worst kind.

This little discussion has everything to do with our present subject. For example, never in my entire life, have I heard someone declare, “I am taking part in Babylon, “ or, “I am involved in spiritual adultery.” Instead, it is always “the others” who are wrong and never “me” or “us.”

It’s not hard in these days to find someone insisting that, “that church is part of Babylon” or, “that religious system is Babylon.” Those who make these declarations often do so to make themselves feel better or superior, since they are letting those listening to them know that they are not nearly so wrong as, and therefore much better than, those they are judging to be in error.

However, I imagine that God would like to change this practice. He would like to bring an end to this all-too-human habit. God’s objective is not, and never has been, to expose the sins of others to us so that we can feel better about ourselves.

Instead, He is always working to expose the true condition of our own hearts so that we can repent and, as a result, experience ever more of the salvation which He purchased for us.

With all this in mind, I would like to ask all readers a favor. Could you please, at least for a few moments, lay aside all preconceived ideas about this subject. Run a little risk by opening your heart and mind to something which might be different from what you already believed.

Open your hearts to God, asking that His light could shine in a way that you could receive a new understanding, a new revelation which would transform your lives.

The biblical revelation of Babylon – the prostitute of these last days – is extremely important for every child of God to understand.

My prayer is that this little book would be used by God to enlighten and bless every reader, preparing them for the imminent, second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

D.W.D.

“Because [the prophets] have seduced My people, saying, ‘Peace!’ when there is no peace...” (Ezek 13:10).

“Then I said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Behold, the prophets say to them, “You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.‘

And the Lord said to me, ‘The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their [own] heart’” (Jer 14:13,14).

“They have also healed the hurt of My people slightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace” (Jer 6:14).

1. THE PROSTITUTE

God is infinite, eternal and all-powerful. He is the creator of all things. There is nothing He needs. Consequently, we human beings have very little to offer Him. He does not need our intelligence. He does not covet our money. He does not need our efforts on His behalf. This even includes “Christian” efforts. Simply put, He is able to do His work without our help – without our particular ministries, gifts and abilities. If necessary, He can simply raise up “sons to Abraham” from the stones along the road (Lk 3:8).

However, there is one thing which God does want from us. He desires our heart. This is the one thing which we can give to God which pleases Him. If and when our heart is entirely His, then the rest of His work can be done in us and through us with power, speed and efficiency.

Any lack on our part of intelligence, gifts and/or ability can be supplied by His power and grace. When our heart is thoroughly and completely His, then all the outward things, involving our personal needs and our work for Him, can be taken care of with great ease. When our heart is His, then there are no obstacles too great for us because our loving Master is in control.

Of course you remember the first commandment which our Lord gave to us. It reads: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Mt 22:37). Obviously, since this is the first and greatest commandment, God is telling us something very essential about what our relationship with Him should be.

Again He says in Proverbs: “My son, give me your heart...” (Pr 23:26). This verse is the summation of all that God really wants or needs from His children. He wants our hearts. He yearns for the complete yielding and surrender of our inner man to Him. His desire is that we would give ourselves totally and fully to Him. This is an essential and fundamental truth of which all His children should be aware.

THE DEVIL’S WORK

Yet God has an enemy, the devil. This enemy is no fool. He understands what it is that God wants from man, perhaps much better than we do. So, the devil works to distract the hearts of men from our Lord. He labors intensely to keep men and women from entering into and/or from maintaining such an intimacy with their God.

Please pay careful attention to this. One of the main works and purpose of Satan is to turn the hearts of men away from their Creator and fix them on other things. If and when he succeeds in doing this, they then become impotent and useless in the Kingdom of God and in furthering His purposes on the earth. Once their hearts are captured by other things – once their love and affection is given to something else – then the work of God in them and through them is blocked.

The devil is the “ruler (or prince) of this world” (Jn 14:30). When tempting Jesus, he claimed that all the kingdoms of the world and their “glory” were his and that he could give them to others as he pleased.

We read: “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish’” (Lk 4:5,6). Jesus did not dispute this assertion.

Now the devil in his earthly kingdom has a lot to offer which appeals to the natural man. His arsenal of temptations is vast and attractive. He has riches to give. He has a great variety of pleasures to offer. These include but are not limited to: sex, drugs, entertainments, foods of many kinds, fame, money, leisure, and sports.

If you enjoy intellectual stimulation, he can offer education, research or even puzzles or trivia game shows. If you like travel, his world is full of different destinations with their sights, sounds, and entertainments. If you prefer fame and popularity, he will help you pursue it – even within the church. If you want power over others, this too is available in the realm of business, politics, religion, etc. How about status or success? Does this draw your heart? Will you be glad when others look at you with envy because of your house, car, bank account or the amount of things you own?

The devil has an enormous array of enjoyments and earthly pursuits with which he works to attract and then capture the hearts of men and women. The above list is by no means exhaustive. It is merely meant to be a kind of basis from which the reader can begin to understand the power and attraction of the devil’s kingdom.

Not only does the devil work to distract the common man from God, he especially works on Christians to capture their heart with his offerings of fulfillment, excitement, and pleasure. When and if believers allow themselves to be seduced by these worldly attractions and enjoyments, God calls this “adultery.”

In James 4:4 we read: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” When we give our heart over to the attractions and pleasures of this world, we commit adultery against our Lord.

When our hearts love something other than Him, we betray Him in the same way an adulteress betrays her allegiance to her husband. In this way, we find ourselves being an enemy of God.

The book of Proverbs is full of warnings against being seduced to commit adultery. Chapter 7 is particularly potent and up-to-date in its instructions and warnings. While these verses certainly can apply to physical adultery, its admonitions undoubtedly also apply to us in our walk with Jesus. I think that it might be important for all readers to review this chapter here.

Clearly this prostitute of proverbs is not single. She has a “man” in her life (vs 19). Yet she is seducing the unwary among God’s people.

In the same way, the devil too has his “woman,” his prostitute. She is extremely beautiful and attractive. She is seductive in the extreme. She is called: “the world” and “all the things which are in the world.” With these things, she draws the hearts of men away from God and entangles them in a web of earthly pleasures and pursuits, thereby committing spiritual adultery against God.

THE DEVIL’S WOMAN

Please do not miss this truth. The prostitute of the devil, his “woman” so to speak, is no ugly hag. Instead, she is astoundingly beautiful. The things which she offers men and women, to distract and capture their hearts, are the most attractive and alluring things available on this earth.

Although there is certainly a deception here since none of these things ultimately satisfy the human heart, their appearance is that of the most desirable and appealing things and pleasures possible.

Now the devil is very generous with his woman, his prostitute. He will gladly share her and all her pleasures with anyone who is the slightest bit interested. He generously offered to Jesus all the kingdoms of this world and their glory (Lk 4:5,6). So today, he is willing to share the “delights” of his kingdom to all who will open their hearts to them.

Let us be clear that many of the devil’s offerings are not in themselves sinful. Making money is not sinful. Buying things is not sinful. Having some entertainment or leisure time is not sinful.

Yet, if we are not careful, these and many other things which this world has to offer begin to capture our hearts. They begin to seduce us, taking our time, attention, and affections. They begin to occupy a place in our hearts which should be reserved for God alone.

We read: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (I Jn 2:15).

Our God is a jealous God. He is jealous for our affections. He wants to be the One who fills our hearts. He is the One after whom we should long and He should be the focus of all our desires. This is not only what He seeks, but it is also the one and only thing which will truly satisfy the human heart.

We were created to be in this kind of love relationship with our Creator. Therefore, it is only when we yield ourselves to Him in complete surrender, that we find satisfaction. It is only then that we find ourselves complete and contented. The delights, pursuits and goals which the world offers as a substitute for this are always elusive.

Even if we manage to attain them, they never really “hit the spot.” When we pursue the devil’s offerings of earthly pleasure and/or attainment we will never be at peace and never truly find the satisfaction which we are seeking. We were made by God and for God. Therefore, it is only when we find our all in Him that we will also be content and at peace.

2. BABYLON

In the scriptures the devil’s “woman,” his prostitute, has another specific name. In prophetic scripture, she is called “Babylon.” Babylon is a woman who is beautifully attired. She is bejeweled with precious stones, pearls, and gold. She no doubt has her makeup well done and her hair expertly styled.

This woman is sensationally attractive. She represents the best and most alluring things and pleasures which this world has to offer. Her entire function is to seduce men’s hearts away from God to the riches and delights which this world has to offer.

In Revelation chapter 17 we read about her. It seems that she is doing her job well. The kings of the earth are debauching in an adulterous relationship with her and the inhabitants of the world are drunk – literally intoxicated – with the pleasures and things which she has to offer (vs. 2).

They are all committing adultery with her. Their hearts are far from God and a submitted love relationship with Him and instead are insatiably chasing satisfaction with the devil’s substitute. They are all in an insane rush to obtain and enjoy everything which the devil’s kingdom has to offer.

Why is she called “Babylon?” It is because Babylon of the Old Testament was the epitome of such worldly behavior. She was the center of an indulgent, sinful culture full of excesses of every kind. She was the most luxurious, the most prosperous, the most powerful place on earth at one time.

All that the world is and has to offer was concentrated there in her, at the peak of her influence and power. She was the paragon of the worldliness and sin of that time. “Babylon” therefore serves as a type of all the sensuality, pleasure, and sin which this world has to offer.

Of course today, this spiritual, immoral woman still exists. In fact, she is rampantly visible in our current world. We read that this prostitute “sits on many waters” (Rev 17:1).

This means that her influence is widespread. It reaches all around the globe. We are told that “The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” (Rev 17:15).

In her hand is a golden cup. This cup is full of her seductive attractions. It is brimming over with her “fornication.” It represents all the things which this world has to offer. She is offering this cup to all, inducing them to come and drink until their senses are dulled and their hearts abandoned to seeking the things of this world. Great multitudes are swilling down this “beverage” as fast as they can, giving themselves over completely to an adulterous relationship with the devil’s woman.

No matter where you may travel in this world, most of the populations of the nations are drunk with this wine. They are madly pursuing success, fortune, leisure and all that the world has to offer. They are in a headlong rush to acquire more and more of everything that is really part of the devil’s kingdom.

Satan’s ruse, his subtle trick of offering men and women an attractive substitute for a relationship with God is working! Most of the world, both inside and outside the church, is in a frenzy to try to satisfy their carnal desires by indulging in all the many the pleasures this “woman” has to offer. They are indeed drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Consequently, their hearts are far from God. Their affections have been drawn away and captured by the offerings of the devil’s kingdom.

3. BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS

Another feature of this prostitute is that she too is drunk. But she is drunk with a different substance. She is intoxicated with the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus (Rev 17:6).

Although this may seem a little strange, in fact it is very scriptural. I John 3:13 warns us: “Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you.” We also read: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you” (Jn 15:18).

You see, those who are indulging themselves in the kingdom of this world will always hate those who are not. Even the presence of those who are not committing adultery with the prostitute is a silent condemnation to whose who are.

This testimony of righteousness and love for God causes a reaction in those who love the world. They cannot help themselves. They begin to hate those who are not like them. They have another father, the devil, (Jn 8:44) and another passion, the things and pleasures of this world. Therefore, they cannot stand those who are not like them.

With the passage of time, this hatred culminates in a desire to kill those who are holy. In order to get rid of them, to blot out the negative effect which righteous people have on their guilty consciences, they end up murdering them.

This is what induced the people of Jesus’ day to kill Him. It is what has precipitated the death of the all martyrs since that time. Be warned, this same hatred is still in force today.

RELIGION IS ALSO WORLDLY

Although many do not realize this – perhaps simply because they have not thought about it – all religion is also worldly. It is a product of, and part of, the system of this world. It is part of the devil’s kingdom.

It is clear that the religions which Christians consider erroneous do not have their origin in God, but in the world. For example, we can be certain that the one true God did not establish Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and a great variety of other religions. Therefore, we know that they have another source.

Although some of the adherents of such religions exhibit a kind of “piety” in fasting, self-denial, etc. the fact is that such exercises are not genuine holiness, but a human (and therefore earthly) imitation of the divine.

Such things also are part of the system of this world. They are just as unrighteous and rebellious as other sins such as drunkenness, sex outside of marriage, murder, etc.

While it is obvious that sensuality, excess, pursuit of fame and power, etc. are part of the devil’s prostitute’s offerings, it is perhaps less evident that he has some segments for those who like to think well of themselves. He also has room in his kingdom for the smug, the proud, the disdaining of others, the self-confident and the self-righteous. There is space for whose who have a strong will and like to demonstrate this through self-deprivation, austerity, and abnegation.

For some of these, religion is the perfect vehicle to express their superiority. Through adhering to some set of religious standards, they can demonstrate their ability to control their natural passions, follow a set of self-imposed practices and therefore show how much better they are than other “less able” people around them.

It is also possible for such people to use Christianity to accomplish these ends. They become very religious using the Bible. Both Christians and Jews can use the scriptures in a way which does not have its source in God.

The natural human being, using his intellect, can produce a sort of religious philosophy – a code of seemingly biblical behavior and ethics to follow resulting in a seemingly “righteous” appearance – without much, if any, relationship with God Himself.

This too is human and earthly. It too is part of the system of this world. It is part of the devil’s kingdom.

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day were a good example of this. They were extremely religious. They not only tried to rigorously follow the law of Moses, they extrapolated it even further to include an enormous number of little rules and regulations which they themselves invented.

For them, this religious behavior was of the utmost importance. Following these rules gave them a false sense of security and self-importance. They felt superior to all the others who did not have the strength of will to adhere to their code of behavior.

So when Jesus came and demonstrated the true holiness which was not based on a set of rules but on a relationship with God Himself, they became offended. They became angry.

This manifestation of genuine righteousness, whose source was the life of God, exposed their system as being misguided, human, and earthly. It was revealed to be simply a pathetic, worldly religion, without the power to change the ugliness of the fallen human nature. It was in fact, a segment of the devil’s kingdom.

For this reason, Jesus could justly say to them: “You are of your father the devil” (Jn 8:44). They appeared to be following the law of God, but were in fact merely expressing a part of the kingdom of darkness. They were in the religious segment of the world system, the prostitute.

The exposing of their worldly religious system ignited a hatred in the hearts of these self-righteous people. Soon, their hatred led to murder.

Things are no different today. Religion is still the same. Religious people feel and act the same way. Since their “holiness” is not a product of their relationship with God Himself, they hate, persecute, and even kill those whose lives are truly holy.

This malady is not limited only to Pharisees. It also works in those who call themselves Christians. Even among some who are “born-again,” it is actually the flesh, the carnal human nature, which is active in their religious life.

For many, following a set of rules – be they Old Testament laws or New Testament principles – is the source of their security and “righteousness.” What many mistake for Christianity is far too often simply the natural human being trying to live up to some standards, believe in some doctrines, and follow some prescribed practices.

Just as with the Pharisees, Christians too can become very religious. While they may believe that they are following Jesus because they are conforming themselves to some biblical pattern, in far too many cases it is simply their flesh adapting to a new code of ethics and behavior.

As in the case of Buddhists, Hindus, or Moslems, the flesh can also make a good show of religion in Christianity. When the changes which are made in our lives are not a result of intimacy with Christ – which produces a spontaneous and genuine transformation – then it is merely the flesh becoming more religious.

It is all too possible for some who claim to be Christians to make a good show of their religion. Perhaps they stop smoking and drinking. Maybe the change their dress habits. Possibly they begin carrying a Bible and alter their speech patterns.

They may become zealous, faithful participants in some Christian group or other. But much of this may not be genuine transformation. It could very easily be their flesh becoming religious.

Perhaps the army would be a good analogy for us here. There everyone is conformed to the same pattern. Their dress, words, and actions are all programmed and regulated. They learn to march in step. They are taught how to address their superiors. They are all trained to the same pattern. Yet all this is simply something done through the power of the flesh, the natural man. Much of today’s Christianity also fits into this pattern.

When our Christianity is religious instead of real, it will manifest itself in many ways. One of these is hatred for others who do not agree with us. It will manifest itself in a dislike for those who have a life of intimacy with Jesus which exposes our true condition.

It is revealed in our lack of love for others, including our enemies. It is evident in a person who thinks principally of themselves, who is easily irritable, ambitious for position, who loves money and the things of the world, who uses other people for their own benefit, who borrows and does not repay, who promises and does not do what he has said, and many other such things.

While following a set of rules and principles may produce a superficial appearance of goodness, our daily living will always reveal what is really in our hearts.

This is why Jesus insisted that some in the church Philadelphia were in fact part of the “synagogue {or congregation} of Satan” (Rev 3:9). These people professed that they were “Jews” – that they were in fact God’s people. They were obviously practicing some kind of religion which they considered biblical and were probably participating in the church.

Yet their life was a lie (Rev 3:9). It was just the fallen flesh becoming religious and consequently was a manifestation of the devil’s kingdom. Their Christianity was the really just the “synagogue of Satan.”

Therefore, it becomes very clear that being seduced by religion, even if it has a “form of godliness” (2 Tim 3:5) or Christianity, is no different from being seduced by sex, drugs, alcohol, fame, wealth, or power.

This seducing religious force is also a part of or an aspect of the devil’s kingdom. It is part of Babylon, the prostitute. It is simply another method Satan uses to deviate the hearts of men and women away from a genuine intimacy with God and captivate them with a false, yet subtle, substitute.

THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS

With this in mind, we can discuss with more clarity how this prostitute, Babylon, who is revealed in the book of Revelation, can be drunk with the blood of the martyrs. It is clear that many worldly people, moved by a rising hatred for those who do not share their lifestyle, have killed many saints of God.

This was true in the early church during the Roman Empire. Many believers were killed for sport in the arenas. Since that time, uncounted numbers of Christians have been murdered by various earthly governments and others because of their testimony.

What confuses some believers is when something called the “Church” also begins to kills Christians. For some reason, they cannot see that this is merely another segment of Satan’s worldly kingdom. Since it has an appearance of being religious, or even “Christian,” they fail to discern that it is no different that the rest of the devil’s realm.

In recent years many have tried to imagine, for example, that religious Christianity – principally in the form of the Catholic Church – has been the primary source of persecution of believers during the previous centuries. But this is not true.

Although they were leaders in this persecution for a time during what is called the “dark ages,” many other governments, groups, and persons have also been responsible for the deaths of millions of believers.

The Muslim empires slaughtered uncounted Christians. The Soviet Union also did so. Today thousands of believers are being imprisoned, tortured and martyred in Africa, China, and many others parts of the world. All this cannot be blamed on the Catholic Church. Instead, we see that the prostitute is a multifaceted entity which is the embodiment of all the devil’s worldly offerings.

In fact, this prostitute in Revelation is not merely guilty of the blood of the martyrs. Her sin is much, much larger than that. She is actually guilty of the blood of “...all who were slain on the earth” (Rev 18:24). This seems to indicate that every murder and even every casualty of war can be laid at the feet of this harlot.

How can this be? It is because the devil’s kingdom has been working since before the creation. Cain killed Abel because of envy. Others since then have murdered each other because of jealousy, hatred, greed, fear, lust for power, and all the others things which are the hallmarks of Satan’s woman.

BABYLON’S TRUE CHARACTER

From this discussion, it should be clear to any honest reader that, in spite of what many insist, the Catholic Church cannot be thought of as the summation of what is meant by the word “Babylon” in the book of Revelation.

Instead, this prostitute which the devil uses to seduce the world, is much more than mere religion. She is the embodiment of all that this world has to offer to seduce the hearts of men and women and thus keep them from an intimacy with God. She represents the vast array of attractions which are part of Satan’s kingdom.

The prostitute Babylon is having lots of success. She is succeeding is seducing many men and women, both in the world and in the church. She is also finding pleasure in killing men and women who are made in the image of God, when and where she can arrange it.

The kingdom of this world, the prostitute of the devil, is responsible for all the bloodshed which has happened on this earth since the beginning and is still happening today.

The seductive kingdom of the devil has existed since the beginning of this world. Satan certainly succeeded in enticing Eve to eat the forbidden fruit, showing her that it was attractive, delicious, and would make her wise and self-fulfilled.

Throughout the history of humanity, the devil with his prostitute, has also prevailed in capturing the hearts of many – even men and women of God. We read that: “For she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men” (Pr 7:26).

Yet at the end of the New Testament, John records a vision of this harlot in a new form. This vision has much in it for us to understand. This vision we will examine in the next chapter.

4. TODAY’S BABYLON

We learn from the book of Revelation that ancient Babylon is not the only time which the prostitute has come to the fore. It was not the only time when worldliness came to a head. It was not the unique period or place in which all that the world has to offer, including entertainment, sex and sin, was manifested in fullness.

According to our text in Revelation, there have been other locations and occasions where her lust and depravity came to a peak. It seems that there have been, until today, six such “manifestations” of the prostitute.

How can we know such a thing? Let us investigate this together. We are told that this prostitute is riding on a beast which has seven heads. In another book Antichrist, we showed that in Bible prophecy when a beast in a vision has multiple heads this refers to a succession of rulers or kingdoms. Applying this principle, we can conclude that Babylon will rise up to a peak seven times in world history.

Next we are told that five of these manifestations had already come and gone by the time John saw this vision. We read: “Five have [already] fallen...” (Rev 17:10). Five of these places where the spirit of Babylon rose to preeminence, had already come to a peak and then disappeared before John saw this vision.

Although we cannot know exactly which past empires are also included in this list along with Babylon, it is possible that ancient Egypt under some of the Pharaohs might also have risen to the heights of excess which we have described. Possibly the Medo-Persian empire or the later kingdom of Alexander the Great, or even ancient Assyria could fit our pattern. Exactly who they were is not critical to our understanding. Certainly there were five and they have already come and gone or “fallen.”

Then we read, “one is.” When John saw this vision, he was actually witnessing the sixth such “embodiment.” At that time, the Roman Empire qualified to be just such an incarnation of Babylon. Certainly, this empire was noted for its worldly excesses in every aspect of its culture.

Rome was the cultural, economic, and political center of the western world at that time. She was famous for her sinful dissipation. Drunkenness, orgies, sports events which included murders, entertainments and all the pleasures which this world has to offer were found there in abundance.

Sex, opulence, leisure, luxury, riches, and all the other things which characterizes the system of this world was available there. Certainly, that empire qualifies to be one of the manifestations of the devil’s prostitute. So we see that ancient Rome fits exactly into the pattern which we have been describing. This must be the “Babylon” of the time of John’s vision.

But even when we then include Rome as the one which “is,” this still leaves us with only six “Babylons.” One is still lacking.

Then we learn the secret. The one last great embodiment of Babylon is yet to come. It will appear sometime in the future. He says: “...and the other has not yet come” (Rev 17:10)

Here we see that there will be, at the end of this age, one last great manifestation of Babylon. It will be a final embodiment of the prostitute, a place on the earth which in the last days would be a symbol of all of Satan’s attractions and seductions.

At the time of the end there will exist on this earth a nation which becomes extremely wealthy and decadent. This “empire” will be famous for its excesses and extravagance. It will be a “reincarnation” of the Roman Empire with all of its worldly sinfulness. We will see one place which epitomizes all the sensual and even intellectual pleasures and pursuits which this world has to offer. This will be the seventh and final manifestation of this evil prostitute.

It is this place, the final Babylon, which will be destroyed by the Antichrist and his ten kings (Rev 17:16,17).

(For a more detailed investigation of this prophecy, please see the note at the end of the final chapter of this book on page 93.)

We have seen how the prostitute which the Bible describes is in fact the system of this world. It is the “woman” which the devil uses to seduce the hearts of men away from God.

But if we are at the end of the age today, where is today’s Babylon? Is there, at this moment, a place in the world which fulfills this prophecy? Is there a place which seems to fit with all that we have been describing? Let us look in the Bible together and see how these things might fit into our present world scene.

THAT GREAT “CITY”

As we read through chapters 17 and 18 of Revelation probing for the identity of Babylon, two things are readily evident. One is that it is a “great city” (Rev 17:18). Also, it will be destroyed by fire (Rev 17:16). So we can conclude that this is in fact a real, physical place and not merely a kind of “spiritual” entity.

Although – as we have seen – there is a spiritual aspect to Babylon, it is clear that there is also a definite, physical place epitomizing the spirit of Babylon at the time of the end, which will be destroyed by fire.

In the Old Testament there was a real city of Babylon. It was the capital of an empire which was also referred to as “Babylon.” The city was the center of and thus a kind of symbol for, the entire empire.

Therefore, it could be that this New Testament “city” is more than merely an individual city but an entire nation which is typified by the city. So what we are going to be studying about the “city” Babylon probably applies to an entire country and its culture. Although there is some speculation here, the evidence for it will become clear as we proceed.

THE WORLD’S MARKETPLACE

In searching for the identity of the place “Babylon,” we will begin with the clearest parts of the biblical revelation. One thing which is strikingly evident upon the reading of these two chapters is that this final Babylon is the marketplace of the world. This fact is very important. Here we have confirmed for us that she is not merely a spiritual entity.

Babylon is a major center, or even the center of world commerce. It is a place where everyone who has anything to sell is marketing it. This one location buys so much that the merchants of the entire earth are becoming wealthy selling their goods to Babylon.

We read that: “...the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury” (Rev 18:3). So when we wish to identify this woman, we must look for some real place on this earth which fits this description. It must be a location which buys much, if not most, of what the world produces.

Then we are given a long list of luxury goods which Babylon has been buying. Verse 12 reads: “...merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots and bodies and souls of men.”

This is quite a list. It includes every kind of item which was considered expensive, attractive, and desirable in the day in which this revelation was given. It represents the best of all the things the world has to offer.

Since almost 2,000 years have passed since the writing of this list, a few things have changed. We have concluded that the Babylon which will be destroyed is not the ancient one but a modern day entity, consequently it would not be stretching the sense of the scriptures to speculate that this list today might include other items.

Perhaps presently the list might read: jewelry items, clothes (linen, purple, silk, scarlet), automobiles (chariots), furniture (precious wood), granite and marble (the current rage in bathrooms and kitchens), all sorts of imported foods, fruits and vegetables, perfumes, spices and all kinds of domesticated animals and even millions of laborers who are exploited, perhaps because they are not citizens.

In short, everything made in the world which is desirable, Babylon is importing to satisfy her lust for luxury. Therefore, to identify her today, we must find a city/nation which has an insatiable desire for every kind of ornate and beautiful item.

Notice that this “city” does not appear to manufacture much herself. Many of the goods which she consumes with abandon are imported. So, we may conclude that she is primarily a consumer nation.

Not only this, but the word of God tells us how these goods come to Babylon’s shores. This gives us an important clue to her identity. Please pay careful attention to this. These goods arrive by ship. This is not just any ship or a few ships, but it appears that the appetite of the prostitute requires the services of almost everyone who owns or works on ships.

Verses 17 and 18a read: “And every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning.” Then again in verse 19 this fact is repeated, the sailors and ship owners are weeping and wailing, saying “Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth!”

(The ancient city Babylon which Saddam Hussein recently tried to reconstruct could not be a fulfillment of this prophecy. The Babylon of Iraq lies hundreds of miles up the Euphrates river which is not navigable by oceangoing ships.)

The sheer volume of the trade which is done with Babylon supports the idea that she is not merely a city but a city which represents a larger nation. No one city, no matter how large, could ever consume so much that it would require the services of virtually every ship and ship owner in the world to satisfy her desires.

Further, we may safely conclude from these scriptures that Babylon must have access to the sea. In fact, it must be very accessible. She is a location that requires most goods which are imported to arrive by ship. The main route of these items is not by land but by sea.

Therefore, Babylon must have many, many seaports to provide access for “every shipmaster” (Rev 18:17) in the world to service her. No one city in the world has anywhere close to enough harbor space to accommodate so many tens of thousands of vessels.

Babylon is exceedingly rich. Therefore, she must be the world’s most wealthy nation – the world’s largest economy. This is a very reasonable conclusion to draw, since in order to purchase so much of the earth’s most valuable items, she must have a great abundance of money. In Revelation 18:19 we are told that “...all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth.”

So when we are seeking to identify modern Babylon, we must certainly look for a place in the world which is known for its profligate spending and abundant wealth. Her population in general must have a very high level of income which they spend with abandon on themselves.

When we speak about Babylon, naturally we are referring to the general characteristics of the population. It is the people who live in Babylon who act in specific ways which give her a certain international fame.

Of course there must be exceptions. Among the inhabitants of the Babylon of today there must exist, just as in the days of Sodom, at least one righteous man. In fact, we can be sure of this since God calls His people who are in her to come out of her (Rev 18:4).

But in general we understand that even though there are righteous men and women who live in this place, the principal character of the population is what is described in Revelation.

BABYLON LOVES LUXURY

Another important characteristic of Babylon, one that will help us to identify her, is that she loves luxury (Rev 18:7,9,14). In fact, she is addicted to it. She pampers herself with every imaginable purchase with which she can gratify her soul. Perhaps her houses are full of every kind of knickknack and decoration. We can imagine that her “chariots” are shiny and new.

No doubt, her attention is constantly on herself, seeking how she can try to satisfy more fully the constant itch for more comfort and ease. This probably includes such pursuits as more and more clothes, more and more jewelry (Rev 17:4) and an unending search for the finest foods and beverages.

We may speculate that she spends much of her time shopping and trying out new restaurants and bars or tea and coffee shops. Entertainments probably occupy a large part of her time. Every kind of movie, sports event, theater, or party might be the focus of her attention. It may even be true that new cars, sporting goods, boats, ATV’s, snowmobiles, motor homes, jet skis, and many other such things consume a considerable portion of her disposable income.

It is probable that the average person in the final Babylon lives at a level which, until very recent times, only kings and nobles enjoyed. Perhaps the inhabitants of Babylon can buy almost any kind of food or drink their heart could desire.

There can be no doubt that the homes of Babylon’s inhabitants are filled with every kind of convenience, luxury and even extravagance. Their televisions are large and their sofas comfortable. Their closets are never big enough to accommodate all the clothes they have jammed in them. They have their electronic “servants” to wash the clothes and the dishes.

Increasingly, instead of having to cook their own meals, they dine in restaurants where they are waited on. If they could want anything, they simply hop in their “chariot” and within a few minutes their desires are satisfied. They live royally in every respect.

Perhaps you think that I am going too far afield in my postulations concerning the character of Babylon. But the Bible tells us plainly that Babylon lives “luxuriously” (Rev 18:7). In our world today, to live “luxuriously” must be to live exactly as we have described. Anything less than this would not qualify. She must be the epitome of self-indulgence.

Babylon lavishes upon herself anything and everything that she can possibly afford. Her economy appears to be very dependent upon consumerism. She has gained worldwide fame for her self-indulgence. Her inhabitants love the world and all the things which are in the world.

Their hearts are completely devoted to and seeking after all that this present world has to offer. All the sensual pleasures, entertainments, goods and comforts available are their constant pursuit. Truly, “she glorified herself and lived luxuriously” (Rev 18:7). Nowhere, ever, in the history of the world has there been a nation like Babylon.

WORLD DOMINATION

Another characteristic of Babylon which will help us identify her is that she holds a commanding position on the world scene. God’s word tells us that: “...the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” (Rev 17:18).

This is amazing! Babylon is some city/nation which is dominating the world scene. She is so powerful and influential that she can be said to be “reigning” over the other rulers of the earth. This tells us that we must look for some place that is a kind of superpower, perhaps the superpower.

Babylon must be a very obvious, prominent location. Although she probably does not rule the whole world directly, she dominates the other rulers and nations. She finds ways to influence the other countries to cause them to do her will. We cannot tell from the scriptures if this is done diplomatically, militarily, or by economic pressure, but it is clear that her power and influence are tremendous.

Undoubtedly because of her dominant position, Babylon is proud. Her heart is lifted up because of her position and power. She is totally self-centered and thinks of herself as being the best in every respect. Some of Babylon’s merchants (and perhaps corporations) are world famous. Their financial influence is dominating.

Perhaps some of these merchants have become billionaires and their names are known almost everywhere. The scriptures teach us these facts by saying: “...[her] merchants were the great {important} men of the earth” (Rev 18:23).

The final embodiment of the prostitute is utterly confident of her strength and invincibility. Probably, she exists in a location which is isolated from the rest of the world and so feels quite safe and secure. She imagines that no one could ever bring her down.

The Bible reveals that: “She says in her heart, ‘I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow’” (Rev 18:7). Perhaps she even believes that her position and affluence is because of God’s blessing.

This attitude of pride, world dominance, and sense of great security are characteristics which we can use to identify modern-day Babylon. The one, unique place which today would fit all these descriptions is the United States of America. She is the one nation on this earth today which could fulfill all these aspects of Babylon.

PREOCCUPATION WITH SEX

One of the most obvious attributes which we use to identify a prostitute is promiscuous, frequent sex. Babylon is not only a prostitute but a “great” one (Rev 17:1). Therefore, we would expect to see that the society of the nation which we have identified as “Babylon” would be preoccupied with sex. She would be obsessed with the subject.

Perhaps the media of that location is full of all kinds of suggestive photographs, seamy articles, and lewd films. She is probably always looking for more and more stimulation in the area of sex.

Therefore, pornography, nudity, and immorality of every type and description should be increasingly common within her borders. We might expect that those who have influence in the entertainment industries such as cinema, music and print would be constantly pushing the envelope to see how much raw filth they can spew out.

Before her judgment comes, Babylon will probably be as bad or worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. She will most likely be just as perverse as the inhabitants of the earth were in the days of Noah. Her appetite for luxury will only be rivaled by her lust for sex of every kind.

We know, for example, from the story of Lot and his escape from Sodom that the citizens of that city gathered at his door demanding him to turn over what seemed to be two men. They wanted them so that they could vent their perverted lust upon them in plain view of everyone. We can imagine that Babylon also, before her judgment comes, will abandon every shred of conscience or shame.

Unbridled sex breeds violence. I’m not sure why, but these two things, unrestrained sex and violence, go hand in hand. In Noah’s day, not only was immorality of every kind rampant, but “...the earth was filled with violence” (Gen 6:11). So we can expect that before the end of this age, we will see not only an increasing emphasis on nudity and sex, but an upswing in shocking and uncontrolled violence.

Eventually Babylon becomes so filled with filth, perversion and unrestrained lust that a host of demons and foul spirits are attracted to her. When her depravity is in full bloom she becomes “...a habitation of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird” (Rev 18:2).

Undoubtedly these malignant spirits swarm there, like flies to a dead carcass, to participate in and stimulate her evil appetites more and more.

For many years as I read this passage, I thought that Babylon’s condition of being saturated with demons was something which happened after her destruction. But today, a careful reading shows something different. Here we see that this is her condition before she is judged. It is her fallen, decadent state which attracts every kind of evil spirit and demon. This infestation of evil spirits apparently accelerates her moral decay which then leads to her judgment.

No one of us knows how far we are from the end of this age. Anyone who claims that they do is deceived and should not be listened to. Therefore we might assume that, although Babylon will eventually reach a great zenith in the areas of self-indulgence, unbridled sex and violence, she probably has not yet arrived at these great heights (or depths).

In fact, there is no location on the earth at this moment which could really fulfill this description completely. Consequently, in our search for this identity of Babylon, we must look for a country which has not quite yet fully arrived at this condition but is merely well on the way.

We read in Revelation 18:2 that “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.” Here we learn that modern Babylon did not begin at this degraded moral state. Evidently she was once better than this but then fell further and further until she was twice fallen. So, when we are seeking to identify Babylon today, we should look for a wealthy, self-indulgent “city/nation” which is in the evident process of a steep moral decline.

THE WINE OF HER FORNICATION

In the hand of the great prostitute is a golden cup which is brimming over with something. That something is the “abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” (Rev 17:4). This cup contains a mixture of her unbridled lust for riches, comfort, pleasure, and sex, including perversion of every form. Her cup is full – that is her sinfulness has reached the saturation point. But is she repentant? Is she seeking forgiveness and freedom from her degraded situation? No! Instead she is busy trying to seduce others to drink from the same cup.

Using all her power, she is enticing others into the same shameful state as herself. And she is succeeding! The Bible says that the “inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Rev 17:2).

Not only is she “reigning” over and manipulating other nations to suit her will, but she is using her prominence to spread her extravagant, immoral way of living all over the globe.

But how does she accomplish this? The scriptures do not say, but we can perhaps speculate a little. It may be that through the media: the film producers, the magazine publishers and the music industry, Babylon is publicly displaying her whorish ways and luring others to act as she does.

It could be that the movies and television shows she produces are full of all kinds of dirty jokes, sexual immorality, ever increasing nudity, and an emphasis on perversion.

It is possible that the entertainers and singers of Babylon glorify, through their art forms, every kind of satanic lust, sexual impurity, and rebellion against the laws of God. It is just conceivable that instead of being ashamed, she glorifies her immorality and unrestrained lust for pleasure in an attempt to draw others into it.

Sadly, she is succeeding. All over the world, people are drinking this wine. They are hearing, reading about and seeing from many sources the shameful behavior of the prostitute. Instead of being appalled, they are heedlessly running after her.

Yes, the nations are truly drunk with the wine of her fornication. They are striving to be like her. There is one place in the world today which the nations envy and are ambitious to emulate. When we identify this location, then we also identify Babylon.

Everywhere you go, in most of the nations of this world, men and women are intoxicated with the idea of being just as prosperous and successful as this one place – Babylon. They admire her well-integrated infrastructure. They like how well her society seems to work. They are yearning to achieve the same standard of living. They are jealous of the apparent sense of security and well-being she expresses.

All that luxury, ease, wealth and yes, immorality seem very attractive to the average inhabitant of this world. They are drinking deeply at the thought of being just like her. Without a doubt, some nations are envious and pretend to look down their nose at her, but deep inside they all wish that they had what Babylon has. They want to be as rich, powerful, comfortable, and sinful as the prostitute.

It is in this way that Babylon is giving birth to daughters. She is reproducing herself all over the globe. So she becomes known as “...the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth” (Rev 17:5). This is the name which God gives her. She is doing her utmost to bring everyone she can down to her level, drinking of and wallowing in her self-indulgence and filth with her. Do you know any place like this?

Perhaps in your travels or through your contact with other countries you have already noticed this intoxication of other nations to be like Babylon. Or, possibly it is even evident from the news you hear and other information sources to which you have access.

When you meditate on this for just a moment, you will soon realize that, at this point in history, there is one place, just one nation, which all the others want to be like or to which they want to move. This place is the United States of America. Many will insist that they despise her, but in their hearts they yearn to be like her. Truly the nations are drunk with the wine of her fornication.

5. THE DESTRUCTION OF BABYLON

Parts of this chapter are taken from the book “Antichrist” by this same author.

In the following section, we will engage in some speculation about how some future events could unfold. Therefore, these ideas should be held somewhat lightly as we wait to see what will actually occur.

But, if and when these things begin to become real in our world, when the news is full of stories along these exact lines, then it is time to take seriously the warnings contained in this series of books about the end times.

It is clear from the scriptures that it is the coming Antichrist who will destroy the place called “Babylon” (Rev 17:16-18). It is inevitable that by doing so, he will also deal a great blow to the financial system of this world. This seems a little strange. Why would such a man who is anointed by or even possessed by the devil, destroy such a marvelous exhibition of Satan’s kingdom? Why would Satan destroy his own prostitute?

We must understand that the devil has no devotion to the things and pleasures of this world. He is merely using them to achieve his ends. He is employing them to seduce the hearts of men and women away from God. He himself does not need them. They mean nothing to him personally.

In the English language, a man who controls prostitutes is called a pimp. Normally, he has no emotional attachment to the women he sells. His interest in them is to use them to make money. When they become difficult, old, or sick often he has no qualms about simply killing them. When they are of no more use to him, they are disposable.

In the same way, the devil is merely using the system of this world for his own ends. Satan has no commitment to this world’s system along with its riches and pleasures. Even though the inhabitants of this earth are in love with these things, he himself is not attached to them.

Human beings are completely deceived by them, but the devil is not. He understands with clarity that all this is just an illusion. He doesn’t need either money or things. His purpose is to control men and women. He will use whatever tools are available to him to accomplish his ends.

When the future Antichrist appears and sets up his kingdom, he will exert tremendous pressure and control over the world. He will have the necessary apparatus to force the inhabitants of the world to do his will. Of course, the force behind this coming Man of Sin is the devil. The devil will give the Antichrist his own power and authority. We read: “And the dragon [Satan] gave him [the Man of Sin] his power, his throne, and great authority” (Rev 13:2).

Using this tremendous power, the Antichrist will exert pressure over the inhabitants of the world to do his will. He will have a lot of success with his program. He will be able to make most of the world worship him (Rev 13:8,15).

He will also be allowed by God to kill many who oppose him, especially believers. We read: “And it was granted to him [by God] to make war with the saints and overcome them” (Rev 13:7). Through the coming Beast, Satan will assume control over the planet.

So, after the devil succeeds in consolidating his control over the world through the person of the Antichrist he won’t need his “prostitute” anymore. He won’t have to entice or deceive anyone. He’ll have the people of the world in the palm of his hand. His control will be much more absolute.

Consequently, for him to destroy a rich and opulent place (which perhaps in times past displayed a semblance of Christianity) along with the world financial system, would give him the greatest pleasure. When he doesn’t need her anymore, she becomes disposable. The destruction of the embodiment of his prostitute will not make him the least bit sad.

Therefore, his prostitute will be of little more use to him. He won’t need to seduce or deceive anyone anymore. He will then be in control of the world through the person of the Antichrist. He will be able to simply force everyone to do his will. If not, they will die.

As we studied in the book Antichrist, this coming Beast is very religious. He revels in self-denial. He is probably a severe ascetic. He does not seduce people through worldliness, but coerces them through fear and financial pressures.

So, now this Babylon prostitute of the devil is dispensable. She is no longer necessary. Since it suits his purposes, Satan will allow the coming man of sin to destroy her.

Since Babylon is the largest economy of the world, her destruction will have a severe impact on the rest of the world’s financial situation. No doubt, her judgment will precipitate a world-wide monetary collapse.

Not only those who live in Babylon will suffer, but those who are attached to and depending upon this world and the things of it will suffer also.

Those who have not learned to depend upon God will be severly impacted. Those whose hearts are entwined with the system of this world will weep in anguish. Those who are committing adultery with the devil’s woman will be exposed and punished (Rev 18:15-19).

HOW THIS MIGHT HAPPEN

The future Antichrist will have a problem, a very formidable problem. He will want to consolidate his power in the Middle East. His ambition is to dominate the world and make the inhabitants of the earth do his will. But, if he is manifested in these days, there is one nation which will stand in his way. That pesky “world policeman,” the United States, will no doubt oppose his rise to power and also his control over the oil fields (See the book Antichrist, chapter 3). They, as they have done in the past, would certainly send troops, ships and missiles to try to stop any such endeavor. So, if he is to accomplish his will, he must eliminate the United States from the picture.

As we speculated in the book Antichrist, let us suppose that some Middle Eastern tyrant succeeds in taking power and uniting ten countries under his leadership. Sooner or later, he will have the threat of the United States resisting him if and when he tries to begin controlling the rest of the world.

Therefore, the Antichrist must find a way to paralyze her and/or eliminate this threat to accomplish his agenda. This will be absolutely essential.

Due to her overwhelming military might, the United States would have to be removed from the world picture if the Antichrist is to accomplish all his will. In order for any Middle Eastern dictator to consolidate power and use his oil resources to control the world, for example, the U.S. would definitely have to be taken out of the way.

Another piece of this puzzle is the tremendous hatred that the Islamic zealots have for the U.S. Supposing her to be a Christian country and witnessing the luxury in which she lives along with the enormous amount of sexual impurity and filth in which she indulges, many in that region have developed an intense hatred for her.

In their hearts they have a firm purpose to destroy her. This should be evident to anyone who is familiar with the present world situation. Don’t think that 9-11 was enough to satisfy them. The radical Muslims’ goal is the total destruction of the United States.

WEALTHY, INDULGENT BABYLON

These thoughts harmonize exactly with what we have studied about Babylon in the first part of this book. From the book of Revelation, we have seen her revealed as a self-indulgent, opulent, sinful location. She is proud, world-dominating, and unrepentant. Her wealth, extravagance, and lust for more and more things requires the services of every ship, ship owner and mariner in the sea (Rev 17 and 18).

Babylon is isolated from the rest of the world and mainly thinks about herself. Her sinfulness, in terms of adultery, fornication, murder of the unborn, homosexuality, and other such things, has become rampant. She has abandoned God as her Protector, casting Him out of her government and schools and turned instead to idols of so-called science and humanism. Consequently, God decides to judge her.

Interestingly, He chooses the Antichrist and his ten nations to be the instruments of His judgment. They are the ones who will attack her and thoroughly burn her with fire. We read: “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill his purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled” (Rev 17:16,17).

Let us look at the phrase “hate the harlot.” It is certain that many of the countries which will probably take part in the Antichrist’s schemes already hate the United States. Iran, for example, attacked the U.S. embassy and took some hostages a number of years ago, calling America the “Great Satan.”

The hatred in the Middle East towards the U.S. is tremendous and increasing every day. The terrorist acts being perpetrated against America and her allies today are motivated by a great, deep-seated hatred. These individuals see her as a corrupt, immoral society doing whatever she wants to on the world scene, trampling on anyone who gets in her way.

THE BEAST’S MILITARY EFFORTS

The Antichrist’s military efforts against Babylon will probably occur in two stages. First he must back her off until he consolidates his power. Then, biblically, he will destroy her completely. This “backing off” seems to be important, since no one could rise up and assume control of ten nations in the Middle East without attracting the attention of the U.S.

No matter who the Beast turns out to be, the U.S. will certainly oppose the Antichrist’s rise to power in that region. She has a long history of interfering in that part of the world. So, how could the Antichrist neutralize this threat while he is consolidating his power? No doubt he will think about using some kind of terrorist activities.

The first stage of “backing her off” might be done by some humiliating attacks with weapons of mass destruction, either chemical, biological, or nuclear. This could be what the Bible is referring to when it says that the Antichrist will “make her...naked” (Rev 17:16). The connection here is that when you strip someone of their clothes or “make them naked” you humiliate them.

If the Beast could acquire some nuclear bombs or other such weapons, he could then put some on old cargo ships and sail them into American harbors. Or he could smuggle some biological weapons into the country. Next he could attack in one place and then say to the U.S., “I have more weapons in your country. You either leave me alone or I will do it again.”

Through the fear that this kind of attack could create, he could possibly get the U.S. to tolerate his agenda, at least for a while. Finally, after humiliating her and getting her reluctant cooperation for a time, he will then destroy her with great hatred.

Of course, no one can predict how these events might occur. Such speculations are only given to show how such things might be possible in today’s world. Although many Americans don’t really think such events are likely and believe that their government and even God will protect them, the fact is that God is on the other side! God Himself will help the Antichrist execute His judgment upon Babylon!

That’s right. God will put His power behind the Antichrist and use him to do His will. The Almighty Himself will empower the coming man of sin to bring down the world’s most powerful, wealthy nation and judge her. We read again: “...for God has put it into their hearts to fulfill his purpose...until the words of God are fulfilled” (Rev 17:17).

With such a divine anointing, all the protection in the world, all the intelligence gathering, along with all the safety measures will not be enough to avoid her eventual destruction. Please, for your own sake, don’t depend upon human government or resources to protect you. It is much wiser to hear from the Lord and obey Him.

WEALTHY, SINFUL BABYLON DESTROYED

A passage in Daniel chapter 8, verses 23-25, says a lot to confirm that a wealthy, powerful, sinful nation, such as the United States, will be destroyed by the Antichrist. Let us take some time and analyze this passage together.

We read: “And in the latter time of their kingdom [the kingdoms of the other three beasts, possibly England, Russia and Germany (See chapter 1 of the book Antichrist)] when the transgressors have reached their fullness, [here we see that the sinfulness of the prostitute must reach a peak as it did in the land of Canaan before the Israelites destroyed them (Gen 15:16)] a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.”

“His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power. [We have already seen in the book Antichrist how he will be empowered by the devil.] He shall destroy fearfully [possibly referring to the use of terrorist attacks], and shall prosper and thrive. He shall destroy the mighty, [this could be the U.S.] and also the holy people [this would refer to the coming slaughter of the saints].”

Going on in this passage we read: “Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. [This too no doubt is speaking about the destruction of prosperous Babylon.] He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human hand.”

Another verse which indicates the destruction of some especially strong nation or nations is Daniel 11:39 where we read: “Thus he [the Beast] shall act against the strongest fortresses.”

Today, in the area of the globe once occupied by the Ottoman Empire (from which will come the kingdom of the Antichrist) there are several countries which have or soon will have nuclear armaments. These same countries also have and are further perfecting missiles which can deliver these warheads. Some of these countries also have ships and “decommissioned” nuclear submarines bought from the former Soviet Union.

It would be very possible for the U.S. to be “destroyed in one hour” “by fire” through a nuclear attack. This attack could be accomplished with only about ten ships and another ten submarines, each carrying ten missiles apiece.

Such ships do not even need to be military vessels. Average cargo ships can carry missiles in their holds. They can be fired by simply removing the hatch covers and pushing a button.

These vessels could keep well outside the territorial waters of the United States and yet hit every major city, even in the interior of the country. Such an attack of 100-200 nuclear missiles, hitting many or most of the major cities would completely destroy the country.

As an example of how this could happen, we have seen recent news reports on the web which indicate that Iran is placing some of its long-range missiles in cargo ships.

Further, the current president of the country Georgia has revealed that in 1999, his country sold Iran twelve cruise missiles left over from the Soviet era. This means that they have had fifteen years (until today) to copy them, reproduce them and find the means to use them.

Another recent news item is that Iran is producing large numbers of mini-submarines which could be very hard to detect. If and when they succeed in producing nuclear weapons, these could then be fitted in missile warheads. Although we cannot know the future or if Iran will be involved in the end-time scenario, they certainly are in the right place geographically.

I am told by a friend of mine who is a scientist that someone with a really evil intention could make such an attack even worse. If a significant amount of the metal cobalt is included in a warhead, the area where the missile hits would be contaminated by radiation for as long as seven to eight hundred years or even longer.

This means that that region would be uninhabitable and no one could safely travel through it or near it for centuries.

At this moment, the United States is working very hard to develop a missile shield. They are inventing various means to intercept and shoot down incoming missiles.

But, if these attacks are launched close to her borders, it may be that there will not be enough time to detect them, activate the defenses and then intercept the missiles. Another possibility is that the program for development will be canceled or delayed to calm the fears of other nations.

What we do know with certainty is that the Bible clearly teaches that God will work against Babylon and help her enemies destroy her. He will anoint the Antichrist and his ten kings to execute His judgment against Babylon. It therefore would not be wise for anyone to put their hope in some kind of missile defense.

HOW BABYLON IS DESTROYED

The reader may wish to take some time here and read Jeremiah, chapter 50 and 51. Here we have detailed for us the destruction of Babylon.

While you are reading, please remember that part of this prophecy refers to the ancient Babylon and part to the modern one. Some of these verses have already been fulfilled and some have a future fulfillment. It is very possible that many have a dual significance and apply to both “Babylons.”

Which exact verses refer to each one and which to both is almost impossible to tease out. As you read, you will no doubt see in some verses events which could easily happen today. Among them are a few points which seem very clear.

Babylon is destroyed by someone who comes “out of the north” (Jer 50:3), “an assembly of great nations from the north country” (Jer 50:9) and “a people” who “come from the north” (Jer 50:41). You may remember that much of the old Ottoman Empire – the area from which we have concluded the Antichrist will come (see the book Antichrist, chapter 1) – was “north” of Israel.

These passages do not seem to demand that the nations which destroy the “end-times Babylon” be literally “north” of her geographically. For example, the only nation literally north of the U.S. is Canada.

It could merely indicate where they are located in relationship to Israel, therefore demonstrating a geographical position which the Jews of that day could understand.

This interpretation corresponds exactly to what we have been seeing in the previous book Antichrist about the man of sin’s empire being centered in the Middle East.

DESTROYED BY “ARROWS”

As you read these two chapters, you will no doubt notice that there is a strong emphasis on “arrows.” Please pay careful attention to this. It is extremely important! Babylon is principally destroyed by arrows. We read: “Their arrows shall be like those of an expert warrior” (Jer 50:9). “...against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows” (Jer 50:14).

“Call together the archers against Babylon. All you who bend the bow, encamp against it all around” (Jer 50:29). The attackers from the north “...shall hold the bow and the lance” (Jer 50:42). “Against her let the archer bend his bow” (Jer 51:3). “Make the arrows bright” (Jer 51:11).

These verses about arrows could refer, and probably do refer to missiles being launched at Babylon. For example, missiles fly through the air like arrows and are often “bright” because of their metallic skins.

Of course, this idea cannot be proven. In the days of Jeremiah, there were no missiles. Arrows or lances would have been the closest thing to a missile that the people of that day would know or understand. So it is very possible that God used the word “arrows” to symbolize something in the future.

But it is extremely significant that ancient Babylon was not destroyed by arrows! Arrows had very little or nothing to do with its conquest! Instead, it was conquered by shovels.

That’s right. The tremendous defenses of ancient Babylon were defeated by shovels, not by arrows or other normal armaments. The Medes and Persians spent their time digging a canal to divert the Euphrates River. This river ran under the wall of Babylon, through the city and out the other side.

By diverting the river, the attacking armies lowered the level of the river enough so that they could come in under the wall, thus conquering the city. These invaders encountered little resistance. The defenses of ancient Babylon were rendered useless.

This fact is very important. Since ancient Babylon was not literally destroyed by archers or arrows, we are forced to conclude that these verses must apply to the end-times Babylon! They do not, and in fact cannot, apply to the conquest of the ancient city. Therefore, they must refer to the last Babylon.

Another feature of these two chapters is the destruction of Babylon by “fire” and the desolation that results. The result of being uninhabitable is also mentioned. Jeremiah 50:3 says that the attack “will make her land desolate.” “Because of the wrath of the Lord she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon shall be horrified and hiss at all her plagues” (Jer 50:13).

We are told that Babylon will “become a desolation among the nations” (Jer 50:23) and that her attackers will “destroy her utterly” (Jer 50:26). God will “kindle a fire in his [Babylon’s] cities [it is significant here that this says more than one city] and it will devour all around” (Jer 50:32).

Babylon “...shall be inhabited no more forever, nor shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation” (Jer 50:39). The destruction of Babylon is compared to Sodom and Gomorrah in which a fire fell from heaven that made it uninhabitable (Jer 50:40). God will make Babylon “a burnt mountain” and she “shall be desolate for ever” (Jer 51:25,26).

She will become “an astonishment and a hissing, without an inhabitant” (Jer 51:37). “Her cities [again plural, indicating a nation] are a desolation, a dry land and a wilderness, a land where no one dwells, through which no son of man passes” [possibly because of the residual radiation] (Jer 51:43).

If this author is correct and modern Babylon will be destroyed by an atomic attack, this would produce all the effects about which we have been reading. No doubt such a large scale nuclear strike would also contaminate the air, which as it moves across the globe, will have some effects on other nations also.

It may be that other countries will make attempts to deal with the fires and the sources of this radiation, as they did when the Chernobyl accident occurred in the Soviet Union, but they will have little success. Perhaps this is why “The people will labor in vain, and the nations, because of the fire, and they shall be weary” (Jer 51:58).

6. COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE!

The consequences of the attack on Babylon, mentioned in the previous chapter, are extremely severe and lethal. Therefore, God constantly warns his people to get out of this place called Babylon. God says: “Go forth from Babylon!” (Is 48:20). And again he says: “Move from the midst of Babylon” (Jer 50:8). He warns: “Flee from the midst of Babylon, and every one save his life!” (Jer 51:6).

God further exhorts: “My people, go out of the midst of her! And let everyone deliver himself from the fierce anger of the Lord” (Jer 51:45). Finally, God admonishes us with a voice from heaven saying: “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Rev 18:4).

It may be possible that after this attack, some inhabitants of Babylon will still be able to escape. It is probable that many millions will survive this attack. Some of them, because of where they live, may be able to get across the borders or put to sea and still escape some of the aftermath of the plagues and death. To them God says: “You who have escaped the sword, get away! Do not stand still!” (Jer 51:50).

This means that those who survive should take every opportunity to leave and keep going until they get to somewhere safe. Incredibly, even after such an attack, some still seem to be reluctant to leave! But God urges them to do so for their own good.

LEAVING SPIRITUAL BABYLON

Coming out of Babylon for some may include leaving a place of great comfort and prosperity. But certainly it is much more than that. Many Christians who don’t live in the United States, still are in love with the world. They are spending their lives pursuing the sensual pleasures which the devil’s woman has to offer. They are committing adultery against their Lord.

This brings us to the following truth. ALL of God’s people need to come out of Babylon! They need to have a change of heart. They desperately need to stop their lusting after the world and all the things in it. They must immediately terminate their adulterous relationship with the kingdom of God’s enemy.

James says: “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (Js 4:8). Here our brother is speaking to the church. He is exposing a common condition among us.

Far too many are living a double life. They are having a secret (or perhaps not so secret) affair with the prostitute. They appear to be living in and participating in God’s kingdom, by being members of some church or other, and apparently doing what is expected of them by the group.

But in their hearts they have another lover. They are loving and pursuing the things of this world. They are rolling in the bed with the delights and attractions of this world. The are committing adultery with the prostitute.

For some this love is money or success. They spend much of their time and even more of their thought-life pursuing money. Instead of meditating in God’s word or having communion with Him, their thoughts are constantly occupied with their business, investments, and projects.

In the place of dedicating their time to their spouse, children, and serving others in Jesus’ name, their time is completely occupied with their enterprise. Their heart has been seduced away from Jesus.

For others their secret god is their sports addiction. They spend a lot of money gathering paraphernalia which has to do with their team. They spend much time watching TV to see who wins or loses, going to see games and talking endlessly with others about the subject. God, their family and other brothers and sisters have to take second place.

Others are obsessed with surfing, fishing, or some other pastime. Their time and money is also dedicated to this amusement. New equipment, magazines and clothing related to this end are their main expenditures. What really gets their attention, what energizes them, what draws their heart is their sport.

Some like to shop. They are constantly looking for the money and opportunity to buy new clothes or other things. Others are always preoccupied about their appearance, frequently going to beauty shops, buying the latest fashions, purchasing all kinds of makeup, reading magazines about the subject and so on. Still others are always excited about parties, new movies, soap operas, going to the mall and various other types of entertainments.

Still others are always lusting in their heart for a new car, a bigger house, and more money in their bank account. They long for the appearance of success. They secretly love it when others envy them for what they have.

When they drive that big, new expensive car down the street, they imagine what others are thinking and gleefully interpret the glances they receive as jealousy. When they appear in public in costly clothes and jewelry, they hope that others will notice the maker’s mark. This is a sure sign that they are committing adultery with the world.

There are even some in the church who preach and teach, but their secret goal is to make a name for themselves, become rich, or impress others. Still others have ministries of “worship,” but their hearts are divided. While they do perhaps have a desire to minister, they also enjoy the attention, fame, and accolades which come from what they do. Many enjoy the attention and respect which comes from having a title and a position in a religious institution such as “pastor,” “deacon,” or even “apostle.”

Even though these things seem to be a part of the church, they are in reality part of the world. Those who seek them are committing adultery with the prostitute. Their heart is not pure towards the Lord and His intentions but are simply using the things of God to gratify earthly, carnal desires for fame, attention, and money.

These are merely small examples of the many things which seduce the hearts of believers away from God. This world offers a whole array of attractions to draw the hearts of the unwary. The devil has had thousands of years to study the behavior and desires of mankind. He has tuned up his offerings over the years so that they appeal to the maximum number of people. He also has increased his variety of distractions so that everyone can find something they want in his kingdom.

Many believers who are seduced by the world still live the appearance of Christianity. Figuratively speaking, they still live with their spiritual husband, but they are committing adultery with the world. Their heart is involved with other lovers.

It is to these people that James is speaking. He is admonishing them to clean up their lives. He is calling them to purify their hearts from their adulterous relationship with the world. He is urging them to make a deep, heartfelt decision to stop their lusting after the world and the things in it and return with their whole heart to God.

As we have seen, the Bible is full of admonitions and warnings to God’s people to come out of Babylon. God’s judgment is coming. Not only is it coming upon a place which will be the epitome of worldliness, but it will also come upon His people who are committing adultery with the world. “The Lord will judge His people” (Heb 10:30).

We read: “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Rev 18:4). If we refuse to repent of our adultery, come out of the world and stop sharing in her sins, we will certainly also “receive of her plagues.”

Of course, many will argue: “We all have to work to make money. We all must buy clothes and wear them. We all need cars and houses. After all, entertainment is not a sin.”

All this is true. Yet there is the all-important question. Where is our heart? What are we loving and pursuing? What has captured our time, attention, and affection? Are we one hundred percent after Jesus? Or is there some part of our heart which is committing adultery with the world? We all will do well to soberly ponder these questons.

The scriptures admonish those who just have some involvement in the world to not misuse or abuse it (I Cor 7:31). Just as a married person must have some contact with others who are not their spouse, yet maintain their fidelity, so we obviously must have some contact with the world, but not allow our hearts to become seduced by it.

LEAVING PHYSICAL BABYLON

For those who live in the place we have identified as the embodiment of today’s “Babylon,” the only way to be able to physically leave is to first leave the world in your heart. As long as your heart is held by comfort, luxury, ease, and wealth, you will never be able to remove your body from the place which offers you what your heart really desires.

Lot’s wife was one of these. In her case, her reluctance to leave forced the two angels to actually drag Lot and his family away from the coming destruction. But even as she left, she looked back. Her body was moving away but her heart was still there.

And so, she looked back and “...became a pillar {or statue} of salt” (Gen 19:26). Every one of us is urged to: “Remember Lot’s wife” (Lk 17:32). This is an important admonition for all of us.

Those who live in Babylon are required to leave. All believers who live today in physical Babylon must have a real, profound, heart-searching time before the presence of God and allow Him to purify them of all the things which would hold them back from obeying Him.

They must cleanse their heart of their love for the world and all the things in it. Next they must begin to take steps to be obedient to what He is saying to them right now, today. As we repent from our involvement in this world and move toward God’s goals, He will lead us.

COME OUT OF HER MY PEOPLE

It may be that some reading this book live in, or know someone who lives in, the opulent, sensual Babylonian nation which we have been describing. It is possible that they have been seeing the substance of what it is that constitutes the great prostitute and realize that they are right in the middle of her.

But, just as Lot was in Sodom, perhaps they are very secure where they are. They have a comfortable, safe, easy life. The salaries are good, the standard of living is high. Goods of every description are plentiful and easily affordable. Food is abundant, public services are reliable and there is a sense of safety and security.

Hospitals, health services, medicines, and other such things are close at hand. Perhaps their friends and family are there and life is great. True, just as Lot also was, they are bothered about the rising tide of immorality and filth which appears daily all around them. But they perhaps just turn off the TV, shrug their shoulders and continue on with their life.

However, if where they live is in fact the very place about which the Bible is speaking, if anyone makes their home right in the middle of modern day Babylon, then one day something is going to happen. Someday Jesus is going to say: “Get out!” He is no doubt already speaking this today.

It is quite clear in the book of Revelation that our Lord, whom we are required to obey, gives a clear command to His children concerning the place called Babylon. He says: “Come out of her, my people” (Rev 18:4). Here we encounter a very difficult thing. In fact, this is a word which is so hard to hear that it is probable that the vast majority of God’s people will not be able to hear it. Imagine that God might call someone to one day leave all that is important to them. To tell them to abandon their home, their friends, and possibly their relatives, to leave the comfort and security of their job and surroundings, all the wealth and goods which they have accumulated and to go someplace where life is less comfortable.

Will they go? Will they actually hear such a command from their Savior? Or will they find one thousand and one reasons why this could not possibly be Jesus speaking to them?

My honest opinion is that even if angels appeared by the bedside of every believer in Babylon tonight and clearly spoke to them to get up and leave, only a very, very small number of them would actually go.

Two angels came to Sodom. They plainly spoke the word of the Lord to Lot. They urged him to leave immediately saying: “...whomever you have in the city – take them out of this place!” “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of this city” (Gen 19:12,15).

But Lot had a lot of trouble hearing this word. He felt happy and comfortable where he was. All his possessions and his family were there. His surroundings were familiar and, therefore, he felt secure. So, he “lingered.” He was very reluctant to leave and he was very afraid of what he might encounter “in the mountains” (Gen 19:19).

Most of his relatives refused to come with him. They thought he must be joking (Gen 19:14) or perhaps he had lost his mind. At last, the day of judgment began to dawn and still he was delaying. Finally, the angels had to drag him, together with his wife and daughters, to safety. My, how the word of God still speaks to us today!

Many, many of God’s people are today living in Babylon. They feel safe and secure. Not only are many citizens there, but the Babylon of today is filled with millions of emigrants who have flocked there to partake of her prosperity, ease, and safety. Many of these who live there are prosperous and content.

But there are two serious problems. God warns them of two consequences of remaining in Babylon.

Firstly, they begin little by little to “share in her sins” (Rev 18:4). The influence of the immorality in this place is tremendous. The inhabitants are bombarded constantly, principally through the media, with every kind of perversion and uncleanness.

Increasingly, perhaps without even realizing it, they lower their own moral standards. They are slowly being influenced to adopt the values of the world around them. Even more than that, the children of these residents are, just as the daughters of Lot were, heavily influenced by the rampant immorality.

Secondly, God warns them that He will judge this “city.” She will be destroyed by “plagues,” namely, “death and mourning and famine.” “And she shall be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her” (Rev 18:8). God is calling for His people to come out of Babylon because He is going to bring judgment. Anyone who lives in Babylon should take this fact very seriously.

Let me warn you clearly: God will not withhold this judgment on Babylon just because some believers are still there. If they do not respond to His word and take the steps necessary to remove themselves from that place, they will suffer the horrible consequences which God has foretold.

If you are an emigrant and now live in Babylon, I would like to urge you: Go home! Leave immediately and return to where you came from. Now is the time to liquidate your possessions and get out. Don’t wait until it’s too late.

The Bible also teaches us that when someone begins to take steps to leave Babylon, they will become examples for others to follow. “Move from the midst of Babylon. Go out of the land of the Chaldeans; and be like rams before the flock” (Jer 50:8). Obedience will also help others see what they too could and should do.

THE SIN OF SODOM

Very many believers who live in Babylon today (or even those looking at her from the outside) do not understand why God would even think about judging that nation. They see their prosperity and comfort as blessings from God. Although the increasing sin around them troubles them, they do not consider themselves to be sinful. They just cannot imagine that their easy, prosperous, self-centered “Christian” lifestyle might be something of which God does not approve.

When reading about Sodom in the Old Testament, we encounter something very significant. God states exactly what her sin was. Contrary to what we might think, He does not list many deviant, sexual sins. Although such sin certainly existed and was repugnant to Him, what God mentions as the reason for His judgment is something else.

In Ezekiel 16:49 we read: “Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. “

This is really amazing! The sin for which Sodom was judged was “pride,” plenty of good food, and lots of spare time. This is why God judged her. Most of us probably don’t see these things as bad. In fact, we often seek after them.

Yet, in God’s mind these were a great offense to Him. You see, Sodom had a great abundance, but, according to this verse, she spent it on herself. She did not use her affluence to minister to those who were poor and needy.

In the Gospels, Jesus teaches us about what it is that chokes His word and makes it unfruitful within us. Joining the various records together, there are four basic items mentioned. They are: “the cares of this world,” “the deceitfulness of riches”(Mt 13:22), “the desires for other things” (Mk 4:19), and the “pleasures of life” (Lk 8:14). These four items could be regarded as the exact definition of Babylonian society. It is what many would call the “American dream.”

It is for this reason that God is going to judge Babylon. He has given her so much but she has spent it on herself. She has used the blessings of God to lavish upon herself everything she could desire instead of spending her resources promoting the Kingdom of God. Very soon, God is going to judge that nation for the way in which she used what He gave to her.

But before this event, our Lord is urging all of His people to flee for their lives. He is instructing them to get out of that nation, culture and society which will suffer His wrath. All of us will do well to listen to His voice.

GOD’S COUNTRY

Another series of thoughts which might hinder those thinking about leaving Babylon goes something like this: “It seems God loves that nation. He has blessed it greatly. There are many good Christian men and women here. How could it be that God would allow this country to be destroyed?” Perhaps we can find some answers for this by looking again in the Old Testament.

God chose the land of Israel. He led His people there. It was a good land, full of all sorts of good things. At that time, it was incredibly fertile and lush. It was “flowing with milk and honey.”

It was the kind of place in which it was easy and comfortable to live. The Lord blessed His people there. He allowed them to build Him a temple in Jerusalem. It was God’s chosen place, full of God’s chosen people who worshipped at God’s unique temple on the earth.

But these people became disobedient. They became sinful, immoral, and proud. They never thought that God would judge them or destroy their land because of all the foregoing facts which we have mentioned. Yet He did. He did so because of the wickedness of the population.

Their sin became so great that finally He turned His back on them and judged them. He arranged for another nation to invade them and utterly destroy them. Today’s Babylon is no different and will not be treated differently from them.

So if modern Babylon is massacring millions of unborn babies every year. If they are sacrificing these children on the altar of their own convenience.

If many are regularly practicing fornication and adultery, not a few of whom have different partners every night. If divorce, which God hates (Mal 2:16), is widespread, a product of people’s insatiable desire for instant gratification.

If pornography is epidemic on the internet, the TV and in other places. If strip joints and sex shops are popping up like mushrooms everywhere, especially in the “Bible belt” in the south of the country. If homosexuality is increasingly common and blatant. If witchcraft and every type of occult practice is on the rise, especially among the youth.

And if all these and many other sins are just as common or even more so inside the “church” as they are in the world around them, will God not judge her? Certainly He will.

If and when a nation which God has previously blessed and even used for His own purposes turns her back on Him, He will also turn His back on her and judge her.

If and when the inhabitants have given their hearts to seek and worship the things of this fallen world, He will judge her. If she is, in fact, committing adultery with the devil’s painted woman, God’s wrath cannot be far behind.

Unfortunately, these things are just as much a part of the lives of those to “go to church” as those who make no pretense of religion.

MAYBE YOU DON’T LIVE IN BABYLON

Perhaps some of you readers are understanding the substance of this message. You are seeing how the love for the world and all the things in it, including the luxuries, excesses and pleasures, are in opposition to the will of God and His kingdom.

Possibly you are even grieved in your heart that the world in general is tending toward an increasingly promiscuous and luxurious direction. You are seeing ever more clearly how seeking the things of the world keeps the heart of man from intimacy with God.

But, you say, “Where I live does not fulfill the previous description. It does not seem that where I live is the Babylon of Revelation. My country of residence does not meet the criteria discussed in this book.” For example, possibly where you live has no seaports. It might be that the wealth of your country does not match what biblical Babylon obviously has. Perhaps the worldly tendencies of the Babylonian spirit are limited by poverty, governmental considerations, etc. Therefore, there is no need for you to flee anywhere.

Yet there are still some critical questions for you to consider. Are you, as a child of God, pursuing the things of the world? Do they attract and grip your heart? Even though you don’t live in Babylon, do you wish you did?

Has the wine of her fornication contaminated your soul in a manner that causes you to lust after all the pleasures and things that the world has to offer? Are your thoughts and your time consumed with the pursuit of success and money?

If so, then there is a need for a deep repentance. There is a necessity for a genuine examination of your heart before the Lord. Anything which He finds within us which is not wholeheartedly seeking His kingdom first needs to be abandoned.

The involvement of our heart with the things of this world is spiritual adultery. If we are caught in this unclean, spiritually immoral relationship, we desperately need repentance.

God’s judgment is soon coming on a physical place called Babylon. But, as already mentioned, it is also likely that His judgment will be executed upon some of His children who don’t live in Babylon, but are committing adultery with the prostitute – upon those who are in love with this world.

This possibility is suggested by the fact that the place Babylon is the apparent center of world commerce. Therefore, her destruction will certainly have an impact of world-wide proportions. Many will suffer financial disaster because of her destruction. Those who are looking to their bank account and investments for security will be among the first to be impacted by the fall of Babylon.

Furthermore, since the coming Beast will probably gain influence over the world’s financial systems, those who are dependent upon them will be easy to target and persecute.

It is also biblical, and therfore certain, that God will permit the coming Man of Sin to persecute the church. This judgment could fall heavily upon those who are not living in intimate communion with Jesus, but pursuing the things of this world.

The reason for this is that these people will have a much more difficult time hearing from God and knowing what to do and where to go when the events of the end times begin to unfold. Their lack of communication with their Lord will result in their vulnerability.

Adding to this picture is the scripture which teaches us that God’s judgment will begin with His own children, his own house. We read in I Peter 4:17: “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God...” God will use the Antichrist to execute His judgment on His own house. Besides using him to judge Babylon, it seems He will also use him to judge His own people. We read: “It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them” (Rev. 13:7).

Who then “granted” the Antichrist this power? It must be God Himself, since He is the only one who could do such a thing. The reason for this must be that He will use the coming Beast to both test and purify His people.

Therefore, in these last days, every child of God should be putting his relationship with God and his co-operation with His will on the earth in first place. There is only a little time left. We don’t have time to waste.

Every believer who is in right relationship with Jesus should be dedicating all his time, energy, and money to proclaiming the gospel and serving others. Instead of using our talents and time to accumulate wealth and things, we should invest what we have – be it little or much – in doing the work of the kingdom of God. In this way, and only in this way, will we escape His judgment when we stand before Him.

Once again we hear God to his children: “My son, give me your heart... For a prostitute is a deep pit, and a seductress is a narrow well. She also lies in wait as for a victim, and increases the unfaithful among men” (Pr 23:26).

7. THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

It is with much reluctance that I enter into the following discussion, but I feel forced to do so because of the great prevalence of misguided opinions. There are many, many Christians who have been taught and are convinced that the Babylon of Revelation is the Roman Catholic Church. Moving on from this conclusion, they then begin to fabricate some very fantastic eschatology.

Some have the Pope as the antichrist. Others have the Roman Church secretly running the world. Still others have the Ecumenical movement, with the Catholic Church in the lead, rising up to dominate the world. These and numerous other such conclusions are a result of misunderstanding a few simple Bible verses.

One of the most prominent of these is found in verse 9 of chapter 17 of Revelation where we read that the harlot sits on “seven mountains.” Many Bible teachers have looked at this verse and thought, “Aha, seven hills!” They then jump to the conclusion that this must be a reference to Rome, since ancient, secular literature refers to her as a city on seven hills. They then move on from this to surmise from this that the Roman Catholic Church is the “Babylon” of today.

I have even heard it said that John used this phrase as a kind of code to refer to Rome. Some say that since he was a prisoner of the Romans, he did not dare write the true name but had to use a kind of cipher. As you go along in your Christian journey, you too will no doubt hear all kinds of such explanations. The truth is John wrote just exactly what the angel showed him.

Let us remember here that in John’s day there were no longer seven prophetic mountains. As we have seen, five of them had already fallen. This left only two. Therefore, this cannot be and is not a secret reference to Rome! Consequently, the Roman Catholic Church is not in view.

Also, we cannot take our inspiration from secular literature such as the story of Romulus and Remus, but only the word of God. Nowhere in the Bible is Rome referred to as “the city on seven hills” or any similar thing.

Unfortunately, the King James Version of the Bible (and NKJV) is responsible for a large part of this confusion. This version introduces an extra word in the text which is in no Greek manuscript that I can find, including the Textus Receptus from which the KJV was taken.

It is this extra word which produces much error. This is the word “there.” In the NKJV chapter 17:9,10 we read: “The seven heads are seven mountains... There are also seven kings.”

Putting the word “there” in this verse disassociates the mountains and the kings grammatically. Now instead of being equal, they are additional. So then when you read: “Five have fallen,” this could refer only to the kings, leaving the seven mountains intact.

But in fact, in the original Greek texts, the word “there” does not appear. All of them read instead: “The seven heads are seven mountains... and are seven kings.” The heads, mountains, and kings are all equal. So then when we read that “five have fallen” this not only refers to the kings but to the mountains and heads as well.

So we see that there are not today and, in fact, were not in the time of John’s vision, seven mountains. There were only two. Five had already fallen. This then was not a secret reference to Rome and therefore does not point us to the Roman Catholic Church.

All of us tend to interpret scripture in the light of our current geopolitical situation. Such a suggestion was first made centuries ago when the Roman Church was affluent and powerful. At that time she seemed exceedingly rich and dominated much of the political scene in Europe. However, times have changed.

No doubt, those who first invented this doctrine lived in a different time and place than we do. Yet, when we think about this with a clear head, other problems with the Catholic Church as the prostitute also become evident.

For example, Rome is not known as a seaport. She is located on the Tiber River, some distance from the sea. The seaport near her which would service her maritime needs is not one of the principal ports of the world.

Further, it could not be said today or even imagined that the Catholic Church is making every shipowner rich. It is simply not true that all the merchants of the world are getting wealthy selling their stuff to the Vatican. Also we have already studied the difficulty of one single city being the source of so much commerce and wealth.

Furthermore, the influence of the Vatican over the governments of the world is waning more and more every day.

For example, in Brazil, which is considered to be the largest Catholic country in the world, the percentage of Catholics is decreasing dramatically. Although the Catholic church does still have some sway in many parts of the world, she could not be thought of as “reigning” over them.

While the Roman Church did persecute and martyr many believers in past years, this is not something which is prevalent in our time. Trying to fit the Catholic Church of today into the Revelation prophecy is like trying to jam a square peg into a round hole. It just doesn’t fit.

Another logical difficulty we encounter with the “Rome as Babylon” scenario is that Babylon is destroyed “in one hour” (Rev 18:17,19). Although this may not signify one literal “hour” it certainly indicates a short period of time. So how could someone destroy the Catholic Church in one hour? Would they plant time bombs in every cathedral timed to go off at the same time? This is patently ridiculous. There is no logical way anyone could destroy the Catholic Church with fire in “one hour.”

Would they simply blow up the Vatican? Eli-minating the Vatican would not end Catholicism. Probably it would have the opposite effect. Most persecuted religions end up only increasing instead of disappearing.

When we think about this calmly and unemotionally, the Roman Catholic Church does not really match, in most of the clear details, what we see in the scriptures.

THE TWO “BABYLONS”

One source of this Rome as Babylon teaching is a book written by Alexander Hislop entitled The Two Babylons which was first published in 1916. In it Mr. Hislop points out many parallels between the Catholic Church’s rituals, vestments, practices, and symbols, etc. with those of ancient Babylon. More recently however, some of his assertions have been called into question.

Reading this work is a dry and dusty task. He seems to succeed, however, in demonstrating that the Roman church has many Babylonian trappings. But, this does nothing to prove that she is the Babylon of Revelation.

The fact that the Roman Church and even most of our modern “evangelical” churches are full of worldly symbols, teachings, methods, and practices is obvious. But much more than this is needed (for example some concrete, clear scriptures) to conclude that this is Babylon the Great Prostitute.

THE SPIRIT OF THIS WORLD

It may be that many churches in our day appear to be part of Babylon. This means that they have the flavor and character of the world. For example, many use increasingly worldly means and methods to attract and hold members.

Frequently, today’s churches employ an earthly style of authority structure. Often their various “officers” are chosen because of their social position or economic standing in the community. It is common for the content of their meetings and activities to be much more worldly than spiritual.

Many churches today have an emphasis on wealth, luxury, and prosperity. Sometimes their members seem to be more interested in the pursuits and activities of the world than the kingdom of God. Therefore, these churches appear Baby-lonian.

What we should understand from this is: just as in the Old Testament, so today too, many of God’s people and Christian groups have been carried away captive into Babylon! They have been seduced by the prostitute. They are following the spirit of this age. They are in bondage to the luxuries and the ways of the world. They are living in spiritual “Babylon.”

Yet this does not mean that they are Babylon, only that they are in Babylon, spiritually speaking. It reveals that they have been influenced and contaminated by her.

Many of God’s people lived in ancient Babylon after they were carried away into captivity. There they were seduced by her idols and practices. Yet they were never thought of as being “Babylon.”

RELIGIOUS BABYLON?

It has often been taught that chapter 17 of Revelation speaks of a “religious Babylon” by which people mean the Roman Catholic Church, perhaps along with other institutional type churches. Then they teach that chapter 18 is a description of “economic Babylon,” which is the one which I have described earlier in this writing.

However, when we analyze chapter 17, we cannot find one piece of evidence which clearly supports their assertions. Nothing religious is found here. No religious items are mentioned. No idols, no priests, no offerings, no temples, no sacred vestments, no rituals, no sacrifices, nothing clearly indicating something religious is found. In short, “religious Babylon” is noticeably absent from chapter 17.

The original Greek text was not divided up into chapters. There is no compelling reason to separate it and this vision into two parts. Truthfully, there is only one Babylon, not two Babylons, described in these two chapters.

All this is in direct contrast to the Old Testament prophecies concerning Babylon. There we do find religious items such as idols, priests, etc. So you see that the final Babylon revealed in Revelation is actually notable for its lack of religion and religious articles.

Instead of being a religious entity, it seems to be very secular. What should be really impressive to us is the absence of any clear mention of anything religious in either chapter 17 or 18. This writer is forced to conclude that there is no “religious Babylon” to be found in the book of Revelation.

BABYLON WAS NEVER GOD’S CITY

Many believers imagine that Babylon is the worldly church of our day. They base their opinions on the fact that she is called a “prostitute.” Therefore, they reason that she must once have belonged to God, but then prostituted herself, much like Hosea’s wife (Hos 1:2). However, when we take an unemotional, calm look at the scriptures, no such indication is found.

God’s “woman” is revealed in Revelation chapter 12. She is a holy, shining, glorious being. She is persecuted by the dragon, not riding on the beast. She is protected by God rather than judged by Him. Her “son” is caught up to heaven to rule the nations (vs 5). Her other offspring “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (vs 17).

She may not be perfect, since she needs to be “fed” (vs 6) perhaps indicating a need for more spiritual nourishment. But she is certainly not described as a prostitute or called Babylon. The woman found in Revelation 17 and 18 is a completely different story. Here we find no scriptural indication that she ever belonged to God. In fact, when she appears, she is riding on a scarlet beast. She is the devil’s woman from the beginning. He is her source. Her dependence is on him.

Further, she is not called an “adulteress” (which is in Greek MOICHOS [see Js 4:4] indicating that she once had a marriage commitment), but a prostitute, PORNE (Rev 17:1.) There is no necessity for a prostitute to have ever been married. No verses demonstrate that she was ever even betrothed to, or belonged to, the Lord.

Further, the Babylon of the Old Testament was also never God’s city. She was not the place nor the people whom He had chosen for Himself. God never uses the name Babylon to describe His people or His land.

So when God selects the word “Babylon” in Revelation to describe the prostitute, He clearly is not trying to indicate His own people or His church. Although some of God’s people are living in Babylon and committing adultery with Babylon, she herself is not and never has been His.

When we look at this logically rather than emotionally, this “Babylon” of Revelation cannot be a reference to God’s people. Therefore, the assumption that Babylon is the church or some part of her which has become sinful does not seem to have any biblical basis.

A WRONG SPIRIT

Another serious problem with the “Roman Catholic church along with most denominations” as Babylon teaching is that it seems to generate a wrong spirit. In almost all of the groups I have encountered which hold this opinion, there is a strong “we are better than they are” attitude.

They look down their noses at people who are “in the religious system.” They feel superior to all those other Christians who are so corrupted. Much of their unity and a large part of their “spirituality” comes from their idea that they have “come out” and are a kind of spiritual elite.

This attitude does not reflect the heart of God. If we are in touch with the heart of the Father, seeing any dear fellow believers involved in an impotent, worldly religion should generate a different sort of reaction. We would weep for them. We would pray for them. And we would try to lovingly minister to them God’s truth to try to help them escape from their error.

It is without question that the great prostitute would succeed in seducing the church in her country and also in the nations over which she holds sway. It is only logical that she would corrupt them and make them just as fallen as herself. If then the church of today has become worldly in many respects, this is because she too has been drinking of the wine of the fornication of Babylon.

Many of the members of the church today are committing adultery with the world. Their hearts have been seduced by her attractiveness. They love all that she has to offer.

It is also sad, but true, that the churches of our day are becoming increasingly worldly. The temples seem to be ever more opulent and the work increasingly success oriented. The emphasis on sin and repentance is being replaced by an easy, comfortable way where God is our servant and our obligation is merely to attend somewhat regularly and give generously.

However, all this does not qualify these institutions to be the Babylon but only a part of her. They have become Babylonian in their character and nature. They have been carried away captive into Babylon.

COMMERCIAL BABYLON

Since writing the first draft of the book, I have received a lot of feedback from believers who insist that Babylon is today’s church. Many of the arguments which I hear are emotional. Frequently they are tinged with an antipathy or even hatred for some church or denomination.

Perhaps these brothers have been wounded and/or disappointed by some religious group or other. Therefore they have difficulty detaching themselves from their experience and looking clearly at the scriptures. Virtually all of the proofs offered by these dear believers to demonstrate that Babylon is the Catholic Church along with the denominations are quite vague or must be understood symbolically.

The danger I see here is that while many are focusing on these quite tenuous “spiritual” revelations, the clear and simple verses of these two Revelation chapters are being ignored. Perhaps the emotion which some feel against the “religious system” blinds them to any other possibilities.

While they are trying to prove the case for a religious Babylon they seem to ignore many extremely clear verses which need little, if any, interpretation.

These verses are those which point to a “commercial Babylon.” They point to a physical place which we can no doubt identify today. It is a wealthy, proud, self-confident “city” which is importing everything the merchants of the world have to offer.

It is a physical place which we urgently need to be able to accurately identify. It is this secular, commercial, opulent location that will soon be destroyed by fire. Therefore, it is this entity which we need to pinpoint.

Perhaps you have not been convinced by my arguments against a religious Babylon, and still believe that she is “the religious system.” So be it. I do not need to convince you. You can keep your “religious Babylon” if you wish. But please, for your own sake, consider the following carefully.

It is clearly a “commercial Babylon” which will be destroyed by fire. Therefore, putting the religious ideas aside for the moment, every believer desperately needs to understand where this commercial entity is and, if they reside there, prepare to flee before her judgments come.

NOTE: MOUNTAINS, HEADS, AND KINGS

Here we will analyze in greater detail a part of the Revelation passage which is a little bit difficult. Yet, our understanding of this part of the vision is necessary to have a complete grasp the rest of the vision. Please follow with me carefully through a few simple steps of logic. This vision is not as hard to understand as it seems at first glance. All that is required is a little wisdom which God is happy to grant to all who ask.

We are told that this prostitute is riding on a beast. This beast has seven heads and ten horns. In the book Antichrist we have addressed the subject of the beast who has the ten horns. So for now we will concentrate just on the seven heads of the beast. What could they mean?

The angel helps us here by explaining: “The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits and they are seven kings” (Rev 17:9,10 NASB). Here is a simple formula. Each head represents a mountain and a king. We could think of it like this:

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

Then we read: “Five have fallen” (Rev 17:10). So we learn that of the seven [1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king] entities five of them have already fallen. This means that they have already come and gone from history leaving only two groups remaining as we see below:

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

Of the two entities remaining, we read: “one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must continue a short time” (Rev 17:10).

No doubt, after almost 2,000 years of history, the entity which “is,” or rather was at the time Revelation was written, has by now also “fallen” or disappeared. So we can also mark it out too. This then leaves us with the final one which had “not yet come.”

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king

What does all this signify? In Bible prophecy, a “head” on some kind of beast means a leader or a king. We have already seen this in our “1 head = 1 king” formula. The mountains probably represent kingdoms. We find some support for this interpretation in the book of Daniel.

While the prophet is seeing a vision, he saw “a stone cut out without hands” which smashed the feet of a large image and “became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (Dan 2:35). This then would mean when the Lord Jesus returns, He will smash the antichrist empire and that His Kingdom will become great (a great mountain) and fill the whole earth. Therefore, we can conclude that the mountains represent kingdoms.

THE OTHER “BABYLONS”

What we learn here is that Babylon, besides being a spiritual, seductive world system, has had its embodiment in six other physical places. This would mean that we could look back in world history and find five instances of an empire which became successful, wealthy and then totally decadent.

As we saw in the beginning of this book, ancient Babylon was certainly a place which fits our description.

Although we cannot know exactly which past empires are also included in this list along with Babylon, it is possible that ancient Egypt under some of the Pharaohs might also have risen to the heights of excess which we have described.

Possibly the Medo-Persian empire or the later kingdom of Alexander the Great, or even ancient Assyria could fit our pattern. Exactly who they were is not critical to our understanding. Certainly there were five and they have already come and gone or “fallen.”

The one manifestation of Babylon which “is” or rather was in existence in the days of John the apostle is also one which we have already identified. The Roman Empire fits our description exactly. It became famous for its excesses. Orgies, feasts, entertainments including violent, bloody spectacles involving animals, people and gladiators, sexual perversion, luxury and all the ingredients of Babylon which we have discussed were found in the Roman empire in full bloom.

This kingdom would then represent the sixth [1 head = 1 mountain = 1 king] entity which by now has also been reduced to a mere shadow of its former power, fame, and sin.

Yet there was still one manifestation left. One was yet to come. It seems that in the last days, this spirit of worldly excess (including religion) will be manifested in all her fulness in some physical place at some time.

What we are looking for then today is the final, full manifestation of Babylon. We can expect to see in our generation a “city” which is becoming all that the Roman Empire was and more.

So, we can look for something so self-indulgent, so focused on surrounding herself with every kind of luxury and pleasure, a city/nation which is in the process of becoming so immoral and vile, that it will perhaps put the others six manifestations of this prostitute to shame.

It is certain that at the end of this age, there will appear a last great “Babylon” which, in terms of luxury, excess, and sin will rise up to a kind of final expression of worldly excess, until she is judged by God and destroyed.

Other books by this same author:

FROM GLORY TO GLORY

THY KINGDOM COME

LET MY PEOPLE GO!

GENUINE SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY

SEEDS

ANTICHRIST

SIGNS OF THE END

REPENTANCE UNTO LIFE

THE NEW TESTAMENT

The Father’s Life Version

All available from the publisher without cost:

agrainofwheat.com

Authors email: davidwdyer@yahoo.com

“A Grain of Wheat” Ministries is looking for bookdistributors in all parts of the world. If you are interested, please contact us for more information.