069 - Revelation 18

REVELATION 18

INTRODUCTION

 We must never put the business between the human being and Jesus, much less put a priest between Jesus and the human being. Unfortunately, the majority of those who claim to believe in Jesus put someone or something between them and Him, as if He needed something to do His work. That is how the Great Babylon will get space to conquer the hearts.

Here are some characteristics of Great Babylon:

 

1.     She’ll be a dominant power: "reigns over the kings of the earth" and sits on many waters;

2.     She’ll be arrogant and proud: "sits as Queen";

3.     She’ll feel secure: she says: "I shall see no sorrow";

4.     She’ll feel self-sufficient:  she says: "I am not a widow";

5.     She’ll live in lust;

6.     She’ll drunken herself and other people also;

7.     She’ll be specialist in international trade and transport of goods;

8.     She’ll import and export a wide variety of products:

a.     Precious metals;

b.     Luxurious and dear garments;

c.      Materials for furniture;

d.     Spices;

e.     Food;

f.       Cattle of various species;

g.     Bodies and souls of men.

 

And a fearsome fact must be recognized: certain entertainments in the midst of religion are proposed in order to persuade individuals to accept the heavy yoke of the religious leader. The true church need not attractive to bond someone. She attracts by what Christ is insider her: pure, holy, true. It belongs to Church who wants to be someone different, better (and not who wants to consolidate sinful ego).

The kismet of the great Babylon serves to alert us about the fate of each one who wants to:

 

·        Follow her path;

·        Live like her;

·        Be as her;

·        Dwell inside her.

 

After all, Wheresoever the body is, there shall be gathered the eagles (Matt 24.28).

Babylon the Great is already cursed. The means and methods pertaining to its fall are listed in this chapter:

 

·        Divine decree;

·        Terrible judgments;

·        Retribution and desolation;

·        Human abandonment.

 

The judgment of the Great Babylon remember too the judgment of Tyrus (Ezekiel 26-28) and of Babylon (Isaiah 13,14,21 and Jeremiah 50.51). Hosea 2.1-13 shows the connection between the Great Babylon and Israel.

When Jesus was here He mentioned the great hatred that the world had for Him and for those who are from Him (John 15.18,19). In Revelation 16.21 we read that, when the destruction comes, men blaspheme the Eternal. They lament the fall of Babylon, but rather to convert, rebel against Him.

Great Babylon is, in the first instance, a preview of what comes to be the moral evil in all its most odious aspects, in all its hellish operations, in all its harmful consequences.

Israel is seen in four points:

 

·        In the seventh head - represents the country of Israel. The world leader will use Jerusalem as his capital;

·        The horns of the beast from the sea and the beast that ascendeth abyss - It is the marriage between Israelites and Romans who will be ten of the thirteen families of bankers richest in the world (see Dan 2.43). They begin by supporting the antichrist (the beast from the sea, feet of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar) economically. Although the beast from the sea and the beast that rises from the abyss will be proclaimed kings, who in fact leads everything is the woman riding the beast. Only at the end of the seven years, when the eighth king and the ten horns will destroy all Babylon the Great (woman + beast that rises from the abyss) is that, for one hour, they reign as kings.

·        The woman sitting on the beast that rises from the abyss - Here are the religious leaders of Israel who insist on keep the rituals of the Old Testament. In half of the seventieth week, the beast that ascendeth abyss break the agreement made by the Antichrist (the beast from the sea) and will cease the sacrifice (Dan 9.27) and sit in the Jewish temple claiming to be God (2Thes 2.4). This time he will destroy all who support this type of worship, coming to burn them (Matt 24.15; Mk 13.14). Only remain alive leaders who recognize the beast that rises from the abyss like god.

·        The beast rising  from the earth - political and religious leaders of Israel (type councillors, mayors, etc.), which will elect the false prophet as political leader of Israel.  

o   "Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel." (Hosea 1.11);

However, after the beast from the sea (Antichrist) be considered the Messiah of Israel, the false prophet will deliver the political reign for him and will be your helper.

When the beast that ascends from abyss take control, spiritual and political leaders of Israel will no longer be the horns of the false prophet (i.e., its political strength), because henceforth only recognizes a political leader: the beast rising  from the abyss. They henceforward, will prostitute with the beast that rises from the abyss. However, while the  virtuous woman assists the husband as his body, the woman riding the beast from the abyss stride the beast, leading it.

As the political and religious leaders of Israel will continue being used in the New World Order to teach everyone to worship the beast that rises from the abyss, Jerusalem will be proud of herself as a Great Whore, saying: "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." (Rev 18.7). 

When, however, reach the right moment, all the Great Babylon shall fall once and for all. 

How will the fall of Babylon?

 

·        "And the seventh angel poured out his vial into the air; and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great. And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath." (Rev 16.17-19).

·        "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." (Rev 18.8).

 

Here is the order of  events:

                  1st -     In half of the seventieth week, the beast that ascends from the abyss will:

o   break the agreement with the religious leaders of Israel (Dan 9.27);

o   invade Jerusalem;

o   kill the two witnesses;

o   Those who believe in Jesus will be summoned to leave Jerusalem (Rev 18.4);

                     2º -     Half of the inhabitants will go into captivity, namely, (those who do not support the beast from the abyss). Their houses  will be sacked and their wives raped;

                  3rd -     It will be left in the city who accepts the beast from the abyss as their god (Zechariah 14.2; 2¨Thess 2.4). The woman riding the beast will pass to worship the beast that rises from the abyss (she is not a widow), i.e., the religious leaders accept the beast that rises from the abyss as their god.

                  4th -     Jerusalem will be desolate (Matt 24.15), for they become a habitation of demons, and a den of every unclean spirit, and hiding of all bird unclean and hateful (Rev 18.2). For the Israelites orthodox, see the temple being profaned and the city used for evil purposes is something very distressing (Ps 74.7);

                  5th -     The seventh bowl will be pour out;

                  6th -     Jerusalem (the great city) will be devastated by an earthquake and divided into three parts;

                  7th -     With the earthquake, all the cities of the nations will fall to the ground;

                  8th -     Death, sorrow and hunger will come upon Israel, killing many of those who survived the earthquake;

                  9th -     The armies of the beast that rises from the abyss, angry with the interventions of the Eternal (seven trumpets and the seven bowls), will want reign absolute over everything and everyone, even above the law. Before this, they will destroy the beast from the sea (namely, the political system that governs this world) and the woman mounted on it (Jerusalem). Thus, they will flood Jerusalem to destroy completely, prey  all their riches, kill the remaining survivors and burn Jerusalem altogether in a huge fire (Rev 17.8), so great that could be seen far in the seas (Rev 17.17). The destruction performed by them will be very quickly (in just over an hour - Rev 17.16).

This done, during the period of an hour they will be absolute kings about everything and everyone. They will be the law and the prophets;

               10th -     Thus, they will summon all to follow toward the valley of Armageddon to battle against the followers of Jesus who were there, under the pretext that Jesus is the culprit for all the evils which befell them (Joel 3.12), since it is He who sends the seven trumpets and the seven bowls. However, Jesus is there to save His followers, what will make them fight directly against Jesus Himself (hence the reign of them be only for an hour).

 

With the destruction of Jerusalem and all the cities of the nations, all the  political and financial system will finish (the beast that originally came from the sea and who was possessed by the angel that rises from the abyss or, iff you prefer, the statue of Nabucodonor who gained life when the beast that ascendeth abyss possessed the foot of the statue in place of the beast that rises from the sea).

Similarities that can be seen in the description of the great Babylon in Revelation 17 and Revelation 18:

 

·        In both the Great Babylon belongs to the reign of the beast;

·        In both the woman leads the beast;

·        In both the saints are hated and their blood shed;

·        In both the Great Babylon that commits fornication with the kings of the earth and the people are drunken with the wine of prostitution;

·        In both Babylon the Great is under judgment and will be destroyed. 

 

But there are also some differences: a chapter complements the other: 

 

	Revelation 17	Revelation 18
Name:	Great Babylon - Mystery	Babylon the Great City
Symbol:	The Great Harlot	The great city, the market place
Guilt:	Religious abominations	Greed and self-indulgence

 

Difference between the bride and  Babylon the Great:

 

Great Babylon	Bride
She dresses in purple and scarlet, adorns of gold, precious stones, and pearls (Rev 17.4).	Dress in fine, bright and pure linen (Rev 19.8).
Called the Great Babylon	Called the New Jerusalem.
It is persecutor.	It is persecuted.
She will make all nations imbibe themselves with the wine of the wrath of her fornication	It is nourished with the flesh and blood of Jesus (John 6.51-57; Rev12.14).
She will have the name of your guilt stamped on the forehead	The example of 144,000, has their forehead marked with the name of the Eternal (see Rev 22.4).

 

The lamentation about the Great Babylon remembers much lamentation over Tyrus (Ezekiel 26, 27).

Three classes of individuals will lament the fall of Babylon. The cries of individuals is described in order in accordance with the condition of those who lament, taking into account the cause and the mode of regret:

 

o   "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come." (Rev 18.9,10).

o   "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: the merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches were desolate." (Rev 18.11.15.16). 

o   "For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate." (Rev 18.17-19).

 

 

	Who would regret?	How to mourn?	Why mourn?
1º	The kings of the earth	They shall bewail her, and lament for her.	For in one hour will come the judgment of the city that was big and strong and that allowed them to dominate over crowds and live luxuriously.
2	The merchants of the earth	They shall weep and mourn over her	Because no one else will buy their dear goods, which made them rich. For in one hour so great riches will be wasted.
3	The pilots, who sail in ships, sailors , and those who negotiate at sea.	they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing	Because an hour was desolate that by means of which all who have ships at sea enrich themselves by reason of their opulence.

 

Some concepts need to be defined:

 

o   Mourning ->cry beating, giving blow or punch in something or in their breasts in order to make noise.

o   Lamentation  -> extended moaning and interwove with moans and wails, which expresses great sorrow, pain, and grief;

o   Cry -> yelling from who beseeches, protests, demands, threat, weep, etc.

 

The kings will be less prejudiced. Lose their source of pleasure. However, still continue to reign over the masses. By this they only weep and mourn. Although the mourning is a demonstration of intense sadness, it is also temporary.

The merchants will be more affected, because nobody else will buy their goods. They not only mourn, but regret, i.e., feel remorse for longer periods.

Already the pilots, who sail in ships, sailors and those who negotiate at sea, will be the most affected (unlike merchants who had chic things, they do not possess nothing; only made the transport of goods). By this is that they not only weep, but also lament and cry, i.e., shall cry in their supplications as that complaining with the Eternal for having performed such destruction.

 

·        "And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory." (Rev 18.1).

·

The light resulting from the glory of the Eternal can be seen at:

 

·        "And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid." (Lk 2.9);

·        "At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me." (Acts 26.13).

 

After these things, namely, after seeing and identifying the great harlot in chapter 17, John sees the condemnation of her.

To see this, it is sent to John another angel, which had an authority so great that the land came to illuminate with his glory (here we can see that the glory of the Eternal is capable of doing with someone through the life of someone). In Ezekiel 43.2 we see the glory of the Eternal operating this:

 

·        "And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory." (Ezek 43.2).

 

This means that this angel had contact with the Eternal (something similar was with Moses - Exodus 34.19). This shows the greatness of the mission of this angel and how its implementation will bring light to the earth. See what someone with authority can make in a world in darkness (Matthew 5.14-16). 

At the time of Jesus, the crowd was amazed because He spoke as one who has authority (Matt 7.28,29). It isn’t in vain that before Jesus give His great commission (Matt 28.19), He made clear the reason for this to be done: because all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth.

It is the authority of Christ and His teachings that really brings light to this world. 

 

·        "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." (Rev 18.2).

·

This strong voice is characteristic of heavenly proclamations (Rev 7.2; 14.2). The reason for the strong voice is not for all men to listen, but for those who have ears to hear (analyze John 12.29-31) certainly receive the message and be taken from fear for seeing that the content is real.

In Rev 18.8 is highlighted that the Lord is strong and here, the strong voice of the angel. i.e., it is not something shy and full of doubt, much less weak, but full of authority. May it be clear that this is not something authoritarian as it happens with humans who, when they want to make himself heard, alter the tone of voice.

The fall of the Great Babylon has not occurred here, since in Rev 18.4 the servants of the Eternal are instructed to leave her. The fall of the Great Babylon here is the same as it was mentioned before (in Rev 14.8 - similarly in Isaiah 21.9; Jer 51.8). It is the apogee of spiritual degradation of Israel. Only from Revelation 18.8 this fall will happen and will be described in greater detail.

After the beast that rises from the abyss break the agreement with the religious leaders of Israel, Babylon the Great (Jerusalem) will become:

 

·        Habitation of demons -> Place of rest of the demons, a term used for the fallen angels when they are worshiped (see Lev 17.7; Deut 32.17; 2Chr 11.15; Psalm 106.37; 1Cor 10.20,21; Rev 9.20), for example, by their signs (Rev 16.14). 

These demons are the ones who will ascend out of the bottomless pit (Rev 9.3), as well as those who will be thrown to the ground by Michael and his angels (Rev 12.8,9), which will possess the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the world;

·        Den of every kind of unclean spirit -> Term used for the fallen angels when they come to induce individuals to behaviors and filthy passions.

·        Hiding place of every kind of unclean and hateful bird -> This language is derived from the prophets. Be harbor of hideous birds describes her state of ruin, and the condition of never more to be inhabited by men (as can be seen below):

o   Prophecy against Edom -> "But the cormorant and the bittern shall possess it; the owl also and the raven shall dwell in it: and he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness. They shall call the nobles thereof to the kingdom, but none shall be there, and all her princes shall be nothing. And thorns shall come up in her palaces, nettles and brambles in the fortresses thereof: and it shall be an habitation of dragons, and a court for owls. The wild beasts of the desert shall also meet with the wild beasts of the island, and the satyr shall cry to his fellow; the screech owl also shall rest there, and find for herself a place of rest. There shall the great owl make her nest, and lay, and hatch, and gather under her shadow: there shall the vultures also be gathered, every one with her mate." (Isaiah 34.11-15).

o   Profecia against Nineveh -> "And he will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness. And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand." (Zephaniah 2.13-15).

o   Prophecy against Babylon -> "But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures; and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there. And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their desolate houses, and dragons in their pleasant palaces: and her time is near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged." (Isaiah 13.21,22).

o   Prophecy against Babylon -> "For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD. I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 14.22,23).

o   Prophecy against Babylon -> "Therefore the wild beasts of the desert with the wild beasts of the islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation." (Jer 50.39);

o   Prophecy against Babylon -> "And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwellingplace for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant." (Jer 51.37).

Remember that in the parable of the sower Ha-Satan and his demons are compared to birds that come to eat the seed sown in the heart of bad listener (Mark 4.15). That is to say, here is the fallen angels hiding (act in the shadows) in the lives of those who reject Jesus and His teachings.

 

If the people don't care to know who is the true God (the source of everything that happens) and what is your desire, do they care in walking toward the true wisdom (see Prov 9.10) and appreciate what belongs to the neighbor (as commanded Paul – in Phil 2.4)? If the idea of a God is not sacred, someone will recognize the value of a life or the value of the limits?

Leave an individual losing their faith in Jesus, let them abandon the virtue, love and righteousness of their heart, and what will this individual become? Is it possible they become something else that is not a dwelling for demons (Revelation 18.2)?

 

·        "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies." (Rev 18.3).

·

Again the cause of the downfall of the Great Babylon is said.

All the kings of the earth will prostitute with Jerusalem and her religious-political system (Jer 51.7; Rev 14.8; 17.2), i.e., will adopt this style of government to keep the masses on control. Note the connection between the spiritual harlotry and trade (in  Is 47.13-15; 18.23,24) and the international policy (Isaiah 23.17). Solomon was the one who introduced Israel in this kind of thing (see 1Rs 11.1-6) and became a source of inspiration for all kingdoms (1Kings 4.34).

And this religious system is of such complexity that provides many riches to traders and transporters, power to the kings and pleasure to the rabble. In face of so much convenience, there is a tendency of its participants fight furiously to gain new followers and tenebrosamente contended against all who oppose them (for example, doing everything to discredit the followers of the Eternal). And it is clear that the merchants will take advantage of this to enrich themselves. Notice how the spiritual harlotry is a true trade (each giving something in exchange for something else) and power game.

And every one who is converting this infamous religion, will be given this vision (the fury of prostitution), namely, fornication with the largest number of individuals to gain new supporters and discriminate against those who do not agree. 

 

·        "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." (Rev 18.4). 

·

Another angel takes the word because the message is now directed to the followers of Christ.

Another voice from heaven reiterated a sacred truth quite emphasized in Holy Scripture: we must never take communion with the works of darkness (Eph 5.13; 2Cor 6.14-18). We ought to seek that their fans to pass over to our side, and not the contrary (Jer 15.19). 

Although the Great Babylon be indulgent with the evil, with the good she is ruthless (analyze Jer 1.8). See, for example, one of the things that made the priests at the time of Jesus:

 

·        "They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out." (John 9.34).

 

It isn’t in vain that, in some places, you can see the Eternal ordering to come out from among the wicked (especially in the midst of Babylon).

 

·        Leave Sodom and Gomorrah -> "Then said these men a lot: Have someone else here? Son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place;" (Gen 19.12).

·        Leave away of wicked Korah, Dathan, and Abiram -> "Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins." (Num 16.24-26).

·        Go out of Babylon -> "Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob." (Isaiah 48.20).

·        "Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD." (Isaiah 52.11).

·        Go out of Babylon -> "He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me." (Jeremiah 50.8)

·        Go out of Babylon -> "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath: for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner: but my salvation shall be for ever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished." (Jer 51.6).

·        Go out of Babylon -> "My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD." (Jeremiah 51.45).

·        Leave Jerusalem -> "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: let him which is on" (Matthew 24.15-16).

·        Go out of the midst of wicked -> "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," (2Cor 6.17).

 

No favor is to be shown for the cause of the Great Harlot. However, those who are there by ignorance, there is hope (as Paul directs Timothy in 2Tim 2.25,26). This recalls the following passages:

 

·        "Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all." (Isaiah 65.8).

·        "Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar." (Gen 19.22).

 

So, if we are still in the middle of the scornful (Ps 1.1) or the Babylonian System (political and religious system which governs this world), the order is not to try to fix it (Jeremiah 51.9), nor try to destroy it or challenge it, but leave it (Psalms 1.1; Isaías 48.20; 52.11; Jer 50.8; 51.6,45).

One of the proofs that Babylon the Great Is Israel is that, not only the great city was called spiritually Sodom and Egypt, but from these two cities we can see the Eternal called individuals out (as commanded His people out of the great Babylon):

 

·        Lot was ordained to leave Sodom (Gen 19:12,16-17; Lk 17:28-32);

·        The people of Israel was called out of Egypt.

 

Note how there is no solution when someone is within the Great Babylon:

 

·        If someone does not speak nothing is an accomplice to be participating or at least coverting the mistakes of others.

·        On the other hand, who denounces is being an accomplice to be paying evil with evil (analyze Rom 2.1). However, it is upon this that the justice of the world is based (see Psalm 137.8; Jer 50.15,29; 51.24,49; 2Tim 4.14; Rev 13.10).

 

Has no way to serve Jesus and the system (Matt 6.24): While we have within it, in one way or another, we are in sin and displeasing to the Eternal. There is no way to be faithful to the Eternal except living by faith (Hab 2.4; Rm 1.17; Gal 3.11; Heb 10.38).

Today, the big question is not "Why did the Eternal does nothing to put an end to the injustice". There is a day in which the whole religious deception and all human reign will cease. But, while this day is not coming, the world and its Babylonian System is, in itself, a terrible condemnation, a punishment for any human being (see John 14.30; Eph 2.1.2; 1John 5.19). The good news is that we can hear this voice from heaven saying to us to exit, and then accept the invitation.

 

·        "For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities." (Rev 18.5).

 

The Eternal is always measuring the iniquity of each one (see Gen 15.16; Gn 18.20-21; Jer 51.9; Dan 5.27; Jn 1.2; 1Thes 2.16). When the sins reaches a critical level, the individual is cut off.

Comes the question: what do the expressions mean?

 

1       - accumulated up to the sky -> that is to say, sin began to have a very strong influence, beyond what the elected ones could withstand. It is good to remember that:

 

o   "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." (Ecclesiastes 8:11);

o   "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10.13).

 

The accumulation of sins until the heaven is a figure taken from Jr 51.9:

 

·        "We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies." (Jeremiah 51.9).

 

Compare with Gen 4.10 and Gen 18.20:

 

·        "And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know." (Gen 18.20,21).

·        "And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground." (Genesis 4.10).

 

When the sins accumulate, they pass to be a direct affront to heaven (such as the Tower of Babel):

 

·        War against the Lamb (Rev 17.14; 19.19);

·        Blasphemy against the God of heaven (Rev 13.6; 16.11);

·        Congregation for the battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev 16.14).

 

2       - God remembered of unrighteous acts that she practiced -> will it be that the Eternal had forgotten? Of course not! But, when the elect begin to be deceived, this will bring to the memory of them all sorts of wicked act of great Babylon. When the evil reaches a certain level, for more spiritual than the individual is, it becomes impossible to remove from memory all the wickedness of the Babylonian System. It is difficult to concentrate on looking for what is perfect (Phil 3.13,14; Col 3.1,2). Henceforth the relationship with the Eternal will be influenced by this. 

 

Understand: to pray, the individual will ask Jesus to be successful in the Great Babylon and, at the same time, be exempted from the wickedness that is practiced therein. Prayer, which should be a joyful moment of relationship between the Bride and Groom, ends up being the time to bring the wickedness of the world to memory. The desire to see the supremacy of the Favor of the Eternal ends up being suffocated by pleasure in the destruction of sin (and even the sinner - Rom 5.20. See, for example, Genesis 6.13). 

 

·        "Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double." (Rev 18.6).

 

First of all, it is up to us to ask: "Who gave this order and to whom?".

Reward back ("lex talionis"), is a principle seen in the Testament of the Law (Jer 16.18; 50.15,29; 51:24,56; Ps 137:8). In the testament of the law we see this (Isa 40.2; Jer 16.12; 17.18; Zechariah 9.12). Jerusalem, for example, received into the Eternal's hand double for all her sins (Isaiah 40.2).

In the Testament of the Favor of the Eternal we see this only here. Contrast with the double joy to which Jerusalem will receive for his past of suffering (Isaiah 61.7; Zc 9.12).

The Levitical law insisted in the double reward (Exodus 22.4,7.9):

 

·        "If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double." (Exodus 22.4).

·        "If a man shall deliver unto his neighbour money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double." (Exodus 22.7).

·        "For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any manner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges; and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbour." (Exodus 22.9).

 

This reminds the payment of a debt: give her what is due to it. As in Exodus 22.4-9 has to do with theft, this implies that the Great Babylon has the right to receive in twice what it was taken of her. Note that this is not the Great Babylon that has to pay (even because she is so only fulfilling her role in the plan of the Eternal).

Who should reciprocate in twice to the Great Babylon are the elected ones of the Eternal who were called to come out of her (Rev 18.4). This is because, when some of those who believe in Jesus appropriates something of Great Babylon, they are stealing her. After all, what is "Caesar" has to be given to "Caesar", and not to Jesus (meditate with calm in Deut 12.30,31).

Here is how this is to be fulfilled:

 

·        Make you give as she hath given -> It is teachings, doctrines and rituals performed, what is necessary for the rabble to feel righteous before their god and, with this, receive goods. All material goods that they received of her, they should return. Everything that they profit through the activities practiced according to the teachings they were taught, should be given back to the great Babylon (give to "Caesar" which is of "Caesar" - Luke 20.25). Even because everything is impregnated, directly or indirectly, of the concepts and values of the Great Babylon.

·        Return her in twice as their works -> Works has to do with justice. All they have done to justify the face of individuals and, thus, achieve favors of them, they should return in twice. In other words, in addition to renounce all honors that have been conferred on them by the Great Babylon, they should also humble themselves, i.e., empty themselves of all natural virtue that they had. 

How? Expressing the justice of the Kingdom of Heaven. To manifest the justice of the Eternal, at the same time they demonstrate the injustice of the followers of the Great Babylon (see Ephesians 5.13), which makes them abominable before the world (see Genesis 43.32).

·        In the cup in which she gave you to drink, give it to her in twice -> It is communion (see 1 Corinthians 6.16). What should the Church put in this cup? The blood of Christ which, although it is an instrument of salvation for all who believe, is condemnation for unbelievers (analyze 2Cor 2.14-16; 1Pet 2.5-8).

 

Fair warning is given to all who await the mercy of the Eternal: that not only they should leave the Great Babylon, but contribute to the destruction of her (Rev 18.4-6). How? Expressing the light of Christ (Matthew 5.14-16):

 

·        "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin." (John 15.22)

 

·        "How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." (Rev 18.7).

 

Here we can see the quadrúplice sin (everything related to worldliness and materialism):

 

·        Self-indulgence, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness (lived in lust);

·        Pride (glorified herself and sits as queen);

·        Escape from the suffering of others (mourning I will never see);

·        Prostitution (I am no widow).

 

With this we can learn that sinners have to deal in accordance with:

 

·        The mercies that they abused;

·        The opportunities that they had neglected;

·        The advantages that they had wasted.

 

This type of assertion was also made by other tyrant countries: 

 

·      Ancient Babylon -> "And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it. Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children: but these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments." (Isaiah 47.7-9)

·        Nineveh -> "And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her, all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds: for he shall uncover the cedar work. This is the rejoicing city that dwelt carelessly, that said in her heart, I am, and there is none beside me: how is she become a desolation, a place for beasts to lie down in! every one that passeth by her shall hiss, and wag his hand." (Zeph 2.15).

·        Tyrus -> "And say unto Tyrus, O thou that art situate at the entry of the sea, which art a merchant of the people for many isles, Thus saith the Lord GOD; O Tyrus, thou hast said, I am of perfect beauty." (Ezek 27.3);

o   "Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God:” (Ezek 28.2);

 

See, now, the greatness of the level of arrogance:

 

·        I am sitting as queen -> For some time the mastery of the situation was being in the hands of the Great Babylon. Although those who have the power is theoretically the king, she will keep the king under her charms;

·        I am not a widow -> She is in the company of someone who, supposedly, maintains, protects and supports her;

·        Weeping, I will never see -> She assumes that, by being mounted on the beast that rises from the abyss, no evil will befall her.

 

That is to say, she thought that the whole splendour of wealth and power that she could provide the kings and merchants was a guarantee that they always would be next to her to give her support. She did not realize that he was being used to prepare the way for the Antichrist to be the one god (a parody of what happened with Jesus when John the Baptist prepared His way - Matt 3.3).

Babylon the Great (Israel), in fact, was a widow in the sense that the Eternal abandoned her until the end of this dispensation (Isaiah 50.1; Jer 3.8):

 

·        "How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!" (Lam 1.1).

 

When the antichrist (the beast from the sea) is acclaimed by all (including by her "husband", the false prophet), seeing how it might be profitable, she will be the lover of the antichrist and prostitute with the kings of the earth. With so many lovers, she will not feel a widow.

Unfortunately, Israel confuses the beast from the sea with its messiah and, with this, instead of stay praying and waiting for the second coming of Christ (Matt 9.15), she sits as queen at peace, happy, proud and full of pomp and jewelry.

Note how the torment and sorrow were in the same proportion in which it is glorified and lived in the lust. This is because, the same glory and lust that bring you pleasure, also bring pain and suffering. For example: the same richness that brings comfort, serves to bring discord, fears (of being assaulted, robbed, kidnapped, suffer loss with inflation, etc.). The truth is that individuals are punished in exactly the same thing that idolize. Only the blessing of Jesus is that don’t bring pains (Prov 10.22).

 

·        "Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." (Rev 18.8).

 

By considering that she:

 

·        is seated as queen, glorifying and living in lust, she will experience hunger;

·        will never be a widow, she will be burnt and be derelict, without being the target of interest to anyone;

·        will never see  mourn,she will bitterly mourning the death and destruction.

 

The sudden (in one hour - Rev 18.10) and complete trial and disappearance of Babylon from the face of the earth shows that this has still not happened (Isaias 13:20. Jer 50:13,39,40; Jer 51:29,37,43).

The fact of her being burned has to do with an old custom: when a city was taken and destroyed, was also burnt.

Thinking by the spiritual side, when the daughter of any priest was caught in prostitution, she was burned (Rev 17:16; Rev 18:8; Lev 21:9). Whereas Israel was the apple of the eyes of the Eternal (Deut 32.9,10), for prostituting, she will have to be burnt.

And all this will happen because powerful is God that will judge her. But what has to do the power of the Eternal with the judgment of the Great Babylon? Were it not for the sovereign power of the Eternal, never the Great Babylon would be judged, because she is convenient for everyone:

 

·        For the kings, to be an instrument to keep the rabble under control and live luxuriously;

·        For the merchants and transporters, to be a source of profit;

·        For the rabble, being a source of pleasure.

 

This comes to teach us that, no matter how individuals love and practice the lie, will come the time that they will throw away that which they cling themselves, inasmuch as these things will become an enormous source of torment to them.

 

·        "And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning," (Rev 18.9).

 

The first to cry and regret (as occurred similarly in Jer 50..46; Ezek 26.16-17) are the kings of the earth (Rev 17.2; except the ten kings). After all, through the Great Babylon (Jerusalem), the kings of the earth have methods for better taking control over the population. The fact that all those who are not in the book of life will worship the beast (including the kings of the earth) will facilitate the life of those kings. While the rabble enjoys the pleasure given in worship and praise Jewish cult, as well as the pleasure of a riotous living and free of weighted consciousness, the kings will take advantage to use the rabble to satisfy their desires. When the cult of the Great Babylon fall to earth, the kings will lose all influence, becoming slaves of the beast (although slaves of highest level). After all, the beast shall magnify himself over everything and everyone (Dan 11.37).

Notice how whenever the Holy Scripture speaks of a great torment, it mentions smoke.

See also the contrast between the exhilaration of all peoples by the death of two witnesses (Rev 11.10) and the regret by the fall of the Great Babylon.

 

·        "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come." (Rev 18.10)

 

Note the triple city name given by kings. As rulers, all they can see is a source of field: 

 

·        "Big City" -> source of economic power and natural resources;

·        "Babylon" -> source of legal and religious power;

·        "Powerful City" -> source of power (political and military alliances with other kingdoms).

 

Note how the kings of the earth prefer to stay away. They fear suffer the same condemnation (the same torment).

 

·        "And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:" (Rev 18.11).

 

The merchants are waxed rich through the abundance of the delights of the Great Babylon, at the expense of her opulence (Rev 18.19),that is, the large quantity of goods consumed by her. With the fall of her, they weep and mourn the fall of your business.

The antichrist, for honoring the god of fortresses (Dan 11.38), will not accept that nobody has any kind of control in your hands. That is, the loss of economic power of these merchants was well cherished by the beast that rises from the abyss and its ten kings who want to give ALL power to him (Rev 17.17).

 

·        "The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.” (Retv 18.12,13). 

 

Note how the marketed  objects  were something that gave priority the luxury, pleasure and the military power (with the exception of the fourth class). Hence slaves and human souls being marketed. Probably slavery and sale of indulgences will back. Do not think that this is difficult, since, in the present dispensation, the religious system sells the faith of individuals and, of course, the salvation (2Pet 2.1-3).

It isn’t in vain that the antichrist will want to end up with this. After all, who owns slaves and is capable of influencing human souls is someone powerful and, therefore, a threat.

Five classes of products are sold:

 

·        First class (objects of adornment): merchandise of gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet -> All these objects served to arouse the attention of individuals for themselves. Tyrus traded:

o   Gold and precious stones (Ezek 27.22);

o   Silver (Ezek 27.12);

o   Fine linen and purple (Ezek 27.16).

The fine linen represents the righteous deeds of the saints (Rev 19.8).

·        Second class (beautiful, expensive and durable furniture): and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble -> All these furnitures served to bring comfort and beauty to home;

Ivory palaces are mentioned in (Psalms 45.8) and houses of ivory, in (Amos 3.15). Ebony is seen along with ivory in an unusual softness. It is ivory white and ebony, black. 

Tyrus traded:

o   Ivory (Ezek 27.15);

o   Bronze (Ezek 27.13);

o   Iron (Ezek 27.19);

·        Third class (perfumes): and cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense -> were used to delight the senses. Cinnamon and odors were used for perfuming (Prov 7.17), oil was used in festivals and incense, in the banquets to entertain after the food.

Cinnamon has been designated by the Eternal to be one of the ingredients of the ointment of the anointing (Exo 30.23), besides being a plant found in the garden of the Beloved (Songs 4.14); however, this has been defiled for vile use by the adulterous woman (perfuming her bed) (Prov 7.17).

In The testament of the Law, spices were used to compose the sacred incense (Exo 30.34,35). With respect to the incense, we contrast it with the true incense which the Eternal love (Ps 141:2; Mal 1:11). 

Tyrus traded spices (Ezek 27.17).

·        Fourth class (food): wine, olive oil, flour, wheat, cattle and sheep (see Prov 7.12; Prov 2.1,2).

All these elements were used in Israelite sacrifices in the Testament of the law.

Although they are suitable for food supply, were also used as luxury:

o   Wine -> to rejoice the heart (Psalms 104.15);

o   Olive oil -> to shining the face (Ps 104;15);

o   Wheat -> to strengthen the heart (Ps 104.15). Note that there isn’t to strengthen the body, but the heart;

o   Wine, cattle and sheep -> to riot (Isa 22.13).

 

Tyrus traded: 

o   Wine (Ezek 27.18); 

o   Olive oil, wheat (Ezek 27.17);

 

·        Fifth Grade (military apparatus): horses, chariots, slaves and even human souls -> All these elements were used to subjugate and enslave other nations (see  Judges 4.3; Psalms 20.7; 147.10,11).

Tyrus traded: 

o   Horses (Ezek 27.14);

o   Cars (Ezek 27.20);

o   Slaves (Ezek 27.13);

 

Repair as a good part of these articles were part of articles sold by Tyrus. As you can see in the above items, the prosperity of the Great Babylon shall come through the exploitation of labor (slaves), as well as emotional manipulation (human souls). The proof is the concentration of income in the Great Babylon. It is a total surrender to the goods of this world and the consequent contempt to God who gave them.

 

·        "And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all." (Rev 18.14).

 

What you see here is the fulfillment of Dan 2:34.35:

 

·        "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." (Dan 2.34,35).

 

This is the end:

 

·        Of the religious and political system;

·        Of all pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness in Israel (as has occurred in the past):

o   "That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; that chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph." (Amos 6.4-6).

o   “Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." (Ezek 16.49).

 

The fruit that the souls of the Great Babylon both wished will finish. Everything that is delicate and splendid extinguished to Babylon the Great. They will never be able to find all this again.

In other words, what really is good will no longer be purchased by a privileged elite at the expense of the blood of others. All good will extinguish of the life of such individuals and never all of this will be found for them, for such things will flee from them (exactly the opposite of what happens with those who hear the voice of the Eternal - Deut 28.1,2).

 

·        "The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!" (Rev 18.15,16). 

 

There is no contradiction between Rev 18.17 and Rev 18.8: The plagues come all in one hour, at the same day.

The merchants of goods cited in Rev 18.12,13, who by means of Great Babylon was done rich, will weep and lament, as if a very dear relative had died. However, they do not regret the destruction of Great Babylon, but the loss of their prosperity (as can be seen also in Acts 16.20,21; 19.26-28).

None of the lovers of Great Babylon will rescue her, but they will stay far seeing, fearing to be achieved by this torment. 

 

·        "Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy." (Prov 18.24)

 

As Babylon the Great was not friendly, there isn’t friend to her. Sinners can even get togehter to celebrate the sin, but in the hour of trial they separate. They prefer to accuse than trying to soften the sin of one another, and to help each other. After all, nobody believes the other part of itself, but only a mere source of entertainment.

Great Babylon, once magnificent, will be in regret, desolation and ruin. No other city has been, is, or will be so prominently in power and authority, pride and lust, idolatry and superstition, blasphemy and impenitence. 

The torment of the inhabitants of Jerusalem is so great that even resembles a great furnace lifting lots of smoke. Many thinks that the smoke implies in a nuclear war.

 

·        "For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, what city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate." (Rev 18.17-19)

·

The perversity has his friends: those who find delight in it (Rev 18.9), those who take advantage of this (kings, merchants, etc.). They are able to mourn loudly and for a long time, as the righteous lament the death of a dear relative (Rev 18.11,15,16,19).

However, their regret is completely selfish. No one regrets the suffering of Great Babylon, much less regret to see the consequences of their sins, but because the hope of gain ended (Rev 18.19).

Nobody is going to help (Rev 18.15). Just stay away with fear of her torment.

The lamentation of the seamen is borrowed from Ezekiel:

 

·        "Thy riches, and thy fairs, thy merchandise, thy mariners, and thy pilots, thy calkers, and the occupiers of thy merchandise, and all thy men of war, that are in thee, and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee, shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin. The suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots. And all that handle the oar, the mariners, and all the pilots of the sea, shall come down from their ships, they shall stand upon the land; and shall cause their voice to be heard against thee, and shall cry bitterly, and shall cast up dust upon their heads, they shall wallow themselves in the ashes:" (Ezek 27.27-30).

 

Note that all those who transported goods also take advantage of.

The greatness of Great Babylon will be so amazing that it will receive the same kind of praise given to the beast that rises from the abyss (Rev13.4), which shows the intimate connection between both (hence the beast feel threatened with its influence and come to destroy her. Besides, remember that only the Eternal is worthy of this kind of praise - Exo 15.11; Psalms 35.10; 113.15).

To praise Great Babylon this way, what the transporters were saying, in essence, is: "What other city can bring us so great riches?". Jerusalem will become full of physical splendour (many Israelites believe in the antichrist because it appears to be one of the most compliments of Holy Scripture - Hagai 2.9), as well as all religious institutions that will adhere to their religious system.

Tyrus received this type of praise:

 

·        “And in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee, and lament over thee, saying, What city is like Tyrus, like the destroyed in the midst of the sea?" (Ezek 27.32).

 

Detail: Although Jerusalem, in itself, is not maritime city, it is located near the ancient city of Tyrus which is a maritime city. It is no wonder the immense similarity between both. Indeed, many of the expressions used here to describe the fall of Babylon are taken from the descriptions of the fall of Tyrus (Ezek 27.15,16, 30).

Once more it is said that she was devastated in one hour (Rev 18.16), which shows how the fury of the prostitution of Great Babylon was terrible (hence she receive a double portion of evil that sowed). It also shows that, when the Eternal acts, is suddenly. There is no more time for repentance. This is to ensure that only come to repent who is really well intentioned, i.e., truly repented of the evil done (and not simply because of the consequences of the same).

Notice how all that had a ship at sea will also enrich the expense of the greatness of the Great Babylon and her daughters. The regret is so great that all who live in the sea came to throw dust on the head (as happened in Ezek 27.30,31), something that only happened when the pain of loss was very large (see Joshua 7.6; 1Sam 4.12; Job 2.12; Lam 2.10).

The righteous, however, are kept safe (Jer 4.19; Zeph 1.15-16). What they have to go through because of the sins of the wicked is precisely to favour the righteous before wickeds, that is, so that the wicked have no evil to say of them (2Thes 1.4-7; Titus 2.8; 1 Peter 4.17-19).

 

·        "Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her." (Rev 18.20).

 

Who said this: the angel of Rev 18.1, the voice of Rev 18.4, John, or another being?

Whoever it is, what is being talked about is a commandment. The righteous will be summoned to be delighted about the fall of Great Babylon. Who belongs to Jesus should not feel regret for the fall of Great Babylon. On the contrary: her distress should be to see sin thriving in the world (2Pet 2.7,8). Rejoice over Great Babylon is reminiscence of Jeremiah 51.48. Everyone should rejoice in evil which fell upon Babylon. The heavens are always addressed when something is too bad (Isaiah 1.2) or good (Ps 96.11) is done or mentioned.

Only regret the fall of Great Babylon who takes advantage of their malignant manifestations, sinful pleasures, luxury selfish, humanist government and wicked trade.

About what shall the righteous rejoice? They should rejoice because the Eternal judged the cause of them over her, that is, made His truth, goodness and mercy triumph over every thing that she did. Note that the righteous shall rejoice by the fall of the principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places that were acting through the Great Babylon (Eph 6.12). The righteous rejoice with the fall of the Great Babylon and of all that she represents, and not with the suffering of those who, unfortunately, clung to this cursed system.

There is more joy in heaven by the fall of the Great Babylon than by the fall of the beast that rises from the abyss and the false prophet together. So much so that John adheres more to the abominations and judgments of Great Babylon (chapters 17, 18 and part of 19 are especially dedicated to this). This is because there's nothing more abominable than those who profess the name of the Creator worshipping Him the wrong way. Worse than the behavior of the wicked, it is those who, though believing in Jesus, insist on live as wicked (see 2Pet 2.20-22).

So much so that it is found the blood of everyone on earth (just and unjust). Since the time of Jesus was prophesied that on the religious system of Jerusalem will drop the punishment because of all the righteous blood shed from the foundation of the world (Lk 11.49-50).

The heavens, the earth and all that is therein will joy about Great Babylon when she fall (Jer 51.48). The same is required of the saints, apostles and prophets when the Eternal avenge the blood of their brethren that be poured (something that was promised in Deut 32.43 and fulfilled in Rev 19.2).

Comes the question: Who are the saints, apostles and prophets?

 

·        Saints -> who was set apart for the use of the Eternal;

·        Apostles -> the envoys of the Eternal to implant His Church worldwide;

·        Prophets -> those that are used for the Eternal to proclaim His message.

 

At first, every one who believes in Jesus must possess these attributes within themselves.

 

·        "And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all." (Rev 18.21).

·

Notice how there is a similarity between the Eternal’s judgment upon the Egyptians at the Red Sea (Exo 15.5,10; Nehemiah 9.11), the prophesied fall of Babylon (Jer 51.63,64) and the fall of Great Babylon. Also, there is a lot of similarity between the judgment of Great Babylon and of Tyrus which, when it was sought, would no longer be found (Ezek 26.21). The same is true also with Ha-Satan and his angels who, after defeated by Miguel: will no longer find place in heaven for them (Rev 12.8).

Also remember what Jesus said:

 

·        "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matt 18.6).

 

Sin is, in itself, something grievous. But to lead and induce others to sin is something even more disgusting. That is, it will be better for Great Babylon this type of judgment than continue deceiving the elect of the Eternal. After all, remember that there were many servants of Him within Great Babylon (Rev 18.4). She will be so seductive that only the suffering of a violent destruction, to the point of no longer be found will prevent someone to seek her.

Now it is easy to understand what the psalmist said:

 

·        "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:" (Psalms 103.12).

 

The sin, unfortunately, is so seductive that the Eternal puts its source as far as possible from us. 

The angel throwing the stone remembers the stone being thrown by Jeremiah, symbolizing the fall of Babylon (Jer 51.63,64). The stone of the angel, however, there isn’t a small millstone spun by women (Matt 24.41), but one that required a donkey to rotate it (Mark 9.42), something big that required someone strong to lift it. The presence of an "strong" angel is to show that the destruction is with haste, huge, sudden, complete and, above all, right, filled with the authority of the Eternal. This also shows that the fall there will not be something natural, but by the powerful force of the Eternal.

This also reminds the rock of Daniel:

 

·        "Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth." (Dan 2.34,35).

 

This is the only rock that can injure Great Babylon. In addition, is not in vain that the head of the statue of Nebuchadnezzar was golden and symbolized the Babylon. The purpose of this is to show that, at the end of times, after the death of the beast from the sea, the command will pass from the feet part of iron and part of clay to the head of gold. 

To be more accurate: to assume the power, the beast that ascendeth abyss will use all the powers involved in the statue to dominate the planet. She will give life to the statue as a whole that will astonish the whole world. And as Babylon is the head, all set is a Great Babylon in which predominates the changing of times and law (Dan 7.25).

While the other empires were static (a head of gold does not move alone, much less chest and arms of silver, etc.). However, with all the elements of the statue gaining life by the power of the angel of the abyss, the headquarters of the empire will no longer be fixed in one place, such as when one of the seven heads was in control of the politicalw beast. The headquarters of the empire moves throughout the world.

As the religious leaders of Jerusalem in the time of Christ filled the measure of the sins of the Israelites (Matt 23.29,35.36; Lk 11.51;13.33), they will fill up the measure of sins; but now, not only the Israelites, but of the beast that rises from the abyss, of the false prophet and of all the inhabitants of the world.

 

·        "And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived." (Rev 18.22,23).

 

This is what would no longer found in the Great Babylon:

 

·        The voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters -> the end of all sorts of music in a lively and noisy city is proof of total desolation. This was also prophesied against:

o   Babylon -> "Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee." (Isaiah 14.11).

o   Tyrus -> "O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name." (Ezekiel 26.13).

o   Jerusalem -> "The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth." (Isaiah 24.8).

·        no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee -> images were a form of divinize individuals;

·        the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee -> after all, there is no one else to feed this cursed system. This was prophesied against Jerusalem in the past:

o   "Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle." (Jeremiah 25.10).

This also remember what Jesus said:

o   "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;" (Matt 24.48).

·        the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee -> This reminds the New Jerusalem, in which there will be no more light of candle (Rev 22.5). However, there is a brutal difference: the Great Babylon has no more light because there will be no more doubts about how erroneous are her  ideas; the New Jerusalem, however, does not need light, since the Lamb is its lamp (Rev 21.23).

·        the voice of the bridegroom (which was of great joy when it was heard - John 3.29) and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee -> Note the contrast in the New Jerusalem, where will be celebrated the marriage of the Lamb (Rev 19.7.9; 21.2,9; Isaiah 62.4,5). This was also prophesied against Jerusalem in the past:

o   "Then will I cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride: for the land shall be desolate." (Jeremiah 7.34).

o   "For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will cause to cease out of this place in your eyes, and in your days, the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride." (Jeremiah 16.9).

 

It is obvious that, now that Great Babylon will be destroyed completely.For sure none of the items above quoted will longer be found. However, what is being said is that everything that this system is and represents will never exist. This means to say that:

 

·        There is nothing and nobody to try to bring the members of the Church to the world with the excuse that it is a strategy to convert the worldly (as did Balaam, who tried to bring the sacred to the world - Rev 2.14). This is a way to give the wicked access to heavenly riches;

·        There will be no attempt to promote the sensuality within the Church in order to make the worship more attractive and fun, so as to convince the members not to deviate from their fold (it is the doctrine of Jezebel, which brought the profane to inside Israel). This is wanting to hold the Church in the things of this world (1 Corinthians 15.19). 

 

All this will happen with Jerusalem (Great Babylon):

 

·        Because their merchants were the great men of the earth -> all the kings of the earth will committ fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth will be waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies (Rev 18.3). This remembers what happened with the city of Tyrus:

o   "Who hath taken this counsel against Tyrus, the crowning city, whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honourable of the earth?" (Isaiah 23.8).

Unfortunately, Israel wanted to be like the other nations (1Sam 8.5,19,20). Solomon then began this idolatrous and political relationship with the other nations (1Kings 11.1-8), Jezebel brought spiritual and physics harlotry for inside Israel (2Kings 9.22) and, when Jesus is about to come, this will reach the apex (Rev 17.2,5).

And to make things worse, the worldly grandeur of its merchants came from profane trafficking of spiritual things;

·        Because all the nations will be seduced by her witchcraft (Rev 19.2)" -> i.e., by seeking to divert the attention of individuals from Christ to their interests (analyze Rev 21.8; 22.15), as well as trying to manipulate Christ in favor of personal interests. In addition to intimacy with Tyrus, Israel also assimilated the conduct of Nineveh (Nahum 3.4).

o   "Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts." (Nahum 3.4).

·        Because all nations will drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication and will corrupt because of this (Rev 18.3) -> He manages to make all flesh to corrupt their way (as in Genesis 6.12);

·        Because she’ll glorify herself: "I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow." (Rev 18.7) -> she will seek a name for herself, as did the individuals at the time of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11.4). 

·        Because she will live in  delights (Rev 18.7) -> While the "Lazarus" of the world lie without consolation in her "door" (Lk 16.19.20).

·        Because of persecution against prophets and saints (Rev 18.24).

 

The truth is that the religious system of Israel has always been something related with witchcraft since the time of Moses. Although they "obeyed" the standards of the Eternal, yet their hearts were turned to idols (see Amos 5.25,26; Acts 7.42,43). Moses even declares that:

 

o   "For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death? (Deut 31.27).

 

And so on Judaism was corrupting increasingly until the day that will be the largest of all “Babylons” that already existed. A cult so seductive, profitable and that awakens power that, if it were not for the intervention of the Eternal, would last forever.

The lust of the Great Babylon is like a drug that is addictive, fed by misleading advertisements. By the way: witchcraft is a word that reminds preparation of drugs. As Babylon and Tyrus traded with all parts of the earth, Israel also will do so. 

Finally, the punishment of the Great Babylon will be due to the abuse of blessings that each of its inhabitants received: where numerous candles were placed to burn day, there won’t be anyone to illuminate the night; there were many candles on behalf of the dead, there won’t be anyone to illuminate the living.

 

·        "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth." (Rev 18.24).

 

Note that isn’t more said "in thee", but "in her was found". After all, at this moment, she will be sunk too much to hear such words. In verses 22 and 23 the angel direct himself to the Great Babylon. This shows that, so enticing that she is, if it is not by supernatural intervention of the Eternal, its essence would back to life in other corrupt hearts which desires gain and pleasure at any cost.

Note what Jesus prophesied about Jerusalem:

 

·        "Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city: that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar." (Matthew 23.34-35)

·        "Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation." (Lk 11.49-51).

 

On the other hand, see what Jeremiah prophesied about Babylon.

 

·        "As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth." (Jeremiah 51.49).

 

As Jerusalem is Babylon the Great, she will gather in hemself the two prophecies, so that in her will be found the blood of prophets, saints (Matt 23.34,35; Lk 11.49-51) and of all that will be slain upon the earth (Jeremiah 51.49).

Please note that Babylon the Great was not counted only by the dead who died inside her, but also for all the deads of the land. The reason for this is that all that were slain upon the earth, were killed in virtue of her evil teachings. 

Understand: although Babylon the Great will only come to be an entity grossly visible, to the point of being configured as a person (the statue of Nebuchadnezzar) or a beast (and the woman mounted on it) at the end of time, her spirit came to exist since the fall of Ha-Satan and he entered the world with the fall of Adam and Eve. Since then, this evil spirit comes contaminating minds and hearts, but will reach its apogee in the seventieth week.

And whenever we refuse or we are ashamed to bear the reproach of Christ, even if we don't want to, we will be murdering the saints in Christ.