Understanding Who and What is the Babylon of Revelation.

[Randy Kluth]

Of course there is a 5th kingdom mentioned in Daniel 2. The ten toes.

"And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."

This is not a seperate Rome.

Dan 7.3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

I think Daniel intended to group all of the kingdoms involved into a set of four. The last Kingdom in this set was the 4th.

Dan 7.7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast... It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.... 11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

You see, the 4th Kingdom was the last Kingdom, having 10 horns. The Roman Empire eventually evolves into the Antichristian Empire, and it is viewed, biblically, as a single Kingdom--the 4th and last in the set of 4.

Dan 7.“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

The set of 4 ends with the 4th Kingdom. It is after this last "Beast" is destroyed that the Kingdom of God is established on earth. Nebuchadnezzar's dream parallels that of Daniel's dream. Again, the 4th Kingdom is the last in the set of 4.

Dan 2.40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.

This sounds very much like the 4th Beast that Daniel saw, having iron teeth, breaking everything.

Dan 7.7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

 

[Timtofly]

Dan 7.3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

I think Daniel intended to group all of the kingdoms involved into a set of four. The last Kingdom in this set was the 4th.

Dan 7.7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast... It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.... 11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

You see, the 4th Kingdom was the last Kingdom, having 10 horns. The Roman Empire eventually evolves into the Antichristian Empire, and it is viewed, biblically, as a single Kingdom--the 4th and last in the set of 4.

Dan 7.“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

The set of 4 ends with the 4th Kingdom. It is after this last "Beast" is destroyed that the Kingdom of God is established on earth. Nebuchadnezzar's dream parallels that of Daniel's dream. Again, the 4th Kingdom is the last in the set of 4.

Dan 2.40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.

This sounds very much like the 4th Beast that Daniel saw, having iron teeth, breaking everything.

Dan 7.7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

That was from Daniel's perspective, and Rome went 400 years past the inauguration of the NT.

The 5th Kingdom was already fallen, and the 6th Kingdom lasts until the Second Coming.

I am sure the Holy Roman Empire had to fit in there as the 10 horned beast, but that was not technically Rome, nor the 4th Kingdom.

Unless you really want Rome to be a great Empire until 1500 and the Reformation. I am sure you might find some historist to agree with you.

The 6th Kingdom is dead and defunct from the Reformation until the Second Coming, and then Jesus is the 7th Kingdom.

Some people want to pre-empt Daniel and add Egypt and Assyria as the first 2 Kingdoms, but how do Egypt and Assyria fit into Daniel 2?

Why would anyone put them in Daniel 7? Is Rome represented by iron or not? Did Rome have influence up until the Reformation, sure. So did Islam. They fought each other from the 7th century on up until the industrial revolution. Rome was not both the 4th and 5th Kingdom. Europe itself replaced Rome. Perhaps the ten horns of Europe fought Islam as your Daniel 7 interpretation?

But we have been in the 6th Kingdom since whenever the 5th Kingdom was no longer viable. Since the church in Christ represents the stone cut out, and it destroyed the image at the ten toes, we have the Reformation where the church finally defeated the 5 Kingdoms and shattered that image from Daniel 2. But the church is not represented by any of the beasts mentioned later in Daniel. Nor is the church the 6th kingdom.

 

[Ziggy]

So Revelation was given between 27AD and 30AD? Even before Jesus was crucified?

I believe Revelation contains all the prophecies in the scriptures.
It is the book which contains All.

Jesus came to fulfil all the law and the prophets.
The law is carnal and prophecy is spiritual.
Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy and it is his testimony.

Jhn 5:31
If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
Jhn 5:32
There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
Jhn 5:33
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
Jhn 5:34
But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
Jhn 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
Jhn 5:36
But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
Jhn 5:37
And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
Jhn 5:38
And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
Jhn 5:39
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Rev 1:1
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:
Rev 1:2
Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Jhn 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

Jhn 1:7
The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
Jhn 1:8
He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Luk 1:15
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
Luk 1:16
And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.
Luk 1:17
And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

2Pe 1:19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2Pe 1:20
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Luk 7:26
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
Luk 7:27
This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Malachi chapter 3....
hmm

who is the angel that was sent to signify the testimony?

Psa 91:11
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
Psa 104:4
Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:

Jhn 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

Mal 3:1
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.

1Pe 1:10
Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:
1Pe 1:11
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12
Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
1Pe 1:13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

AMP:
So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

?
hugs

 

[strepho]

I see some people on this thread saying Babylon means confusion and this comes from the tower of Bable. That’s all well and good but the woman in Revelation 17:5 doesn’t just have the word Babylon on her forehead, it’s Mystery Babylon.

The word mystery means something that was hidden in the Old Testament that is revealed in the New Testament. The woman can’t represent just Babylon, she has to represent Mystery Babylon.

People in the Old Testament would’ve known Babylon means false religion, one world religious system, or confusion, that’s not a mystery. What do the words Mystery Babylon represent?

Hello friend. Jeremiah chapter 25:26. And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with each another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth; and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

Friends. Sheshach means = confusion, Babel. This is hidden acrostic. A serious student of the bible or teachers would know this.

2 thessalonians chapter 2:10. And with all deception of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Won't give up their traditions of men and false doctrine. Some people enjoy playing church. Even seek out windbag preachers who sugar coat Gods word. Get the picture. Wont abide by sound doctrine.

2:11 . And for this cause God shall send them strong delusions, that they should believe a lie.
God has been sending spirit of stupor on some people. Some people don't want to listen to sound doctrine.
2:12. That they might be damned who believe not in the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Some people won't listen to shepherds who tell you the truth. These people are in confusion. Get the picture. They are biblically illiterate and have spirit of stupor.
Satan as antichrist near future will have no problem deceiving majority. Those who have gospel armory on, knowledge and wisdom of God's word, ephesians chapter 6, will not be deceived by antichrist.

Peace.

 

[Randy Kluth]

That was from Daniel's perspective, and Rome went 400 years past the inauguration of the NT.
....Unless you really want Rome to be a great Empire until 1500 and the Reformation. I am sure you might find some historist to agree with you.

Rome is the 4th Kingdom that existed as an empire up until 476 AD in the West and up until 1453 AD in the East. In the meantime and following, the imperial culture embedded itself in the Holy Roman Empire in the West and in Slavic empires and later in the Russian Empire in the East. In the end, the 4th Empire, which is synonymous with European Civilization, will evolve into the Antichristian Empire.

Some people want to pre-empt Daniel and add Egypt and Assyria as the first 2 Kingdoms, but how do Egypt and Assyria fit into Daniel 2?

Egypt and Assyria do not fit into either Dan 2 or Dan 7. Daniel said King Nebuchadnezzar was the1st Kingdom, the head of gold.

Is Rome represented by iron or not?

Yes, it was so strong that it completely dominated the Mediterranean and a good part of Europe. Rome was the Kingdom of Iron.

Europe itself replaced Rome.

Europe was Rome. We just have a different view of things.

 

[Hobie]

Dan 7.3 Four great beasts, each different from the others, came up out of the sea.

I think Daniel intended to group all of the kingdoms involved into a set of four. The last Kingdom in this set was the 4th.

Dan 7.7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast... It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.... 11 “Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire.

You see, the 4th Kingdom was the last Kingdom, having 10 horns. The Roman Empire eventually evolves into the Antichristian Empire, and it is viewed, biblically, as a single Kingdom--the 4th and last in the set of 4.

Dan 7.“So he told me and gave me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’

The set of 4 ends with the 4th Kingdom. It is after this last "Beast" is destroyed that the Kingdom of God is established on earth. Nebuchadnezzar's dream parallels that of Daniel's dream. Again, the 4th Kingdom is the last in the set of 4.

Dan 2.40 Finally, there will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron—for iron breaks and smashes everything—and as iron breaks things to pieces, so it will crush and break all the others.

This sounds very much like the 4th Beast that Daniel saw, having iron teeth, breaking everything.

Dan 7.7 “After that, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was a fourth beast—terrifying and frightening and very powerful. It had large iron teeth; it crushed and devoured its victims and trampled underfoot whatever was left. It was different from all the former beasts, and it had ten horns.

Yes, and history shows the Roman Empire fading and a new power rising out of it, the 'Antichrist Empire' as you call it, a religious but temporal entity, which is with us today....

 

[Red Baker]

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT Revelation 17:5: By D. W. "Red" Baker; Introduction to this mystery called: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT CITY

As many have taken in hand to set forth what they believe the scriptures teach on the subject of, MYSTERY BABYLON; it seemed good to us, having understanding of what Mystery Babylon is, to put it together on paper, for the understanding, comfort and protection of the saints.

We know there are sundry and divers interpretations on this subject. Only one can be right. I know that even the correct "overall" view of this subject "will still need" help to make it perfect. I am convinced that no man can give a perfect understanding of this subject without some things within his writings that could have been added or left off, or both, so that it would be free of error. We all live in a body of sin and death, and this is one of the perils of this state in which we live. Nevertheless, we are trusting our God, to enable us to be as close as we can to His truth, without misleading any of His elect away from truth and into error. We fear of perverting God's word, but that fear must not stop us from doing anything for the kingdom of God's sake. Matthew 25:24-30.

We ONLY want to build upon the foundation laid by our Lord and his apostles; gold, silver, precious stone; NOT, wood, hay and stubble. Our prayer would be: That we would teach the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God has ordained before the world unto our glory. It is His hidden wisdom. May He be pleased to open this holy wisdom for us to see and behold and to glory in, to prepare our souls for what is ahead for God's saints and this world.

As one reads the many positions on Mystery Babylon, one can see why so many are confused. We will not waste any time of our readers on the many different beliefs. We have one main agenda, and that is: that we may give understanding to God's elect. We do not care for any others. Those who teach the scripture should only be concerned with feeding the sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord did not waste his time "laboring to feed the goats!" God ALONE regenerates his elect by His Spirit. A teacher of the truth can do no more then to impart knowledge to those who can see and hear. Without spiritual life, one cannot see or hear. The gospel can only bring to light, life, it does NOT bring life. 2nd Timothy 1:10. The gospel can ONLY manifest where there is spiritual life; it has never brought life to a sinner dead in trespasses and sins. But it will manifest the evidence where the wind of God's Spirit has been. It will also manifest where it has not been. I trust one understands what I mean by that statement. Of course, the Holy Ghost is everywhere, but He does not work in all hearts the same; many He leaves to their own sinful desires, their vain imaginations, and to their foolish darkened hearts. I know well, and these very folk just named, He works through them for the good of His own good pleasure, for whatever pleasure He so desires to accomplish, that doeth he with all men, vessels of mercy and vessels of wrath.

The word Babylon is in our Bibles many times, but the number is not important, knowing how many times it is there, does not shed any light on why it is there and what it means. We want to know: What does MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT mean according to God's definition? God's word is its OWN dictionary. We MUST stay in the word of God and allow the scriptures to define its own use of words and they will. The Bible WILL interpret its own scriptures by carefully comparing them with each other and allowing them to FIT TOGETHER with each other.

One has well said, the Bible is a "spiritual puzzle”. The spiritual workman must labor to make the scriptures interpret each other, so one can see the truth on the subject he/she is studying.

Many are like one of my grandsons. The young lad was putting a puzzle together that I had gotten for him. He was doing fine, until he came across one that he could not make fit where he wanted to put it; so he stood upon his feet and lifted up his leg into the air, and came down with all of his might, and slammed the piece into the place his little mind thought it went. I said, Luke, that is not the way you do a puzzle. But many do the scriptures the same way. If it does not fit, they still force verses into their doctrine that does not fit and will never fit. A trained spiritual eye can see it so easily. For a man to have a truth on any given doctrine, all verses pro and con must work together, not against each other.


If we only had the Old Testament and not the New, then we would NOT know its HIDDEN meaning. It is hidden, or else, it would not be called by the name: "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT"....The book of Revelation helps us out greatly to make the connection with the Old Testament, so that, we come to a true Biblical understanding.


We must avoid denominationalism, men opinions, favors, pressure of exclusion, praises of men and other things that would hinder us from faithfully standing for the truth. No one loves standing alone among the multitudes and standing alone just to have claims of doing it. But, we must be faithful with what God has given to us and trust Him for His purpose with our life. This one thing we do know, you will never have the multitudes on the side of TRUTH, NEVER! Matthew 7:13-14


We sing the song, Babylon is fallen from Revelation 14:8 and other places in the OT.

"Hail! the day so long expected, hail! the year of full release; Zion's wall are now erected; And her watchmen publish peace. Thru our Shiloh's wide dominion, hear the trumpet loudly roar Babylon is fallen, is fallen, is fallen, Babylon is fallen to rise no more.
All her merchants stand with wonder, What is this that comes to pass? Murm'ring like the distance thunder, Crying, O alas, alas! Swell the sound, ye kings and nobles, Priest and people, rich and poor. Babylon is fallen, is fallen, is fallen, Babylon is fallen to rise no more.
Blow the trumpet in Mount Zion! Christ shall come the second time; Ruling with a rod of iron, All who now as foes combine. Babel's garments we've rejected, and our fellowship is o'er. Babylon is fallen, is fallen, is fallen, Babylon is fallen to rise no more.


THIS IS A GREAT SONG! But, who really understands WHAT they are singing? "Thru our Shiloh's WIDE DOMINION,".........

CANNOT be said to be true, UNTIL, Babylon is TRULY FALLEN. When Babylon falls to RISE NO MORE, then our Shiloh's dominion will be over ALL the earth, over every person. The knowledge of the LORD shall cover the earth, as the sea does now.

The Apostle Paul said: ".....I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the UNDERSTANDING also." 1Corinthians 14:15

We must understand WHAT we are singing WHEN we sing songs unto our God. Also, are we not teaching one another when we are singing?

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; TEACHING and admonishing ONE ANOTHER in psalms and HYMNS and SPIRITUAL SONGS, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." Colossians 3:16

Yes, we are singing to the Lord at the same time. We must labor to sing with understanding to our Lord. May this paper on Mystery Babylon help God's children to do to just that. That is: have a Biblical understanding of Mystery, Babylon the great. May the Lord of heaven and earth, use it for the good of his people.

Without a true understanding of this subject, a part of God's truth is missing from your Bible knowledge. It may leave you or/and your loved ones unprepared for the evil days ahead and from the sorceries used by MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT! No man lives to himself, and what he believes and practices, others with him, who ever they may be, will believe and do likewise; and if in error, they will suffer the same consequences.

May we all seek to know the true meaning of MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT. Knowing the truth here and responding as a child of God should, will prepare you for that day.

How can one heed the call of the Holy Ghost, "...COME OUT of her, MY PEOPLE, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Revelation 18:4.....if they do not know the truth concerning Mystery, Babylon the great? It is impossible! Some may think that they have never been part of it; others may think they have come out already and do not need to heed this call; but, they may very well still be part of it, yea, a big part of it! May these posts help God's elect to know the truth, that they may heed this call that is in Revelation 18:4 and many other places in the scriptures; though said a little differently, but meaning the same as the exhortation in Revelation 18:4.

page one of the introduction...

 

[Red Baker]

Page two...

Before we start, I will promise that we will use only the scriptures in presenting our understanding of this subject. If we are going to have the truth, then we must use the only source of truth in this world: The record of God himself, that is noted for us in the "scriptures of truth"....which the angels themselves used with Daniel. "I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth:" Daniel 10:21
anyone who uses "extra biblical" sources as a means to teach who Mystery Babylon is, is deceiving you. If they cannot use ONLY the word of God to prove their teaching, then they are using sleight and cunning craftiness that cannot stand up against the scriptures of truth.

All wise and righteous men from the day man has been upon this earth, to our Lord Jesus and his holy apostles and to this hour; have trusted in the word of God for all true history, for instruction in righteousness, for our doctrine, and for that doctrine to remain THE TRUTH, have lived by and trusted only in God's word, just as it was first given to us in our mother tongue.

We teach the scriptures to our little children that they may be wise unto salvation (in every sense that word is used from the scripture), nothing else really matters as far as this duty. (Of course, we teach them to read and other necessary things that can help them serve God and others).

"From a child thou hast know the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, (nothing else is) for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, (you need nothing else!) THROUGHLY FURNISHED unto ALL good works." 2nd Timothy 3:15-17

If this is not so, then may some man stand up and prove otherwise. I do not expect any man to step forth! If one does, bring ONLY the scriptures with you. Acts 17:28 does not qualify.

Men of faith live by every word of God. Words of men (history books, etc.) outside of the Bible, are not helpers for God's children interpreting the scriptures.

Notice what I said: interpreting the scriptures; of course there are books that can help us in other areas, but not interpreting God’s word! By this statement, I am saying this: anything out side of the scriptures, cannot supply light and understanding concerning God's truth to his children. I am saying no more than this.

Truth is contained within the scriptures, not outside! Anything outside brought into the Bible to aid its interpretation WILL CORRUPT the truth of holy scriptures.

There are some who believe that the King James version is the Bible for the English speaking people of this earth; but, those same people do not believe that it contains all truths within its pages, for the English speaking people of this world, but needs history to help us understand the truth of it!.....

...... (the book of Daniel; the book of Revelation; and other sections of the Bible; like Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21; 2Thess 2; etc.).....

That is a lie from the Devil, the great enemy of all truth, and father of all lies. God's children must not fall for this lie. Our faith is in the scriptures, PERIOD! Not the scripture AND.....!

Children of God trust the scriptures for all truth. Truth is in the Bible, we must be patience and labor hard to find the truth. Proverbs chapter two should motivate us to do this. Leave the word of God, and I will assure anyone, that they will end up without God's truth on that given subject. This is an absolute truth. God's word will support us as we stand for the bible alone for all truths! This is where we rest our faith.

We had to lay this foundation, because there are many who bring much into their teachings from outside of the holy scriptures to convince their followers of their doctrine; specially when teaching this subject and other subjects found in the book of Revelation.

 

[Red Baker]

WHY IS BABYLON CALLED A MYSTERY?

Let us now move on to learn from God's pure word, what is MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT.

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, is what it’s name declares: A "MYSTERY".........A Mystery in the Bible could be define simply as: A truth that is hidden in the scriptures by the Holy Spirit, that can only be understood by divine revelation.

Ephesians 3:3-5; "How that by REVELATION he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote in a few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;"

Every doctrine concealed in the Old Testament, can find scriptures in the New Testament to help a child of God understand the doctrine he is considering; and he can do this by the Holy Spirit which is in him. Any outside help would be gifted men used by the Holy Spirit. But they must use only the word of God to help another saint or they cannot help them; but will ONLY corrupt them and will be used by the devil to lead the saints into error.

"Even the mystery (there are a few of them revealed in the New Testament) which hath been HID from ages and from generations, but is now made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known..." Colossians 1:26-27

It is Only revealed by the Spirit, using the scriptures of the prophets.

"Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is manifest, AND BY THE SCRIPTURES OF THE PROPHETS, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" Romans 16:25-26

Revelation comes through the scriptures and by the SPIRIT; NOT history books! Not the scriptures and help from history! The rulers and leaders of the New Testament Jerusalem would do well to heed this exhortation; but we do not expect this to happen.

 

[Red Baker]

THE ORIGIN OF NAME BABYLON

We will not spend much time on the meaning of the name Babylon. We will not say more than what is recorded for us. We are much more concerned on the hidden meaning of MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT. We are ONLY concerned how the Holy Ghost used it.

In Genesis 11:1-9 we have a very brief record of the origin and the meaning of the name Babylon. The land of Shinar where the children of the earth started to build the city of Babel is the same place as the ancient city of Babylon that is mention many times from 2nd Kings to the book of Zechariah was located; (Daniel 1:2). It is mentioned nearly three hundred times. That is twice as much as Zion is mentioned, the city of God! This does not give light on the meaning of Babylon as it is used by God to hide a mystery within His word. But, it does show us of the importance of the word Babylon.

As we read Genesis 11:1-9, we see that these men ........

(The Holy Spirit does not give us a name for them! The Spirit refers to them as "THEY"!) These men wanted to make them a NAME, but they left off building the city, without making for themselves a NAME! Not only did they leave off and came short of their purposes of building themselves this great city, they left confounded/confused !)

........without any thoughts toward the God of heaven, but had much thoughts about their persons and pleasures. They were very knowledgeable as far as this world's wisdom goes: ".......And now nothing will be restrained from them, which they imagined to do." Genesis 11:6.

They had thoughts to do great works for themselves, to honour themselves for their great works, which they imagined to do. In the plains of the land of Shinar, there we see men, laboring to live in this world, without any knowledge of the God who created all things, including them. They had high thoughts about themselves, but there did the Almighty confound them and proved that he alone rules over all and those who exalt themselves, he is able to bring them down, and leave them in total ignorance of the most important thing and that has the highest value and for their best interest: the fear of God and knowledge of that Glorious Creator of all things; that are in heaven, in the earth and under the earth; visible and invisible; things past, present and things yet to be.

This great work that God did by confounding them, did not cause them to seek him, or even cause them to mention the name of God. They just left off and were scattered upon the face of ALL the earth; And there are they still laboring to make for themselves a great name. We will see their children in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, who is the express image of that Glorious Creator of heaven and earth.

Genesis 11:9 is the second mention of the word Babel, from which the word Babylon comes from. Its meaning is recorded for us it Genesis 11:9; Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth:........"

They thought they were wise, but they were very confused about how to be wise!

There are a few things that we should ponder in Genesis 10 and 11 before moving on.

What amazes me is this: First, this scattering/dividing of the children of men took place in the days of Peleg. "And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided;"............

.......This is not speaking of a CATASTROPHIC event; whereby, the land itself was divided, as some believe. This thinking does not go with the flow of events in Genesis 10 and 11. The only thing that Moses mentions from the statement found in Genesis 10:25 is what we read in Genesis 11:1-9! That is: the dividing of the LANGUAGE among the children of men. This is not too deep, but there are many who love the literal sense in everything they read in the scriptures and cannot think in any other sense, so they have a catastrophic event taking place that they cannot prove nor could it take place, without God creating a new heaven and a new earth.

We do have his promise that so soonhe will turn to us a pure language in that day. "For then (after the earth is devoured with the FIRE of his jealousy, verse 8) will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent." Zephaniah 3:9

It was divided in this sense: men were scattered upon the face of the earth, all of them having different languages to take with them.

Second: This may have happened with Noah still living or at least shortly afterward.

Follow me: Shem had Arphaxad two years after the flood; Arphaxad had Salah; Thirty seven after the flood (Luke said Cainan, Luke 3:36, but this is a different study for another time) Salah had Eber; Sixty seven years after the flood; Eber had Peleg, One hundred and one years after the flood. Noah lived after the flood Three hundred and fifty years; Noah lived after Peleg was born, another two hundred and fifty one years! Peleg lived after Noah, one hundred and eighty nine years.

Maybe Genesis 11:1-9 happened after Noah’s death, it really does not matter, but, this does: Men SO SOON forgot the flood! I would think that the ark was still there to witness to them and against them! When we read Genesis 11, we wonder with amazement that the earth was full of reprobates, ! WHY (we know why) cannot the "free will" preachers see that apart from the power of God's Spirit, No man would ever come to him! When the Almighty leaves men to themselves, they would never seek God; they would never have ONE thought toward heaven; They would look to themselves as a mighty hunter before the LORD; mighty in THIS or mighty in THAT, and NO ONE is as mighty as ME, would be their inward thoughts! Not even "that God" who thinks that he is Almighty, by sending a flood to cover the earth! Their inward thoughts were, WHO is the LORD that I should obey Him?

This is what we take from those two chapters, that helps us to understand our subject as we work our way through the Bible. This is where we first hear of BABEL/BABYLON! From Genesis 10 and 11, and we learned the Holy Ghost's definition of the word Babylon; and it simply means: confusion.

We shall (the Lord willing) see that this perfectly describes ALL MEN who have ever lived in this world, and who are, and who yet shall live in this world WITHOUT God; by that statement, we mean, who lived without fearing, loving and submitting themselves to the very God who created the world and all things therein, including them; and giving Him glory for ALL things that they enjoy in HIS WORLD.

All one needs to do, is to read their works, listen to their words, and consider their life and then you can see and understand that they are very CONFUSED. Whether they are religious or neutral or hate religion, if they are living their life according to the wisdom that is in their heart and not according to the TRUE WISDOM found ONLY in word of God, then a spiritual man/woman can see just how confused those folk are. There are multitudes in and out of religion that are of the great city of "SPIRITUAL BABYLON"!

Part one of two...

 

[Red Baker]

THE ORIGIN OF NAME BABYLON

The truth is: there are only TWO CITIES on this planet called earth;........ We know that there are many literal earthy cites, but there are only TWO in a TRUE spiritual sense.

One is Babylon........ In Babylon, that GREAT CITY; you will find a king that is over them, and his spirit works in them; his name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. He is THE angel of the bottomless pit. He is the prince and the power of the air, in this Babylon.

This king was, and is not, and yet is. This king's kingdom shall be destroyed with violence, and shall be found no more at all. The king shall go into eternal perdition, into the lake of fire, prepared for him and his angels. All of the great city of Babylon, those who make up this great city of Babylon will be cast into the lake of fire with them.

The other is Zion......In Zion, they too have a king over them. His name is: Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The prince of peace. His kingdom shall have NO END! Those who are part of THIS CITY, are called, faithful, and chosen! They shall live forever with God, and shall look upon his face; the citizens of this city know him as JESUS CHRIST the Lord, king of kings, Lord of lords. They shall inherit all things; a new heaven and earth. The first heaven and earth were corrupted by its king and his children; but the mighty God of Zion shall destroyed their Babylon and its king!

Let us now search the scriptures and see from them what they teach us concerning: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT....

I may not make every verse fit perfectly, but there will be so much of the picture put together, that it will be impossible to deny the truth of what we will be teaching from this paper. I will not claim perfection, but will claim TRUTH of that, which we will be presenting.

Search the writings of the prophets in the Old Testament, and read them very carefully and you must confess, if you are honest with God's word, that the word Babylon when used by the prophets, was NOT always speaking of the literal ancient city that took Judah captive, during the days of Jeremiah the prophet.

Let us look at the scriptures of the prophets and see if we can determine what the Spirit of God meant when he was teaching us through holy men of God, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost~concerning Mystery Babylon the great.

 

[Red Baker]

THE PROPHET ISAIAH AND BABYLON

ISAIAH 13...The burden of Babylon, which Isaiah the son of Amoz did see. There are many things within this chapter that will not allow one to LIMIT it to the literal city of Babylon.

First, and most important point that makes us to look Past the literal city of Babylon in Isaiah's day is found in verse 11..."And I will punish THE WORLD for their evil, and THE WICKED for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud TO CEASE, (destroying a literal city will not cause pride to cease, but punishing the world by total destruction WILL cause pride to cease) and will lay low the naughtiness of the terrible.”

This warning is to Babylon, (verse 1) who Isaiah refers to as the WORLD and the wicked in it.

This Babylon mentioned in Isaiah 13 will never be inhabited again, (verses 19-20) We know that Babylon was still a literal place during the days of the apostles. 1st Peter 5:13.

The overall message in Isaiah 13 is the FINAL destruction of Babylon, whom the prophet reveals to us is the WORLD and the wicked. Whatever may be in this chapter that may allow one to try to make Babylon mean the literal city of the prophet's day, can be explained by giving the sense that the Spirit would support in other scriptures. The only one that I can see, would be the words, "the Medes;” Yes, God used that nation to defeat and over throw the literal city of Babylon, but NOT to the same degree as it is spoken of in this chapter. God is using that name to represent those who shall destroy Babylon in that day. The Lord Jesus and his army that follow him back to this earth, at that day.

ISAIAH 14....Here we find a PROVERB (The prophets in the Old Testament spoke MOST of the time in this manner) against the KING OF BABYLON. When we carefully look at this proverb and consider it with God's open word before us, then we know that it is not speaking of any earthly king that has reigned in the literal city of Babylon. Verses 12-15 should remove any questions one may have.

Also, the children of Babylon mentioned in verses 21-22, ARE NOT the literal children of ancient Babylon. We know this by verses 26-27:
"This is the purpose that is purposed upon the WHOLE EARTH: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon ALL THE NATIONS. For the LORD of host hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?"

The king of Babylon (Lucifer!) shall became like all of the rest of those whom he has deceived. (verse 10): He shall be brought DOWN to hell. (verse 15)

ISAIAH 21: This chapter has a few proverbs within this part of Isaiah's prophecy; there is one that we will only look at and consider it when we see it again in Jeremiah 51:8 and in Revelation 14:8; 18:2

"And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answer and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and ALL the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground."

We understand what this proverb is teaching us by others scriptures in the New Testament. WE would NOT know, without New Testament revelation from the apostle John's writings. We will consider them when we get to them.

Before we finish this paper, we will give you many verses from the Old Testament, that does cover many different doctrines, and will prove to anyone who is honest with the holy scriptures, that without the New Testament, it would be IMPOSSIBLE to know what the prophets were talking about in their writings.

ISAIAH 46:1.."Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast."

This is a proverb by the prophet that we will incorporate when we come to others verses speaking about the idols of Babylon, that were abomination to the God of heaven, and, that was the cause of Babylon's total desolation. The Babylon in Revelation chapter 17 and the Babylon in chapter 18, are FULL of IDOLS.

ISAIAH 47...The Prophet is very bold with his words recorded within this chapter toward one he calls: O VIRGIN daughter of BABYLON! (Verse one)

There are too many statements within these verses to even think that it could be speaking of the literal city of Babylon.

The proud spirit of this Babylon in Isaiah 47, is the SAME spirit we see in Babylon of Revelation 18. Compare the two:

Isaiah 47:5".....THE LADY of kingdoms.".......Isaiah 47:7..... "And thou saidst, I SHALL be a lady for EVER:"

Isaiah 47:8..... "Therefore hear now this, thou that art given TO PLEASURES, 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."

Isaiah 47:9..." BUT (saith the Almighty) 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 (total destruction) for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments." THIS WORLD has abundance of them, as we will see in Revelation 18!

Isaiah 47:10-11..Read them carefully, please. " .......desolation shall come upon thee SUDDENLY, which thou shalt not know."
"......FROM THY YOUTH" She was ONCE a virgin daughter when the most high created her, but sin entered into her; now, her wisdom and knowledge hath perverted her. The "MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT" has been in the world since the garden of Eden......FROM THY YOUTH!

Isaiah 47:14-15.."Behold, they (the multitude of counsels in Babylon-v13) shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them. they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame: there shall not be a coal to warm at, nor fire to sit before it. Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy MERCHANTS, from thy youth: they shall WANDER every one to his quarter; NONE SHALL SAVE THEE."

We will see more in Revelation 18.

One more post on Isaiah....

 

[Red Baker]

Isaiah 48....There are a few short proverbs that cover a few things in this chapter. Babylon is mentioned in two of them by it’s name and in others by their deeds.

Isaiah 48:14.."....he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans."

The only Babylon that is on the prophet's thoughts would be: the Babylon that is this world and the things that are in the world. I know that by what is in verse 20:

"Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans........." This same command is founded in Revelation 18:4; which we will consider later, when we arrive there. The New Testament use of the word....... (without which, we would not know)

..... tells us how we should understand the sense of the word Babylon, as the Spirit used the word many times over in the old Testament. We do not speculate or use "Extra Biblical" help to try to figure the meaning of MYSTERY BABYLON, and leaving our hearer's at our mercy . We want to leave them trusting only the scriptures for truth, not our knowledge of things outside of the scriptures of truth. Most of that in this world that is outside of the scriptures will perish with this world at that day; will perish as useless, corrupt materials; but, the word of God will endure for ever. It must, because it is the truth, and truth cannot be destroyed.

Whom shall a child of God trust: the man that puts on a good show and removes all warnings of God's judgments from their followers? or the man who said: As the LORD liveth, What the LORD saith unto to me,that will I speak! 2nd Kings 22:7-28......."Hear thou therefore the the word of the LORD." (verse 19)

Ye be the judge, using only the Bible, and not your emotions, or your place in the synagogue! John 9:22; 12:42 or, any other thing that may cause you to go against the truth. One day, it will be only you and the Lord Jesus Christ looking eye to eye; I can promise you that you would love to have this day back again, to do it His way and not your way. Whom shall we follow? As for me and my house, we shall follow only the scriptures! And those men and women who follow only the word of God.

 

[Red Baker]

THE PROPHET JEREMIAH AND BABYLON

JEREMIAH 25...In this chapter Jeremiah was commanded to take the wine cup of God's fury from God's hand, and cause all nations to whom God would send him, to drink it. He started with Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and then to the rest. (1st Peter 4:17)

Jeremiah said many things concerning Babylon in terms of eternal reproaches. We know that this was not fulfilled. Babylon was reduced to a "state of subjection" by the Medes and Persians, yet the city itself remained safe, even until the days of the apostles. Do you think that Jeremiah exceeded the limit of truth in this chapter about his prophecy of PERPETUAL DESOLATION toward Babylon?

We know that the Spirit working through this faithful prophet had another BABYLON in mind. There are many things within this chapter that allows us to know "the mystery" that is hidden in the words of the prophet Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 25:10..."Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of he bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candles."

These exact words are found in Revelation 18:22-23! The reason why, is because both places are speaking on the SAME subject. There is NO other way to interpret these dark sayings/proverbs of the old Testament prophets.

Jeremiah 25:14 is a verse that would be impossible to interpret without the New Testament.

"For many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of them also: and I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to their works of their own hands." There is a verse in the New Testament that can give light on this verse:

"And the NATIONS of them which ARE SAVED shall walk in the light of it: and THE KINGS (these kings ARE GREAT!) of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it." Revelation 21:24

The nations of this present world will be destroyed and their kingdoms shall be given to the saints of the most High, and they shall serve themselves of them! When the most High shall recompense them according to their deeds. Daniel 7: 18,22,27

"But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and posses the kingdom for ever, EVEN FOR EVER AND EVER." Daniel 7:17

Jeremiah 25....The chapter overall is last day punishment for the wicked, which is, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT.

Jeremiah 25:29~ "...For I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth , saith the LORD of hosts."

Verse 30.."Therefore prophesy thou against them (the earth) all these words, and say unto them, The LORD shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against ALL THE INHABITANTS of the EARTH."

Verse 33.."And the slain of the LORD shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: and they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground."

There is more in this chapter where Babylon is mentioned day that will force you to look past Jeremiah's to the end of the world.

JEREMIAH 50.... This is a powerful chapter! A man that is enlightened by the Spirit of the living God will see that there is no doubt that Jeremiah the prophet, is teaching about a Babylon that was NOT in his day. To what extent he understood what he wrote, we do not know. He wrote AS he WAS MOVED by the Spirit of God. God who knows the END from the beginning, knew his purposes against Babylon. There are much within this chapter to convince a child of God, who Babylon is.

Verse 8.."Remove OUT OF the mist of Babylon......" Again we see this command that we will see again in Revelation 18:4. We will consider that verse when we arrive in the book of Revelation.

Verse 15...We read that her foundations are FALLEN, her walls are thrown DOWN: for it IS the vengeance of the LORD. Read Revelation 14:8

"Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let NONE thereof escape (and they will not!) recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done. do unto her: for she hath been proud against the LORD, against the Holy ONE of Israel." Read Revelation 18:6

Verses 13 and 23..."How is the hammer of the whole earth cut asunder and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! (nations of the new heaven and new earth) "because of the wrath of the LORD it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be WHOLLY DESOLATE: every one that goeth by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues." Read Revelation 17:16; 18:19.

Babylon is a "land of graven images,'' and they are mad upon their idols! Jeremiah 50:38 This describes our world in our day so perfectly.

Jeremiah chapter 50 tells who will destroy Babylon: In verses 3, 9, 41. most of the chapter speak of Babylon's destruction.

"For out of the NORTH there cometh up a nation against her which shall make her land desolate..."
"For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the NORTH country......"
"Behold a people shall come from the NORTH and a GREAT NATION, and MANY KINGS shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth."
Jeremiah 50:42.. They shall hold the bow and lance; they are cruel, and will not shew mercy: their voice shall roar like the sea, and they ride upon horses every one put in array, like a man to the battle, against thee, O daughter of Babylon."

There is only one great nation that lives on the side of the north that all of them are kings and all will be riding upon horses at that day, that will shew NO MERCY, when Babylon is destroyed! That Holy Nation that Jesus Christ is King. Revelation 19.

"Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." Psalm 2:6 "Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, ON THE SIDES OF THE NORTH, the city of the GREAT KING." Psalm 48:2 No wonder the prophet Jeremiah in the very next verse said this:

"The king of Babylon (the devil) hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble: anguish took hold of him, and pangs as a woman in travail." Jeremiah 50:43

One more post on Jeremiah's prophecy concerning Babylon.

 

[Red Baker]

THE PROPHET JEREMIAH AND BABYLON

JEREMIAH 51.....There are many saying in this chapter that will help a serious student of God's word to see the truth concerning which Babylon the prophet Jeremiah is speaking about. This secret should begin to be clearly seen by the time we finish with this chapter.

Verse 3:...This Babylon's host shall be UTTERLY destroyed.

Verse 6...Is mentioned several times in the scriptures, Revelation 18:4 being the last time.

Verse 7... is mentioned in Revelation 17:4 which we will consider at that time.

Verse 8..."Babylon is SUDDENLY fallen and destroyed."

In 1stThessalonians 5:3.."For when they shall say, Peace and safety; THEN SUDDEN destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon woman with child; (see Jeremiah 50:43) and they shall not escape."

Verse 13.."O thou that dwellest upon many waters,.... (And there came one of the angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that SITTETH UPON MANY WATERS:" Revelation 17:1...the many waters are people of ALL NATIONS of THIS WORLD!)

...."abundant in treasures"... (for in one hour SO GREAT RICHES is come to nought. Revelation 18:17)

.... Still in verse 13, we read: "thine END IS COME and the measure of thy covetousness" (also, verse 33)

In Revelation 16:19 we read: "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 her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath."

When the LORD of hosts does give unto Babylon the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath, he will use as his battle axe and weapons of war, his people, called Israel and Judah or Jacob or Zion in many places of the prophets. See Jeremiah 51:5, 19-24

Verse 20..The LORD of host using his battle and weapons of war would break in pieces the NATIONS and destroy KINGDOMS; not just ONE literal nation of ancient Babylon.

Verse 25..Jeremiah's Babylon destroyest all the earth. According to Revelation 18:23, by SORCERIES did John's Babylon deceive ALL nations.

Back to Jeremiah 51:25 where we read that the LORD will make Babylon a "burnt mountain" or that he will destroyed the kingdom of Babylon with fire. See 2Peter 3:7-12

Verse 35..."The violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon, shall the inhabitant of Zion say; and my blood upon the inhabitants of Chaldea shall Jerusalem say."

Revelation 6:10: "And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long O LORD, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?"

"THEM THAT DWELL ON THE EARTH"..... THIS IS WHO MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT IS!

THEY have shed the blood of the saints. We agree that MORE blood has been shed by the WHORE of Babylon; BUT, the kings of the earth and their people (NON RELIGIONIST) have as well. BOTH make up MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT; we will see this when we get into Revelation 17 and 18..

Jeremiah 51:41..."How is Sheshack taken! and how is the praise of the WHOLE EARTH (because it covers the whole earth) SURPRISED! how is Babylon become an astonishment among the nations."

"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so THAT DAY come upon you unawares. For AS A SNARE shall it come on ALL them that dwell on the FACE of the WHOLE EARTH." Luke 21:34-35

Jeremiah 51:44-45 is mentioned again and will be again before we are finished.

"MY PEOPLE, go ye OUT OF the mist of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD." Jeremiah 51:45
Verse 47 and 48.."Then the heaven and the earth, and all that therein, shall sing for Babylon: (this is world wide joy) for the spoiler shall come unto her from the NORTH, saith the LORD. As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so AT BABYLON shall fall the slain of ALL THE EARTH.

Dear Christian friend, LOVE your King James Bible 1611 version, every word is precious indeed. This is TOO plain of revelation from (verses 47-48) God's word to reject! EVERY word as it first came to us in our language is very important; and we have faith in God that every word is just as he first gave it to the apostles and prophets. Allow any man to change ONE word of it, then you have allowed your Bible to be corrupted. God HAS preserved his word from the hands of wicked men forever! Psalm 12:6-7 Do your part as lovers of the scriptures, and reject other translations of the Bible in our language. We need EVERY word as it was first given to preserve the truths therein.

The Babylon that the holy prophet is speaking of, covers all the earth. It is upon many waters. Her destruction is sure, just as sure as the sure mercies of David to God's elect. Read carefully the remaining verses of Jeremiah 51:52-58..

"Thus saith the LORD of host; The broad walls of Babylon shall be utterly broken, and her high gates shall be BURNED WITH FIRE...."
The Prophets of old wrote in proverbs to people and to nations to whom they were sent; their words had a spiritual truth concealed by the words written; those spiritual truths concealed in their writings are revealed in the New Testament to God's saints. That is the method that God chose to hide truth from men, since the foundation of the world. It is totally effective!! The wise of this world apart from God's Spirit could NEVER know those truth hidden within the Holy scriptures.

Read Matthew 13:10-17.

 

[Red Baker]

THE PROPHET EZEKIEL CHAPTERS 26-28

EZEKIEL 26-28...The Prophet Ezekiel has many things within his prophecy that is by no means easy to understand. If any one interprets the prophet's writings literal, then that man will have many strange teachings that he cannot support with the rest of the scriptures. Any Spirit filled, older saint, will agree with that statement.

If he is wise, a cautious saint will read this book very carefully over a few times, and for a few years, before he is ready to take a firm stand on what he see therein. Let us look at three chapters that we believe should be part of our study. May you judge for yourselves. I trust I would be content to hold my peace, if a brother has a better interpretation, than my own. May the God of Heaven grant to us this spirit of being meek and lowly.

"Let the prophets (in a limited sense, we all are) speak two or three, (when a church comes together in one place) and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first HOLD HIS PEACE." 1Corinthians 14:29-30

"The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." 1Corinthians 14:32.

I would be subject to any child of God who may have a better interpretation of the scriptures, than the one I believe I see.

Ezekiel 26

There is a judgment against Tyrus that is DIFFERENT from the one in Ezekiel 27. The one in Ezekiel 26 is against "HER DAUGHTERS;" the one in Ezekiel 27 is against "COMMERCE/GLORIOUS" CITY of Tyrus.

Above we made mention of a truth that is clearly taught in the scriptures, that is:......

..... there are TWO SPIRITUAL CITIES in this world. One is ZION/JERUSALEM; the other is EDOM/BABYLON. If the world heard these words, then they would think that we are living in a dream world, and that we are beside ourselves and very strange. Many that are very religious would not be very far behind them in their opinions about us. There would be some of God's own children that would believe we are confused or deceived. There is a very small group who would search these things out and would receive them. None of these things or man's vain opinions should ever move the elect. God's elect can be and are in ignorance on some things (we spend our Christian walk being converted on doctrine; this is true of ALL of us, or at least it should. 2 Peter 3:18) BUT they cannot be deceived to a point were it could be said of them, that their overall doctrine is against the teachings of the scriptures. The doctrine of Jesus Christ being the SON OF GOD, they will not reject. 1John 4:2-3; 2John 7-11. This of ALL doctrine is essential to the Christian faith! There can be NO truth without this confession, which is the foundation of all of our doctrines.

There are other names used in the scriptures to identify both of these two cities, but these names are used most of the times. One is elected by God's grace, vessels of mercy; the other, is passed over and left in their sins, and vessels of his wrath.

Ezekiel 27...We read of A CITY within this chapter that filledst the needs and desires of many people. This city enrich the kings of the earth with the MULTITUDE of its RICHES and its MERCHANDISE.

Verse 33.."When thy wares went forth out of the seas, thou filledst many people; thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise."

Our minds MUST NOT limit this to a literal city; NO MORE, than we would limit ZION to a literal city. Zion was a literal city in Israel of old, but we all know that there is a GREATER Zion than the one mentioned in David's day; One that the prophets of old prophesied good of, concerning things to come, and NOTHING BUT GOOD.

NO MORE than we would limit the city of Jerusalem in the scriptures, to the literal city in the middle east. MANY times in the Bible it is used for God's elect; past, present and future. As we read the word of God, we allow the context and the contents of those scriptures we are reading to help us give the proper sense to what we are reading; Or, we will be very confused with our understanding of truth.

".......and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. So they read in the books in the law of God DISTINCTLY, and GAVE THE SENSE, and caused them to understand the reading." Nehemiah 8:7(the end of the verse) and Nehemiah 8:8

WITHOUT reading the scriptures distinctly and giving the PROPER SENSE, we have NO understanding for ourselves or our hearers!

Ezekiel 28 ..In this chapter we read about the judgment of the "prince of Tyrus;" again, we must rule our minds to receive what we are reading so as to make this chapter fit with others scriptures; and to follow the FLOW of these three connected chapters on the JUDGMENTS of TYRUS.

TYRUS... A name used by Ezekiel that fits PERFECTLY with the BABYLON of the book of REVELATION.

Let us consider these chapters briefly and see if:

Ezekiel 26 is the SAME daughters of Babylon of Revelation 17.
Ezekiel 27 is the SAME city of Babylon of Revelation 18.
Ezekiel 28 is the SAME prince of Babylon/beast of Revelation. No one should be surprised of the truth that they will see. The AUTHOR of Ezekiel is the SAME as Revelation! And he knows the END from the BEGINNING!

The word of God is God's hidden secrets to his children. If you are reading this, and what I just said, upset you; then, these hidden secrets ARE NOT for YOU! You can go and fill your belly with the husks that the swine’s of this world eat, at least you can leave this world with a full belly!

Ezekiel 26....At the end of this world, for a little season (that season, when exactly it started no man can pinpoint; of how long it will last, is not known to man; God's word does reveal to us concerning things to expect and what to look for to help us to know that we are in that little season.) the elect shall suffer persecution greater than in any time of this world history from the Devil, who knows that he has but a short time to do his evil work and show his hatred of God and his children; and to continue his wicked work of destroying this earth and those within.

During that little season, iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold, and people shall betray one another. During that little season, many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. MEGA CHURCHES shall increase, saints shall be put to death (silenced, most likely) and the true Jerusalem (God's saints will be few in number in comparison to the many who follow false prophets) The OUTWARD Jerusalem that will be on the earth at that time, that SUPPOSE to be the elect of God, will be FALSE and the true saints will be few and UNKNOWN to men of this world for the most part. This HAS ALWAYS been true for the MOST PART, that is: God's children are misfits and UNKNOWN to the people of this world. They (the world/Babylon) HAVE ALWAYS looked to false religion as the source of their knowledge of God. THEREBY, they remain in ignorance and darkness. The men that they look to for knowledge, is just as blind as they are, and are just as wicked. They have the same father and belong to the same family.

"He that is spiritual judgeth (knoweth) all things, yet he himself is judged (known) of no man," 1Cor. 2:15 We know them and their ways, yet they do not know us!

Back to Ezekiel 26..That being said, we read of Tyrus seeing Jerusalem broken, (verse 2) she thinks that she shall be replenished. God's true Jerusalem today is broken by a WAR that the BEAST/BABYLON has against her. She will NEVER be totally defeated, but will be overcome to a great degree before this world ends. Revelation 13:7; Revelation 11:7-13.

False religion has increased greatly in this world in the last two hundred years. Consider the many different religions that were NOT here two hundred years ago. I am not going to name them, they are legions! It is true that the mystery of iniquity has always been in this world working since the fall of man, BUT has increased GREATLY during this little season that we ARE now in. Not only the number of false sects has increased greatly, but the multitudes within these sects are great!

In Revelation 17 which we will consider when we arrive there, tells of the DAUGHTERS of the GREAT WHORE, that are DESTROYED by the KINGS of this world before this world come to an end. Even though the devil works in BOTH the great whore and the kings of the earth, IT IS GOD that ultimately WORKS in the KINGS heart to cause THEM to hate the whore and kill her. Even though, they have went to bed with her themselves!

More on chapter 26

 

[Red Baker]

In Ezekiel 26:2, we read: "Therefore (because she begins to increase when Jerusalem was broken) thus saith the Lord God; Behold I am against thee, O Tyrus and will cause MANY NATIONS to come up against thee, as the sea causeth his waves to come up."

Revelations 17:16, "And the ten horns... (see verse 12, ten is a number of totality and horn equals power; so it means all the kings of the earth that have power)

...which thou sawest upon the beast, THESE shall HATE the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts (they do not know this) to fulfill his will....." Revelation 17:17 in part.

The WALLS of Tyrus shall fall and she (the word her is used in verse 4) shall become a spoil to the NATIONS.

"And HER DAUGHTERS which are IN THE FIELDS shall be slain by the sword; and they shall know that I am the LORD." Ezekiel 26:6
All of her daughters that are in the fields (in the scriptures, the fields ARE the world; See Matthew 13:38; false religion FILLS the earth, from one end of heaven to the other end of heaven.)

Her daughters are those which came through her womb. Babylon is a GREAT CITY and part of that great city is religious; (every great literal city of this earth has a part of it that is religious; this is true of MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT). This great city of Babylon HAS GIVEN BIRTH to MANY false beliefs and sects. These sects are called DAUGHTERS of the WHORE, because they ALL came FROM the womb of the MYSTERY BABYLON.

Here in Ezekiel 26, under the name of Tyrus we see what we see in Revelation 17 of the daughters of the whore being destroyed by KINGS of the world (they BOTH belong to BEAST/BABYLON/SATAN, they both have his name, his image, and his mark!) In verse 7 of Ezekiel 26, it states that it was Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, who will destroy Tyrus, but in verse three and verse five it is the NATIONS. So we understand that Satan who is king of his Babylon works through the kings of the earth to destroy the daughters of Tyrus/Babylon. God moving BOTH of them to destroy FALSE RELIGION, just before this world comes to a end. Then, God will destroy their paradise, Satan being the god of this paradise.

The saints LONG to see their deliverance from their LORD! Luke 17:22.."And he said unto his disciples, The days will come, when ye shall DESIRE TO SEE one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it. "

This verse has NOTHING to do with 70 A.D. The Doctrine within these verses has to do with Christ’s SECOND COMING at the END OF THIS WORLD.

It is SO easy to prove to any one who is not proud of his teaching or to one who is not deceived. If he is deceived, then the verses that follow should open his eyes. He that hath ears, LET HIM HEAR!

There are a few reasons why this has NO reference to 70 A.D. teaching that is so popular with so many.

Luke 17:34: "I tell you, (the SON OF GOD SPEAKING, hear ye HIM!) in that NIGHT there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Verse 35.."Two women shall be GRINDING TOGETHER; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Verse 36.." Two men shall be in the FIELD; the one shall be taken, the other one left.

These verses make it perfectly clear, that when Jesus Christ comes again: It will be NIGHT somewhere in this world, it will be late afternoon somewhere in this world and it will be during the day, somewhere in this world. We know this by the words: In the bed sleeping in the NIGHT.....women GRINDING TOGETHER...men working in the FIELDS! and there are other things within these verses that prove what I am saying, but we must move on. If this does not prove it to someone, then maybe nothing will. One CANNOT work in the fields if someone is sleeping in the bed at night, if this is NOT speaking of something that takes place WORLD WIDE!! It just cannot happen, and everyone reading this KNOWS that as well as I do. If someone would disagree with this then you could NEVER convince them of anything!

In Ezekiel 26:12-13, we know that this perfectly describes the false churches of our day. Riches, pleasant houses (worship buildings, temple) songs, music, etc.

There is a day coming when FALSE RELIGION shall never be found again.

Ezekiel 26:21.."I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be NO MORE: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou NEVER be found again, saith the Lord God.

"When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the lows parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; I SHALL SET GLORY IN THE LAND OF THE LIVING;" (that can only be true in the new heaven and earth, ONCE the wicked are rooted out of it) Ezekiel 26:20

 

[grafted branch]

Mystery isn't part of her name. The name is only "Babylon the great". The rest is for the reader's benefit.

Well whether it’s part of the actual name or not is debatable but we do know this, that John wondered in Revelation 17:6 and the angel then declared the mystery in the following verses. This supports the idea that this mystery was not something that was previously known.

 

[grafted branch]

Friends. Sheshach means = confusion, Babel. This is hidden acrostic. A serious student of the bible or teachers would know this.

From what I understand the hidden acrostic comes from antiquity. Are you suggesting that Sheshach meaning Babel was only revealed after the cross, and this is why the name Mystery Babylon is used in Revelation 17:5? If so can you provide the source you’re using that shows when this cypherform was first discovered?

 

[Randy Kluth]

Yes, and history shows the Roman Empire fading and a new power rising out of it, the 'Antichrist Empire' as you call it, a religious but temporal entity, which is with us today....

I agree. Sometimes it is the reality we have to focus on, and not necessarily biblical interpretations. Ancient Rome is no longer here. But Antichristianity is certainly on the rise within European Civilization. And that extends from the US to Russia.