Revelation 18:1-24. The Fall of Babylon the Great.
Rev 18:1-3. After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice saying, “Behold Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”
The question arises who does Babylon represent in this text?
Firstly, Babylon is separated from, all nations, the kings of the earth and merchants as an entity. Having said that, all nations, kings and merchants have a relationship to Babylon being spiritual, political, or business like.
What does Babylon mean?
For a full explanation see my website www.ayindk.com/Rev 17:5.
A short, explanation is that Babylon represents all the worldwide churches who do not keep the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. Rev 12:17. Rev 14:12.
What do the words, “all nations who have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication,” mean? See my website www.ayindk.com/Rev 17:2., for a full explanation. In short, it means all the members of these fallen churches worldwide who do not keep the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. Rev 12:17. Rev 14:12.
What does the citation, “kings of the earth have committed fornication with her,” mean?
See my website: www.ayindk.com/Rev 17:2 for a full explanation. In short, it represents all kings and governments who do not keep the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.
What does the citation, “merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury,” mean?
A word study on merchants.
Matthew 13:45.46. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (A pearl is likened to the kingdom of God symbolically)
Rev 18:11-13. And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. (A full explanation of these things are given on my website www.ayindk.com/Rev 17:4)
Rev 18:15.16. The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, and saying, “Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!”
Rev 18:23.24. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all nations were deceived. And in her (Babylon) was found the blood of prophets and saints, and all who were slain on the earth.
Conclusion
These merchants are merchants for spiritual merchandise e.g. Rev 18:13. Bodies and souls of men. These merchants are substituting manmade teachings for the Biblical teachings of the earthly and heavenly sanctuary and the priesthood of Christ. This would involve teachings on salvation and the Ten Commandments of God.
These merchants are priests, evangelists, theologians, teachers, bishops, cardinals, popes and protestant ministers. They are responsible for the blood of the prophets and saints who were slain on the earth because they believed in the teachings of the Bible and Bible only. See my website www.ayindk.com/Rev 17:4 for a full explanation.
The next question is, when does Babylon symbolising the fallen world-wide church who do not keep the Ten Commandments of God or the faith of Jesus Christ, fall?
“Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.”[1]
Furthermore, “Papists, Protestants, and wordlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium.”[2]
The long expected millennium theory is the belief by the charismatics worldwide, which comes from John Darby (From the Plymouth Brethren) and is incorporated in the Film `Left Behind,` it explains that after the Second Coming of Christ in secret (The secret rapture) there will be seven years of trouble where people can have a second chance to accept Christ as their saviour. This will lead to long-expected 1,000-year millennium on the earth where the nation of Israel will return to Jerusalem and rebuild it up again to its former glory along with the temple and Christ will reign over all nations on this earth from this capital city.
When you see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world, then the fall of Babylon has begun. The world-wide fallen church has opposed the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. In addition, they will persecute all believers in the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ.[3]
“Thus, the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. – – – The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the Church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power – all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the Church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of the rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven. – – – The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it should shine upon their flocks.”[4]
“The words of Paul will be literally fulfilled: `All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. ` 2 Timothy 3:12. As the defenders of truth refuse to honour the Sunday-sabbath, some of them will be thrust into prison, some will exiled, some will be treated as slaves. To human wisdom all this now seems impossible; but as the restraining Spirit of God shall be withdrawn from men, and they shall be under the control of Satan, who hates the divine precepts, there will be strange developments.”[5]
The last we read about the fall and destruction of Babylon representing the fallen church world-wide who do not keep the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ, is revealed in Rev 16:17-19 under the seventh plague.
Rev 16:17-19. Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
Rev 18:2. Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit.
Who are the demons?
See my website www.ayindk.com/Rev12:4 for a full explanation.
In a short analysis, the demons are fallen angels whom Satan has deceived. One third of the heavenly angels were deceived by Satan and cast out of heaven to this earth because of their rebellion against God. Rev 12:7-9.
If you go on www.youtube.com and search under “15 times angels got caught on camera.” You will see angels appearing in many places and especially in religious meetings and gatherings. These angels are fallen angels who work in the fallen world-wide church. Their work is to encourage false worship and cause confusion in worship to God. Their work is to destroy all people and help them to misunderstand the Bible and its teachings leading to salvation.
These demon angels are called foul spirits. What does foul mean? In the Oxford Dictionary it says morally polluted, obscene, disgustingly abusive, unfair, against the rules of the game.[6]
Their main work is to teach people to disobey the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. This they have accomplished through the world-wide fallen church called Babylon in the book of Revelation.
Rev 18:4.5. And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.
Who are my people in this text?
Rev 21:3. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. God himself will be with them and be their God.”
So, the word “my” in Rev 18:4 refers to God and the word “people” refers to God´s people. God´s people are in the fallen world-wide church called Babylon. God in this text is calling his people to come out of Babylon and obey the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. It is not the church who saves us, but faith in Jesus Christ: Ephesians 2:8 and keeping the Ten Commandments of God. Rev 12:17. 14:12.
If God´s people do not listen and obey the command to come out of Babylon, then they will receive the seven plagues listed in Rev 16.
What does it mean that the sins of Babylon have reached heaven?
There must be a limit of gross sins one can commit in the sight of God, before God reacts with punishment. Which sins are these?
Genesis 19:1-29. (The sins of Sodom and Gomorrah).
Why did God destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?
Verses 13-15. For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it. So, Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, `Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city! ` When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, `Arise, take your wife and two daughters who are with here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city. ` Verse 24. The Lord rained brimstone and fore on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens.
Which sin had the inhabitants done to deserve such a punishment?
Genesis 19: 1-11. Verse 1. Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening. And Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. Lot invited them into his house Verse 3, Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. Verses 4.5. Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, `Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally. `
This word “know” is the same word used for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman like in Genesis 4:1. Now Adam knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain. Genesis 4:17. And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. Genesis 4:25. And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth.
However, when this Hebrew word is applied to two men who know each other, this is called homosexuality. But in Sodom this action was not just homosexuality alone, it was forced homosexuality, and this is called rape in modern terms. When this happened in Sodom, God was forced to destroy this city otherwise this kind of licentious sin could spread to other cities.
How does this action apply to the city of Babylon in Rev 18:4.5., when it says her sins have reached to heaven? We are not talking about the sin of homosexuality, but the sin of religious worship enforced by the state leading to persecution. There will come a time in the near future, when the papacy in the Roman Catholic church, and Protestantism in the USA will unite together, and they will enforce laws through the state against God´s people who keep the Ten Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus Christ. These laws will especially concentrate on forbidding the worship on the Biblical sabbath which is a Saturday and enforcing worship on a Sunday instead.
The whole controversy in the future will be between those who keep Sunday as a holy day and those keep Saturday sabbath as a holy day. If God´s people refuse to honour Sunday as a holy day, then they will be visited with penalties, persecution, imprisonment and finally with a death decree.
All this is explained on my website www.ayindk.com/Rev 13:11-18 and /Rev 17:9-14.
“Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observance of the Church by civil authority, the inroads of spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power – all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the Church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.
The power attending the message will only madden those who oppose it. The clergy will put forth almost superhuman efforts to shut away the light lest it shine upon their flocks.
The Church appeals to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite. As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold and decided, the law will be invoked against commandment-keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence, and other rewards and advantages, as inducement to renounce their faith. But their steadfast answer is: `Show us from the Word of God our error. `”[7]
“As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have combined to enforce he observance of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of a small minority to yield to the popular demand will make them objects of universal execration. It will be urged that the few who stand in opposition to an institution of the church and a law of the State ought not to be tolerated; that it is better for them to suffer that the whole nations to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness. – – -.
This argument will appear conclusive; and a decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death.”[8]
Rev 18:8. Therefore, her plagues will come in one day–death and morning and famine. And she will be utterly burned with fire, for strong is the Lord God who judges her.
This citation `one day ` is similar to another citation like `one hour `in Rev 18: e.g.
Rev 18:10. For in one hour your judgment has come.
Rev 18:17. For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.
Rev 18:19. For in one hour she is made desolate.
These four texts seem to imply suddenness and not a duration of time whether being literal or prophetic, because one day cannot mean one hour also. Even more, the verse in Rev 18:8 is divided into two events: 1. The plagues will come upon Babylon before the second coming of Christ. 2. The fire which comes down from heaven from God and burns Babylon to destruction will occur after the second coming of Christ and after the 1,000-year millennium. Rev 20:7-10.
Rev 18:9. The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning.
The kings of the earth who committed fornication with Babylon refers to kings, governments and leaders of different nations throughout the whole world who have committed fornication.
What is this fornication?
In the Oxford Dictionary it says that fornication is sexual intercourse between an unmarried man or woman.[9]
However, in prophecy in Rev 18:9 this fornication is symbolic and refers to kings who are believers in God but worship the god of Babylon and attend the fallen world-wide church who do not observe the Ten Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. Rev 12:17. 14:12.
How do these kings of the earth live in luxury with Babylon?
When referring to the fallen Roman Catholic church, the papacy is the most wealthiest institution in the world. (See me website www.ayindk.com/Rev 13:18 referring to 666). When this is so, then the kings of the earth would delight to do business with the papacy and make profits from their investments.
In addition, the Roman Catholic church is the largest church in the world, having more the one billion members. The kings and governments of the earth would profit from their political support when it comes to voting then into office and governing their nation.
Rev 18:11-20. And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore.
See Rev 18:3 for a full explanation of what merchants mean and their merchandise.
Rev 18:21. Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore.”
Rev 18:22. The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. (In the Old Testament 1 Chronicles 25: musicians played musical instruments together with prophesying: that is praising God. The religious services in Babylon which include the singing of hymns with musical instruments will cease and not be heard anymore in the fallen world-wide church).
Rev 18:23. The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. (The light of a lamp is used as a symbol for witnessing and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Matthew 5:14-16. In this case in Babylon, they used the light to proclaim the false gospel of Jesus Christ. As for the bridegroom and bride, this would signify that there will be no more weddings in the world-wide fallen church).
Rev 18:23. For your merchants were the great men of the earth. (These merchants are great evangelist, pastors, priests, cardinals, bishops and popes who are great men of the earth).
Rev 18:23. For by your sorcery all nations were deceived.
The word sorcery is φαρμακεια (pharmakeia) in the Greek and means “One who uses witchcraft or employs powers gained from the assistance and control of evil spirits.”[10]
The word sorcery is related to the following texts:
Rev 9:20.21. But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, tone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Rev 21:8. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murders, sexual immoral, sorcerers, idolators, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone., which is the second death.
Rev 22:14.15. Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexual immoral and murders and idolators, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Conclusion
Sorcerers are related to the following words: worshipping demons, idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood. Murder, sexual immoral, thefts, cowardly, unbelieving, liars, lake of fire and brimstone, and the second death.
It is very clear from the Bible that sorcerers are related to worship in Babylon and refers to the false worship in the fallen world-wide church.
Rev 18:24. And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.
This text is referring to Babylon the fallen world-wide church. When did the fallen world-wide church slay prophets and saints?
History tells us that many millions, in fact over 50 million Roman Catholic church members were killed and burnt at the stake by the papacy during the Dark Middle Ages 538-1798. Why? Because they protested against the papacy and became protestants. See my website for a full explanation. www.ayindk.com/Daniel 11:34.
[1] Ellen G. White, Confrontation, (Grantham, Lincolnshire: The Stanborough Press, 1978), 588.
[2] Ibid., 588. 589.
[3] Ibid., 606-608.
[4] Ibid., 606. 607.
[5] Ibid., 608.
[6] Dorothy Eagle, Editor, The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary, (Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1975), 328.
[7] Ellen G. White, Confrontation, 606. 607.
[8] Ibid., 615.616.
[9] Dorothy Eagle, Editor, The Oxford Illustrated Dictionary, 327.
[10] Siegfried H. Horn, Seventh-Day Bible Dictionary, (Washington D.C.: Review & Herald Pub., 1979), 1060.