Revelation 18:1 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted: "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit, a haunt for every unclean and detestable bird. 3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries." 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes. 6 Give back to her as she has given; pay her back double for what she has done. Mix her a double portion from her own cup. 7 Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself. In her heart she boasts, 'I sit as queen; I am not a widow, and I will never mourn.' 8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is the Lord God who judges her
We see here that it says "after this", in verse 1, which means we are seeing things in sequence. Remember this is a portion in parenthesis. It is parenthetical, and is the start of the judgment of the seventh vial. Meaning Babylon survives right up to the end of the tribulation period.
Notice we are seeing two Babylons:
One is "Mystery Babylon" the other is literal Babylon, the one here.
The Mystery Babylon is in Revelation 17:7, and it is explained. The Babylon here is clear that nothing needs to be explained. The literal Babylon was first seen in 16:17-21 an then again here in 18:1-24. Notice that with the mystery Babylon, John "wondered"at it, it was something new. However, not with this literal Babylon. The Mystery Babylon is our "woman or the Great whore", this one is not.
Notice that the woman or great whore is destroyed by man. The city or literal Babylon is destroyed by God. Remember what we said about the mystery Babylon, it was a religious system. This regular Babylon is a place I have called it "New Rome" in these writings.
In verse 2 we find that it is fallen, and that it has become a place for the wicked and evil, it will be the hub or the center city for all demon operations.
In Verse 3 they mention spiritual fornication, "committed adultery with her". In the Old testament this was usually idolatry. However it has been suggested that in the New Testament it is more of the "union of the church and the world." (p 306, Lecture on the Revelation by Ironside) I like that description, we all need to take a good look around. What are we allowing in this current age, what would Christ want us doing and what is God displeased with? It really isn't hard to spot, which is really unfortunate but, must be cast to produce the future of our Lord's return.
Verse 4 we find yet another calling to those who believe in Christ. When will people understand HE loves us so much that He will give us every opportunity to repent and be called one of His own. Did you catch the part where it is saying "my people" in verse 4? Who would be saying that? That would be the actual voice of Christ calling them out. Praise be to God!
Verse 6 -8 we find that some of Gods kids may have partook in some of the sinful ways. Here we find that they will be punished as well. Why? Because Gods word is true, we have had warning upon warning upon warning to keep Gods word and to do what is right, if we do not we will receive the same punishment. Verse 6-8 are the terms of the punishment for all who have gone to the demonic ways. We are reading instructions given to the Angel. Vengeance will belong to God. The plagues that take over are clear. The destruction will be complete and fast!
Blessing on all!!!
May God's grace, wisdom and understanding be on those who are reading and taking heed to the warning of this blessed book.
Calabash
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