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The Destruction of Babylon Revelation 18. The Woman in the Basket Zechariah 5:5-11 Babylon will also be the economic/political center of the world during the Tribulation The “ephah” is symbolic of economics (Zech 5:6)
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The Destruction of Babylon Revelation 18
The Woman in the Basket Zechariah 5:5-11 • Babylon will also be the economic/political center of the world during the Tribulation • The “ephah” is symbolic of economics (Zech 5:6) • The “Lead” lid is a symbol of a false measure (corrupted in this case) (Zech 5:7)
The Woman in the Basket Zechariah 5:5-11 • The “woman” is wickedness and is the same woman as the Great whore of Babylon. • This is a blend of the religious system of Babylon and the economic/political system of Babylon. (Zech 5:7-8)
The Woman in the Basket Zechariah 5:5-11 • This ecclesiastical and commercial aspects of Babylon will be brought back to Shinar or Babylonia. (Zech 5:9-11) • Therefore, the future center of world economy will be in the rebuilt city of Babylon (Iraq) (Rev. 18:9-19)
The history of Babylon does fulfill what was prophesized about her. • The prophecy of Babylon’s destruction has never been fulfilled in the manner required by scripture. • Cyrus the Great captured Babylon he was able to take it over without a battle. (Dan 5-6) • Babylon continued to exist until it was eventually abandoned. However, the area has been inhabited over the centuries, contrary to the prophetic passages. • Contrary to the details emphasized in the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, the building materials of ancient Babylon have been reused.
The destruction of Babylon happens: • Within the time frame of the Day of YHWH / Great Tribulation (Isa. 13:6-22) • In connection to Israel’s national regeneration and its entrance into the new covenant. (Isa. 14:1-2; Jer. 50:4-5, 19-20; 31:31-34) • so that that it will be uninhabitable for anyone with no surviving remnant. (Isa. 13:19-22,14:22-23; Rev. 18:1-2) • so that no brick from it will ever be used again (Jer. 51:26) • When there is a king of Babylon (Antichrist) • Concurrently with the national regeneration of Israel and Babylon’s destruction. (Isa. 14:4-21, Jer. 50:18)
Babylon will be attacked by believing Gentiles and destroy it by fire. (Isa. 13:1-5; Jer. 50:3, 9, 41-46; 51:1-5) • Theses gentiles are called “holy ones” or “sanctified ones” or “consecrated ones,” which indicates that they are believers. • They will possibly use "smart weapons": a guided missile or smart bomb. The word "arrow" is chets, which can mean a dart, arrow, or javelin; or "any missile fired from an engine of war." In the Septuagint, the Greekbolivcan mean anything thrown: a missile, such as an arrow or javelin. Notice, however, that the adjective clause
"as of a mighty expert man" is a descriptor of the arrow, not the shooter of the arrow. The key Hebrew word is sakal, which means prudent, wise, circumspect; with insight and comprehension. It is the arrow itself that has the intelligence! This, indeed, is further emphasized in the final clause: "none shall return in vain." In other words, they cannot miss! (Jer. 50:9) • The believing Gentiles come out of the north to attack. (50:41-46)
The destruction will be so total that the result will be like Sodom and Gomorrah which can never be inhabited again. (Isa. 13:1-14:23; Jer. 50:9-16; 21-27; 39-40; 51:54-58; Rev. 18:8; 21-24) • This utter destruction is symbolically displayed in Seraiah who reads the words of Jeremiah to Israel and then takes a stone and ties it to the scroll and tosses into the Euphrates and the angel who throws the great millstone into the sea. (Jer. 51:60-64; Rev. 18:21) Babylon becomes a place of confinement for demons during the Messianic Age/Millennium. (Isa. 13:20-22; Rev. 18:1-2)
The nations of the world and the 7 kings will be in anguish over the destruction of the world’s capital. (Jer. 50:45-46; Rev. 18:9-19) • The kings will mourn. (Rev. 18:9-10) • These are the seven kings that co-reigned with antichrist and were given power and authority by Babylon. (Dan 7:20, 24, Rev. 13:1; 17:12-14, 17-18) • They will see their power and authority gone in its destruction. • They will see the smoke of the city from the Jezreel Valley where they have gathered. (Rev. 16:12-16)
The merchants will mourn. (Rev. 18:11-17a) • They will become paupers in an instant. (Rev. 18:11, 17) • The economic/business/trade center of the world will be gone. (Rev. 18:12-17) • The transporters of goods will mourn. (Rev. 18:17b-19) • They have no merchandise to transport. (Rev. 18:17b-18) • They will also become paupers in an instant. (Rev. 18:19)
God’s revenge will be severe and Babylon will receive a double punishment because: • Of its intoxicating and maddening influence on the nations of the world. (Jer. 51:7-9, Rev. 18:3) • Of the evil done to Israel. (Jer. 51:24; 35-36; 48-49) • It ruled the world ruinously and destroyed many. (Jer. 51:25-26) • The global political (kings of the East) and economic (merchants of the earth) situation were corrupted by Babylon under the Antichrist’s rule. (Rev.18:3; 22-23) • The punishment Babylon inflicted on others (Rev. 18:6) • The city through the counterfeit trinity vaulted itself against God (Rev.18:7) • It killed the prophets (the Two Witnesses) and slaughtered the Tribulation saints. (Rev.18:24)
The Antichrist will not be present in Babylon when his capital is destroyed. (Jer. 50:43; 51:31-32) • The Antichrist will be in the Jezreel Valley preparing for Armageddon. (Rev. 16:12-16)
Prior to Babylon’s destruction, the Jews who are in Babylon will be warned to get out before it is too late. (Jer. 50:6-8; 28; 51:5-6; 51:45; 51:50) • Many Jews were brought to Babylon after the abomination of desolation as slaves. (Isaiah 14:2; Rev. 18:13) • Prior to Babylon’s destruction, the Jews will receive a warning to leave. (Rev. 18:4-5) • Those who escape from Babylon will flee to Jerusalem and announce Babylon’s destruction to the Jews there. (Jer. 50:28; 51:10)
Heaven rejoices because they were avenged and it marks the soon return of the Messiah! (Rev. 18:20) • Saints rejoice (Rev. 18:20) • Apostles rejoice (Rev. 18:20) • Prophets rejoice (Rev. 18:20)
Application: • Humanistic Commercialism, which stems from the Babylonian system, tries to unify humanity through internationalism (One World Gov.) and promotes self-confidence, arrogance, and independence from God. • The spirit of commercialism causes universal covetousness, or the love of money. Business, trade, making the almighty dollar, etc., becomes more important than God. • Riches can be destroyed in a moment so find joy in God’s truth and not riches.