Harlot Babylon Series

Session 2: A Future Reality

I.Babylon Once was, Now is Not, Will be Again:

As is the case with the beast the Harlot shares in the 3-fold span of time, once was, for a time is not, and will be again in a very real and tangible way.

  1. Was:

Babylon once was a great city and empire in the Earth (Ge. 11:1-8 & the account found in 1st and 2nd Chronicles as well as the Book of Daniel).

  1. Is Not:

The end of the Babylonian empire (Da. 5:30) and then the city’s eventual abandonment during the Hellenization period caused the city of Babylon to slowly disappear be forgotten. Though it was never really destroyed from that time Babylon effectively ceased to be.

  1. Will be:

There is again coming the rise of this ancient city as well as the influential empire that bears the same name (Re. 17:1-6).

II.Origins of Babylon:

“Now the whole world had one language and a common speech. As men moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower that the men were building. The LORD said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” So the LORD scattered them from there over all the earth, and they stopped building the city. That is why it was called Babel —because there the LORD confused the language of the whole world. From there the LORD scattered them over the face of the whole earth (Ge. 11:1-9).”

  1. Where Babylon Came From:

After the days of the flood, Nimrod (Noah’s great grandson) founded Babylon in the land of Shinar. Nimrod was one of the Bible’s first prophetic types of Antichrist; he desired to build a worldwide empire (Ge. 10:8-12) in the same way that the future Antichrist is going to.

  1. The Meaning of Babel:

The word Babylon has two meanings either meaning “Gate of god /gateway to heaven” or “confusion.” Originally named Babel, which meant “Gate of god,” and then after God’s judgment it became known as “confusion.”

  1. Studying Babylon can be somewhat confusing because of its symbolic nature.
  2. The fruit of her adulteries will bring about confusion and deception to the peoples of the Earth.
  3. The angel called Babylon a “mystery” (Re. 17:5).
  4. John declared that understanding the content of this subject calls for a “mind of wisdom” (Re. 17:9).
  5. There is much obscurity and hiddenness regarding Babylon, but spiritual understanding and insight will be given to the members of the body of Christ that seek after it.
  1. God’s Mandate for Man to Populate the Earth:

The Lord told the people to multiply and fill the earth. The people of Babel wanted to stay together so they could accomplish more. The Harlot Babylon is the context in which the nations will reach the heights of sin and their experience of the demonic realm. With shared knowledge through technology, the nations can learn about perversion and occult realities far faster. Their decision to cease from scattering was in direct disobedience to the command God had given their fathers (Ge. 1:28, 9:1, 7, 18-19, 10:32, 11:9).

“God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it (Ge. 1:28).”

“Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth (Ge. 9:1).”

  1. Motives:
  1. To gather together:

Though God gave the command to Noah to spread abroad and “fill the earth (Ge. 9:1);” yet in direct opposition to this command, Nimrod built Babylon and desired to bring all nations together saying, “lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the earth.” Nimrod, whose name means, “rebel,” rebelled against God’s commands. He built Babylon, called it the Gate of God, and in prideful desire called the men “to make a name for themselves (Ge. 11:4).”

  1. As a sign of their greatness:

The Tower of Babel that reached into heaven was rooted in men’s desire to become gods themselves. Throughout history, men have longed to build the tallest tower in the earth, as a sign of their greatness.

  1. For demonic empowerment:

In much the same way that Jacob’s ladder in Genesis 28 was the house of God and the gate of heaven, so the tower of Babel was an attempt to find access into the heavenly realm apart from the one, true God. Nimrod sought for every man and woman to come together under the banner of worship in order to gain a demonic open heaven. In essence, the Tower of Babel was fueled by the same desires that burned within Lucifer who wanted “to ascend into heaven (Is. 14:13)” and take the place of God.

  1. The Fullness of Sin:
  1. God confused the languages at Babel, not because He was afraid that they would actually build a tower that reached into the New Jerusalem. He did it because He wanted to slow down the escalation of sin so that its fullness would not manifest at that time.
  2. At the end of the age, the Harlot Babylon will express the fullness of sin far beyond that which was demonstrated at the Tower of Babel. Just as the “fullness of God” is only released in context with “all the saints” coming together (Eph. 3:17-19; Ac. 2:1), so also the Antichrist will seek to bring all nations together in demonic worship to release the fullness of darkness (Ge. 11:6; Da. 8:23; Re. 17:4).
  3. God, in His mercy, scattered the nations and confused their languages at Babel. At the end of the age, the nations are going back to the same site to open the gate of darkness that those constructing the Tower of Babel sought after.

III.Israel’s Historical Enemy:

Babylon, or Chaldea, became the long term historic enemy of God and His people Israel. This rivalry formed an oppositional relationship between the two capital cities, namely Babylon and Jerusalem, which will continue to the end of this age. A significant portion of the Bible illustrates the conflict between God’s city of Jerusalem vs. Satan’s city of Babylon and the quest for world dominance. At the end of the age, we know that God will be victorious and Jerusalem will become the heavy stone that crushes all who attempt to destroy (Zch. 12:3).

  1. The City that First Opposed God:

“Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth (Ge. 11:4).”

  1. One of the Kings Who Took Lot Captive:

“At this time Amraphel king of Shinar (Babylon)(and the kings allied with him)…went to war against Bera king of Sodom…(they defeated and) seized all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their food; then they went away. They also carried off Abram’s nephew Lot and his possessions, since he was living in Sodom (Ge. 14:1-2, 11-12).”

  1. The Peoples Who Plundered Job:

“While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you (Jb. 1:17)!”

  1. The Nation that Devastated Israel More than Any other:

“He brought up against them the king of the Babylonians, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and spared neither young man nor young woman, old man or aged. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar (2Ch. 36:17).”

  1. The Nation that Destroyed the Temple of God:

No people had ever done this to Israel in all their history. This was the Temple of the Lord; Israel had believed themselves invulnerable as long as they had possession of God’s Temple.

“Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, an official of the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. He set fire to the temple of the LORD, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down (2Ki. 25:8-9).”

  1. The Nation that Deported Israel:

A Large percentage of Israel was either slain or deported. Nothing of this magnitude had ever occurred before. This was the worst moment of ancient Jewish history; they were actually taken from the Land that God had vowed to them.

“But because our fathers angered the God of heaven, he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar the Chaldean, king of Babylon, who destroyed this temple and deported the people to Babylon (Er. 5:12).”

IV.Her End Time Resurgence:

Babylon must again arise and become an influential part of the global scene. There are many details from the Old Testament that have yet to reach fulfillment. When God spoke through the prophets of old He had it in mind that they were both prophesying about Babylon of their era initially and primarily about the End Time Harlot. Since many of the specific details from those prophesies have never come to pass we can be sure that Babylon will again arise and then fall in complete fulfillment of all that is written.

  1. Promises of Babylon’s Restoration:

The promise of Babylon’s rise at the end of the age is a major theme of both Old and New Testaments (Is. 13-14, 21; Je. 50-51; Re. 17-18). There is little debate over this point, the disagreements arise with regard to what her resurgence will look like but not as to whether she will rise.

  1. Babylon’s Set Time for Her Judgment:

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there is already a set time for the destruction of End Time Babylon, this hour, or day is spoken of many times by several of the prophets (Is. 13:22; Je. 50:27, 31, 51:2, 6, 13, 33, 47; Hb. 2:3; Zch. 5:6, 11). With Babylon being such a significant player in the End Time drama it makes sense that it’s destruction, and therefore existence in the Last Days would be so widely spoken about.

  1. Specific Prophecies about Her Destruction:

1.She will never again be inhabited (Is. 13:20; Je. 50:39-40, 51:29, 37).

2.She will be desolate forever (Je. 25:12, 50:13, 51:26).

3.Her pastures will be completely destroyed (Je. 50:45).

4.Her destruction will come in the Day of God’s Wrath (Is. 13:9, 13).

5.God will make men more scarce than gold on the earth (Is. 13:12).

6.In the time of her destruction the stars, moon and sun will not give their light (Is. 13:10).

7.God’s “holy ones” from Heaven will attack Babylon (Is. 13:3-5).

  1. Unfulfilled Prophecies about Israel Pertaining to Babylon:

1.Israel will be brought back from Babylon and completely satisfied (Je. 50:19).

2.Israel will return from exile by fleeing out of Babylon from the midst of her punishment (Je. 51:6-10, 45, 50).

3.A time when Israel will be without guilt (Je. 50:20).

4.Babylon’s fall is in the context slaying the people of Israel and those from all over the earth (Je. 51:49).

  1. To be Fulfilled in the Context of the Birth Pains:

Jesus gave us many signs that He defined as the beginning of birth pains. We have come to refer to this period of time, which will precede the Tribulation, as the season of Birth Pains. This tells us the timeframe of the rise of the Harlot – it will occur in the decades that precede the final 7-year period of Tribulation. This means that no matter what background we come from with regard to the timing of the rapture we all attest that we will be here for this extremely dangerous hour of deception.

  1. Rumors of wars:

Jesus was quoting the prophet Jeremiah about the time and events that would lead up to Babylon’s destruction.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (Mt. 24:6-7).”

“Do not lose heart or be afraid when rumors are heard in the land; one rumor comes this year, another the next, rumors of violence in the land and of ruler against ruler (Je. 51:46).”

  1. The falling away:

When Jesus mentioned the love of most Christians growing cold in the last days He was speaking of the very message of compromise that will characterize the Harlot. This is the context of the great falling away (we will spend an entire session on this theme) from which God is calling to His people to come up out of her seductions and deceptions.

“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other…the love of most will grow cold (Mt. 24:10-12).”

“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; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes (Re. 18:4-5).”

  1. The widespread increase of wickedness:

Wickedness is the defining word that the prophet Zechariah is given to describe Babylon (we will spend an entire session on this theme). Jesus used this same word as one of the defining themes to mark the period of the Birth Pains.

“Then the cover of lead was raised, and there in the basket sat a woman! He said, “This is wickedness,” and he pushed her back into the basket and pushed the lead cover down over its mouth (Zch. 5:7-8).”

“Because of the increase of wickedness (Mt. 24:12)…”

  1. Increased martyrdom of the saints:

Jesus said that there would be a great increase of persecution and even martyrdom during the Birth Pains. This is the exact description of how the Harlot will treat believers. The Antichrist and the Great Tribulation don’t even come on the scene until after Babylon is destroyed so these difficulties are realities in the years leading up to the final 7 years; i.e. the birth pains.

“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me (Re. 24:9).”

“I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus (Re. 17:6).”

  1. The rise of false prophets:

Knowing the landscape of the Last Days Jesus again quotes Jeremiah. Jeremiah was prophesying about End Time Babylon speaking of the deceptive message that will pour forth from her false prophets and then their eventual due judgment.

“many false prophets will appear and deceive many people (Mt. 24:11).”

“A sword against her false prophets! They will become fools. A sword against her warriors! They will be filled with terror (Je. 50:36).”

  1. Fearful events and signs in the heavens:

“Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be…fearful events and great signs from heaven (Lk. 21:10-11).”

“The stars of heaven and their constellations will not show their light. The rising sun will be darkened and the moon will not give its light (Is. 13:10).”

  1. The presence of earthquakes:

“Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes (Lk. 21:10-11)...”

“Therefore I will make the heavens tremble; and the earth will shake from its place at the wrath of the LORD Almighty, in the day of his burning anger (Is. 13:13).”

V.The Physical City of Babylon Must be Rebuilt:

  1. Symbolic Vs Literal Interpretation:

There are many places that talk about the existence of an End Time city of Babylon as being in place physically (Is. 13: 3-5, 19; Je. 50:13, 19, 39-40, 45, 51:26, 29, 37). Some commentators have attempted to diminish Babylon to simply a symbol of wickedness and compromise, which of course it is at least that. But by doing so they neglect many details that make it clear that Babylon will again be a very real city located in Iraq along the Euphrates River. The scholars who take this symbolic approach don’t do so without merit, and there is redeeming value in studying these symbols. But there is far more to it and we want to make sure not to stop at interrupting the symbolic nature but understand it as a coming physical reality as well.

  1. Symbolic Nature of the City:

There is great value in recognizing Babylon’s symbolism. Many times in the Word of God the Lord will use a city as a representation of something intangible; perhaps a concept or an allegory. Below are two example cities that God uses many times as a picture of something else. In both the case of Jerusalem and Babylon these prophesies were written about the actual cities with the same name but also came to represent much greater themes in the Word.