Prophetic Babylon

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PROPHETIC 'BABYLON'
By guest writer, James C. Taylor, of Salem,
OR - USA ~ Manager of two websites,
and friend of this Ministry. Written November 2011.
See: www.posttribpeople.com/page05.html

HISTORICAL FACTS ABOUT ANCIENT BABYLON
In ancient times, Babylon was the capital city of a powerful nation: Babylonia, a mighty empire. It was built on the Euphrates River and was divided in equal parts along both sides with steep embankments to contain the river’s seasonal floods. The Bible dictionary says that “Babylon” is the Greek form of the word “Babel,” meaning “confusion” or “mixture.” The earliest mention of ancient Babylon is contained in a dated tablet from the 24^th century B.C.; and throughout the centuries has been ruled by a series of people including the Hittites, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Persians.

BABYLON OF SCRIPTURE
The history of Babylonia and Babylon, although it may be interesting, really sheds little light on the prophetic Babylon of Scripture – except in reference to the power and influence it had – which is certainly symbolic of the power and influence of 'Prophetic Babylon' in these last days.

CONCEPTS OF VARIOUS BIBLE TEACHERS.
Symbolic ruins.
Some Bible teachers and scholars say the current nation of Iraq is the prophetic – or symbolic – Babylon of the time of the end.
They say that the nation of Iraq, or the city of Babylon south of Baghdad in modern-day Iraq, currently called “Al Hillah,” the ruins of which are under excavation, will somehow rise to world power to fulfill the Scriptures about prophetic Babylon.

'Code-word' for Rome?
Others say that “Babylon” is a code word – or is symbolic of – the city of Rome. They make the point that Rome, Italy sits on seven hills; and they quote the Book of Revelation where it says, “the seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth” (Rev. 17:9) as evidence that Babylon, “the great whore” (Rev. 17:1) is the city of Rome.
They seem to pass over the fact that, in scripture, “mountains” symbolize high places of power, either political or religious.
And they quote from the first book of Peter, written from Rome, where he says, “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you” (I Peter 5:13). Then they go on to connect the Roman Catholic Church with Babylon in some way; even saying that the Church of Rome is the Babylon of Bible prophecy: the Babylon of the end time.

THE REALITY OF 'MODERN BABYLON' AND 'FUTURE BABYLON'.
With all due respect, however, it should be clear to any thinking person that neither modern-day Iraq (and especially the city of Babylon in Iraq) nor the city of Rome, the Church of Rome, and, as far as that goes, the whole nation of Italy in which Rome is the capital – and where the Vatican is located - cannot meet the requirements of Scripture as to what prophetic Babylon truly is.

Prophetic Babylon must be more – far more – than any of these entities can ever be; and, of course, it must be something that fulfills the description of prophetic Babylon in Scripture. As we see it – in prophecy – Babylon is the political and economic system of the world: a system that most people seem to worship – and almost look to as a religion.
It symbolizes the way of man as opposed to the way of God.

A great world Capital.
For example, the Book of Revelation refers to prophetic Babylon as “that great city Babylon, that mighty city” (Rev. 18:10). And, the prophet Jeremiah makes it clear that it symbolizes a powerful nation, which he calls “the hammer of the whole Earth” and comments how Babylon is “become a desolation among the nations” (Jer. 50:23).

It goes without saying that the current city of Babylon (or even the entire nation of Iraq in which Babylon lies) or Rome, or the Church at Rome, or the Vatican - has no where near the kind of political, economic or international power that would make it a “mighty city,” and especially not “the hammer of the whole Earth.” As we know, a hammer is something that is used to pound with: to drive nails, flatten metal, crush things; and in general the word is a source of power.

A Lethal Force.
Jeremiah also says prophetic Babylon is a “destroying mountain” (Jer. 51:25). Since mountains symbolize places of high power, the prophet is telling us that prophetic Babylon is a city/nation with the power to hammer and potentially destroy the whole Earth. For a clear description of 'Prophetic Babylon' see Rev.18!

Also, according to Scripture, prophetic Babylon, in the time of the end, will have a direct and powerful controlling effect on the people of the Earth. Referring to Babylon as a female - a symbol of churches, or religion, because the people of the earth worship her for what they believe she can offer them – the Book of Revelation says she “sitteth upon many waters” (Rev. 17:1) and “the waters…where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (Rev. 17:15).

THE EXTENT OF FUTURE 'BABYLON'S' POWER.
A World power in all ways, especially in economics.
Her power and wealth reaches from the poor all the way to the mighty and the strong. She influences (sits upon) both the economy and the political power structures of the world. The politicians, merchants, and shipmasters of the earth have a vested interest in prophetic Babylon; and will mourn the day she is judged and made desolate. We’re told that, “the kings of the earth…shall bewail her, and mourn for her. The merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her. And every shipmaster…cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What city is like unto this great city?’” (Rev. 18:9, 11, 17-18).

Illustrated by present day United States of America?
The only city/nation on earth at this time that has the power Jeremiah speaks of; and has the political/economic influence the Book of Revelation describes is the United States of America. As someone else has said, if we examine the world system looking for prophetic Babylon, then America is the “only game in town.” The United States of America has, for many years, been the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world; and even in its current weakened condition, it is still the key – or, if you will – the cornerstone of the world economic/political system. It is the city/nation that underlies and undergirds the economy of the world: 'Prophetic Babylon'.

Global Politics and Monetary Controls.
Our world has developed a global economy; and that economy is supported by the politicians of the world. The world now has the ability to market products and services all over the globe. Globalization brings about an increase in interdependence among nations. Recent events in Europe make this fact very clear. At the time of this writing, it looks like the economy of Greece may – at least temporarily – be saved by other European nations; which, by the way, will also save the U.S. and the rest of the world from collapse at this time.

But, what about the other nations of the world that are teetering on the edge of financial collapse? Is there enough wealth in the whole world to save them all?

A Global, Financial 'Time-bomb'.
Let’s face it, there is a monetary time-bomb ticking out there: a time-bomb that could – and will - go off in the not-so-distant future in spite of the efforts of all the nations. And, because of the economic interdependence of the nations of the world, America will not be spared. In fact, it may well be the collapse of the United States that will bring down the whole deck of cards.

FUTURE 'BABYLON' A GLOBAL WORLD POWER TO COME.
The human race does not have the ability to fix the problems they have created. Only by turning totally to God can the collapse of the world economic/ political system be slowed up or stopped. However, mankind will follow the way of man, which includes a large measure of greed and a great hunger for power.
Those two desires – or lusts – will bring down that which man has built.

The Bible speaks of the Fall of Babylon – 'Prophetic Babylon'.

The prophet Jeremiah says, “because of the wrath of the Lord it shall not be inhabited, but it shall be wholly desolate” (Jer. 50:13) and “Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed” (Jer. 51:8). The Book of Revelation echoes the words of Jeremiah when it says, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen…for all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication” (Rev. 18:2-3).

THE FUTURE BABYLON WILL BE THE 'ONE WORLD ANTI-GOD GOVERNMENT.
As we know, a world-wide economic crisis has already developed and, even though it will seem to improve from time-to-time with hopeful words from the economists and politicians, the Bible tells us that, eventually, prophetic Babylon – the economic/political system of the world - will fall.
For a time, individual national and international measures may seem to be working; but sooner or later – probably sooner than later – following protest and civil unrest which always comes along with any serious economic crisis, the world economy will collapse. Prophetic Babylon will fall.

THE ATTITUDE OF GOD-FEARING, TRUE PEOPLE OF GOD.
A time for separation.
As the Bible says in a number of places, God’s people must be prepared to “come out of her” (Rev. 18:4).

>The true people of God – the Overcomers – must separate themselves, as much as possible, from being entangled in the world and in the systems of the world.
> We must reach the point in our walk with God where we can truly evaluate everything that happens around us from a spiritual point-of-view.
>We must truly live according to God’s way: not man’s way. In speaking of his followers, Jesus said, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 14:16).
> We must not trust in the power of the world whether it’s economic, political, or military power; but we must trust in the truth of God and His Word. Isaiah says, “Woe to them that … trust in chariots because they are many; and in horsemen because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord” (Isa. 31:1).

A time to choose Who we as Jesus' Followers, worship.
While most of the people of the world virtually worship prophetic Babylon – the economic/ political system of the world – we, as followers of Jesus must separate ourselves as much as possible from that system. We must prepare for the time ahead by staying out of politics and out of the world economy as much as we can.

WORLD LEADERS ARE PREPARING FOR A WORLD ECONOMY
When Babylon falls, the politicians of the world will support a new economy: the economy of the Antichrist. When that time comes, by starting now to separate ourselves from politics and the world economy, we can be better prepared to “come out of her” as the Bible says.

At that time, the politicians under the influence of the Antichrist will certainly not be the friends of the people of God. In what could be a prophecy of that time, James says, “Whosoever…will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4).

We must look to the Holy One of Israel for guidance and direction. Let’s keep in mind what Paul the Apostle said as he reminded us of the words of the Lord: “’Come out from among them, and be ye separate,’ saith the Lord. ‘Touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and be a Father unto you’”
(II Cor. 6:17-18).

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P.S. Readers are invited to see other related articles on
'The One world Government', 'The False-messiah', and 'The time of Tribulation', also our sister web site: www.green-agenda.com
The web site of the above writer - James C Taylor can be seen here.
www.endtimeovercomers.com
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