The following is a study compiled by YermeYah
Shalom everyone,
I hope that the following is a help to all who are seeking the truth.
This is a study concerning the question..."What is the Babylon spoken of in Revelation 18"? Is it possible to identify Babylon the Great?
I will be quoting mostly from Revelation chapter 18 and Jeremiah chapters 50 and 51.
Let's begin in Revelation...
Revelation 18:1...And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
YHWH has evidently given a special power to this angel--hence, the words "having
great power".
BABYLON HAS BECOME INHABITED BY SATAN AND HIS DEMONS
Revelation 18:2... And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Jeremiah 51:37 - And Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant.
Babylon is guilty of many demonic sins and here, YHWH is finally moved to judgement.
Babylon appears to be the central nation of the World.
Revelation 18:3... For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.{abundance or,power}
Jeremiah 51:7 - Babylon hath been a golden cup in YHWH's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
This is another powerful statement. Babylon is the central nation in the world at this
time.
Businessmen of other nations have become excessively, rich in their trade with Babylon.
Babylon must be THE richest nation on earth. Babylon must possess an abundance
of cash and must be so willing to spend it, that this process enriches the leaders and the
businessmen of the world.
Babylon must be a consumer country without equal, repeatedly buying, using, discarding,
and buying again.
YHWH CALLS HIS PEOPLE OUT OF BABYLON BEFORE HE EXECUTES JUDGMENT.
Revelation 18:4... And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Isaiah 48:20 - Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, YHWH hath redeemed his servant Jacob.
Jeremiah 50:8 - Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks.
Jeremiah 51:6 - Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of YHWH's vengeance; he will render unto her a recompense.
Jeremiah 51:45 - My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of YHWH.
Jeremiah 51:50 - Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember YHWH afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind.
BABYLON'S SINS HAVE PILED UP FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN. THE TIME HAS ARRIVED TO CALL THEM UP FOR REMEMBRANCE.
Revelation 18:5... For her sins have reached unto heaven, and YHWH hath remembered her iniquities.
Jeremiah 51:9 - We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies.
This is of of staggering proportions. How high is it from earth to heaven? When these sins are stacked, they literally reach from earth to heaven, according to the Almighty's accounting.
YHWH DOUBLES The Punishment Which This Nation Is To Receive.
Revelation 18:6... Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.
Jeremiah 50:15 - Shout against her round about: she hath given her hand: her foundations are fallen, her walls are thrown down: for it is the vengeance of YHWH: take vengeance upon her; as she hath done, do unto her.
Jeremiah 50:29 - Call together the archers against Babylon: all ye that bend the bow, camp against it round about; let none thereof escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she hath done, do unto her: for she hath been proud against YHWH, against the Holy One of Israel.
Whatever this means, it is plain that it will be a judgement from Father YHWH. Father YHWH has in times past, used other nations to carry out his judgements, as in the case of Assyria invading the 10 northern tribes of Israel.
BABYLON BOASTS PROUDLY IN HER HEART OF HER RICHES, BELIEVING SHE WILL CONTINUE FOREVER IN HER PROSPERITY.
Revelation 18:7...How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Isaiah 47:1 - Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.
47:2 - Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.
47:3 - Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.Isaiah 47:7 - And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.
47:8 - Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:
Many people believe that this good life will never end. Certainly, the very rich believe it with all their heart. Americans still lead the world in the wealth of her businessmen.
The number of billionaires per country.
USA 69 Germany 17 Japan 12 Hong Kong 7 Saudi Arabia 6 United Kingdom 5 Canada 4
American businessmen still hold the predominate wealth in the world. What is the attitude on the part of Americans toward this wealth? They believe they need nothing else and that this good time will never end.
This passage also implies that, at the time of the Almighty's destruction, this nation will be at her Height of power and monetary influence. Is America at her economic zenith now, or are we in serious decline?
"...The average American has NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD. By almost any measure of health and wealth...we are demonstrably better off now than in the...50's and 60's.
Our incomes are up...
We have more opportunities
We can choose among more things to buy..
The average American commands TWICE AS MUCH buying power today as in 1962,
despite inflation and higher taxes..."
Employment benefits are twice as large a share of total compensation as they were 35 years
ago...
Counting government subsidies, 1 in 10 Americans today is poor, versus 1 in 5 in
1960..."
We can expect to live 5 years longer
Infant mortality...fell by 50% during the 70-80's.
Fewer adults die of heart disease or in accidents
Medical costs have soared, but many more Americans can get care when they need
it...because of Medicare, Medicaid...as well as a widening umbrella of private insurance
plans...85% of Americans have some form of coverage, compared with 70% in 1962. Poor
Americans have made the biggest gains.
It takes the average family 23 weeks of income to buy that average car now, versus 26
weeks in 1960..."
Homes are less affordable than in the 1960's...but more Americans own their own homes..
The average apartment today is newer, more spacious, and more stuffed with amenities than in 1960."
"The old in America work less and live longer, and at the same time, they are wealthier and more independent than ever before...today's elderly have piled up assets like no other generation of oldsters in history..."
YHWH's JUDGMENTS FALL IN ONE DAY UTTERLY DESTROYING BABYLON.
Revelation 18:8... Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong [is] YHWH Elohim who judgeth her.
Isaiah 47:9 - But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
47:10 - For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness: thou hast said, None seeth me. Thy wisdom and thy knowledge, it hath perverted thee; and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me.
47:11 - Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.Jeremiah 50:31 - Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Sovereign YHWH of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee.
EARTH'S LEADERS BEMOAN BABYLON'S DESTRUCTION.
Revelation 18:9...And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning
This nation provided great leadership and she was the economic engine of the
world. World
leaders are weeping because this loss threatens their own luxurious wealth. Does America
really buy from all other nations of the world to such a degree?
"...The Third World now relies upon the United States to buy 65% of its manufactured exports, compared with only 45% in 1979." 10
The USA imports more than both Japan and Germany combined. Remember the words,
"...no one will buy their cargo anymore...")
Country.....Exports.......Imports
USA......663 Billion....912 Billion
Germany...510 Billion...426 Billion
Japan.....440 Billion...319 Billion
Remember, the key to this prophecy is on imports from other nations. This Economic Babylon undoubtedly has a very large Import imbalance, as she imports so much merchandise from the rest of the world.
Finally, look at the phrase 'smoke of her burning'--could that be the inevitable plumes formed by a nuclear explosion?
EARTH'S BUSINESSMEN BEMOAN BABYLON'S FATE. IMMENSITY AND COMPLEXITY OF BABYLON'S ECONOMY IS DESCRIBED.
Reading Revelation 18 verse 9 again...
Revelation 18:9... And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,
Jeremiah 50:46 - At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.
Historically, no nation has ever been utterly destroyed in one day. The single-day destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who were destroyed by a small primitive nuclear weapon, was actually a destruction which occurred within a SINGLE HOUR. As we look ahead to verse 10, YHWH further narrows Babylon's destruction to a single hour.
Will it be from nuclear destruction?
This is the first and only time in world history, that an ENTIRE nation could literally be destroyed in a single hour.
Continuing on in verse Revelation 18:10, when they shall see the torment of her burning...
Revelation 18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Jeremiah 51:8 - Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so she may be healed.
Revelation 18:11 - "And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore
Isaiah 47:15 - Thus shall they be unto thee with whom thou hast laboured, even thy merchants, from thy youth: they shall wander every one to his quarter; none shall save thee.
Revelation 18:12 - The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,
18:13 - And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
18:14... And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.
18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,
18:16 And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
18:17a... For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.
Jeremiah 51:8 - Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so she may be healed.
Now consider some pertinent points of these verses:
I. In verses 10 and 15, it says that the rulers and the businessmen are standing a "long way off" in their intense lamenting over the loss of this great nation. Look at a world globe. The North American continent is UNIQUELY SURROUNDED on all sides by immense bodies of water.
The great majority of our commercial trade is done with two major parts of the world--Asia to the West, across the Pacific Ocean; and Europe, to the East, across the Atlantic.
II. Verse 11: this great nation was unique. She alone bought such a huge amount of the cargo from the other nations of the world. No nation could replace her.
Only America is EXTREMELY DEPENDENT upon consumer purchasing for the health of
her
economy. Two-thirds of our total economic activity is generated by consumer spending.
3. America's loss to the world's economy would be devastating. The world would lose THE MOST PRODUCTIVE agricultural exporting continent in the WORLD.
The economy of this great nation is described in 18:12-13, and 16, as vast, multifaceted economy. The key emphasis is on the volume of merchandise which this economy IMPORTS.
SHIP CAPTAINS, NAVIGATORS, AND CREWS BEMOAN BABYLON'S FATE
Revelation 18:17b...And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,
18:18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like unto this great city!
Isaiah 13:19 - And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when Elohim overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
Revelation 18:19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Babylon was unique in that she imported/exported most of her trade via the sea. As we have already stated, only America is so uniquely situated geographically that she has to carry her imports so completely via the ocean.
In 18:9, 15, and 19: the leaders, businessmen, and ship-owners able to see the smoke of this nation's burning. Not even huge pillars of nuclear smoke, rising over America, could be seen with the naked eye 2,000-4,000 miles away. This viewing of the smoke from such great distances can only occur today, with TV transmissions from orbiting satellites.
The very end of verse 19: This destruction has made this nation `a desert'. One of the effects of nuclear explosions, especially at the point of impact, is the formation of glass and sand.
Jeremiah 51:43 - Her cities are a desolation, a dry land, and a wilderness, a land wherein no man dwelleth, neither doth any son of man pass thereby.
Revelation 18:20 - Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for YHWH hath avenged you on her.
Jeremiah 51:47 - Therefore, behold, the days come, that I will do judgment upon the graven images of Babylon: and her whole land shall be confounded, and all her slain shall fall in the midst of her.
51:48 - Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith YHWH.
BABYLON WILL BE DESTROYED BY GREAT VIOLENCE AS THOUGH A MIGHTY MILLSTONE WERE CAST INTO THE SEA.
Revelation 18:21... And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast [it] into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Jeremiah 51:63 - And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates:
51:64 - And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.
The destruction of this nation will evidently be of UNPARALLELED VIOLENCE, producing a destruction, the likes of which have NEVER been seen BEFORE in world history.
Revelation 18:22... And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft [he be], shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;
23a... And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee:
Jeremiah 51:29 - And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of YHWH shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land of Babylon a desolation without an inhabitant.
EVERYTHING COMPRISING A CIVILIZATION IS GONE FOREVER
Revelation 18:23b... for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.
Isaiah 47:9 - But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.
I believe that the United States of America is Babylon the Great, and I believe that it is going to be destroyed forever.
In Yahushua the Messiah,
YermeYah