God Calls His People Out Of Babylon, But Who Or What Is Babylon?

God calls His people out of Babylon. But who or what is Babylon? That's our message. The text is taken from Revelation 17.

Come go with me on a journey through the portals of two great cities, one of them is extinct, and the other is a great mystery. What they have in common is that they are both corrupt and evil world systems that oppose God and His followers, and they are both called Babylon! Both cities represent a state of spiritual confusion, idolatrous worship, rebellion against the sovereign God. One appears to be a metaphorical system, and the other was one of the greatest cities on earth, which today is located in southern Iraq. They both were raised up by satan to lead people away from the Most High God, and into a life of idolatry and plain ole sinfulness. One of the cities is fallen, and according to scripture one is about to fall hard! When the greatest cities of today are counted, Singapore, Tokyo, London, New York, Paris, and Madrid are certainly to be mentioned near the top. And the greatest ancient cities were Rome, Athens, Constantinople and Nineveh. Can any of these compare to these great cities?

Father, we thank You for Your Word today. Bless it as it goes forth. Bless the listeners to this message that they may come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That You may inspire them with Your Word and give them understanding. We thank You and praise You in Jesus holy name. Amen.

One of the two Babylonian cities is found only in the annals of history. The other, which is the most intriguing of both of them is found on the pages of the holy scriptures, and is called a mystery. No one can say where or who this mysterious city is, except that the Word of God says she, “sits on many waters.” If taken literally, this may mean it is connected to many nations and nationalities. But in biblical terms, this seem to refer to the authority and influence that this metaphorical city has over all nations of the earth! This city appears to dominate the commercial, political and religious world, and has more power than any other, and such was this great city called ancient Babylon.

Ancient Babylon, opulent and grand, was admired by all those on earth, but God hated this city. He hated it even more than He hated Egypt. And some say He used Babylon to punish Israel for its idolatrous worship and sinfulness, but Babylon went beyond what God had intended, and treated Israel with great contempt and excessive cruelty. It is the only city mentioned in scripture almost as many times as Jerusalem, the beloved city. Ancient Babylon was a great empire, an economic, architectural, cultural and innovative powerhouse with systems more advanced than any other nation of its day. It gained fame from its hanging gardens, which was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, and from its massive walls. And it gained infamy from the infamous Tower of Babel.

It was ahead of other nations in mathematics, astronomy, literature and the advancement of the legal system. It was also known for its military might. The city walls were a double wall system with a moat on the outer edge, which was deep enough to hold boats. The walls were reinforced with towers and gates, and was a wonder of the ancient world.

And Babylon was built in rebellion to the Almighty God. And He hated it because it was the author of corrupt systems of idolatrous worship that preferred to worship anyone except the One True God. Idolatry was so prevalent in the city that some called it the center of idolatry, and the name Babylon became synonymous with all that is evil and corrupted. Babylon was a great religious center with sprawling temples dedicated to its many false gods. They defeated Israel twice, and carried away many captives each time. At their second conquest, they destroyed Jerusalem and the temple, and they shamelessly brought the holy vessels from the Jewish temple into their filthy idolatrous temple, thereby defiling the holy vessels of the Most High God. Under Nebuchadnezzar their greatest king, they held the Israelites captive for decades, until God used Cyrus of Persia to defeat Babylon, and return His people to their homeland.

According to various sources the ancient city of Babylon exists only as ruins today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site visited by thousands every year. And located in modern-day Iraq, on the lower Euphrates River, 55 miles south of Baghdad. God destroyed the city because of its love for idolatry.

But what about metaphorical Babylon? The Babylon of Revelation, which is perhaps the most complex figure in the entire bible, next to God Himself! The fact that she is referred to as a mystery tells us, we will not be able to decipher just who she is very easily, it appears God intended for this to puzzle us, but not completely. The essence of this Babylon is shrouded in mystery. Biblical scholars of today and yesterday have great difficulty explaining who this woman or this mysterious city really is! When the apostle John saw the mysterious city of Babylon in a vision, she appeared in the wilderness in the form of a woman and not a virtuous woman, but rather as a harlot riding on a scarlet-colored beast, which came up from the bottomless pit. In scripture women are often used as a symbol of nations, churches and systems of belief! The beast she rides upon or controls, is closely affiliated with the Antichrist. The three main beasts of Revelation are the dragon who is satan, the Antichrist and the false prophet.

And John said that her name was written on her forehead and it was, “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and abominations on the earth.” AKA, the Whore of Babylon. He said the kings of the earth committed fornication with the woman which means, they were used by her to participate in idolatrous worship of false Gods. And she was also drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus Christ. And this means, she not only was responsible for their death, but delighted greatly in shedding their blood and became intoxicated by spilling the blood of innocent followers of Jesus Christ. This puzzling figure is portrayed as a harlot, a city, and a corrupt system. Therefore, Babylon represents all that is corrupt and evil in the world of commerce, religion and politics.

In verse 3 John said the woman was full of names of blasphemy, which is the worst sin that one can commit against God. Blasphemy is contempt or disrespect for God and for the things of God. It was indeed the sin that the wicked Pharisees and Sadducees accused Jesus Christ of, simply because He said He was the Son of God. It is the unforgivable sin when the Holy Spirit is the one being blasphemed.

Apparently, the sight of this woman riding this beast was amazing to behold, because John said, he marveled with great amazement when he saw it. And when he was so enthralled by the sight, the angel asked him why was he so fascinated by this, and then proceeded to reveal the mystery of this wicked figure to the Apostle John.

The angel asked him in Revelation 17:7, “ Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that you saw, was and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” This is why the angel asked John why he was amazed by the beast, because only those on earth whose names are not written in the Lambs Book of Life will be amazed and deceived by this! Those whose names are written there may be tempted, but will not be amazed.

Now here's where it becomes complicated, and we must pay careful attention!

I go to Revelation 17:9-14 and read. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. The ten kings which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings; and those who are with Him are called, and chosen and faithful.”

Some say the reference to the seven mountains that the woman sits on, refers to the seven hills of Rome, and others say it refers to the seven mountains of Jerusalem, but no one knows for sure.

And then in verse 10 we are told that there are seven kings, and there is general agreement that of the seven kings, the fallen 5 represent: ancient rulers of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece.

Then the there's the sixth who refers to Rome which had great power at the time that John received this vision.

But the great mystery is the seventh king, who would be a future king that does not even appear to have come up even to the present time, and yet he may be here already. This seventh king will rule only for a short time.

And finally there's an eighth king, an eighth leader who will be the beast, which will ascend out of the bottomless pit! And scripture says he will go into perdition, and this means, ruin, destruction and eternal punishment.

The ten horns representing ten kings are not as complicated as the seven heads, because they have not yet come. They will come in the time of the Antichrist. If the Antichrist is here today, he has not yet been revealed to us.

Now what is interesting is that the 10 kings according to scripture “shall hate (Babylon) the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the Words of God shall be fulfilled.”

The assumption therefore is that these 10 kings who will rule only a short time, referred to as an hour with the Antichrist, may or may not be in place as well. Yet, when they come they will be of the same mind as the beast, and will give their power to him. They will take orders from him, in other words.

Together these 10 horns, “shall make war with the Lamb of God, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is the Lord of lords, and the King of kings: and they that are with Him are, the called, and the chosen, and the faithful.”

All of this makes Babylon a complex mixture of satan's entire evil system that governs the kingdoms of the world today. She's therefore satan’s tool which he uses daily to deceive people, and cause them to oppose and reject the Most High God, and to reject His Son Jesus Christ. And all in the world were at one point or another tempted or influenced by this evil one. If this figure represents the evil world systems, it might be referring to the lust that the people of the earth have for material things, for power, for fame, for wealth and for all things of the flesh! And everything that we idolize and place ahead of the Most High God. If she represents false religions she represents all that is error in the church, all the cults, and all that is idolatrous and despicable to God!

And finally the angel told John, “And the woman you saw is that great city that reigns over the kings of the earth.” What is this great city? The Mystery of Babylon the Great continues! Is she a literal city? Is she a collection of great cities? Is she Rome revived, or Babylon brought back to life? Is she simply all that represents false religions or political systems in the world? Is she China? Is she Russia? Or is she the greatest city on earth, America the Great? Stay tuned my friend, for the rest of the story about Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots!

You've been listening to this message and perhaps you do not know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Well, we want to give you an opportunity, as usual, to make that commitment. Please engage your heart and say this prayer after me:

- Father, I am a sinner.

-I am sorry for all my sins.

-Dear Lord, please forgive me.

-I have decided today to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.

-Dear Lord Jesus, I welcome You to my heart and I thank You for Your forgiveness.

-Please give me the Holy Spirit to lead me into all truth.

-Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul. Amen.

Welcome, friend, to the body of believers in Christ. There are so many being gathered on earth who will be gathered on that great and awesome day when the Savior returns. But in the meantime, we want to encourage you to become water baptized as quickly as possible. Begin reading the Word of God every day. Every day. It's your daily food. Begin in the book of John. Then go to Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Praying daily. Attending at your local church. And one glad morning the Savior will come and receive us all unto Himself. And we shall indeed forever be with the Lord. God bless and keep you in Jesus mighty name. Amen.