December 1: BABYLON’S CERTAIN END

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.” Revelation 17:1

This is very likely the seventh angel who poured out his bowl into the air (16:17). He is inviting John to see a preview of Babylon’s coming judgment as a result of the seventh bowl plague. He identifies her as the great harlot who sits on many waters. This is taken from Jeremiah 51:13, referring to the strategic location of the ancient city of Babylon atop the Euphrates River, these many waters symbolizing the steady source of support upon which the city was totally dependent.

Jeremiah’s writings contain strong prophetic allusions to modern-day spiritual Babylon. God had allowed His people to go into the original seventy-year Babylonian captivity in the first place entirely because of their sinful unbelief, ushering in disobedience, which they attempted to excuse through faulty human rationale and empty rituals, while refusing to hear the words of the LORD (see Jeremiah 19:15), and turning the true teachings of the LORD into something false. “And you . . . shall go into captivity. You shall go to Babylon, and there you shall die, and be buried there, you and all your friends, to whom you have prophesied lies.” (20:7) This verse exhibits the danger of believing and sharing inaccuracies. Continued exposure to these lies appeals to sinful human nature, conditioning them so that the truth seems strange.

The most intimate metaphor is used for the close relationship that God desires with His people: marriage. Chapter 12 of Revelation illustrates the faithful body of believers as a beautiful, chaste bride whom Satan targets. Scripture uses strong language to describe God’s people who turn away from Him, equating their acts with whoredom (examples: Jeremiah 3:1-2 and Ezekiel 23:18-19). These passages illustrate the pain of a husband’s heart whose wife sought other lovers. It is a broken covenant. Afterwards, the unfaithful “wife” masquerades as God’s beloved before the world. In reality, however, she is an idol worshiper, exercising her seducing power the world over (see Revelation 13:3,4,7,8).

Fortunately, God’s word richly supplies His people with all that they need to distinguish between the great harlot and the true bride of Christ. In addition, His word builds up His people, conditioning their hearts to embrace truth while opening their eyes to that which is false.

Jeremiah was particularly attuned to the spiritual dangers posed by Babylonian influence. The first century Jewish believers knew the scriptures, and recognized the direct link between Babylonian oppression and the Roman Empire under whose heavy yoke they lived. When Peter wrote from Rome sending greetings from the body of believers there, he cryptically referred to the city of Rome as Babylon (see 1 Peter 5:13).

For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:2