October 18: ANNOUNCEMENT OF SECOND ANGEL (part 1: CONFUSION)
And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Revelation 14:8
This is the first mention of Babylon in Revelation. After the Genesis flood, a large group decided to build for themselves “a city and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves” (Genesis 11:4) on a plain in Shinar. Notice how similar their goal was to that of Lucifer: “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High” (Isaiah 14:14). The LORD brought the ill-conceived plan to a halt by creating different languages among them, resulting in a scattering. The unfinished building project was called Babel (bab means “gate” and el means god: “gate to god”). This name is equated with confusion.
Hundreds of years later, the city of Babylon was built on the river Euphrates. It became a seat of great power that integrated false religious practices with heavy-handed politics, exercising immense control and influence over the entire Mesopotamian territory and beyond. From its beginning, it has been referenced in the Bible as an incarnation of godless power that stands in opposition to God and His true worshippers. As such, the name Babylon came to symbolize a conglomerate of the great enemy of God and His people in the world. The prophet Isaiah cites Lucifer as its leader: the king of Babylon (14:4).
Scripture records details of ancient Babylon’s exploits against God’s people such as the destruction of Jerusalem and the holy temple (2 Chronicles 36:18-20; Daniel 1:1-2) and coerced idol worship (3:4-6). The ancient kingdom of Babylon fell in a single night to the Medo-Persians in BC539 (5:30) in fulfillment of prophecy: And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldeans’ pride, will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited … her days will not be prolonged. (Isaiah 13:19,20a,22b) Literal Babylon has never been rebuilt, but it’s certainly not for lack of trying. Most recently, Saddam Hussein made such an attempt. The fact that it will never be rebuilt is a foreshadowing that illustrates the utter and final demise of spiritual Babylon …
This second angel’s announcement is doubled for emphasis: “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” The great enemy of God’s people in the world at the end of time is prophetically described fallen, fallen, as though it has already occurred. This underscores the absolute certainty of spiritual Babylon’s future demise. Some have estimated that there are as many as 4000 different religions in the world. This extensive mélange of theological beliefs cannot be characterized as anything but confusing. Each one may have an element, or several, of truth—but mixing truth with error is the enemy’s most effective tactic for drawing people away from God. Everyone believes something that is true. Seeking for truth among falsehoods would be an impossible task…but thanks be to God, we have His word of truth by which to test which religion is telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Beloved, if any of the teachings that your teachers teach do not match up with Scripture, you are in Babylon.
Scripture helps us to identify Babylon. Through centuries, individuals have lovingly attempted to make corrections in Babylon, but all corrections were refused. Today’s verse calls her that great city. And while there are many great cities on the earth, there is only one that is a center of religious and political power that draws ambassadors from all over the world to hear, heed, and join her plans: Vatican City.
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray. Proverbs 10:17
For further study: Jeremiah 50:29-40; 51:9; John 10:1; Ephesians 1:13; 1 John 4