September 16: THE KING OF BABYLON
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
The prophet Isaiah wrote: you will take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say: “How the oppressor has ceased, The golden city ceased! The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked . . . (Isaiah 14:4-5a) Here Isaiah initially speaks of the earthly king of Babylon, but it quickly becomes evident that he is prophesying of the humiliation and total destruction of the spiritual power behind the historical king of Babylon: Satan himself. In acting upon his own selfish motives, King Nebuchadnezzar had unwittingly operated as the “front man” for Satan. He was eventually extricated from that illegitimate entanglement purely by the power of God’s grace, the only way that any of us are saved.
The true spiritual enemy of God’s people actually rose up to defy the Creator in heaven before our world was created. Although some people openly proclaim their worship of Satan, most would never consciously and deliberately choose to worship him. That old serpent’s selfish craving to be admired and worshiped must be accomplished by conditioning people to his lies and deceptions. The fact that he actively deceives to get the worship he craves is a testimony to his twisted and perverse nature.
In His word, the LORD provides facts and evidence so His people can gain understanding to discern the difference between true worship and false. Understanding that Satan is the “king of Babylon” is a spiritual matter. God’s word says that he who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning (1 John 3:8). To perpetuate the deceptions of the devil is to be his representative and to further his will. Paul wrote: Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? (Romans 6:16)
Babylon, in all of its forms, has set itself as the standard of Satan’s worshipers. In its worship of the created above the Creator, Babylon is the earthly representation of Satan’s ideals, schemes, and objectives. The devil is the true “king of Babylon,” the author of confusion, and the prime instigator behind all opposition to God. Just as he offered to Jesus, Satan offers worldliness and human approval to all who will follow his deviations from the plain word of God.
The devil took [Jesus] up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” Matthew 4:8-10