We are nearing the very end of these Last Days in the seven years of the Great Tribulation on earth...The remaining population consists of...Those who have heard God's Words...And not only reject Him...But hate Him, and hate His people so fiercely... They are amassing their armies together in a literally attempt to destroy Him when He soon Returns! Those left on earth which have not joined this rebellion...Are living as hunted fugitives... As all out genocide is waged against them! The Final Wrath of God has come upon all the earth…Through the Seven Bowls of Judgment…Which have been poured out...
And in these final moments... The remaining inhabitants of earth find themselves in such a desolate state... That they would only last days or weeks at best... Even if God's onslaught ceased immediately... Almost every major city crumbled from earthquakes & hail...Floods (of blood) from tsunamis have ravaged coasts...Putrid remains of sea life and disease are rampant...Unburied corpses are everywhere...There is no means of cleanliness or sanitation...Water is days or weeks from being completely exhausted...All methods of growing/producing/transporting food gone...Even the very oxygen breathed is on a course to stop sustaining life... And now... As though God were saving the worst of His Wrath…For the most deserving in the end... In the final Passage of Chapter 16... He announces this event... Revelation 16:19 (NKJV) 19 ... And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. God takes up the next TWO ENTIRE Chapters of this Last Book of the Bible...To discuss the evil of this one city... And the destruction it receives! If God brings THIS much emphasis to one city and one Act of Judgment... It deserves our reverent and serious consideration! So let's delve deeply into the following events...In prayer that God will give us His Wisdom and Purpose...
Our first objective in the following Texts...Is an attempt to at least understand the picture...Which Revelation portrays...Concerning the role this city called Mystery Babylon" plays on earth! Babylon is mentioned 287 times in Scriptures...More than any other single city except for Jerusalem itself! Babylon first appeared in Genesis 11... Where it's inhabitants joined together against God...In an attempt to build a one-world city and tower...Stemming from the rejection and rebellion towards their True God… As they joined together against HIM! God confused their language and scattered them over the face of the earth...Thus bringing the city's name, "Babel"... Later in history... The city of Babylon reemerged as a pagan empire...Which conquered Israel and enslaved her inhabitants for 70 years... Only to be brutally taken in Judgment by the Medo-Persian Empire afterwards! All throughout Scriptures, the name "Babylon"...Has been used to personify great and unified earthly power...Standing in rejection of God, His Word, and His people...Living in religious adultery and human brutality! So... As we uncover the following Verses...The first thing we can firmly establish is that... This "end-times" city... Is obviously is not the original city...But one that exudes all of the characteristics which Babylon represented in the past...That will be revealed in these Last Days...Thus called, "Mystery" Babylon... And according to the Biblical personification… It MUST BE... 1)Economically and religiously powerful in influence... 2)Wealthy, corrupt, immoral, "Jesus hating", violent and malicious origin for many... 3)Which holds great influence and control over many nations in these Last Days! 4)This city becomes the catalyst for all of the hatred, torture, and murder of God's people! It becomes Satan's number one tool…To deceive, misguide and even force…The world's population into embracing another god over Jesus Christ!! It is the epitome of anti-Christian and anti-Jew mentality for the world!
Many scholars, pastors and writers have attempted to identify where this city may be located today...And rightfully so...Because if a city is to be this influential in it's own era...It should at least be growing in the direction of these descriptions...If we are truly nearing the end! Many have concluded this city might be...The original Babylon in Iraq...London, England...Rome, Italy...Even New York City, right here in America! These beliefs stem from the world-wide economic and social influences of these cities! I use to hear and mimic these responses in my own teachings...But… NOT A WORD of Scripture is wasted...Every Word has reverent meaning in It’s usage & placement...Therefore we MUST weigh every Word used to describe this city...Starting and finishing with what SCRIPTURES ALONE say...Not with a preconceived notion...Which we attempt to READ INTO or SEE in the Passages!This is why studying the Scriptures Word for Word...Is so invaluable to us! So let's see how His Word describes this city...And it's ultimate demise!And look for BIBLICAL CLUES...As to what city this may represent today! Revelation 17:1-6 (NKJV) 1 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, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. 5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. This is a very descriptive passage about the prostitute called, "Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and the Abominations of the earth"... But to fully understand this Harlot... We have to hear the rest of the description... Showing the powers and kingdoms she rides upon...And from which she draws her authority and strenght! Revelation 17:7 (NKJV) 7 But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. Now... A few Chapters ago we studied this section of Scriptures thoroughly... When the Beast with seven heads/ten horns was first introduced. (Chap. 14) So rather than read that entire section again...We will summarize it quickly before we continue! This Beast represents a WORLD EMPIRE...Which will rise in the very last days... And it will be the LAST world empire In the complete history of world empires… (Seven)Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, Roman Empire, and finally the Revived Roman Empire... 5 are Fallen… 1 in existence at time of John… 1 yet to come Thus... Seven Heads... (7 Mountains!) This FINAL EMPIRE will be made up of TEN KINGS…Which will give their allegiance to the Antichrist...Thus, TEN HORNS... And Ten Toes of Nebuchadnezzar's Statue And this Empire will EMBODY the power, brutality...And most probably the same physical location…Of the last 4 EMPIRES...Pictured by the FOUR animals making up the literal body of the beast! Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, Rome! The Antichrist seems to be mortally wounded...And then resurrected again (mimicking Christ)...And at that point, becoming worshiped as a god! ALL OF THE FOUR EMPIRES...DEPICTED BY THE FOUR ANIMALS OF THE FINAL BEASTS... Come from the Middle East!! And over 60% of the Old Roman Empire involved Middle East countries...Which make up this last Empire that is to be revived! Explaining their hatred for the Jews and Christians...We have also seen very compelling evidence…Which would reveal Islam as the end time religion... And the 12 Imam, or Mahadi as the potential Antichrist! And lastly, the passage ends with this description of the Harlot... Revelation 17:15 (NKJV) 15 Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues. So her religious and economic influence will reach into many nations! Now... We see the Empire and world system...Which this Harlot City is riding upon...This ALL must be considered when investigating her identity! Let's put the Biblical Clues together into one picture! ONE- She sits upon the religious power and authority of Islamic nations... Meaning her religious influence may very well be Muslim! Does New York, London or Rome sit upon Islamic Nations? TWO- She is "drunk", intoxicated, joyful... About the slaughter of countless saints who have been martyred by her system! Is America or the UK responsible for a system of religion which has murdered countless people for belief in Jesus Christ? THREE- Although she influences many nations (waters)...The angel carries John into the wilderness/desert...To show him the great city! Do any of the cities most sited as Mystery Babylon sit in the wilderness of the desert? FOUR- She sits against or among seven mountains...(Which were also seven kings) So this city MAY also sit among 7 mountains...Rome is said to sit upon seven HILLS...But this passage uses the Greek term for mountains...And Rome has already failed previous texts…Is there a city that sits amongst seven mountains? We’ll see…Now… Let's go to Chapter 18 to get more descriptive details...Before studying about her Judgment! Revelation 18:3 (NKJV) 3 For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication... FIVE- She is the central hub of religious idolatry for millions who deny Christ... (Spiritual fornication) Where might the most influential city of the Muslim world be today? Revelation 18:3, 19 (NKJV) 3 ...the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."... 19 They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.' 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" SIX- The Leaders of the world…And those profiting from sea faring sales to the world… Have profited greatly from her goods! She has something all nations economically need and receive from her! Revelation 18:11-13 (NKJV) 11 And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. SEVEN- She will be a major consumer of many products from other parts of the world... Even of slave labor! NONE of the contemporary suggestions for the identity of "Mystery Babylon"…Meets these listed, BIBLICAL requirements...But of all of the modern cities in the world today...There would appear to be ONE which does...And though no one can say for certain where Mystery Babylon is until that day comes...THIS would be my best calculation...MECCA... In Saudi Arabia! WHY?... Let’s compare Scriptural EVIDENCES! FIRST UNDERSTAND… “Mecca” means… Epicenter or center hub…THE QURAN ITSELF CALLS MECCA…“THE MOTHER OF ALL CITIES”!“MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH!” ONE- Mecca is a city which is under the influence and authority of the Muslim world today... Located in Saudi Arabia... (Part of 4 Kingdoms) TWO- Mecca is the center of the religion which dominates ALL Islamic countries and peoples...Whose religious beliefs have slaughtered, driven out and endangered millions of Christians...And will exponentially increase in the Tribulation! THREE- Mecca is located in the Hejaz region...Which is a wide strip of mountains separating the Nafud desert from the Red Sea... A wilderness!! With a hot, desert climate even in the winter. FOUR- Mecca is surrounded by Seven distinct mountains... FIVE- Mecca is the Holiest Site of Islam... With the largest Mosque in the world, Masij al-Haram…Valued at 100 billion U.S. Dollars! 4,910,000 Square Feet! Can hold up to 2.5 million worshipers!! It is the site of the Kaaba (meaning cube)...Considered to be the house of god by Muslims... It is 43ft high / 36ft by 42ft around...With a solid gold door...And a black stone (possibly meteor) supposedly brought by Gabriel from Heaven... Which is the object of prayer FIVE times a day for every Muslim around the world! And part of the Five Pillars of Islam requires…That every Muslim visit this site once in their lifetime… On a pilgrimage called “Hajj”! This single site in the city of Mecca is the…Central focus…And origin…For worship to almost 2 billion people on earth today! Making it, by far…The city which causes the most adulterous acts against Jesus Christ in the whole world! SIX- Mecca's government is the #1 exporter of oil…To the nations and kings of the earth! SEVEN- Saudi Arabia is the largest purchaser of foreign goods in the Middle East... Making many merchants busy and rich! Building the largest, most futuristic city in the entire world next to the Red Sea currently… Causing much commerce! And it is listed as a Tier 3 nation by the U.S. Meaning it does NOT comply with human trafficking laws...Nor WILL IT MAKE efforts to do so!(Literally, willfully being a trader of men’s souls!) It is the destination for traffickers to sale men, women and children into forced labor, sexual abuse, and torture... Though no one can be certain of where "Mystery Babylon" may be located...Mecca seems to be the only city which…DOES MEET every Biblical verse written about the city!
This great and evil city will be used as a religious pawn…To entice the world into following the Antichrist...And at the appropriate time...The antichrist will turn on her! Revelation 17:16-17 (NKJV) 16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. The antichrist does not totally destroy this city and system...But leaves it broken and bare...The antichrist uses this city and religious system…To rise to world power religiously... To pull from it's wealth...And then near to the end... Seemingly betraying the religion...Proclaiming all worship for himself... Not Allah! And here at the end of God's Judgments against the evils of the earth...God specifically focuses on this horribly city and nation...For the bloodthirsty massacre of His people...And the role played in deceiving the whole world with their false religion! Revelation 18:17-24 (NKJV) 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?' 19 They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.' 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth." This Last Act of Judgment against the very city where Satan's greatest blasphemes and evils originated...Brings great worship and celebration in Heaven...From all of those tortured, enslaved, suppressed and martyred through her influences!! Revelation 19:1-4 (NKJV) 1 After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her." 3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, "Amen! Alleluia!" And with this Final Act of Unimaginable Fury...Ends the Seven Years of Tribulation...The Seven Years when the Bride of Christ is hidden away from the world in the Bridal Chambers... NOW...The Bride will emerge for the Marriage Feast of the Lamb!! Dressed in pure white linens...Accompanied by her Warrior King... As He NOW Prepares His Return to earth...To finally embrace those few remaining Saints…Who are still alive on this devastated planet... Covered by His Blood Leading us in a Victory Battle to reclaim His Kingdom! And after all is made NEW again... And New Jerusalem sits upon THIS EARTH! He will FINALLY share that Second Cup of Wine with His Beloved...At the Great Marriage Supper... On earth... In New Jerusalem... Matthew 26:27-29 (NKJV) 27 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." Will you drink of His Cup of Wrath... Or this Marriage Cup?
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