Come to Understanding

Come to Understanding

They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding,

and they that murmured shall learn doctrine. — Isaiah 29:24

So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,

and caused them to understand the reading. — Nehemiah 8:8

September 14, 2013
Volume 12 Number 18

O Daughter of Babylon

Ancient Babel, founded by Nimrod, was the first of the earthly kingdoms:

9 He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh: therefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before Yahweh.

10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. -Genesis 10

Except in Genesis 10 and 11, the Hebrew name lbb (Babel) is translated into Greek as babulwn and then as "Babylon" in many English Bibles.

Three powerful kingdoms known as Babylon (Babel) are clearly identified in the Bible. The first was that of Nimrod, which built a "city and a tower" for the purpose of glorifying their own name:

4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. -Genesis 11

The second was that of Nebuchadrezzar, who Yahweh called His "servant." Yahweh sent him from the north to destroy the rebellious and unrepentant kingdom of Judah:

9 Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, says Yahweh, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations. -Jeremiah 25

The third Babylon is called "MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT." Being a "mystery," her true identity is hidden, or kept secret. Therefore, it will not be obvious to the world who she really is until it is finally revealed:

5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. -Revelation 17

She is much like the "virgin daughter of Babylon" described by Isaiah. While she is called a "virgin," as being righteous, it will eventually be revealed that she is clearly not (see Isaiah 47:2-3):

1 Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for you shall no more be called tender and delicate. -Isaiah 47

In fact, as a "daughter of Babylon," she is likely a successor to Babylon (Babel). Like Edom, opposers of Yahweh and His people, she is destined for destruction:

7 Remember, O Yahweh, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, even to the foundation thereof.

8 O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewards you as you have served us. -Psalms 137

As the angel showed John, the "Mystery, Babylon the Great," regardless of her appearance, is not a virgin. In a strongly worded description, she is called the "great whore that sits upon many waters:"

1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying to me, Come here; I will show to you the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters: -Revelation 17

However, when John saw her, she sat upon a blasphemous seven-headed, ten-horned "scarlet colored beast:"

3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. -Revelation 17

The "beast" upon which the woman sits is apparently comprised of "many waters," which means "peoples, multitudes, and nations, and tongues:"

15 And he said to me, The waters which you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. -Revelation 17

When John saw a similar looking "beast" "rise up out of the sea," it was wearing crowns upon its ten horns!

1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. -Revelation 13

The seven heads are "mountains," which are kings of seven great historical kingdoms (empires) (see Revelation 17:9-10). The ten horns are also kings and the crowns are likely the symbols of their kingdoms, which the beast will wear when it receives their power (see Revelation 17:12, 17).

The "Mystery, Babylon the Great" gains worldly power through her relationships with the "kings of the earth." She uses her power to deceive the whole world, making the people "drunk with the wine of her fornication:"

2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. -Revelation 17

She is called a "great city" that "reigns over the kings of the earth:"

18 And the woman which you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. -Revelation 17

As long as she "reigns over the kings of the earth," the "beast" upon which she sits does not wear the crowns of their kingdoms. However, those kings will eventually come to hate her and will set out to destroy her:

16 And the ten horns which you saw upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. -Revelation 17

Once these kings are united as one mind with the "beast," they will give all of their power and strength to it:

12 And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength to the beast. -Revelation 17

In doing so, they will give all of the power of their kingdoms (crowns) to the "beast." They will be God’s servants, fulfilling His will:

17 For God has put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. -Revelation 17

Therefore, the "beast" will have gained power and control over the entire earth. The powerful "beast" will blaspheme the name of God and will try God’s people. It will make war with them and will even overcome many of them:

6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

7 And it was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all families, and tongues, and nations. -Revelation 13

This "beast," having the power and strength of a united assembly of kingdoms, resembles the "assembly of great nations from the north country" that is prophesied to destroy Babylon at the height of her prosperity and pride:

9 For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from there she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain.

10 And Chaldea shall be a spoil: all that spoil her shall be satisfied, says Yahweh.

11 Because you were glad, because you rejoiced, O you destroyers of my heritage, because you have grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls; -Jeremiah 50

The "Daughter of Babylon," is also called the "Daughter of the Chaldeans." She will be cast from her throne into silence and darkness. She will lose the title that she once enjoyed, which is "The Lady of Kingdoms:"

5 Sit you silent, and get you into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for you shall no more be called, The lady of kingdoms. -Isaiah 47

Convinced of her greatness, she will believe that her wisdom and knowledge will hide her secret wickedness, in which she trusts, and that she will remain the "Lady of Kingdoms:"

10 For you have trusted in your wickedness: you have said, None sees me. Your wisdom and your knowledge, it has perverted you; and you have said in your heart, I am, and none else besides me. -Isaiah 47

Therefore, when destruction actually comes upon her, she will not even know from where it came. That is because it will come suddenly and unexpectedly:

11 Therefore shall evil come upon you; you shall not know from where it rises: and mischief shall fall upon you; you shall not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon you suddenly, which you shall not know. -Isaiah 47

Because of her wickedness, Yahweh Himself will lay a "snare" for her:

24 I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, O Babylon, and you were not aware: you are found, and also caught, because you have striven against Yahweh. -Jeremiah 50

Yahweh says that He will stir up the Medes, who will believe in a cause more noble than wealth, against Babylon:

17 Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it. -Isaiah 13

Her destruction will come from a people "from the north, and a great nation," along with "many kings" from the "coasts of the earth:"

41 Behold, a people shall come from the north, and a great nation, and many kings shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. -Jeremiah 50

Yahshua (Jesus) cautions us to "watch and pray:"

33 Take you heed, watch and pray: for you know not when the time is. -Mark 13

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Scriptures are taken from the Proper Name Version of the King James Bible.