The Judgment Of Babylon
(Chapters 17–19:10)
These chapters are given to supplement the previous references to “Babylon” in chapter 14:8 and chapter 16:19. Mention has been made of this great world power and its judgment, but now a full exposé of its character and ways is given. These extra details help us to identify who this great corrupt power is that will play such a prominent role in end-time prophecy. The parenthesis essentially presents a comparison of the two prominent women in the book: the false church—“the great whore” (chap. 17:1-19:5) and true Church—“the Lamb’s wife” (chap. 19:6-10).
The Great Whore
Chap. 17:1-6—The chapter begins with a description of a “great whore” riding “a scarlet coloured beast” with “seven heads and ten horns.” This corrupt woman is papal Rome with all the so-called Christian denominations under its wing—the final state of Christendom after the true Church has been called away to heaven. It is Satan’s counterfeit church. The “whore” is undoubtedly the Roman Catholic Church. This is obvious by:
• The Geographical Evidence—She is identified with the seven-hilled city of Rome – “seven heads” (vs. 9). No other notable city in the world has been so described.
• The Historical Evidence—She has been the great persecutor of Christians through history. No other religious system in Christendom has been guilty of martyring the saints as Rome (vs. 6).
• The Political Evidence—She has controlled the governments in Europe in history. No other religious system in Christendom has wanted to control the governments of the world as Rome (vss. 1, 15, 18).
• The Ecclesiastical Evidence—Whoredom is a figure used in Scripture for those who forsake God for idolatry. No other religious system in Christendom has had the extent of idolatry as Catholicism (vs. 2).
• The Worldly Evidence—No other religious system in Christendom has arrayed itself with such pomp and glory as the Roman Catholic Church (vs. 4).
• The Commercial Evidence—No other religious system in Christendom has had such commercial connections and amassed such wealth (chap. 18:9-19).
John is called to see “the judgment” (not the glory) of the great whore. Her destruction, which occurs in the middle of the prophetic week, marks the end of Christendom. The corrupt woman’s influence over the multitudes in the West is seen in her sitting on “many waters” (vss. 1, 15). Her guilt of prostituting the truth and intoxicating men with her evil doctrines and practices is depicted in her “fornication” (vs. 2). Though she professes great spiritual possessions, she is spiritually destitute. This is indicated by the place of drought in which she dwells—“the wilderness.” She sits on the “beast,” indicating that she will have control of the confederated nations of the West. Her worldly glory is seen in her garments of “purple and scarlet” with “gold and precious stones and pearls” (vs. 4). She is identified as “Mystery Babylon” indicating the depths of her idolatry. She is “the mother of harlots.” This means that she has many daughters under her wing who have her character. As a “Mother” she has given birth to the other denominations in Christendom, for they have all come out of her clerical corruption and thus bear the marks of her character in varying degrees. These will all be gathered under her wing in the first half of the prophetic week and will constitute the false church (vs. 5).
The Beast With Seven Heads and Ten Horns
Chap. 17:7-14—As mentioned, “the beast” with “seven heads and ten horns” is the revived Roman Empire as indicated in Daniel 2:40-45; 7:7-8, 19-2740And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 44And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. (Daniel 2:40‑45)
7After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:7‑8)
19Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 20And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:19‑27). The “ten horns” are the “ten kings” (kingdoms or nations) of which the empire will be composed (vss. 7, 9-14). These are the confederate nations of the West.
Firstly, as to its history (vs. 8), there are four phases mentioned through which the Roman Empire passes:
• “Was”—existing as it was in John’s day.
• “Is not”—defunct in 476 A.D.
• “Shall ascend out of the bottomless pit”—revived in the last half of the week.
• “And go into perdition”—judged by Christ at His Appearing at the end of the week.
Vss. 9-11—The “seven heads” have a double application. They not only refer to the seven-hilled city of Rome, but also refer to seven forms of government (“mountains”) through which the empire would pass through time. In history it has had kings, dictators, military tribunes, consuls, and decemvirs (a counsel of magistrates) at the head of the empire. These “five” forms of government are “fallen” and are passed off the scene. The “one” which “is” refers to the sixth form of government which controlled the empire at the time when John wrote the Revelation. It was an imperial government (rule through a succession of emperors). The “other” that was coming in the future is the seventh. This will be the government of the empire under the whore, the Catholic Church, which this chapter describes. The angel tells John that it will only continue “a short space”—i.e. the first half of the prophetic week, because that “head” (form of government) will be wounded to death (Rev. 13:3; 14:83And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. (Revelation 13:3)
8And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. (Revelation 14:8)). Then there will arise out of its demise an “eighth” form of government (a Satanic rule) under the personal Beast (Rev. 13:4-84And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:4‑8); Dan. 7:8, 20-218I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Daniel 7:8)
20And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; (Daniel 7:20‑21) – “the little horn”). Thus, the “deadly wound” that the seventh head will receive will be healed in the form of the eighth. This man (the little horn) will take the office of the Roman prince and will immediately breach the terms of the covenant that the empire will have made with the Jews (Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)b – the second “he”). This final form of the empire will go “into perdition” because it will be in power when Christ appears and judges it.
The Fall of Babylon
Chap. 17:15-18—The instrument of the harlot’s destruction is the “ten kings,” the federation of ten nations over which she will rule in the first 3½ years of the prophetic week. These nations will have had enough of Catholicism and will “hate the whore.” And, with the help of the personal Beast, who will take over the leadership of the empire, they will “make her desolate.” This is the “fall” of Babylon. We know that this will happen in the middle of the prophetic week because the new diabolical leader (the Beast or “little horn”) who rises to power, continues in the office of the Roman “prince” (Dan. 9:2727And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. (Daniel 9:27)b – the second “he”) for “forty and two months,” which is the last half of the week (chap. 13:5; Dan. 7:2525And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. (Daniel 7:25)).
Chap. 18:1-8—There follows in this chapter a description of the false church under Catholicism (the harlot) in its fallen state, as having been made desolate by the ten horns. The proclamation: “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen” refers to this. As mentioned in chapter 14:8, it refers to the religious side of the empire becoming defunct: However, Babylon, as an empire (politically and militarily), will not be gone. It will continue on under a satanic form of government under the personal Beast and will meet its full and final destruction at the end of the prophetic week when Christ appears and judges it. This is described at the end of this 18th chapter under the figure of “a great millstone being cast ... into the sea” and that “great city Babylon” being “thrown down” (chap. 18:21-24).
What once was the “habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph. 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)) is now seen as “the habitation of devils [demons], and the hold of every foul spirit” (chap. 18:2). Her wickedness is fully exposed as having prostituted professed truth (which is really error) and intoxicated the nations with her doctrines and practices. It is depicted as spiritual “fornication,” which is idolatry (vs. 3). God always calls His children out of what is corrupt and evil. Saints in past centuries heard this call and separated from the Romish abominations, and thousands of them sealed their testimony with their blood. A large number of God-fearing believers will hear this call and will separate from that wicked system in the first 3½ years of the prophetic week (vs. 4). They will suffer persecution and martyrdom on account of their convictions (chap. 6:9-11; 17:6; 20:4a). Her corrupting “sins” of commercializing and prostituting Christian things, and exalting herself instead of exalting Christ, whom she professes as Lord, have “reached unto heaven” and have called for the just judgment of God on her (vss. 5-8).
Chap. 18:9-20—An account is then given of her worldliness and commercialism. A universal lamentation is depicted from the various classes of commercial businessmen in the world who have had intercourse with that wicked system and have profited from it financially. The merchants mourn primarily because their hope of gain will be gone. It appears that she has been a controlling factor in the world market. No less than twenty-eight things are mentioned in which she traffics. It is significant that the first is “gold” and the last is “souls of men!”
“God has judged your judgment on her” (vs. 20) means that the right-hearted saints, a long time before this, have passed judgment on that wicked system in their hearts, and have separated from it. Now God vindicates their judgment by this great fall.
The Destruction of Babylon
Chap. 18:21-24—Another judgmental blow is given to the “great city Babylon.” This is not the fall of Babylon, which we have just noted, but the destruction of Babylon. As mentioned, its fall occurs in the middle of the prophetic week, but its destruction will be at the end of the prophetic week. As a result, this great power is found “no more at all.” The angel throwing “a great millstone” into “the sea” indicates the finality of this judgment. This refers to the final end of Babylon as a great political and military power––in its final form under the personal Beast––being judged by Christ at His Appearing (chap. 16:15-21). The imagery used here is similar to Isaiah 24:1-12,1Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. 2And it shall be, as with the people, so with the priest; as with the servant, so with his master; as with the maid, so with her mistress; as with the buyer, so with the seller; as with the lender, so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury, so with the giver of usury to him. 3The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. 4The earth mourneth and fadeth away, the world languisheth and fadeth away, the haughty people of the earth do languish. 5The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. 7The new wine mourneth, the vine languisheth, all the merryhearted do sigh. 8The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth. 9They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it. 10The city of confusion is broken down: every house is shut up, that no man may come in. 11There is a crying for wine in the streets; all joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone. 12In the city is left desolation, and the gate is smitten with destruction. (Isaiah 24:1‑12) which also refers to the Lord’s judgment on Babylon at His Appearing.
Hence, details in this parenthesis have brought us once again up to Christ’s Appearing.
Two Celebrations in Heaven
Just before heaven opens and Christ comes forth in power and judgment at His Appearing (chap. 19:11-21), there will be two celebrations in heaven.
Chap. 19:1-6—The first celebration is the unrestrained joy in heaven over the judgment of “the great harlot.” “Hallelujah” is mentioned four times in this connection:
1. The first is on account of the attributes of God Himself which have called for this judgment (vs. 1).
2. The second is on account of His holy judgments being executed on evil (vss. 2-3).
3. The third is in connection with expressed worship of God Himself (vss. 4-5). The fourth is heaven’s joy in anticipation of Christ’s kingdom glory being secured and the desires of His heart fulfilled (vs. 6).
Chap. 19:7-10—The second celebration has to do with unrestrained joy in heaven being expressed in anticipation of the public display of Christ and the Church. There are two things here:
• “The marriage of the Lamb” (vs. 7). This is the time when Christ will present the Church “to Himself” as a “glorious” thing, “not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Eph. 5:2727That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:27)). It is a private and intimate affair that will be for His joy. Note: it is not called the marriage “of the bride,” but “of the Lamb,” because the whole purpose of the event is to “give honour to Him,” not to the Church, which is the bride (Eph. 5:23-3223For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:23‑32)). The bridal robes of the Church which are “fine linen, clean and white” are given to her. This is a reference to the results of the judgment seat of Christ, when “the righteousnesses of saints” will be rewarded to them. This is in contrast to the harlot who took garments of glory that didn’t belong to her and lavishly arrayed herself with them (chap. 18:7).
• “The marriage supper of the Lamb” (vs. 9). If the “marriage” is for the satisfaction and enjoyment of the Lamb and His wife, the “supper” is for the guests to enjoy. These are the Old Testament saints and the martyred Tribulation saints who will be resurrected prior to the Appearing of Christ. These could be classified as the friends of the Bridegroom (John 3:2929He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. (John 3:29)).
Vs. 10—John took his focus off the Lord Jesus Christ for a moment and fell down and worshipped one of his fellow servants and was rebuked for it. In the correction that John received there is an important principle that applies to all prophetic Scriptures—in fact, to all of the Word of God. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” This means that the underlying object of every prophecy has the testimony of the Lord Jesus and what pertains to His glory in it. Every verse may not speak about Christ directly, but “the spirit” of every passage pertains to what will ultimately glorify Him. Recognizing what is due to Christ’s honour and glory unlocks the understanding of the prophetic Scriptures.