The Seventh Vial
(Chap. 16:16-21)
Christ’s first act in judgment at His Appearing will be on the Western powers under the (personal) Beast as his massive navy comes to the land of Israel from the west (Num. 24:24). This judgment is described under the figure of “the great city” of “Babylon” being overthrown and destroyed. The overthrow of Babylon in history by Cyrus the Persian is a picture of this judgment. Cyrus is a type of Christ and Babylon is a type of the Western powers under the personal beast (Isa. 44:28). The first thing that Cyrus did after he defeated the Babylonians was grant deliverance to the Jews who were captive in Babylon (Isa. 45:1-4). This is exactly what the Lord will do when He appears. He will judge the western powers and deliver the faithful Jewish remnant from the persecution leveled at them.
(Christ’s Appearing in judgment is described in further detail when the thread of events is resumed in chapter 19:11).