Mystery Babylon This Blog is going to be about the Great City called Babylon that is mentioned in the Book of Revelations. Today there is no Great City called Babylon, but Babylon still exists in her ruins, one day before Jesus returns there will be a Great City called Babylon. Before we start this Blog in Revelations, I want to take you on a short walk of History in regards to Babylon. If you are interested then please continue. Babylon was a City and was part of the Kingdom of Babylon; Babylon as a City does not exist today as it did back in the Days way before Jesus Christ, she has been in ruins since approximately 141 BC. Even though it was in ruins people still lived in the ruins of the City once called Babylon and still lived in the Kingdom once called the Kingdom of Babylon. There are historical artefacts that show that people still lived in Babylon/Babylonia just before and also after the Birth of Jesus Christ. Flavius Josephus recorded that after the conquest of Syria by a Parthian expedition in 40 BC, the Parthians got involved in the Civil war in Judea between the brothers Aristobulus 11, and Hyrcanus 11. High Priest Hyrcanus was taken captive from Judea and brought to the Parthian Empire. According to Josephus, the Parthian King Phraates iv treated Hyrcanus respectfully and allowed High Priest Hyrcanus to stay and settle in Babylon. This place called Babylon/Babylonia was a place that many Jews still lived. Below is a Map of the Parthian Empire showing Babylon as a place that still existed on the Map.
As you can see by the above Map Babylon still existed as a place to live. King Herod was alive before the birth of Jesus Christ; it was during King Herod s reign that the High Priest Hyrcanus was released by the Parthians. King Herod welcomed Hyrcanus back to Jerusalem from Babylon, but Herod could not make Hyrcanus High Priest again. According to Josephus, King Herod arranged for another Jewish man from Babylon to become the High Priest, this man was called Hanan-el. This High Priest was recorded as being a descendant of the High Priest Zadok who was a High Priest during the reign of King Solomon. Sadly the High Priest Hanan-el was not approved by the family of Herod and it was later arranged for Aristobulus to become High Priest. Aristobulus was officiated as the High Priest at the Feast of tabernacles 35 BC. If you look at the Map to the right of Babylon you will see a place called Vologasta, this place is mentioned in writings and speaks of trade routes still running through this area in 50 AD. There may not have been the Grand City of Babylon but it still existed as a place to live and trade through. Palmyrene business men still came to Babylon for their business. There were Palmyrenes living in Babylon. In 37-41 AD during the reign of Caligula there was a Jewish Philosopher called Philo of Alexandria, Philo spoke of the regions of land on the other Northern side of the Euphrates, Philo speaks of Babylon being still occupied by many Jewish people in the first half of the 1 st Century AD. There is much in History that records the above facts. People still live in Babylon today; Saddam Hussein had a great plan in the rebuilding of Babylon before he was killed. Babylon still exists today and there are people who live there and also tourism has a role to play. Below is a photo of the replica of the Ishtar gate, it is taken in Babylon and is for tourists to see today.
Below is another photo of people going to the ruins of Babylon in our time, it is a replica of the Ishtar Gate. It is not a Grand City as you can see, but it still exists. Now I want to get into the Word of God and see what is written about a future Babylon. Look at the verses below as they are the verses we will study for this Blog. Rev_14:8 And 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. Rev_16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. Rev_17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Rev_18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. Rev_18:10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. Rev_18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Part 1. Babylon the Great City Falls because of her fornication with nations. Rev_14:8 And 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. Revelations 14:8 is the first time that Babylon is mentioned in the Book of Revelations, it is actually an Angel of God that tells us about the Great City Babylon. This Angel states the following: Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that Great City because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. There are some points that I want to show you in this verse. Babylon is a Great City and referred to as a she Babylon commits Fornication with Nations Babylon made other Nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Babylon is linked to the Beast, the image of the Beast and the mark of the Beast Babylon the Great City is going to fall from her high great place We don t know where this Great City Babylon is, but we know that she is regarded as a Great City by the Angel of God. In fact she was a Great City before she fell. This word Fallen in the Greek is pipto and means to fall from a high place to a lower place; it can be spoken of as a person or a thing. It is the same Greek word that Jesus used when he spoke of the fall of Satan. Luk 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Luk 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Jesus was talking about the fall of Satan who used to have a High position as an Angel of God. We read of this fall in Isaiah.
Isa 14:12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! Isa 14:13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. This Great City of Babylon is a Mighty and Grand City but she falls from her place of stature when she begins to commit Fornication with other Nations The Angel of God even tells us how she fell; Babylon has fallen because she made all the nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. Babylon is a City and the Angel refers to her as a woman that commits fornication with not just one Nation but many Nations, she is like a woman that is beautiful, but sadly she commits fornication with not just one man but many men. She falls from her place of Beauty and is now like a Whore. The Greek word for Fornication is porneia it is where we get our English word Porn from, Porneia means Sexual Sin, Lewdness or any sexual sin. The Angel has made it very clear to us that this Great City has relationships with other nations that are like a woman that is committing sexual sin with many men. The Great City is like a Whore. The Greek word for Whore is porne We get a picture in Proverbs of a Whore. Pro_23:27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. The Great City Babylon will lead many Nations into a Ditch.
When you read Revelations 14:8-9 you can see clearly that there is a link with the Great City Babylon and the Beast and his image and the mark on the forehead or hand. Rev 14:8 And 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. Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, We know by the above verses that the Great City Babylon will exist at the timing of the Beast, the image of the Beast and the mark on the forehead. God wants us to be aware of this Great City Babylon and also the Beast, God does not want us to be deceived by the Beauty of the Great City before she falls, and God does not want us to worship the Beast when he comes, especially not worship the image and not receive the Mark of the Beast. God does not leave us without hope during the period of time of the Great City Babylon and the Beast, God actually gives us an exhortation in Revelations 14:12-13 Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. What a beautiful exhortation for the Saints of God, even though tribulation may come and Saints will die there is a beautiful picture of Truth. We will rest from our labour. This exhortation is such a comfort for many Followers of Jesus today that are killed in the Middle East and other persecuted countries for their Faith in Jesus. We don t yet know where this Babylon City is or when she will exist, but we know she is related to the Beast and His image. It will most likely be in the Middle East as the Bible is Middle East focused.
Will it be in Iraq I do not know? But we will know one day. These are the points that I want to us to remember from this Part 1 Blog. Babylon is a Great City and referred to as a she Babylon commits Fornication with Nations Babylon made other Nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication Babylon is linked to the Beast, the image of the Beast and the mark of the Beast Babylon the Great City is going to fall from her high great place I believe it is important to see the above just as the Angel has declared. Babylon is a Great City and has an evil association with Nations and the Beast. I hope you have enjoyed this Part 1 Blog and hope that you will enjoy the next Blog Part 2 where we look at the next verse in Revelations where the City Babylon is mentioned again. The City Babylon is mentioned again in Revelations 16:19 Rev_16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. If you have enjoyed this Blog please let others know, if you have any questions please feel free to ask by sending me an email. Joel Richardson has just written a new Book on Mystery Babylon, the Link is below. http://www.joelstrumpet.com/ Joel is a man of God that I respect greatly, he brings great light on the subject of Mystery Babylon. Please consider buying his book.