ECONOMIC BABYLON OF REVELATION 18 MAY BE AMERICA


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The New World Order is coming

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THE CUTTING EDGE

This is David Bay, Director of Old Paths Ministries.

And this is the Cutting Edge, a radio program dedicated to warning and informing God's people. We are committed to the study and exposition of the inerrant, inspired and authoritative Word of God. The views expressed belong to us, and are not necessarily shared by this station.

Our society is deteriorating, and Bible-believing Christians are ill-prepared to face that deterioration. This radio program is dedicated to preparing God's people to meet the challenges of the Day, and to encourage obedience to the Word of God in being separated from worldliness and false doctrine.

The moral bankruptcy of our society is well-documented.

Few people understand why we have become morally bankrupt. However, when we look at society through the eyes of God, through the Bible, we can easily see why we are facing the unprecedented troubles today. This study of America through the eyes of God is what we will always do try to here; stay with us for some eye-opening truths.

Since the beginning of our radio program, we have been showing you an America of which most of you were unaware. We have shown how this nation has rejected our original foundation of Judeo-Christian values and had replaced them with actual Satanic values. This single act has resulted in many other problems with which we are now struggling: Divorce and the breakup of the traditional family, drugs, alcohol, crime of every type, the acceptance of homosexuality, and many others. For this dramatic denial of our original Christian values, America richly deserves God's physical judgment.

Also from the beginning, we have shown how America is leading the world into the New World Order, which is the Biblical Great Tribulation. As we know, the Bible calls the Great Tribulation the greatest time of God's judgment upon the entire world that mankind has ever seen, coupled with the most murderous campaign of extinction ever carried out by any leader anytime or anywhere. Of course, this leader is the Anti-Christ, the one whom the New Agers call Maitreya.

If we are truly at the end of the Age as we believe we are, we know we are headed for massive judgment from God. And finally, we know that the New World Order plans to reorganize the world into 10 Super-Nation states immediately after officially establishing the United Nations as the One-World Government. This act will be the literal fulfillment of the prophecy of 10-toes (Daniel 2:28-48) and the 10-kings prophecy (Daniel 7:1-28). God foretells in these prophecies that three of these 10 nations will immediately be destroyed after the world is reorganized. This destruction is so complete, it sounds like war, which is consistent with God's revelations concerning the events of the Great Tribulation.

According to the New World Order reorganization plan, America will be part of the North American Super-Nation, along with Canada and Mexico. Will America be one of these three super-nations which are destroyed? Today, we will show you, in detail, that America may be the Economic Babylon of Revelation 18. We believe this prophecy fits this country exactly, so precisely that it could refer to no other nation on the earth today.

Revelation 18 describes destruction by fire--God's fire--of "Babylon the Great", an evil system that has greatly stirred God's wrath.

We need to compare the "Babylon" of Chapter 17 and the Babylon of Chapter 18. These two Babylons are not the same for following reasons:

  1. `And after these things...' (18:1). The events described here will not take place until after the events of Chapter 17 have been fulfilled.
  2. Names in the two chapters are different. The `Babylon' in Chapter 17:5, is named `Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots.' We know this Babylon is religious by the words `Mystery' and `Mother of Harlots'. But, the term in Chapter 18:2 is merely `Babylon the Great'. The Babylon in Chapter 18 is a commercial Babylon.
  3. Babylon, the harlot of Chapter 17, will be destroyed by the kings (rulers) of the earth. The Babylon of Chapter 18 will be destroyed by God's cataclysmic judgments.
  4. The Babylon of Chapter 17 will be destroyed by the kings of the earth, who rejoice in her destruction. But, in Chapter 18, the kings and the merchants of the earth lament and weep for the destroyed Babylon. (18:15-19) 2
  5. Finally, common sense tells us that, once something is destroyed, it is gone. For the Babylons of Chapter 17 and 18 to be the same, the system would have to be destroyed twice. This makes no sense whatever.

Now let us begin our study, verse by verse.

THE HEAVENLY ANGEL WHO DELIVERS GOD'S JUDGMENT POSSESSES GREAT (SPECIAL) POWER OR AUTHORITY.

(18:1) "And AFTER these things, I saw another angel come down from heaven, having GREAT power; and the earth was filled with his glory." God has evidently given a special power, to this angel--hence, the words "having great power".

THIS NATION BABYLON HAS BECOME INHABITED BY SATAN AND HIS DEMONS

(18:2) "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, `Babylon the great is fallen, and is become the (resort) of (demons), and the (dwelling place) of every foul spirit, and the cage of every unclean and hateful bird.'"

This Babylon has become thoroughly inhabited by Satan and his demons. Remember our earlier discussions of such disgusting, vile American sins, the very nature of which are filled with demons and their activity? These sins have become so pervasive that God is finally moved to physical judgment.

This Nation Is THE CENTRAL NATION In The World.

(18:3) "For all nations have drunk of the wine and the wrath of her (passionate unchastity), and the (leaders) of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the (businessmen) of the earth (have become) rich through the abundance (excessive luxury) of her delicacies."

This is another powerful, overflowing statement. This city/country is THE CENTRAL nation in the world at this time.

Consider LEADERSHIP. Babylon is clearly the world leader in two areas symbolically mentioned. (1) Wine--values, ideas, culture. (2) `Delicacies' are commercial. The world has reached this point--with America.

The New Age editor of "USA Today" describes this trend:

Global communications, universal trends, and common aspirations are making us more alike than we are different. We gradually are becoming one world.

More and more people are:

"Much of the common ground comes from the GLOBAL SPREAD of U.S. pop culture--which has become EVERYBODY'S culture. ...It's a WORLDWIDE network of shared experience." 3

"USA culture has become a WORLDWIDE culture..." 4

The Biblical definition of `idolatry': I John 5:21, "Little children, keep yourselves from idols--false gods," Literally means, from anything and everything that would occupy the place in your heart due to God, from any sort of SUBSTITUTE for Him that would take FIRST place in your life.

What is it that the USA has exported to all the nations of the world? We have exported our popular culture, with its values of supremacy of self, and of satisfying oneself completely, instantly. We have exported to the entire world our god of self.

GOD CALLS HIS CHRISTIANS OUT OF BABYLON BEFORE HE EXECUTES JUDGMENT.

(18:4)--"I heard another voice from heaven saying, `Come out of her, MY people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues.'"

This message is clearly a warning to Jesus' people to stop their participation in the wickedness of this society, so they may escape the Godly wrath about to fall. Christians may have to quit their jobs, lower their lifestyle, or change their life goals. Many Christians today are winking at sin in their lives. They may be committing sin just by the nature of their jobs. For example, no Christian can work in a liquor store, or in an `Adult Only' bookstore. If the very nature of your job requires you to participate in sin, you must NOW COME OUT of that job, or face the certainty of incurring God's eternal judgment.

Also strongly implied in this passage is that conditions of life will appear to be very normal, until God's judgment suddenly falls in a single day. (Luke 17:28-30).

Herein lies God's PRINCIPLE of judgment: God will issue repeated warnings to repent before destruction. These warnings will be given to and through His. But, He has set a specific DAY for destruction. That day will dawn as any other--the sun will come up; the skies will look normal; people will be going to work or to school; traffic jams will be occurring; businesses and factories will be operating; trains, planes, and busses will be running; Wall Street will be busy.

This day upon which God's judgment will fall will look and feel like any normal day. There will be no special, visible warning.

And, destruction will be total.

BABYLON'S SINS HAVE PILED UP FROM EARTH TO HEAVEN. THE TIME HAS ARRIVED TO CALL THEM UP FOR REMEMBRANCE.

(18:5)--"For her crimes and transgressions--are piled up as high as heaven and God has remembered her wickedness and her crimes--and calls them up for settlement..."

This is a statement of staggering proportions. How high is it from earth to heaven? When these sins are stacked, they literally reach from earth to heaven, according to God's accounting.

God DOUBLES The Punishment Which This Nation Is To Receive.

(18:6)--"Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double."

Our destruction will be by both massive nuclear blasts and earthquakes. Dr. Einstein clearly proved that a small nuclear blast on the right place on an earthquake fault would produce earthquakes of such magnitude as to displace entire continents. The North American continent is covered with many such faults, from sea to shining sea. Thus, America would be doubly-destroyed, just as God foretold. Our destruction will be by both massive nuclear blasts and earthquakes.

Further, I understood God's reasoning in doubling America's punishment. America has led the way in originating and thoroughly disseminating spiritual lies and the love of the world, to our children and the children of the world. These children then grow to adulthood to pass these un-Christian values to their children.

How many children's eternal souls have been lost through:

America's leadership in these sins has been instrumental in leading untold millions, perhaps billions, of precious souls into eternal Hell. Is it any wonder that God singles her out for "double" punishment?

BABYLON BOASTS PROUDLY IN HER HEART OF HER RICHES, BELIEVING SHE WILL CONTINUE FOREVER IN HER PROSPERITY.

(18:7)--"How much she has glorified herself, and lived (luxuriously), so much torment and sorrow give her; for she says in her heart, `I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.'"

Many of my friends believe that this good life will never end. Certainly, the very rich believe it with all their heart. Americans still lead the world in the wealth of her businessmen.

The number of billionaires per country.

USA 40+

Japan 24

West Germany 13

United Kingdom 7

Hong Kong 6

Canada 6

Saudi Arabia 5 5

American businessmen still hold the predominate wealth in the world. What is the attitude on the part of Americans toward this wealth? They believe they need nothing else and that this good time will never end.

This passage also implies that, at the time of God's destruction, this nation will be at her HEIGHT of power and monetary influence. Is America at her economic zenith now, or are we in serious decline?

"...The average American has NEVER HAD IT SO GOOD. By almost any measure of health and wealth...we are demonstrably better off now than in the...50's and 60's.

"The old in America work less and live longer, and at the same time, they are wealthier and more independent than ever before...today's elderly have piled up assets like no other generation of oldsters in history..." 9

America is now at her zenith of economic power, even though we are currently struggling with recession and loss of jobs.

GOD'S JUDGMENTS FALL IN ONE DAY UTTERLY DESTROYING BABYLON.

(18:8)--"Therefore, shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for (mighty) is the Lord God who judges her."

At this point, carefully consider the statement of God in Jeremiah 50:25, "The LORD hath opened his armory, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts." This passage could read, "The Lord has opened His armory, and has brought forth [the nations who unknowingly] are the weapons of His indignation and wrath..." Amazing!! God has used men and nations to accomplish His will in most instances when He delivers His wrath.

Historically, no nation has ever been utterly destroyed in one day. The single-day destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who were destroyed by a small primitive nuclear weapon, was actually a destruction which occurred within a SINGLE HOUR. As we look ahead to verse 10, God further narrows Babylon's destruction to a single hour. The nature of nuclear destruction is complete, utter devastation, within seconds and minutes. This destruction occurs from blast, radiation, and (fire)--hotter than the sun's surface.

This is the first, and only, time in world history that an ENTIRE nation could literally be destroyed in a single hour--with massive nuclear weapons.

EARTH'S LEADERS BEMOAN BABYLON'S DESTRUCTION.

(18:9)--"And the rulers and leaders of the earth, who joined her in her immorality [idolatry] and luxuriated with her, will weep and beat their breasts and lament over her when they see the smoke of her conflagration."

This nation provided great leadership and she was the economic engine of the world. World leaders are weeping because this loss threatens their own luxurious wealth. Does America really buy from all other nations of the world to such a degree?

"...The Third World now relies upon the United States to buy 65% of its manufactured exports, compared with only 45% in 1979." 10

The USA imports more than both Japan and West Germany combined. Remember Jesus' words, "...no one will buy their cargo anymore...")

Country Exports Imports

USA 322 Billion 460 Billion

Japan 265 Billion 187 Billion

W. Germany 323 Billion 236 Billion

Remember, the key to this prophecy is on imports from other nations. This Economic Babylon undoubtedly has a very large Import imbalance, as she imports so much merchandise from the rest of the world.

Finally, look at the word `conflagration'--the inevitable white plumes formed by a nuclear explosion.

EARTH'S BUSINESSMEN BEMOAN BABYLON'S FATE. IMMENSITY AND COMPLEXITY OF BABYLON'S ECONOMY IS DESCRIBED.

(18:10-17a) -- "They (the rulers of the earth in verse 9) will stand a long way off, in terror of her torment, and they will cry, `Woe and alas! The great city! The mighty city, Babylon! In one single hour, how your doom (judgment) has overtaken you. And earth's businessmen weep and grieve over her, because no one buys their (cargo) any more."

God then describes the extent of the economy of this nation, and it is huge. We do not have the time to read this text in detail, but we encourage you to read it, in verses 12-14.

God's judgment pronouncement is severe:

"The ripe fruits and delicacies for which your soul longed have gone from you, and ALL your luxuries and dainties, ... are lost to you, never again to be recovered or experienced." `Because, in one [single] hour, all the vast wealth has been wiped out.'"

Now consider some pertinent points of this passage:

I. In verses 10 and 15, God says that the rulers and the businessmen are standing a "long way off" in their intense lamenting over the loss of this great nation. Look at a world globe. The North American continent is UNIQUELY SURROUNDED on all sides by immense bodies of water. The great majority of our commercial trade is done with two major parts of the world--Asia to the West, across the Pacific Ocean; and Europe, to the East, across the Atlantic.

II. Verse 11: this great nation was unique. She alone bought such a huge amount of the cargo from the other nations of the world. No nation could replace her.

Only America is EXTREMELY DEPENDENT upon consumer purchasing for the health of her economy. Two-thirds of our total economic activity is generated by consumer spending.

Other statistics which show clearly that America is unique in the world's economy.

Compare the wealth of nations in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). Assign the US an index score of 100...Listed below are the scores of the other nations."17

India-- PPP 17 Red China-- PPP 19 S. Korea--PPP 31

Taiwan-- PPP 36 Singapore-- PPP 46 USSR-- PPP 47

Italy-- PPP 54 Hong Kong--PPP 58 Britain-- PPP 66

E. Germany-- PPP 70 Japan-- PPP 77 France-- PPP 79

W. Germany--PPP 84

3. America's loss to the world's economy would be devastating. The world would lose THE MOST PRODUCTIVE agricultural exporting continent in the WORLD.

Turning back to Revelation 6:4: the second rider out of heaven was on a flaming red horse; this rider carried a huge sword, bringing great war upon the earth, so that men slaughtered one another. If we understood that this great slaughter was the utter destruction of Canada and the USA in Chapter 18, then we could easily see how Revelation 6:5-6 and 6:8 could be fulfilled literally and quickly. Revelation 6:5-6 describe famine and subsistence living for the world's people. This scenario would certainly happen quickly, once the world's most productive agricultural continent, and the world's most important economic engine, was removed. Instantly following the nuclear annihilation of North America, the stock markets and economies of Europe and Asia would collapse, plunging the global economy into the deepest economic depression ever.

The literal fulfillment to Revelation 6:8 would quickly follow--famine, plague, disease.

The economy of this great nation is described in 18:12-13, and 16, as vast, multifaceted economy. The key emphasis is on the volume of merchandise which this economy IMPORTS.

SHIP CAPTAINS, NAVIGATORS, AND CREWS BEMOAN BABYLON'S FATE

(18:17b-19)--"...And all ship captains and pilots, navigators, and all who live by seafaring...stood a long way off, and exclaimed as they watched the smoke of her burning, `What city could be compared to the great city!' And, they threw dust on their heads, as they wept and grieved, exclaiming, `Woe and alas, for the great city, where all who had ships on the sea grew rich through her extravagance from her great wealth! In one single hour, she has been destroyed, and has become a desert.'"

Babylon was unique in that she imported/exported most of her trade via the sea. As we have already stated, only America is so uniquely situated geographically that she has to carry her imports so completely via the ocean.

In 18:9, 15, and 19: the leaders, businessmen, and ship-owners able to see the smoke of this nation's burning. Not even huge pillars of white nuclear smoke, rising over America, could be seen with the naked eye 2,000-4,000 miles away. This viewing of the smoke from such great distances can only occur today, with TV transmissions from orbiting satellites.

* The very end of verse 19: This destruction has made this nation `a desert'. One of the effects of nuclear explosions, especially at the point of impact, is the formation of glass and sand.

BABYLON WILL BE DESTROYED BY GREAT VIOLENCE AS THOUGH A MIGHTY MILLSTONE WERE CAST INTO THE SEA.

(18:21)--"And a MIGHTY angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, `Thus, with such violence, shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be heard no more at all.'"

This destruction of this nation will evidently be of UNPARALLELED VIOLENCE, producing a destruction, the likes of which have NEVER been seen BEFORE in world history.

EVERYTHING COMPRISING A CIVILIZATION IS GONE FOREVER.

(18:22-23a)--"And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee..."

BABYLON'S GREAT BUSINESS LEADERS WILL BE DESTROYED FOR THE WAY IN WHICH THEY MISLEAD OTHERS.

(18:23b)--"...for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived."

The United States of America has led the world into this Satanic New World Order, both in terms of national political and economic leadership, but mostly in the leadership of values. People all over the world have yearned to be like America, as they have seen our wealth, success, and power. Such a position draws people to emulate, to allow themselves to be deceived.

Such is the case today.

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