- [Narrator] The rise and
fall of Babylon, Nimrod, Nebuchadnezzar, the Antichrist,
and a New World Order. Today we see a lot of
people challenge God. However, this seed had been
planted for thousands of years. This is the story of the great
cities that challenged God. It starts with the first man
who created such a kingdom. The story of Nimrod and Babel
is an intriguing tale that speaks to themes of ambition, pride, and the desire for unity in a way that defies the will of God. Nimrod's accounts are
primarily found in the Book of Genesis, specifically
in chapters 10 and 11. Genesis chapter 10:8-10, "Cush became the father of Nimrod. He became a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord. Therefore, it is said like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord. The beginning of his
kingdom was Babal and Uruk, Akkad and Kalneht in the
land of Shinar in Babylonia." The name Nimrod has become
synonymous with being a rebel influenced by his rebellious
act against God through the building of the Tower of Babel. Nimrod is primarily known as a
mighty hunter before the Lord making him an unparalleled
figure in terms of his skills and might according to Genesis 10:9. His hunting skills weren't just a sport, it was a sign of leadership
and strength in a world that was still recovering
from the Great Flood. Nimrod was a protector, a
provider, and a conqueror. He was a powerful leader, credited with building the
city of Babylon among others. People often connect Nimrod with the idea of civilization itself, bringing people together to live in cities rather than scattered about. The Bible tells us that his
kingdom began with Babel, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh,
in the land of Shinar, Genesis 10:10. These locations later became
the ancient kingdom of Babylon, which plays a significant role
throughout biblical history. The city's Nimrod founded
continued to become great empires. The ancient city of
Akkad was a major center of early civilization. Kalneh is another city
in the region of Shinar, though it's less known
compared to the others. After Nimrod was done setting up those first cities in Shinar, he moved to another place called Assyria and built even more cities. He built Nineveh, perhaps the
most famous Assyrian city, especially known for the
story of Jonah and the Whale. He also built Resen. The Bible says this is a great city and it's located between
Nineveh and Calah. So Nimrod wasn't just strong and brave, he was also a city builder. He established centers that
would later become key locations in ancient history and
in other Bible stories. To build a city requires great ambition. Nimrod had fulfilled his
ambition on the earth and now set his sights on God. Babel. Babel is often thought to
be the same as Babylon. In fact, some Bible translations
actually list the city as Babel rather than Babylon. His kingdom began with
Babylon and Uruk and Akkad and Kalneh in the land of Shinar. Before Nimrod and his kingdom, the people were likely organized in smaller communities and tribes. The Bible doesn't specifically
mention the governance or social structures that
existed before Nimrod, but we can assume they were
more basic and less centralized. Within the context of Babylon is the story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9, which is perhaps the most famous
episode involving Babylon. In the middle of Mesopotamia, there was a big flat area of
land that was good for farming and looked welcoming. The people of this era, filled
with purpose and ambition, agreed to construct a city,
but this was no ordinary city. Its centerpiece would be a tower, a ziggurat reaching up
to the heaven so high, they believed, that it
would make them invincible even to the acts of God. After the flood, people began
to settle and grow in number. Before the tower's construction, the people spoke one language
and had a united purpose. The people who settled in Shinar
are the ones who attempted to build the Tower of Babel
as told in Genesis 11:1-9. They said to each other, "Come let's make bricks
and bake them thoroughly." They used brick instead of
stone and tar for mortar. Then they said, "Come let
us build ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens so that we may make a name for ourselves. Otherwise we will be
scattered over the face of the whole earth." Genesis 11:3-4. God wasn't too happy
about this and confused .their languages, scattering
them over the earth. Their intent was to achieve
unity but not under God's terms. They wanted to build a
tower to reach heaven, which was a direct defiance
of God's plan for them to multiply and spread across the earth. The tower served as a guide to them. It was a symbol of what
people could achieve and how smart they were. As bricks were fired and
as the mortar was spread, the tower began its climb
towards the heavens. It was to be named Babel. Nimrod, as a powerful leader
and builder of Babylon, embodies the themes of ambition and pride that are evident in the
story of the Tower of Babel. So the tower was left
incomplete, a leftover from when people thought they could reach the sky, but were reminded they couldn't
escape their human limits. But this is not the end of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. Babylon is the capital of the empire, which would eventually destroy Judah. It is in southern Mesopotamia. In the Bible, the city
of Babylon is contrasted with the city of Jerusalem, the proud city of humanity
versus the holy city of God. The term Babel originates from
the Hebrew language and means gate of God. However, because the
word Babel is so similar to the word Balal, confusion, that it's associated with
a famous Tower of Babel and the confusion of human languages. Babel Babylon is a symbol
of rebellion against God. The earthly city of human
splendor opposing the heavenly city that glorifies God. Ancient Babylon was a famous
city that was situated in the region of Mesopotamia
that is now known as Iraq. It is used throughout the
Bible as a metaphor for human arrogance, disobedience and
the worship of false gods. The Bible doesn't give us
a ton of details about what Babylon was like before
the reign of Nimrod, but it does provide some interesting points for consideration. Babylon was part of the land of Shinar, which is where people settled
after Noah's Ark came to rest and the waters of the flood receded. Babylon and the Bible was
a place where many people, including the Israelites, were taken and made to live far from home. When Babylon defeated a
city called Jerusalem, they didn't just take the land. They also took away many smart and skilled people from Judah. These people had to work for the king and help make Babylon a better place. They were more than just laborers who made use of their hands. Many of them held essential
jobs such as teaching, being artists and holding other positions. They were a key part of Babylon's rise to prominence and success. The defeat and exile wasn't a surprise. Israel had been warned by
prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah that they would
be subject to a significant onslaught if they turned
their backs on God. Nebuchadnezzar at this time
was the king of Babylon. One day his army went to
Judah and conquered it. Nebuchadnezzar had married a
beautiful princess from the Persian mountains where Tehran, Iran's capital, is now located. She arrived at Nebuchadnezzar's palace but quickly became homesick. She missed the mountains, the trees, and the wild animals the most. When Nebuchadnezzar learned the reason for her dissatisfaction, he immediately made a commitment
to rectify the situation. He built a huge mountain outta
bricks and then covered it with bushes, trees, and
plants of various kinds. Because of its incredible beauty, it was recognized as one of
the Seven Wonders of the World. The hanging gardens of Babylon drew a large number of visitors. Then on top of the guards, he built a private zoo of wild
animals to please his wife, unfamiliar with the flat
plain surrounding Babylon. One day he was on the roof
of his magnificent palace when he realized what he had accomplished. "Isn't this the great
Babylon that I have built by my power and glory?" He asked. He dozed off and dreamed of a massive tree reaching for the sky. Animals sought refuge beneath it and birds perched in its branches. The tree was cut down and
bound in iron before regrowing. He asked Daniel for an
interpretation once more. The king shared the news
with his magicians, mediums, Chaldeans and diviners, but none of them were able to
make sense of what it meant. Daniel was sent to solve the problem after all other attempts
had been unsuccessful. It's strange that Nebuchadnezzar
questioned his wise man rather than going directly
to Daniel to get his interpretation of the dream given Daniel's history
of interpreting dreams. However, it appears that
Nebuchadnezzar was a slow learner. Daniel was given the name
Beltheshazzar by Nebuchadnezzar after his Babylonian God, Bel. The man was clinging to his pagan idols. Daniel chapter four, verses 14 through 24, "He shouted aloud and said this, 'Cut down the tree and
cut off its branches, shake off its leaves
and scatter its fruit. Let the living creatures run from under it and the birds fly from its branches. Nevertheless, leave the
stump with its roots in the ground bound with
a band of iron and bronze in the new grass of the
field and let him be wet with the dew of heaven and let him feed with the animals in
the grass of the earth. Let his mind and nature be
changed from a man's and let an animal's mind and nature be given to him. And let seven periods
of time pass over him." This sentence is by the decree
of the angelic watchers and the decision is a command
of the holy ones so that the living may know without doubt
that the most high God rules over the kingdom of mankind and
he bestows it on whomever he desires and sets over at the
humblest and lowliest of men. This is the dream which I
King Nebuchadnezzar have seen. Now you, Beltheshazzar,
explain its meaning since none of the wise
men of my kingdom are able to reveal its interpretation to me. But you are able, for a spirit
of the holy gods is in you. Then Daniel, whose Babylonian
name was Beltheshazzar, was appalled and speechless
for a while because he was deeply concerned about the
destiny of the king and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, "Beltheshazzar,
do not let the dream or its interpretation frighten you." Beltheshazzar answered, "My Lord, may the dream be meant
for those who hate you and its message for your enemies. The tree that you saw which
became great and grew strong, whose height reached to heaven,
and which was visible to all the earth, whose foliage was beautiful and its fruit abundant, and on
which was food for all under which the beasts of the field
lived and in whose branches the birds of the sky nested. It is you, O King, who have
become great and grown strong. Your greatness has increased
and it reaches to heaven and your dominion reaches to
the ends of the earth." In that the king saw an angelic watcher, a holy one descending
from heaven and saying, cut the tree down and destroy it, but leave the stump with
its roots in the earth, but with a band of iron and
bronze around it in the new grass of the field and let him
be wet with the dew of heaven and let him feed with the
beasts of the field until seven periods of time pass over him. This is the interpretation, O King, it is the decree of the most high God, which has come upon my Lord the King." Daniel appeared to be
taken aback for a time when he heard the interpretation of the dream, which suggests that God had
apparently revealed the meaning of the dream to Daniel as soon as Nebuchadnezzar
finished recounting it. He didn't wish the king ill
but rather hope the king would turn from his sins and
God's awful judgment. Daniel delivered the good
news first, then the bad. Nebuchadnezzar would not only be the tree but also the stump. The final words that Daniel
spoke to Nebuchadnezzar during his visit were an earnest appeal
for the king to repent and throw himself on the compassion of God. However, there was no
response from the king at all. All this happened to
Nebuchadnezzar the king. 12 months later, he was walking on the upper level of the royal palace of Babylon. The king said, thoughtfully,
"Is not this the great Babylon, which I myself have built
as the royal residence and seed of government
by the might of my power, and for the honor and
glory of my majesty?" While the words were
still in the king's mouth, a voice came as if falling
from heaven saying, "O King Nebuchadnezzar,
to you it is declared, the kingdom has been removed from you and you will be driven away from mankind, and your dwelling place will be with the animals of the field. You'll be given grass
to eat like the cattle, and seven periods of
time will pass over you until you know without any
doubt that the most high God rules over the kingdom of mankind, and he bestows it on whomever he desires." Immediately, the word
concerning Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from mankind and began eating grass like cattle, and his body was wet with
the dew of heaven until his hair had grown like eagles feathers, and his nails were like bird's claws. Daniel 4:28-33. With time, Nebuchadnezzar
appears to have forgotten God's warning of impending
judgment on his arrogance. God's 12 month extension of grace did not move the king to repentance. If anything, the delay made him believe
he had escaped with his life. One day, he looked out from
his palace and exclaimed, "Isn't this Babylon the great
that I have built by my vast power and for my majestic glory?" In other words, his ego had
reached its highest point and he was profoundly
reflecting on the splendor of the kingdom he had built. But at that very moment, the judgment Nebuchadnezzar
had seen in his dream was proclaimed by a voice from heaven. He was immediately struck
with a form of insanity, causing him to act and
live like an animal. After his lengthy exile was over, Nebuchadnezzar made a
proclamation that was a radical departure from his earlier ones. He praised the most high,
declaring that his dominion is an everlasting dominion. He does whatever he wants. No one can stop him. Through his humiliation, the Babylonian King discovered
who was truly in charge. He regained control of his kingdom after regaining his sanity. Nebuchadnezzar's final recorded
words in the Bible are, "God is able to humble
those who walk in pride." A truth we must all embrace and live by. Don't force God to teach you
like he did Nebuchadnezzar. Remember that pride
always precedes a fall. Proverbs 16:18. "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." There's only one king who rules over the entire universe. God is a judge of kings and nations. God judged the unrighteousness
of Nebuchadnezzar's government because he sought
to usurp God's sole authority. And in the end, Nebuchadnezzar wound up
making the very confession God decreed he would make, Heaven rules. The fall of Babylon. Beltheshazzar succeeded Nebuchadnezzar as king many years later. One night during a big party, Beltheshazzar and his high ranking friends were disrespectfully using
special cups and plates they had stolen from a
holy temple in Jerusalem. At some point during the festivities, a phantom hand appeared and
scribbled on the palace wall. If you received an
ominous message from God, what would you do? There is absolutely no way to escape and no man can save you. This king was about to hear
the worst news of his life, and it will be known for years to come. The events of Daniel 5 occurred in 539 BC, the year, the very night, in fact, that the great Babylonian
kingdom founded by Nebuchadnezzar fell to a coalition of the
Medes and the Persians. If Beltheshazzar was aware of
Nebuchadnezzar's humiliation due to his pride at the
hands of God in Daniel 4, he had clearly not learned from it. Rather, he treated God's
holy vessels like bar mugs, demonstrating his contempt for them. According to God, this action marked the
beginning of the end for the king's empire. When the Lord started writing about Beltheshazzar's destruction
on the palace wall, the king lost control of his
bodily functions out of terror. But like Nebuchadnezzar before him, the king promised a
reward to anyone who could decipher the inscription. His so-called wise men, on the other hand, were a bunch of knuckleheads. The queen had emerged from
her chamber by this time to reassure the king. Daniel was called in
and generously honored, since she remembered his prior
service to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 5:17-21. "Then Daniel answered
and said before the king, 'Keep your gifts for yourself and give your rewards to someone else. However, I will read
the writing to the king and reveal the interpretation to him.' O, King, the most high
God gave Nebuchadnezzar, your father, a kingdom and
greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the
greatness that he gave him, all the people's, nations and
speakers of every language trembled and feared him. Whomever he wished, he killed. And whomever he wished, he kept alive. Whomever he wished, he promoted, and whomever he wished, he humbled. But when his heart was lifted
up and his spirit became so proud that he behaved arrogantly, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. He was also driven from mankind
and his mind was made like that of an animal, and his dwelling place
was with the wild donkeys. He was given grass to eat like
cattle and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until
he came to know without doubt that the most high God rules
over the kingdom of mankind and he appoints it to whomever he wills." Daniel was well aware that
Beltheshazzar was a wicked king whom God had sent to be judged, and he had no desire
to share in his spoils. Nonetheless, Daniel had a
message of judgment to deliver, which was proceeded by a refresher course on Nebuchadnezzar's life. According to Daniel, the problem was that
Beltheshazzar knew all this, yet he still refused to
repent and be humble. Beltheshazzar exalted himself
against the Lord and worshiped inanimate objects rather than the God who gave him existence and breath. So rather than repenting of
the very things that had gotten his predecessor into trouble, he simply shook his
fist in the face of God. Daniel 5:25-31. This is the inscription that was written. Mene, Mene, Tekel, Upharsin. Numbered, numbered, weighed and divided. This is the interpretation of the message. Mene, God has numbered
the days of your kingdom and put an end to it. Tekel, you have been weighed
on the scales of righteousness and found deficient. Peres, your kingdom has
been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians. Then Beltheshazzar gave the command and Daniel was clothed with
purple and a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation
concerning him was issued declaring that he now had
authority as the third ruler in the kingdom. During that same night, Beltheshazzar, the last Chaldean King, was slain by troops of the invading army. So Darius the Mede received the kingdom. He was about the age of 62. Daniel interpreted the writing
on the wall after reviewing the king's crimes against God. The words meant that
Beltheshazzar's reign had ended, that he was lacking in God's eyes, and that his kingdom had been given. This story is so well
known that the phrase he can see the writing on the wall has become a proverb, implying that a person can
see what's going to happen in the future and understands his fate, while it was too late for
Beltheshazzar to change his mind. God declares war on Babylon and announces victory over Babylon. Jeremiah 50:4-10, Amplified Bible. "In those days and at
that time, says the Lord, the children of Israel will come, they and the children of Judah together. They will come up weeping
and repentance as they come and seek the Lord their God,
inquiring for and of him. They will ask the way to
Zion with their faces in that direction saying, come, let us join ourselves to
the Lord in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten. My people have become lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray. They have made their turn aside
to the seductive places of idolatry on the mountains. They have gone along
from one sin to another, from mountain to hill. They have forgotten
their own resting place. All who found them have devoured them and their adversaries have said, we are not guilty because they
have sinned against the Lord and are no longer holy to him. Their true habitation of
righteousness and justice, even the Lord, the confident
hope of their fathers. "Wander away from the midst of Babylon and go out of the land of the Chaldeans. Be like the male goats
who serve as leaders at the head of the flocks. For behold, I will stir up
and bring up against Babylon, an assembly of great nations
from the north country. They will equip themselves and set up the battle lines against her. From there she will be taken captive. Their arrows will be like an
expert warrior who will not return empty handed. Chaldea will become plunder. All who plunder her will be
satisfied," says the Lord. In the eyes of God, the people of Israel were
like sheep without a shepherd, mistreated by both their
leaders and captors. Behold the least of the
nations shall be a wilderness, a dry land and a desert. Because of the wrath of the Lord, she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by
Babylon shall be horrified and hiss at all her plagues. Here we learn why God was
destroying this great empire. To begin with, the Babylonians
were glad they could devastate and subjugate Judah. Yes, Babylon was God's tool
to chasten his sinful people, but the Babylonians went too
far and enjoyed it too much. They acted like a joyful
calf playing in the grain and eating its fill. God will ultimately curse any
nation that has cursed Israel. Jeremiah 50:14-16. "Set yourselves in battle
formation against Babylon on every side. All you archers shoot at her. Do not spare the arrows. For she has sinned against the Lord. Raise the battle cry
against her on every side. She has given her hand in
agreement and has surrendered. Her pillars have fallen. Her walls have been torn down. For this is the vengeance of the Lord. Take vengeance on her. As she has done to others, do to her. Cut off the sower from Babylon
and the one who handles the sickle at the time of harvest. For fear of the sword of the oppressor, everyone will return to his people and everyone will flee to his own land." Just as Babylon had been
God's tool to chasten Judah, so the invaders, Cyrus with
the Medes and Persians, and later Alexander with his Greek army, would be God's weapon to defeat Babylon. God spoke to the invading
armies and commanded them to get their weapons ready and shout for victory because they would win the battle. This was no ordinary war. This was the vengeance of the Lord. I set a trap for you and you
also were caught, O Babylon, and you did not know it. You have been found and
also seized because you have struggled against the Lord. The Lord has opened his
armory and has brought out the nations who unknowingly are
the weapons of his indignation. For it is a work of the Lord God of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans. Come against her from the farthest border, open her storehouses, pile
it up like heaps of rubbish, burn and destroy her completely. Let nothing be left of her. Kill all her young bulls, her strength, her young men. Let them go down to the slaughter. Woe, judgment is coming to the Chaldeans, for the day has come, the
time of their punishment. The Lord was in command of the
invasion and his orders were to be carried out explicitly. Babylon the hammer was itself shattered. Babylon was caught in God's trap and couldn't escape God's weapons. Their young men would
be executed like cattle. For the day of judgment
for Babylon had come. The Lord directed the Babylonians
attention to the great army that he had called from the north, a cruel army without mercy
whose March sounded like the roaring of the sea. This report paralyzed the king of Babylon, like a hungry lion looking for prey, Cyrus and then Alexander
would attack Babylon, and nobody would be able to resist. "Flee out of Babylon. Let every one of you save his life. Do not be destroyed in her punishment. For this is the time of
the Lord's vengeance, he is going to pay her
what she has earned. Babylon has been a golden
cup in the Lord's hand, intoxicating all the earth. The nations drank her wine. Therefore, the nations have gone mad. Babylon has suddenly
fallen and it is shattered. Wail for her if you care to. Get balm for her incurable pain. Perhaps she may be healed. We would've healed Babylon,
but she was not to be healed, abandon her and let each captive
return to his own country. For her guilt and judgment
have reached to heaven, and are lifted up to the very skies. The Lord has brought about our
vindication and has revealed the righteousness of our cause. Come and let us proclaim in Zion the work of the Lord our God." The Lord reassured his people
that he was still with them and gave them another
order to leave Babylon as soon as they could. When Cyrus opened the door
for the people to go home, about 50,000 people returned
to Judah to restore Jerusalem and the temple. For thus says the Lord, when 70 years of exile have
been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep my
good promise to you to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans and
thoughts that I have for you, says the Lord, plans for peace and wellbeing
and not for disaster. To give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on me and
you will come and pray to me and I will hear your voice
and I will listen to you. Then with a deep longing, you will seek me and require
me as a vital necessity and you will find me
when you search for me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will restore your
fortunes and I will free you and gather you from all
the nations and from all the places where I have
driven you, says the Lord. And I will bring you
back to the place from where I sent you into exile. With you, I shatter the
farmer and his yoke of oxen. And with you, I shattered
governors and commanders. Babylon was built in a rather flat area, but to the eyes of the world, it loomed like a great
mountain of destruction on the horizon of history. But after God was done with Babylon, it would be nothing more
than a dormant volcano, a burnt mountain. Nobody would even excavate the ruins to find the stones to build with. The city would be deserted
and desolate forever. The people reminded God of the wrongs committed by Nebuchadnezzar. He had grabbed Judah like a piece of food, gnawed on them, eaten them whole, and absorbed all the good fortune God had bestowed upon them. "The Final Babylon," Revelation
17-18 concerns the very end. The remainder of Revelation is dominated by two female figures. One, a filthy prostitute
and the other a pure bride. Neither is a person, both
are personifications. They represent cities. The title, "A Tale of Two
Cities" could be used, Babylon and Jerusalem. The city of man and the
city of God are their names. We'll look at the former. Revelation 14:8, Amplified Bible. "Then another angel, a second
one followed saying fallen. Fallen is Babylon the great. She who has made all nations
drink the wine of the passion of her immorality, corrupting
them with idolatry." Revelation 16:19, Amplified Bible. "The great city was split into
three parts and the cities of the nations fell and God kept
in mind Babylon the great to give her the cup of the wine of his fierce and furious wrath." The Bible frequently portrays
cities in a negative light. The initial reference,
which is usually crucial, links them to Lamech's line of weaponry and the production of
mass destructive weapons. They concentrate people and
hand sinners and thus sin, greed and pride are the two
sins that are highlighted in this passage. Both are linked to money's idolatry because it's impossible to
worship both God and Mammon at the same time. When Nebuchadnezzar, a brutal
tyrant who slaughtered kids, animals, and even trees when
conquering new territory, this city became the seat of
a great and strong kingdom. In the meantime, Israel's
King David had built Jerusalem as his capital. It was not in a strategic
location for trade because it was not near the sea, a large
river or a significant road. It was nevertheless, the city of God, the site where he chose
to live among his people. At first in the tent Moses assembled, later in the temple Solomon built. As predicted, that
horrible city deteriorated into a dismal heap of debris, completely deserted except
by desert wild animals. The fact that the books of
Daniel and Revelation have so many parallels is no coincidence. Both books contain end
of the world visions that are very similar. However, Daniel received the Revelations during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar. He had been a young man in the
first of three deportations. He had seen the future
trajectory of world empires up to and beyond the time of Christ,
to the very end of history, the reign of antichrist,
the millennial rule, the resurrection of the dead,
and the day of judgment. The city of Babylon described
in the book of Revelation will serve as a commercial hub where people can buy and sell goods. This is evident in the mention
of how traders are affected by its destruction. Revelation 18:11-16, Amplified Bible. "And merchants of the earth
will weep and grieve over her because no one buys their cargo anymore. Cargoes of gold and silver and
precious stones and pearls, and fine linen, and purple
and silk and scarlet, all kinds of citron wood
and every article of ivory and every article of very costly
and lavish wood and bronze, and iron and marble,
and cinnamon and spices, and incense and perfume,
and frankincense and wine, and olive oil and fine flour and wheat, of cattle and sheep and cargoes of horses, and chariots and carriages,
and of slaves and human lives. The ripe fruits and delicacies
of your soul's desire have gone from you and all
things that were luxurious and extravagant are lost to
you, never again to be found. The merchants who handled these articles, who grew wealthy from
their business with her, will stand a long way off
in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud
saying, "Whoa, whoa." For the great city that
was robed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet,
gilded and adorned with gold, with precious stones and with pearls. But it will be corrupt and
corrupting with materialism replacing morality,
pleasure replacing purity, wealth replacing wisdom,
and lust replacing love." The simile of the Harland
is especially appropriate, giving anyone what they
want in exchange for money. Revelation 19:14, Amplified Bible. "They will wage war against
the lamb and the lamb will triumph and conquer them
because he is Lord of Lords and king of kings, and those who are with him and on his side are the called and chosen and faithful. But Babylon is doomed. She and they will fall. Their days will be numbered." The incredible manner in
which this is accomplished is absolutely plausible
in today's environment. Ambitious politicians, hungry for power, resent this financial clout. They are even prepared to
bring about economic disaster if that will enable them to take over. The kings will be jealous
of the woman who rides them and will resolve to destroy her. The city will be engulfed in flames. It will be the world's worst
economic disaster in history. Many, many people will weep
and mourn over the ruins. The disaster will have
been brought about by God, not by any physical action. He will have instilled in their hearts the desire to fulfill his mission. He'll have persuaded them to
join forces with the beast to fight the city. The antichrist will
have political authority and the false prophet religious control. The kings will now offer them
economic control in return for delegated powers for themselves, but their possession of such privileges will be extremely short. Revelation 17:12. "The 10 horns that you saw
are 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but together they receive
authority as kings for a single hour for a common purpose
along with the beast." Babylon's demise is so
certain that it's depicted in Revelation as having already occurred. This is something Christians
can be assured of. However, there are practical
reasons for informing them. What is the connection
between God's people in this final Babylon? There are three rules to follow. First, there will be
many martyrs in the city. The whore is drunk with
the blood of the saints, the blood of those who
bore testimony to Jesus. This last phrase again indicates
the presence of Christians and occurs throughout Revelation. In a city devoted to immorality,
Pious people have no place. A conscience is something that the community does not desire. Second, Christians are instructed to come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not
receive any of her plagues. For her sins are piled up to Heaven and God has remembered her crimes. Revelation 18:4-5, Amplified Bible. "And I heard another
voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her my people, so that you will not be
a partner in her sins and receive her plagues. For her sins, her crimes, her
transgressions have piled up as high as Heaven, and God
has remembered her wickedness and crimes for judgment.'" This is nearly identical to
Jeremiah's appeal to the exiles. Third, when Babylon falls,
there is to be a celebration. Revelation 18:20, Amplified Bible. "Rejoice over her, O
Heaven and you saints, God's people and apostles and
prophets who were martyred because God has executed vengeance
for you through righteous judgment upon her." This is done in Revelation
19:1-5, Amplified Bible. "After these things, I heard something like the
great and mighty shout of a vast multitude in Heaven,
exclaiming, 'Hallelujah.' Salvation and glory and
power belong to our God because his judgments
are true and righteous. He is judged, convicted and pronounced, sentenced on the great
prostitute who was corrupting and ruining and poisoning
the earth with her adultery. And he has imposed the
penalty for the blood of his bond servants on her. And a second time they said, 'Hallelujah.' Her smoke shall ascend forever and ever. Then the 24 elders and
the four living creatures also fell down and worshiped to God who sits on the throne
saying, 'Amen, hallelujah. Praise the Lord.' Then from the throne
there came a voice saying, 'Praise our God, all you
bond servants of his, you who fear him, the
small and the great.' On that day, only God's people
will be singing hallelujah, which means praise the Lord." All of this culminates in the
Babylon of Revelation 17:1 though 19:10, Babylon the Great, that symbolizes the anti-God
system that controls the world in the end times and then
is destroyed by the Lord. Why Babylons matter to us. Nimrod and Babylon's story
teaches us that being too proud can get us into trouble. It's important to be humble. It teaches us that however
mighty or ambitious we may be, our plans must align with God's will. When they don't, the
results can be undesirable. The story of Babylon and
Nimrod is that of caution. It warns us against the dangers
of pride and self-reliance, urging us to depend on God instead. It also speaks to the folly
of human efforts to achieve unity or immortality
outside of God's plan. Whether as a community or as individuals, the story reminds us that our
ambitions should be aligned with God's will, otherwise,
like the people of Babylon, we risk finding ourselves
working against God's purposes, and that can only lead to confusion and ultimately, to our downfall. So the next time you find yourself striving to build a tower, take a moment to consider
whether your ambitions align with God's plan for you. Remember, "Unless the
Lord builds the house, the builders labor at vain," Psalms 127:1. Prophets like Isaiah and
Jeremiah foretold Babylon's fall due to its injustices,
idolatry, and immorality. Therefore, as individuals or as a society, our actions have consequences. Oppressing others, disregarding
morality and turning away from what's right can lead to downfall. We also see that earthly
kingdoms are temporary. Despite its might and grandeur,
Babylon eventually fell to the Medo-Persian empire,
just as it was foretold. In other words, everything
on earth is temporary. From our own successes, to
the way society is built, the only thing that will last
forever is God's kingdom. So focus on what will last forever, not just on what is here
today and gone tomorrow. The story of Babylon getting
powerful and then falling apart shows us that God tries to
communicate with us in many ways and we should pay attention
and not be too proud. Babylon was an amazing
place made by people, but it fell apart
because God wanted it to. This story is always important
because it reminds us that real power and greatness belong to God. Like it says in the Bible, "God's rule is forever and
it will always be there for all generations." Daniel 4:34, let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come before you today
reminded of the story of Nimrod, a man of might power and ambition. We see in his tale a warning, a lesson about the trappings
of human pride and the folly of trying to build our own kingdoms
instead of seeking yours. Lord, we ask for the wisdom
to recognize when our pursuits are led by self-interest rather
than by your guiding hand. Help us to understand that
true strength comes from being rooted in you and that every
tower we build without your blessing is destined to crumble. May we be builders, not of towers that reach
vainly towards the sky, but of lives that are grounded
in your love and grace. Teach us to seek your kingdom first, understandings that all other
things will be added unto us. Guard our hearts against
the pride that leads to confusion and separation, and instead instill in us a
spirit of humility and unity. Let us be hunters of
souls for your kingdom, chasing after what is good, what is noble, and what brings you glory. In the mighty name of
Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
