With
this post we continue our study of the fall of Babylon as detailed in
Revelation 17-18.
Revelation 17:5 “And upon her
forehead was a name written,
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE
EARTH.”
I
pointed out that this woman called “Babylon the Great” is identified as the
“mother” of harlots, all those prostituting the false religions of this world
in rejection of worshipping the Almighty God, the One true God. I think it is important to note that it is
as the originating source of these false religions, she is also credited with
originating the “abominations of the earth.”
The
Greek for abominations directly identifies idolatry. The idolatry promoted by these false
religions encouraged its participants to worship false gods using practices
that directly violated the morals established by God Almighty. The worship of these false gods justified
prostitution and drunkenness. The murder
of children was justified in the form of qualifying as sacrifices pleasing to
these false gods.
Paul
specifically addressed God’s response to these practices in his letter to the
Romans.
Romans 1:20–32 “For the invisible
things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood
by the things that are made, even
his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that,
when they knew God, they glorified him
not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and
their foolish heart was darkened. Professing
themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the
uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and
fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to
uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own
bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and
worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for
ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even
their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And
likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their
lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and
receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God
in their knowledge, God gave
them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers,
without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of
God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the
same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
The
comparison to the attitude predominant in much of the world is too obvious to
ignore. I can’t help but focus on the
moral culture of my own country, America, especially in light of the biblical
principles upon which our nation was established. I was born in 1951 and grew up in a time in
which those principles were still embraced by the nation as a whole. I
memorized Psalm 23, 24, 100 and the Christmas story from Luke 2 as part of
school assignments. The Bible was
removed from the schools in 1963 and the moral decline of our nation has
tracked steadily downward with ever increasing speed since then. As I read the passage in Romans above, I see
God denouncing through Paul those things that are justified as acceptable
today. In his letter to Timothy, Paul
identifies such morals as characteristics of the end times that would precede
the return of Jesus as King.
2 Timothy 3:1–5 “This know also,
that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of
their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to
parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false
accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form
of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”
John
goes on to declare that the woman in the guise of these false gods was
responsible for killing those who identified themselves as followers of God
Almighty and His Son Jesus.
Revelation 17:6 “And I saw the woman
drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of
Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”
The word drunk implies drenched
or satiated. This woman was responsible for killing so many that she was
drenched in their blood. John could only
look at her with “great admiration” or wonder.
I would compare it to the
way we are drawn to watch televised reports of “terrible” accidents or
situations (e.g., 9-11-01) and try to process what we are seeing.
(to be
continued…)
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