Here, please note, we view
Babylon's global rule, not as an Endtime event; but as strictly a Pre-Endtime event. Rev.17:1 to
Rev.18:19. This is because Babylon's "fall by fire" is one of five Endtime Catalysts. Babylon's "rule over the kings of
earth" must be confined to Pre-Endtime events. Her first fall at Midweek of
Daniel's 70th Week is a critical point for the
Endtime's onset.
The Beast (Personified as Antichrist) will take over the global System of Babylon's administrative power and economic
resources. Her second "fall by history's greatest earthquake" on the Lastday concerns this global System after Ten Kings
confiscate its Network. Only at the end does God destroy the cities of the nations during the "Hour that Tests all Mankind."
"Mystery Babylon the Great" deceives the nations into making her the world's Queen for the administration of economic
and cultural affairs. Her Historical seat "on many waters" prepares her for such a position. The "many waters" represent "peoples and
nations and multitudes and tongues." Rev.17:1,15.
Her Geographical position as a Harlot on "seven hills" pinpoints her location as a City that unites all nations, religions and
ethnic groups under a single banner. Rev.17:9,18. This requires their joint efforts with a central ecumenical and economic
base. It will be Babel's modern tower.
Her Prophetic seat on the Beast indicates global power placed at her disposal to "rule the nations" economically. The "Iron
of Democracy," extended primarily to the West since the Greek and Roman empires, is the glue that holds together the
"Clay of Rogue Nations." Though they do not mix, they are held together by the strength that remains to hold back evil
forces until God judges Great Babylon. That, in turn, will be one of five Catalysts launching the Endtime.
Why must we make a distinction between her Pre-Endtime global rule and first fall by fire and her second fall? The City
administers a global System before the Endtime begins. She is the Seventh ruler
before the Personified Beast displaces her
rule as the Eighth. Rev.17:11. The System remains under the rule of the Beast until God destroys the "cities of the nations." Rev.16:18-20.
This distinction is vital so that God's people will prepare in advance to avoid the consequences of God's judgment upon
Babylon. While Ten Kings will destroy her by fire in one hour, Rev.17:16, God determines the time for her fall and inspires
these Ten to give their authority and power to the Beast. The Endtime Conflict between God's Kingdom Power, Rev.12:10,
and Satan's power will continue 3 1/2 years until God's Mystery is completed. Rev.17:17; Rev.10:7.
God directly commands His people: "Come out of Babylon (sever invested positions and withdraw assets) my people.
Partake not of her sins lest you partake of her plagues. Her plagues will come in one
day ... death, sorrow, famine. She will
be consumed with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judges her." Rev.18:4,8.
Those failing to obey this command will lose all they have invested in the System. Unless they receive the mark of the
Beast, they will lose the right to buy and sell when Babylon falls. That's when cities of the nations come under the control
of the Ten Kings. They destroy the central City by fire, Rev.17:16, and give their power and authority to the Beast. Those
who obey God prior to her fall will have a short time to prepare so they are able to help others during the
Endtime ... and
still contribute to spreading the Gospel "until the end of the age." Matt.24:14.
Why do Endtime charts indicate that Great Babylon "rules over the kings of earth" at the same time Antichrist rules the
world? Most expositors regard Babylon and the Beast as co-rulers over all nations. But only because the Harlot Woman,
as the 7th ruler, sits on the Beast with seven heads and ten horns. Antichrist does not "get rid of her" after using her for
his purposes. She is the head of the System that includes the very Ten Kings who confiscate and continue the Network
that brought her to power. The Harlot's Co-Rulership with Antichrist is a false concept. They are two separate and
successive rulers over the same global empire.
Babylon sits on the Beast symbolically before its seventh head receives a deadly wound. That means before the Beast
represents a human; before its 7th head is personified as the Antichrist. Its ten horns and seventh head are personified
when its (not Antichrist's) fatal wound is healed. The ten horns are crowned when Babylon falls and the seventh head (of
the symbolic animal) is healed. The Ten Horns are crowned as part of the healed
Beast ... since the entire Beast is wounded.
Only then, at Midweek, is the Beast personified as a demon-possessed human.
After the seventh head is healed, the Beast represents Antichrist as one of the five Endtime Catalysts. Ten horns represent
the Ten Kings as part of this Endtime Catalyst. We consider Babylon's fall in "one hour" a separate Endtime Catalyst to
that of Antichrist's act of breaking the Covenant. The Ten Kings must first "give their power and authority to him."
Rev.17:17.
Great Babylon sits on the Beast until its seventh head receives a symbolic deadly wound. That wound comes at the hands
of the Ten Kings when they destroy Babylon by fire in one hour. It will be planned in advance. They access the System
before confiscating the entire Network. But their powers maximize by supporting the one who becomes the Antichrist.
Satan, cast from heaven, demonizes and empowers Antichrist as a third Endtime Catalyst.
The Ten will have been under Babylon's authority in a global Network System to administer trade and economic relations.
They hate Babylon's control of the System, which has the strength to restrain their forces for a short time. The cause is
doomed because God judges the Harlot. God will remove this Apostasy. The strength to hold back lawless
forces until the Lawless One is revealed results from Democratic forces dedicated to law and order and human rights.
This strength could be eroded by compromising our sovereignty in supporting the UN.
Great Babylon's power results from the Pre-Endtime activity of the Rider on the White Horse. Economic forces entwine
with lawful and lawless elements to create a global technological Network. Babylon rules the nations of earth for a short
time prior to the emergence of Antichrist. He will simply be "one of many" who causes the Mideast Peace Covenant to
prevail for a short time. Dan.9:27.
The Pre-Endtime coordinator is Seal
One's Rider on the White Horse. He is not a person; but represents forces that support
the System dedicated to uphold lawful goals during the painful but victorious struggles signified by his "bow.
With it he goes forth conquering and to conquer." Rev.6:1,2. His "crown" is the creation of a global System for the
economic supervision of all nations until the Ten Kings destroy Babylon and support the Beast; the Red Horseman of Seal
Two. The Apostasy of 2 Thess.2:3 sets in under the compromises that issue in the rule of Babylon the Great.
The Red Horseman of Seal Two "Takes Peace from the Earth." Rev.6:3,4.
That act is consequent to the Catalyst by which Satan, cast from heaven, empowers (heals or personifies) the Beast. The
fatal "wound" to the Beast represents God's "judgment" which unseats the Harlot sitting on the Beast of world power. The
same 7th World Power (being "healed") continues under the Beast as the "eighth king."
God removes the Lawful Forces that restrain the Ten Kings and the Beast after the nations have "committed fornication
with her and waxed rich by her delicacies" which is part of her deceptive tactics. Rev.17:1,2; Rev.18:3. The Ten Kings hate
Babylon but covet her power. "They have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings with the Beast (in the
hour they destroy Babylon.) Rev.17:12. They are crowned as kings at the juncture of
five Endtime Catalysts. One of
those is Babylon's fall by fire "in one day and one hour." Rev.17:16; Rev.18:8,10,17,19.
Until the symbolic Beast's head is wounded by Babylon's fall; and then healed as Satan empowers Antichrist for 42
months, neither the ten horns nor the Beast can represent rulers over the global System. The symbolic Beast represents
seven world empires ... until Babylon falls ... before it represents Antichrist. When "the fatal wound has been healed," the
horns are crowned. The "crowns" are transferred from the Dragon's seven heads to the Beast's ten horns when the 7th
Head is healed. Rev.12:3; 13:1. The symbolic Beast transforms to a person when the Beast arises from the Abyss to
become the "eighth king." Rev.13:1,3,5; Rev.17:8,11.
When the Beast arises from the Sea, or
the Abyss, it and its seven heads and ten horns are more than symbolic. It's
seventh head was strictly symbolic of world power. It is the same head that is
"wounded and healed." It typifies two
successive rulers over the same world power. The second ruler is the personified Beast.
Babylon's rule covers the Pre-Endtime period of 42 months. Her "short time," Rev.17:10, ends at her fall. She is "taken out
of the midst" of the global System and then the Lawless One is revealed." 2 Thess.2:7,8. Her global powers are forfeited
to the Lawless One. "The Lord will come to destroy him at His Presence."
Satan is cast out of heaven "knowing his time is short." He empowers the Beast for the second 42 months of Daniel's 70th
Week. Rev.12:14; Rev.13:5; Matt.24:15; Mark 13:14. But Luke omits this action because he is concerned with the Jewish
response to the Sign of the Lastday at the Presence of the Son of Man. Luke 21:25-27. Luke 21:20-24 makes no reference
to this event. See
KINGDOM. Luke passes over the Endtime by including it in the "Times of the Gentiles."
How do we show that Antichrist does not rule with Babylon while she "sits on the Beast in the wilderness?" She sits there
until it is "wounded and healed." Rev.13:3. It is not her, but her world power
that "was and is not; yet is." Rev.17:8. The Beast cannot rule as
Antichrist until its 7th head is wounded and healed. Ten Kings will exercise global power with him through the System's
Network. The Beast from the Abyss does not have seven heads and ten horns once the wound is healed. It is personified.
The Sea-Beast with seven heads and ten horns becomes the personified Beast when Satan is cast from heaven. For 42
months the personified Beast rules after he arises from the Abyss. The Ten Horns are crowned. They had received no
kingdom as yet. Rev.17:12. Antichrist employs their divinely-inspired support to rule the global System "until God's words
are fulfilled." Rev.17:17. Then he is "sent to perdition."
Ten Kings receive power as kings at the same hour the Beast is healed of its deadly wound. They give their authority to the
Beast and he uses them to control the global System. At the hour Satan is cast from heaven, the Beast arises from the
Abyss. God inspires the Ten to give their "authority and power to the Beast." Rev.17:13,17. That agrees with Paul on the
restraint being removed and the Lawless One revealed "before the Day of the Lord" may come. 2
Thess.2:1-7.
Antichrist rules the world after Babylon is dethroned. The Beast is an animal with seven heads until it arises from the
Abyss with its fatal wound healed. The healing symbolizes restoration of its power by Satan incarnate in a human body.
The Beast represents a person by the symbolic healing of its 7th head. When that occurs, "the Beast no longer carries the
Harlot Woman." Rev.13:3; Rev.17:3,6,8.
This is also when God's Kingdom Power comes to earth through the Two Prophets. Endtime Catalysts are interdependent.
Many have no place for the Two Prophets' Endtime task of Kingdom Power. These Catalysts (Prophets and Kingdom
Power) must occur before Christ can return to reward all the Martyrs. Rev.6:9-11.
We believe the Two Prophets must come before the Day of the Lord. And, if John is one of them and a
member of the Church, the Church must survive to the End (APOSTLE). "Overcomers to the end" include Church Saints
who will rule the nations by enduring to the end." Martyrs at the end singularly receive the reward promised to the Church
at Philadelphia. Rev.2:25-27; Rev.3:12; Rev.7:15-17; Rev.20:4.
The "Day and Hour" that Jesus states "no one knows except the Father" arises from three facts. One requires that "all
these things about to happen" must occur when the Endtime is "cut short." Luke 21:36; Mark 13:20,32. A Second requires
the events of 100 verses in Revelation to be fulfilled between The Sign of that 12-Hour Day and the Hour Christ appears. A
Third explains why the Son of Man waits on a white cloud for the command to reap the wicked to the "Winepress of God's
great anger." Rev.14:19. All this happens, including the last Plague, before God's "anger mixes with the wine of His wrath."
Rev.14:10; Rev.16:19.
God's "longsuffering endures" until the last Plague empties; until God's decree out of the Temple, from the throne, signals
the Lamb to open Seal Six, "The Sign" of the Day of God's wrath. Anger mixes with His wrath after Seal Seven's Trial; and
Trump Seven's Triumph and Christ's victorious descent from heaven. The Son of
Man ... and "three angels sent from
heaven's Temple to a white cloud at the Hour to Reap ... will collect the wicked to the Winepress of great anger" prior to the
unknown Hour of the Temple Drama ... for the Testimony, the Tribunal of Seal
Seven and the Triumph of Trump Seven!
As the Son of Man, He will not "know" when the last Martyr fulfills the condition for God to "avenge their blood." He waits
on the white cloud for the three angels sent from heaven's Temple saying, "Reap, the Hour to reap has come." This proves
that not even He knows the Hour to reap "Satan's sons." Matt.24:36; Rev.6:11; Matt.13:30,38.
Before the Day of the Lord comes, Babylon (the Harlot) must be removed and Antichrist "revealed" (the Lawless One).
After 42 months of Great Tribulation, the Babylonian System will be destroyed
with Babylon, the second time, by
earthquake. Heaven rejoices over her fall before Jesus appears with the Elect. Rev.18:20; Rev.17:14. He raises the Elect and
gathers them from earth to heaven. Mark 13:27; and He sends the angels (third person singular for gathering the Elect and
sending the angels), and the angels gather them from the farthest ends of the
heavens ... in the days immediately after that
tribulation." Mark 13:27; Matt.24:29-31.
It happens "in the days whenever Chronos-Time has ended and the appointed Kairos-Time for Trump Seven has come."
Mark 13:24-27 NASB; Rev.10:6,7; Rev.11:18. Announcing that "God's wrath has come
... to destroy the destroyers of earth ... Trump Seven also declares the "appointed time has come to reward the prophets and Saints, small and great."
Jesus, in His final message, promises to "bring His rewards with Him." Rev.22:12. He told the Disciples they and every
Believer will be rewarded when He comes in glory with His rewards. Matt.16:27.
God's Kingdom Power and Christ's authority through the Two Prophets is important for two reasons. ONE: The Endtime
begins when Ten Kings destroy Babylon "in one hour by fire." While she rules, these Ten scheme to seize world-power.
They hate the System; but work from within. Until they destroy her in one hour, this greatest of cities will be the source
and center of economic wealth for the nations and great men of earth. Rev.18:10,16,18,23. Only God's people will obey His
command to "come out of her" lest they too be ruined. They do not simply come out of a City, but out of the economic
System she administers.
TWO: Millions will not realize their peril. God commands His people to "come out lest they share in her plagues." Saints
face great tribulation. That is when God's Kingdom comes in power; and with
"Christ's authority." Rev.12:10; Rev.11:3-7.
With the Two Prophets acting on their behalf, Believers will overcome. We will have a window of opportunity to prepare for
Endtime persecution by removing our assets from the System before it is too late. These assets will need to be converted
into food, materials and merchandize for the common good of those who survive.
Even then, God's Kingdom Power will enable Believers to face death without fear. If Christians expect to be taken to
heaven prior to the Endtime, they should think of others by removing their investments from the economic System before
Antichrist takes over. We will not know his identity until he breaks the covenant with many."
We wish to show the Endtime of 42 months begins at the fall of Great Babylon and a broken Covenant. Dan.9:27; Rev.17:8.
As long as Babylon rules "earth's kings," the Endtime has not begun. The Antichrist (Beast, Red Horseman, Lawless One)
will rule the world when Ten Kings destroy Babylon and support him. He breaks the "Seven-Year" Covenant that he had
confirmed while he was subject to her rule.
This means Babylon rules the "kings of earth" until Midweek of Daniel's 70th Week when Antichrist confiscates world
power. Babylon rules the world until Ten Kings "destroy her by fire and give their power and authority to him."
God inspires them to support the Beast "until His words are fulfilled." Rev.7:17. He sends Two Prophets to deploy and
display His Kingdom Power so Believers and Israel may be assured they do not stand alone against the Beast.
BABYLON OCCUPIES THREE SEATS IN HISTORY AND PROPHECY.
One: On "many waters" in history---peoples, nations and tongues. Rev.17:1,15.
Two: On the "seven hills" of Rome. The
Beast's seven heads represent seven world powers. The Harlot rules the seventh and also sits historically on the
seven hills of Rome. Rev.17:9,10,18.
Three:
On the Beast as Queen of the final world power, she rules over the kings of
earth. Rev.17:18.
Babylon's seat on the Beast of world power lasts a "short time." Rev.17:10. A demon from the Abyss takes over. Not until
Midweek is the Beast personified and recognized as a person and revealed as Antichrist. When Babylon falls by fire,
mankind suffers dramatic losses of stock and revenue. The world's merchants and great men cry "woe, woe, in one hour
our misery has come." Believers must exit the System before Daniel's Midweek. If not, they will be totally at the mercy of a
System to which they belong without a chance to buy or sell ... except they accept the Mark of the Beast or his name and
worship his image. Those with names "written in the Lamb's Book of Life" refuse to bow. Many "must be killed." Rev.13:8;
Rev.17:8; Rev.6:9-11.
Her second fall by quake, at the End, strikes Babylon and the world's cities before we read anything about her history or
rule or her first fall by fire. Rev.16:18,19. The order is dictated in the text of the
fourth Flashback to show that Babylon's
second fall occurs soon after the Decree comes out from the Throne in the Temple. The Endtime begins with God's
judgment on Babylon, by fire. It ends by earthquake shocks that destroy her and all the cities in her support System. If
"judgment must begin with God's family, what will the end be like for those who refuse His gospel?" I Pet.4:7. Many
Believers will be unprepared for the "plague" of economic disaster.
Babylon's rule occurs between Seals One and Two. Her second fall occurs after the Seventh Trumpet. John sees Babylon's
fall in a Double Perspective for past sins---by fire for her sin of fornication and by quake for a long history of deceit and
murder. Rev.18:24. The woes at her first fall are financial. Results of her second fall are described in Rev.16:19-21;
Rev.18:21-24. The Ten who confiscate the System spawned by the Woman are destroyed along with their global
infrastructure. Rev.17:14.
At her second fall, the Mighty Angel appears a third time. Rev.5:2; Rev.10:1; Rev.18:21. This occurs at history's greatest
quake as part of the final description of Babylon's total destruction. The Mighty Angel picks up a great millstone and
casts it into the sea, saying: "With a violent rush the great City Babylon will be cast into the sea, never to be seen again. In
her (City and System) was the blood of prophets and saints and all those slain on the earth."
This final description in
Rev.18:21-24 is the final event, text-wise and almost time-wise, before Christ appears.
Except for Seal One and Babylon's rule prior to the Endtime (under a global defense and protection and spread of
Democratic powers), Revelation's Structure conforms to a period of 42 prosperous months. Her final universal role puts
Babylon's rule above and beyond the scope of her past historical influence. Her rule is short and occurs between Seals
One and Two. The Endtime begins with her fall. The Beast then rules until Chronos-Time ends and Trump Seven climaxes
the Temple Drama.
The Uniqueness of Babylon's Third Seat.
The Harlot's ages-long activity on her two seats of "many waters" and Rome's "seven hills" contributes to her rise as the
world's Queen. Rev.17:1,9. That makes her the successor to Rome which was the sixth world power. In that sense, the
Roman Empire revives before the Beast is "wounded and healed" for its final stage as World Power #7. It is not #6 that was
wounded. Rome's influence extends through England's global conquests and American power to become the 7th. She
reigns over the Pre-Endtime Beast "that was; not the Beast that yet is." The "eighth king" follows revived Rome after
Babylon's fall. Rome was #6; Revived Rome #7. The Beast under Antichrist is #8; but the Endtime Beast is still out of
revived Rome, #7. Rev.13:3; Rev.17:8,11.
The continuity between world power #6 and #7 is preserved as "the mystery of iniquity already at work" in Paul's day
builds gradually to its ascendancy through the peoples of the world. It does so by its alliances and by the agency of the
"White Horseman's victories" in bringing all nations under Rome's rule as #7. That continuity explains the necessity of
"taking Babylon out of the way so the Lawless One is revealed" before the Day of the Lord meets out destruction on the
final Empire of Daniel's visions.
At Babylon's first fall, the City on seven hills no longer exercises world power. Here is "wisdom's reason" for giving a
Double Perspective to the seven heads. They are "Hills and they are Kings." When her World Power falls, it shifts from
Rome to Jerusalem and Ten Kings; from Democracy's freedom to a Despot's tyranny. The 7th continues as a World Power
revived at Babylon's fall. On being healed it personifies an eighth King just as the ten horns then personify Ten Kings.
Rev.13:1; Rev.17:8.
Babylon has been sitting on "many waters" since the Tower of Babel when God confused the languages. This explains her
influence over "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues." The rulers of earth drink the wine of her fornication during her
seat on seven hills. She has had this position since Rome became the sixth world power. Only as she rules the kings of
earth will she "sit on the Beast" of world power #7. She sits there until the Beast is wounded and no longer supports her.
The 7th Empire (fourth of Daniel) falls by fire; then by a great earthquake.
Babylon falls before the Beast is personified. That is why we separate Pre-Endtime from Endtime events. The only specific
time-frame found in Revelation refers to the second half of Daniel's 70th Week. Babylon rules a "short time" before the
Sea-Beast receives the deadly wound so it may rule 42 months, the period Satan also knows will be "short." Rev.17:10;
Rev.13:3,5; Rev.12:12,14.
Antichrist is not resurrected by Satan. Satan does not have power to fulfill this popular interpretation of the Beast being
"wounded and healed." The 3½ years given to Satan to destroy the witnesses of Jesus Christ is identical to Daniel's
Endtime abomination in the Temple. Christians and Jews are his targets. Dan.7:25; Dan.12:7; Rev.12:12,14,17.
Babylon the Great will be "taken out of the midst" of the global System so Antichrist may be revealed. God removes the
false Church; not the true Church. World government under Babylon, rather than under the true Church, restrains
Antichrist before God inspires Ten Kings to support him. 2 Thess.2:7; Rev.17:13,17. There is no Biblical cause for
removing the "restrainer" prior to Midweek.
God judges the false Church. His judgment falls upon Babylon to destroy the Harlot
Church. Then "the End is Near" for the wicked when all these things are about to come upon the entire earth. If the
appointed time for judgment "begins with the household of God, what will be the end of those who disobey the Gospel"? I
Pet.4:7,17; Luke 21:36? Our hope is to meet Christ when He appears. The only hope of those who "mourn" is to "beg" for
mercy.
The Lord always judges His people before He destroys the wicked. Church members who fail to "overcome to the end will
be cast into great tribulation to be killed." This does not sound like a Pre-Trib rapture hope.
Rev.2:22,23,26.
Some may wonder why Babylon rules during the Pre-Endtime, but her fall by fire is described after the Last Plague. She
falls twice. The System remains after she falls by fire. Much of Revelation is written logically; not chronologically. Babylon
falls twice because the nations that support her also support Antichrist. He comes "out of the 7th" world power as an
"eighth ruler." Rev.14:8; Rev.18:2,6; Rev.17:11. God "remembers her sins
twice"... by fire; then by history's greatest quake.
Rev.18:5; Rev.16:18.
She falls as a City for the sin of fornication with all nations, rulers and tongues. She falls again as a City and global
System for her fornication as well as the blood of the Martyrs. Rev.17:2,15; Rev.18:3,24. Her second fall occurs by
earthquake after the Last Plague implodes and the Cup of Wrath empties. Rev.14:10; Rev.16:19. But the second fall is
actually described before any part of her history unfolds. This reveals why Babylon the Great, as the Apostasy, must be
removed before the Saints are totally ready to be gathered above on the Day of the Lord. 2 Thess.2:1,3.
The Cup of Anger and Wrath destroys her global System. Cities under the spell of her sorceries are destroyed by world-quakes. This is symbolized by a "great millstone cast into the sea." Rev.16:19; Rev.18:21. Prophets, Apostles and Saints
are summoned to rejoice over her second fall when "God judges her for corrupting the earth with her fornication and
avenges on her the blood of His servants." They rejoice at the opening of Heaven's Final Scene.
The first judgment removes the Harlot from the midst of the global System for corrupting the nations. The second avenges
the Martyrs. On the Lastday, their rejoicing echoes the prayers of the Martyrs in Seal Five. Rev.6:10; Rev.19:2. The
judgment answers their Petition in Song after the Last Plagues "exhaust God's anger." Rev.15:1-4; New Jerusalem Bible.
The reaping of the wicked into the Winepress of "great anger" precedes the Cup of anger and wrath. Rev.14:10,19; Greek.
As the Last Plague implodes, having suspended in mid-air until the Temple Drama ends, that "anger pours full strength
into His Cup of Wrath." Rev.16:18,19.
The Martyrs' Petition in the song of Moses occurs on the Lastday after the Plagues "manifest that His judgments are
righteous and true." Events in 100 verses of Revelation occur between the Last Plague and the world-quakes that fill the
Hour of Trial on all the earth after Christ appears. Luke 21:25,26,35; Rev.3:10. That "Hour" is not a period of years as most
modern scribes insist. It's the Hour "no one knows but the Father"! Mark 13:32.
Summary of Pre-Endtime Events Includes the Following:
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