We need to keep in mind that Babylon is a picture of the WORLD.

Someone might say, "But I thought it represented the fallen church?"

Here's some helps to know that Babylon is a picture of the entire kingdom of Satan (this world):

1. COMMAND TO GO TO BABYLON SPIRITUALLY PICTURES COMMAND TO LEAVE CHURCH AND GO OUTSIDE INTO THE WORLD

The Jews were commanded to come out of Judah and go to--where? The answer is to Babylon. And this pictured coming out of the church (Judah) and going out into the world (Babylon).

2. THE BURDEN OF BABYLON / THE END OF THE WORLD

In Isaiah 13 God opens the chapter by referring to the "Burden of Babylon". He then proceeds to speak of the final judgment and the destruction of the world:

Isaiah 13:9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.

10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

11 And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity;

3. HISTORICAL PROOF BABYLON PICTURES THE WORLD

Historically, all the while Babylon was in power during the 70 years of Judah's tribulation, it certainly had not fallen. It was not until the end of the 70 year period, which pictured the end of the Great Tribulation, that Babylon fell. Where ever we read language declaring, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen" the historical tie in is when the Medes and Persians took the kingdom in one night---pointing to Christ coming as a thief in the night on Judgment Day at the very end of the 23 year Great Tribulation period---May 21, 2011. Significantly, Revelation 18:2 makes this declaration concerning Babylon's fall before discussing the city's burning and destruction.

4. THE VENGEANCE OF HIS TEMPLE

God judged Babylon in retaliation for her destruction of Judah. Multiple Scriptures can be shown wherein the Lord is speaking of the judgment of Babylon and gives the reason for it as the vengeance of His temple. This only makes sense once we realize that Babylon (Satan's and the Gentiles/nations) camp against the camp of the saints (N.T. congregations) and destroyed them for 23 years. And then, following that, God was moved to come against Babylon (Satan and his kingdom of this world). We have perfect harmony with the historical references to the destruction of Babylon AFTER the 70 years and with all spiritual tie ins.

5. SLAIN OF ALL THE EARTH FALL AT BABYLON

This verse sums it up well:

Jeremiah 51:49 As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth.

Babylon was an instrument of judgment on the churches causing the slain of Israel (all professed Christians within the congregations that did not come out) to fall. This took place over the course of the 23 year Great Tribulation period from May 21, 1988 thru May 21, 2011.

And, in recompense of tribulation, God then brings about a spiritual judgment/tribulation upon Babylon (the world) for another prolonged period of tribulation time (evidence is mounting pointing to the year 2033 AD, which would be 22 actual years, and 23 inclusive years)---only this time the tribulation is against the world.

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