Study No. 18 The Harlot Destroyed Chapter 18 -19:4
As this chapter begins, an event is being singled out, and that is the fall of Babylon. The angel announced the fall. He did not announce when the fall happened … only that it has happened. The result of this fall is that she has become a dwelling place of all kinds of evil.
We have to wonder, what was she like before she fell? Was she something wonderful? Again, if we are thinking that she represents the true church of the Lord Jesus that has fallen doctrinally, eventually evolving into an evil ‘world church’, then the prior beauty is obvious. At one point she would have been part of the glorious bride of Christ … and she has fallen terribly.
The problem with the Harlot representing God's own bride, now fallen ... would imply that the Catholic church at one point was holy and clean. This was not the case. The Catholic church, from day one, consisted of people, pastors and churches that had embraced heresy and ultimately came together, organized under one leader and came to be known as the holy Catholic church. From the outset they were in conflict with the churches and leaders who opted to remain separate. An era of persecution and bloodshed ensued against the dissenters. This era only came to a close when Luther and other reformers challenged the Catholic church.
The indictment, "Babylon the great has fallen" could only refer to an entity that was not 'fallen' initially.
But let’s look into scripture to see whether Babylon represents a ‘fallen church’ or perhaps something else entirely.
In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 we are given copies of seven letters to seven churches. Each church is addressed singularly. Never is a ‘head office’ addressed. Although the number seven means ‘the totality’ or the ‘complete church’, they are never addressed all at once. Never are the seven referred to as ‘The Church’.
Going ‘a little wider’ we look at Paul’s epistles and find that a church is always addressed singularly, always using the name of a city to identify the church.
For mystery Babylon to represent the church as a whole, would be a strange usage of the word. The early church had Jerusalem for its ‘head-quarters’ but never was it called ‘The Church’ in such a way as to include all the rest of the churches. I will try to show in this study that Babylon is not symbolic of the Catholic Church, nor of a future apostate ‘world church’. 18:1-3
As we proceed into chapter 18 we find the phrase, “The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, (3a)” … and then we find this addition; “merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." We will read much more about the economic impact which Babylon has been having over the kingdoms of the world.
While the RC Church has money … it is very far-fetched to think that the church has such an economic effect as to be attributed with driving the world’s economy.
Next we find a command, “Come out of her, My people!” (Verse 4) For those who are still thinking that this is referring to the Catholic Church … or even to that apostate ecumenical world church of the future, these words make sense. If you are a child of God, get out!
But these words also make sense if Mystery Babylon refers to some other kind of power or system.
Let’s read to the end of the chapter …. 5-24
A reminder – Daniel mentioned three superpowers that are involved with the final seven year period of this present era. The seven headed beast represents one of them. The kings of the east are mentioned later –Neither of these groups comprise Mystery Babylon. This leaves the King of the South and his allies.
Daniel says that the King of the South gets wiped out by the King of the North at the end of the seven years. John says Mystery Babylon gets wiped out by the ten horned beast right at the end of the seven years.
Mystery Babylon (the King of the South) is a huge system supported by ally countries. (It is south from the perspective of the King of the North.)
Mystery Babylon is seen riding on the back of the beast.
We have to wonder, what was she like before she fell? Was she something wonderful? Again, if we are thinking that she represents the true church of the Lord Jesus that has fallen doctrinally, eventually evolving into an evil ‘world church’, then the prior beauty is obvious. At one point she would have been part of the glorious bride of Christ … and she has fallen terribly.
The problem with the Harlot representing God's own bride, now fallen ... would imply that the Catholic church at one point was holy and clean. This was not the case. The Catholic church, from day one, consisted of people, pastors and churches that had embraced heresy and ultimately came together, organized under one leader and came to be known as the holy Catholic church. From the outset they were in conflict with the churches and leaders who opted to remain separate. An era of persecution and bloodshed ensued against the dissenters. This era only came to a close when Luther and other reformers challenged the Catholic church.
The indictment, "Babylon the great has fallen" could only refer to an entity that was not 'fallen' initially.
But let’s look into scripture to see whether Babylon represents a ‘fallen church’ or perhaps something else entirely.
In Revelation chapters 2 and 3 we are given copies of seven letters to seven churches. Each church is addressed singularly. Never is a ‘head office’ addressed. Although the number seven means ‘the totality’ or the ‘complete church’, they are never addressed all at once. Never are the seven referred to as ‘The Church’.
Going ‘a little wider’ we look at Paul’s epistles and find that a church is always addressed singularly, always using the name of a city to identify the church.
For mystery Babylon to represent the church as a whole, would be a strange usage of the word. The early church had Jerusalem for its ‘head-quarters’ but never was it called ‘The Church’ in such a way as to include all the rest of the churches. I will try to show in this study that Babylon is not symbolic of the Catholic Church, nor of a future apostate ‘world church’. 18:1-3
As we proceed into chapter 18 we find the phrase, “The kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, (3a)” … and then we find this addition; “merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." We will read much more about the economic impact which Babylon has been having over the kingdoms of the world.
While the RC Church has money … it is very far-fetched to think that the church has such an economic effect as to be attributed with driving the world’s economy.
Next we find a command, “Come out of her, My people!” (Verse 4) For those who are still thinking that this is referring to the Catholic Church … or even to that apostate ecumenical world church of the future, these words make sense. If you are a child of God, get out!
But these words also make sense if Mystery Babylon refers to some other kind of power or system.
Let’s read to the end of the chapter …. 5-24
A reminder – Daniel mentioned three superpowers that are involved with the final seven year period of this present era. The seven headed beast represents one of them. The kings of the east are mentioned later –Neither of these groups comprise Mystery Babylon. This leaves the King of the South and his allies.
Daniel says that the King of the South gets wiped out by the King of the North at the end of the seven years. John says Mystery Babylon gets wiped out by the ten horned beast right at the end of the seven years.
Mystery Babylon (the King of the South) is a huge system supported by ally countries. (It is south from the perspective of the King of the North.)
Mystery Babylon is seen riding on the back of the beast.
What does this mean? She is just going along for the ride? She is being supported by the beast? No, I think the key word is ‘control’. To ‘ride’ an animal such as a horse, or mule or donkey, a ‘bit’ is put in its mouth. While the animal seems to be in compliance … it would greatly prefer to be rid of the rider. Freedom is always preferred over control.
Mystery Babylon is controlling the beast in some way. In the following verses, most of what is said has to do with money. Controlling the purse strings.
If our deductions1 are accurate so far … the beast on which she sits is the king of the North. The king of the North is being controlled or manipulated by the king of the South. The King of the North resents this control and makes several attempts to become an 'independent' world leader. The manipulation continues until ‘the time of the end’.
In Daniel 11 we read that ‘King of the North’ rose to power and affiliates himself with Israel. We read further that this king does not achieve world power without resistance. There is an apposing power that he must deal with at least twice. It is at the midpoint of the 7 year period that he finally thinks he can sit in the temple and claim to be God. Even though he is functioning as ‘a god’ and obviously has great power, the king of the South is still somewhere in the picture. It is not till the time of the end that the King of the South seems to make some kind of a move against the King of the North. The result is that the King of the South gets totally swept away.
How do we relate this to Revelation 17 and 18?
The beast, the seventh Head … becomes a world power. The smaller beast, the one who looked like a lamb but spoke like a dragon (the Antichrist), performs miracles and promotes worship of the powerful beast. He causes everyone to receive a ‘mark’ without which no one buys or sells. The Large beast is being directed in some way by a harlot on its back. Ten kingdoms join the already powerful beast. These ten additional kingdoms resent the control of the harlot and ultimately destroy her.
These two pictures, the one in Daniel and the one in Revelation … are the same.
Basically we see three main ‘World Players’. (player is a poor choice of a word!)
In Revelation we see a fourth … the group of ten.
But in Daniel we also see an addition of force which very well could comprise the 10 horns of Revelation… 11:39 ‘He will greatly honour those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers …’
In this study we want to explore just what kind(s) of powers the harlot has.
Let’s list some of the various types of powers that exist:
The King of the North, the beast … gains power by intrigue (or flattery KJV). He comes onto the scene ‘peacefully’.
Very quickly he develops military power. His God is ‘force’. Daniel 11:38.
The King of the South also has military power. (No other kind of power is mentioned by Daniel.)
The Beast of Revelation has military power. Demands worship (via the smaller beast) … and we hear about technological power … a mark in the hand or forehead … or a person will not be able to buy or sell.
The harlot has some kind of power as well. She has something over the beast. She is riding …controlling it. How long has she been on its back? Apparently longer than the ten horns have been on the beasts head. The ten horns seem to come into the picture near the end of the seven years. This means that the harlot was right ‘in there’ when the buy-sell thing was being figured out. Very likely it was her idea.
Let’s look at a quick overview of our world and see how it might fit the picture.
Through the centuries a nation rises to power. Another nation comes along and replaces it. This has been repeated a number of times. For a nation to be able to replace another one, it needs two things at least; One, resources in terms of trained people (soldiers), and two, resources in terms of weapons (money).
In recent years (by recent I am thinking the past five hundred years or so) the world scene has been greatly changed. Columbus discovered America. Pilgrims escaped persecution by coming to the new land. A country was born. Very early in history, even before the formation of the original 13 states, and then the 48 states, persons with money were present to make money by lending money.
The Power of Money
"The merchants ......... became rich by her, (Rev. 18:15)
Examples of Americas pathway to Monetary Power:
Haym Solomon
A Jewish financier from Poland, Haym Solomon, contributed to financing the war of the American colonists against Britain, while a French sailor and merchant named Stephen Girard became one of the richest men in the early United States. Girard joined with John Jacob Astor, a butcher’s son from Germany who became an American tycoon, and David Parish, German-born scion of a British banking dynasty, to rescue the finances of the federal government during the War of 1812—in those days the rich bailed out the government, not vice versa.
Quote taken from ‘Founding Financiers’ Michael Lind is co-founder of the New America Foundation and author of Land of Promise: An Economic History of the United States.
J.P.Morgan
At the height of Morgan's career during the early 1900s, he and his partners had financial investments in many large corporations and had significant influence over the nation's high finance and United States Congress members. He directed the banking coalition that stopped the Panic of 1907. He was the leading financier of the Progressive Era, and his dedication to efficiency and modernization helped transform American business.
Formation of Central Banks
A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is an institution that manages a state's currency, money supply, and interest rates. Central banks also usually oversee the commercial banking system of their respective countries. In contrast to a commercial bank, a central bank possesses a monopoly on increasing the monetary base in the state, and usually also prints the national currency, which usually serves as the state's legal tender. Examples include the European Central Bank (ECB), the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve of the United States.
The primary function of a central bank is to manage the nation's money supply (monetary policy), through active duties such as managing interest rates, setting the reserve requirement, and acting as a lender of last resort to the banking sector during times of bank insolvency or financial crisis. Central banks usually also have supervisory powers, intended to prevent bank runs and to reduce the risk that commercial banks and other financial institutions engage in reckless or fraudulent behavior. Central banks in most developed nations are institutionally designed to be independent from political interference. Still, limited control by the executive and legislative bodies usually exists.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Federal Reserve Bank of New York2
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is a privately held bank acting as fiscal agent of the United States since the passage of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and is one of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks. Benjamin Strong was Governor 1914-28. He exerted great influence over the policy and actions of the entire Federal Reserve System--and indeed over the financial policies of all of the United States and Europe.
This bank is responsible for the Second District of the Federal Reserve System, which encompasses New York state, the 12 northern counties of New Jersey, Fairfield County in Connecticut, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Working within the Federal Reserve System, the New York Federal Reserve Bank implements monetary policy, supervises and regulates financial institutions and helps maintain the nation's payment systems.
Federal Reserve System3
According to the Board of Governors, the Federal Reserve System "is considered an independent central bank because its monetary policy decisions do not have to be approved by the President or anyone else in the executive or legislative branches of government, it does not receive funding appropriated by the Congress, and the terms of the members of the Board of Governors span multiple presidential and congressional terms."
Excerpts from the book - Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler by Anthony C. Sutton
p27 [The] interplay of ideas and cooperation between Hjalmar Schacht [Hitler's financial advisor] in Germany and, through Owen Young, the J. P. Morgan interests in New York, was only one facet of a vast and ambitious system of cooperation and international alliance for world control. As described by Carroll Quigley, this system was "... nothing less than to create a world system of financial control, in private hands, able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole."
American Dollars represent power
Reserve currency4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A reserve currency (or anchor currency) is a currency that is held in significant quantities by governments and institutions as part of their foreign exchange reserves. The reserve currency is commonly used in international transactions and often considered a hard currency or safe-haven currency. People who live in a country that issues a reserve currency can purchase imports and borrow across borders more cheaply than people in other nations because they don't need to exchange their currency to do so.
By the end of the 20th century, the United States dollar was considered the world's most dominant reserve currency, and the world's need for dollars has allowed the United States government as well as Americans to borrow at lower costs, granting them an advantage in excess of $100 billion per year.
International Monetary Fund 5Wikipedia, free encyclopedia
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., in the United States, of 189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.[1] Formed in 1945 at the Bretton Woods Conference, i
The IMF plays three major roles in the global monetary system. The Fund surveys and monitors economic and financial developments, lends funds to countries with balance-of-payment difficulties, and provides technical assistance and training for countries requesting it.
World Bank6
The World Bank is a United Nations international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programs. The World Bank is a component of the World Bank Group, and a member of the United Nations Development Group.
The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty. According to its Articles of Agreement, all its decisions must be guided by a commitment to the promotion of foreign investment and international trade and to the facilitation of capital investment.
United Nations headquarters is in New York City, as is the World Trade center7.
Now let’s look at military power.
The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. (Rev. 17:18)
... the great prostitute ... sits on many waters,(Rev. 17:1)
"The waters ... are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.(Rev. 17:15)
The Rise to Power – Excerpts from the book: The American Century – The Rise and Decline of the United States as a World Power.8
“ To complete the circle, the United States gained allies in the 1950s among the nations of southern Asia, ...
... Such was the state of the frontiers of American interest as they developed from World War II into the 1950s. They were not the borders of an empire that held territory under a single sovereign authority. The United States was a republic and its principal means of establishing influence were aid, commerce, and diplomacy, though it came to offer protection against belligerents. It assumed the role of a primary power for which no other could substitute. Along the frontiers of this defensive area, the Americans confronted a revolutionary and mighty adversary, the Russians, and their massive nation with adjacent satellites.”
As Harry Truman campaigned for the presidency in 1948 he made claims regarding America's great power:
Salem, Oregon, June 11: "This is the greatest Nation on earth, I think. The greatest Nation in history, let's put it that way. We have done things that no other nation in the history of the world has done."
Trenton, Missouri, September 18: "this country will continue for another thousand years as the greatest country in the world."
Dayton, Ohio, October 11: "Now, this great Republic--the greatest in history, the greatest that the sun has ever shone upon--is charged with leadership in the world for the welfare of the whole world as well as our own welfare."
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the "unalienable rights" which the Declaration says has been given to all human beings by their Creator, and for which governments are created to protect.9
New Haven (Connecticut) and Massachusetts were founded by Puritans who wanted to reform the Church of England, who later became known as Congregationalists. Roger Williams founded the colony of Rhode Island based on the principle of freedom of conscience. Pennsylvania was established by William Penn as a Quaker colony. Maryland was a haven for Catholics from Protestant England.
America was indeed founded by bible-believing Christians and based on Christian principles. When they founded this country, the Founding Fathers envisioned a government that would promote and encourage Christianity.10
According to the United States Flag Code, the current Pledge of Allegiance reads:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Taken from ‘The Mystery of the Shemitah’:
P205. "Emerging from the ruins of the Second World War, America stood at a high pinnacle in world history. It was the greatest financial power, the greatest industrial power, the greatest military power, the greatest economic power, the greatest cultural power on earth. The world’s financial order, economic order and political order were now led or driven by the American superpower. Its economy drove the world economy, its industry filled the world’s markets, its culture filled the world’s consciousness, and its military stood watch over the world’s nations.
Some called it the “American Empire”; others, the “American Century” …. Etc. P208"
“I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” (Rev. 17:6)
The Blood of the Innocent
But 1973 would be a watershed in America’s moral and spiritual descent. It was at the beginning of that year that the nation’s highest court legalized the killing of unborn children. In the case of ancient Israel it was the killing of the nation’s most innocent, its little children, that would ultimately lead to national judgment and destruction.
Many years ago, God's own people, fell from their Godliness to an incredibly low point.
And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies that He testified against them; they followed idols… so they left all the commandments of the Lord their God … and they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire.2 Kings 17:15-17
It is implied that Babylon was not always fallen, but over time became totally corrupt and guilty of every form of ungodliness.
… as the nation began to drive God out of its life in the 1960’s ….. P210
Mystery Babylon has fallen!
Mystery Babylon … very likely is responsible for co-operating with the Antichrist in developing a one world monetary system. America has set the currency as the Federal Reserve US dollar. But situated in the USA is the world bank, IMF. Also situated in America are several other superbanks which in the past have greatly affected other countries in need.
America has set itself up as the watchdog of the world. It has enjoyed this position of military supremacy for a number of years. The soviet union, the other balancing world power for a number of years … fell apart. (Is this the head that received a deadly wound? Will it be the resurrected head comprising the King of the north?)
24 "And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."
To me this sounds like God is holding her responsible for the death of the martyrs of the last 3 ½ years. The ten horns … destroyed the harlot. In doing so … the economy crashes. The mark system or something else about the harlot has so angered the ten horns that they … perhaps without the beasts help … destroy her.
Babylon is about to be Destroyed ...
Just before she is destroyed, a voice calls from heaven: What is the call?11, “Come out of her My people and do not become partaker in her plagues.” I don’t think this is simply a call for American Christians to literally move out of their country.
This likely means one or two things:
1. Divorce yourselves from the worldly system. Recognise that your country and citizenship is in heaven. Renounce your expectations and rights which you think are owed you by 'your country'. Divorce yourself from the worldly system. Recognise that your country/citizenship is Heaven12. Be careful that he who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1Corinthians 10:12.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 2 Peter 1:10
In actual practice our life styles should be such that we spiritually, mentally, and emotionally separate ourselves from Babylon's materialistic mindset and way of life. But I believe this command to 'come out' means much more.
2 Come out now! --- This is a call and it is from God. This is the moment that He takes them out in the rapture!
To be sure, we really need to examine our own roots and see just how deeply they go down into the citizenship of the countries in which we live. What would it really look like if we actually believed our citizenship is in heaven?
But the meaning of 18:4, in my belief, pertains directly to the rapture of God's people.
This worldly system based on the power of money has flown in the face of God. It has flaunted itself and asserted that there is no need for God. This 'spirit' started with Cain in the book of Genesis. It has continued through the ages. It has grown and spread like a disease. It has reached it's apex in Mystery Babylon. Her sins have reached up to heaven and God is dealing with it in justice.
Pr 16:18 ¶ Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
She thinks she is the greatest thing ever. She glorified herself. She advertised her greatness.
Believers have been called out of this evil system. They are safe in heaven, out of the way.
The Last Plague comes on Babylon, the seventh and last bowl of God's wrath. (18:6-8)
She is destroyed by a literal fire. (8,9)
Although Babylon ruled over the kings of the earth, although the people of the earth enjoyed the power of money and the life-style that money had offered, Babylon, even though it is a world wide system ... it actually has a central location. It is centered in a city. It can be seen burning. Via news channels? Likely.
The Kings of the earth will witness this. Merchants of the earth will watch her burn. And in verse 17 we discover that the city itself is a major seaport and a multitude of ship traffic comes to a standstill as they see massive columns of smoke filling the air. They are in shock. Their entire lives as they knew it, have gone up in smoke.
Obviously this was totally unexpected. Six bowls of God's devastating wrath have just recently been poured out on the earth. Life has been almost unbearable. But now this. And how did it happen? We need to go back an re-read a scripture passage:
Re 17:16 "And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 "For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
God uses the group of 10 kings (or countries) to do the job. And this attack came as a total surprise, or so it would seem. But when we re-look at Daniel eleven, we remember that,
"At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. Da 11:40
It is Babylon ... or the USA itself, that initiates an attack that backfires with the 10 horns burning the central commercial city of the world. If I said this earlier, it bears repeating ... The financial heartbeat of the world comes out of New York city. It is a major seaport.
If believers will see this terrible destruction, it will have to be from heaven.
Heaven rejoices in her destruction.
Re 19:1 ¶ After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."
3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!"
To recap:
God used the 10 horns to administer His judgment. Babylon (America?) at one time was not ‘fallen’. She was founded on Christian principles. This does not make her a modern day Israel or a people of God in the same sense that Israel is. But this principle is always true: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Pr 14:34.
America made a brave claim in the beginning … putting themselves under God. But a little later in their history evil began to flourish. Re 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (Other versions say ‘bodies’in place of the word, 'souls' which probably means the same thing.)
At this time, even while there still is a ‘bible belt’ in the US, as a nation they have fallen so far that they can no longer make the claim of ‘being one nation under God’. Bible reading in public schools is against the law. Prayer in public schools is against the law. Killing of unborn children is legal and sometimes recommended. Evolution is taught as a fact in public schools. Teaching of creationism is against the law. Same sex marriage is legal in many states. The list goes on. The nation founded on Godly principles has fallen.
God is good, Holy, Just and Righteous. 19:2
1 By comparing Daniel 11 with Revelation 17 and 18
2 https://www.c-span.org/organization/?25839/Federal-Reserve-Bank-York
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_System
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_currency
5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund
6 https://www.techbullion.com/what-is-the-world-bank/
7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center_(1973-2001)
8 https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/w/white-century.html?mcubz=0
9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life,_Liberty_and_the_pursuit_of_Happiness
10 http://faithofourfathers.net/
11 Rev. 18:4
12 Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Mystery Babylon is controlling the beast in some way. In the following verses, most of what is said has to do with money. Controlling the purse strings.
If our deductions1 are accurate so far … the beast on which she sits is the king of the North. The king of the North is being controlled or manipulated by the king of the South. The King of the North resents this control and makes several attempts to become an 'independent' world leader. The manipulation continues until ‘the time of the end’.
In Daniel 11 we read that ‘King of the North’ rose to power and affiliates himself with Israel. We read further that this king does not achieve world power without resistance. There is an apposing power that he must deal with at least twice. It is at the midpoint of the 7 year period that he finally thinks he can sit in the temple and claim to be God. Even though he is functioning as ‘a god’ and obviously has great power, the king of the South is still somewhere in the picture. It is not till the time of the end that the King of the South seems to make some kind of a move against the King of the North. The result is that the King of the South gets totally swept away.
How do we relate this to Revelation 17 and 18?
The beast, the seventh Head … becomes a world power. The smaller beast, the one who looked like a lamb but spoke like a dragon (the Antichrist), performs miracles and promotes worship of the powerful beast. He causes everyone to receive a ‘mark’ without which no one buys or sells. The Large beast is being directed in some way by a harlot on its back. Ten kingdoms join the already powerful beast. These ten additional kingdoms resent the control of the harlot and ultimately destroy her.
These two pictures, the one in Daniel and the one in Revelation … are the same.
Basically we see three main ‘World Players’. (player is a poor choice of a word!)
In Revelation we see a fourth … the group of ten.
But in Daniel we also see an addition of force which very well could comprise the 10 horns of Revelation… 11:39 ‘He will greatly honour those who acknowledge him. He will make them rulers …’
In this study we want to explore just what kind(s) of powers the harlot has.
Let’s list some of the various types of powers that exist:
- - Political power
- -Military power
- - Monetary (economic) power
- -For lack of a better term … cultural power.
- - Technological power
- -Religious power
The King of the North, the beast … gains power by intrigue (or flattery KJV). He comes onto the scene ‘peacefully’.
Very quickly he develops military power. His God is ‘force’. Daniel 11:38.
The King of the South also has military power. (No other kind of power is mentioned by Daniel.)
The Beast of Revelation has military power. Demands worship (via the smaller beast) … and we hear about technological power … a mark in the hand or forehead … or a person will not be able to buy or sell.
The harlot has some kind of power as well. She has something over the beast. She is riding …controlling it. How long has she been on its back? Apparently longer than the ten horns have been on the beasts head. The ten horns seem to come into the picture near the end of the seven years. This means that the harlot was right ‘in there’ when the buy-sell thing was being figured out. Very likely it was her idea.
Let’s look at a quick overview of our world and see how it might fit the picture.
Through the centuries a nation rises to power. Another nation comes along and replaces it. This has been repeated a number of times. For a nation to be able to replace another one, it needs two things at least; One, resources in terms of trained people (soldiers), and two, resources in terms of weapons (money).
In recent years (by recent I am thinking the past five hundred years or so) the world scene has been greatly changed. Columbus discovered America. Pilgrims escaped persecution by coming to the new land. A country was born. Very early in history, even before the formation of the original 13 states, and then the 48 states, persons with money were present to make money by lending money.
The Power of Money
"The merchants ......... became rich by her, (Rev. 18:15)
Examples of Americas pathway to Monetary Power:
Haym Solomon
A Jewish financier from Poland, Haym Solomon, contributed to financing the war of the American colonists against Britain, while a French sailor and merchant named Stephen Girard became one of the richest men in the early United States. Girard joined with John Jacob Astor, a butcher’s son from Germany who became an American tycoon, and David Parish, German-born scion of a British banking dynasty, to rescue the finances of the federal government during the War of 1812—in those days the rich bailed out the government, not vice versa.
Quote taken from ‘Founding Financiers’ Michael Lind is co-founder of the New America Foundation and author of Land of Promise: An Economic History of the United States.
J.P.Morgan
At the height of Morgan's career during the early 1900s, he and his partners had financial investments in many large corporations and had significant influence over the nation's high finance and United States Congress members. He directed the banking coalition that stopped the Panic of 1907. He was the leading financier of the Progressive Era, and his dedication to efficiency and modernization helped transform American business.
Formation of Central Banks
A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is an institution that manages a state's currency, money supply, and interest rates. Central banks also usually oversee the commercial banking system of their respective countries. In contrast to a commercial bank, a central bank possesses a monopoly on increasing the monetary base in the state, and usually also prints the national currency, which usually serves as the state's legal tender. Examples include the European Central Bank (ECB), the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve of the United States.
The primary function of a central bank is to manage the nation's money supply (monetary policy), through active duties such as managing interest rates, setting the reserve requirement, and acting as a lender of last resort to the banking sector during times of bank insolvency or financial crisis. Central banks usually also have supervisory powers, intended to prevent bank runs and to reduce the risk that commercial banks and other financial institutions engage in reckless or fraudulent behavior. Central banks in most developed nations are institutionally designed to be independent from political interference. Still, limited control by the executive and legislative bodies usually exists.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Federal Reserve Bank of New York2
The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is a privately held bank acting as fiscal agent of the United States since the passage of the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and is one of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks. Benjamin Strong was Governor 1914-28. He exerted great influence over the policy and actions of the entire Federal Reserve System--and indeed over the financial policies of all of the United States and Europe.
This bank is responsible for the Second District of the Federal Reserve System, which encompasses New York state, the 12 northern counties of New Jersey, Fairfield County in Connecticut, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Working within the Federal Reserve System, the New York Federal Reserve Bank implements monetary policy, supervises and regulates financial institutions and helps maintain the nation's payment systems.
Federal Reserve System3
According to the Board of Governors, the Federal Reserve System "is considered an independent central bank because its monetary policy decisions do not have to be approved by the President or anyone else in the executive or legislative branches of government, it does not receive funding appropriated by the Congress, and the terms of the members of the Board of Governors span multiple presidential and congressional terms."
Excerpts from the book - Wall Street and the Rise of Hitler by Anthony C. Sutton
p27 [The] interplay of ideas and cooperation between Hjalmar Schacht [Hitler's financial advisor] in Germany and, through Owen Young, the J. P. Morgan interests in New York, was only one facet of a vast and ambitious system of cooperation and international alliance for world control. As described by Carroll Quigley, this system was "... nothing less than to create a world system of financial control, in private hands, able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole."
American Dollars represent power
Reserve currency4 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A reserve currency (or anchor currency) is a currency that is held in significant quantities by governments and institutions as part of their foreign exchange reserves. The reserve currency is commonly used in international transactions and often considered a hard currency or safe-haven currency. People who live in a country that issues a reserve currency can purchase imports and borrow across borders more cheaply than people in other nations because they don't need to exchange their currency to do so.
By the end of the 20th century, the United States dollar was considered the world's most dominant reserve currency, and the world's need for dollars has allowed the United States government as well as Americans to borrow at lower costs, granting them an advantage in excess of $100 billion per year.
International Monetary Fund 5Wikipedia, free encyclopedia
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., in the United States, of 189 countries working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.[1] Formed in 1945 at the Bretton Woods Conference, i
The IMF plays three major roles in the global monetary system. The Fund surveys and monitors economic and financial developments, lends funds to countries with balance-of-payment difficulties, and provides technical assistance and training for countries requesting it.
World Bank6
The World Bank is a United Nations international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programs. The World Bank is a component of the World Bank Group, and a member of the United Nations Development Group.
The World Bank's official goal is the reduction of poverty. According to its Articles of Agreement, all its decisions must be guided by a commitment to the promotion of foreign investment and international trade and to the facilitation of capital investment.
United Nations headquarters is in New York City, as is the World Trade center7.
Now let’s look at military power.
The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. (Rev. 17:18)
... the great prostitute ... sits on many waters,(Rev. 17:1)
"The waters ... are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.(Rev. 17:15)
The Rise to Power – Excerpts from the book: The American Century – The Rise and Decline of the United States as a World Power.8
“ To complete the circle, the United States gained allies in the 1950s among the nations of southern Asia, ...
... Such was the state of the frontiers of American interest as they developed from World War II into the 1950s. They were not the borders of an empire that held territory under a single sovereign authority. The United States was a republic and its principal means of establishing influence were aid, commerce, and diplomacy, though it came to offer protection against belligerents. It assumed the role of a primary power for which no other could substitute. Along the frontiers of this defensive area, the Americans confronted a revolutionary and mighty adversary, the Russians, and their massive nation with adjacent satellites.”
As Harry Truman campaigned for the presidency in 1948 he made claims regarding America's great power:
Salem, Oregon, June 11: "This is the greatest Nation on earth, I think. The greatest Nation in history, let's put it that way. We have done things that no other nation in the history of the world has done."
Trenton, Missouri, September 18: "this country will continue for another thousand years as the greatest country in the world."
Dayton, Ohio, October 11: "Now, this great Republic--the greatest in history, the greatest that the sun has ever shone upon--is charged with leadership in the world for the welfare of the whole world as well as our own welfare."
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is a well-known phrase in the United States Declaration of Independence. The phrase gives three examples of the "unalienable rights" which the Declaration says has been given to all human beings by their Creator, and for which governments are created to protect.9
New Haven (Connecticut) and Massachusetts were founded by Puritans who wanted to reform the Church of England, who later became known as Congregationalists. Roger Williams founded the colony of Rhode Island based on the principle of freedom of conscience. Pennsylvania was established by William Penn as a Quaker colony. Maryland was a haven for Catholics from Protestant England.
America was indeed founded by bible-believing Christians and based on Christian principles. When they founded this country, the Founding Fathers envisioned a government that would promote and encourage Christianity.10
According to the United States Flag Code, the current Pledge of Allegiance reads:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Taken from ‘The Mystery of the Shemitah’:
P205. "Emerging from the ruins of the Second World War, America stood at a high pinnacle in world history. It was the greatest financial power, the greatest industrial power, the greatest military power, the greatest economic power, the greatest cultural power on earth. The world’s financial order, economic order and political order were now led or driven by the American superpower. Its economy drove the world economy, its industry filled the world’s markets, its culture filled the world’s consciousness, and its military stood watch over the world’s nations.
Some called it the “American Empire”; others, the “American Century” …. Etc. P208"
“I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” (Rev. 17:6)
The Blood of the Innocent
But 1973 would be a watershed in America’s moral and spiritual descent. It was at the beginning of that year that the nation’s highest court legalized the killing of unborn children. In the case of ancient Israel it was the killing of the nation’s most innocent, its little children, that would ultimately lead to national judgment and destruction.
Many years ago, God's own people, fell from their Godliness to an incredibly low point.
And they rejected His statutes and His covenant that He made with their fathers, and His testimonies that He testified against them; they followed idols… so they left all the commandments of the Lord their God … and they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire.2 Kings 17:15-17
It is implied that Babylon was not always fallen, but over time became totally corrupt and guilty of every form of ungodliness.
… as the nation began to drive God out of its life in the 1960’s ….. P210
Mystery Babylon has fallen!
Mystery Babylon … very likely is responsible for co-operating with the Antichrist in developing a one world monetary system. America has set the currency as the Federal Reserve US dollar. But situated in the USA is the world bank, IMF. Also situated in America are several other superbanks which in the past have greatly affected other countries in need.
America has set itself up as the watchdog of the world. It has enjoyed this position of military supremacy for a number of years. The soviet union, the other balancing world power for a number of years … fell apart. (Is this the head that received a deadly wound? Will it be the resurrected head comprising the King of the north?)
24 "And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."
To me this sounds like God is holding her responsible for the death of the martyrs of the last 3 ½ years. The ten horns … destroyed the harlot. In doing so … the economy crashes. The mark system or something else about the harlot has so angered the ten horns that they … perhaps without the beasts help … destroy her.
Babylon is about to be Destroyed ...
Just before she is destroyed, a voice calls from heaven: What is the call?11, “Come out of her My people and do not become partaker in her plagues.” I don’t think this is simply a call for American Christians to literally move out of their country.
This likely means one or two things:
1. Divorce yourselves from the worldly system. Recognise that your country and citizenship is in heaven. Renounce your expectations and rights which you think are owed you by 'your country'. Divorce yourself from the worldly system. Recognise that your country/citizenship is Heaven12. Be careful that he who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1Corinthians 10:12.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 2 Peter 1:10
In actual practice our life styles should be such that we spiritually, mentally, and emotionally separate ourselves from Babylon's materialistic mindset and way of life. But I believe this command to 'come out' means much more.
2 Come out now! --- This is a call and it is from God. This is the moment that He takes them out in the rapture!
To be sure, we really need to examine our own roots and see just how deeply they go down into the citizenship of the countries in which we live. What would it really look like if we actually believed our citizenship is in heaven?
But the meaning of 18:4, in my belief, pertains directly to the rapture of God's people.
This worldly system based on the power of money has flown in the face of God. It has flaunted itself and asserted that there is no need for God. This 'spirit' started with Cain in the book of Genesis. It has continued through the ages. It has grown and spread like a disease. It has reached it's apex in Mystery Babylon. Her sins have reached up to heaven and God is dealing with it in justice.
Pr 16:18 ¶ Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
She thinks she is the greatest thing ever. She glorified herself. She advertised her greatness.
Believers have been called out of this evil system. They are safe in heaven, out of the way.
The Last Plague comes on Babylon, the seventh and last bowl of God's wrath. (18:6-8)
She is destroyed by a literal fire. (8,9)
Although Babylon ruled over the kings of the earth, although the people of the earth enjoyed the power of money and the life-style that money had offered, Babylon, even though it is a world wide system ... it actually has a central location. It is centered in a city. It can be seen burning. Via news channels? Likely.
The Kings of the earth will witness this. Merchants of the earth will watch her burn. And in verse 17 we discover that the city itself is a major seaport and a multitude of ship traffic comes to a standstill as they see massive columns of smoke filling the air. They are in shock. Their entire lives as they knew it, have gone up in smoke.
Obviously this was totally unexpected. Six bowls of God's devastating wrath have just recently been poured out on the earth. Life has been almost unbearable. But now this. And how did it happen? We need to go back an re-read a scripture passage:
Re 17:16 "And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 "For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
God uses the group of 10 kings (or countries) to do the job. And this attack came as a total surprise, or so it would seem. But when we re-look at Daniel eleven, we remember that,
"At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. Da 11:40
It is Babylon ... or the USA itself, that initiates an attack that backfires with the 10 horns burning the central commercial city of the world. If I said this earlier, it bears repeating ... The financial heartbeat of the world comes out of New York city. It is a major seaport.
If believers will see this terrible destruction, it will have to be from heaven.
Heaven rejoices in her destruction.
Re 19:1 ¶ After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! 2 "For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her."
3 Again they said, "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!"
To recap:
God used the 10 horns to administer His judgment. Babylon (America?) at one time was not ‘fallen’. She was founded on Christian principles. This does not make her a modern day Israel or a people of God in the same sense that Israel is. But this principle is always true: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people. Pr 14:34.
America made a brave claim in the beginning … putting themselves under God. But a little later in their history evil began to flourish. Re 18:13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (Other versions say ‘bodies’in place of the word, 'souls' which probably means the same thing.)
At this time, even while there still is a ‘bible belt’ in the US, as a nation they have fallen so far that they can no longer make the claim of ‘being one nation under God’. Bible reading in public schools is against the law. Prayer in public schools is against the law. Killing of unborn children is legal and sometimes recommended. Evolution is taught as a fact in public schools. Teaching of creationism is against the law. Same sex marriage is legal in many states. The list goes on. The nation founded on Godly principles has fallen.
God is good, Holy, Just and Righteous. 19:2
1 By comparing Daniel 11 with Revelation 17 and 18
2 https://www.c-span.org/organization/?25839/Federal-Reserve-Bank-York
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_System
4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_currency
5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund
6 https://www.techbullion.com/what-is-the-world-bank/
7 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center_(1973-2001)
8 https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/first/w/white-century.html?mcubz=0
9 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life,_Liberty_and_the_pursuit_of_Happiness
10 http://faithofourfathers.net/
11 Rev. 18:4
12 Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,