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The Fall of Babylon The Fall of Babylon
Chapter 19Babylon, as one picture of the false religious system which rides the power of the Roman Empire, is to have her final hour. This system has been outlined in this book. The event that is enlarged on here is a catastrophic end of the old Papal system. Her coming doom was announced in chapter 14:8. The means by which the final downfall, enlarged upon in this chapter, was brought about is the subject of the seven bowls of chapter 16. The actual timing of the event is under the seventh bowl in Rev. 16:19, when Babylon was divided into three parts for a threefold punishment. If you have read the preceding portion of this book you are prepared for the reading of this chapter.
The event that is pictured in this chapter, that is, the fall of the Papal system, has not happened as of the writing of this book. It is about to happen. It is imminent.
18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. (2) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.(3) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. (4) And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her my people, that you be not partakers of her sins, and that you receive not of her plagues. (5) For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. (6) Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double to her double according to her works, in the cup which she has filled fill to her double. (7) How much she has glorified herself and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her; for she says in her heart, I sit a queen and am not a widow,and shall see no sorrow. (8) Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine,and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judges her. (9) The kings of the earth who have committed fornication and have lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her and lament for her when they shall see the smoke of her burning. (10) Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city, for in one hour is your judgement come. (11) And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise anymore. (12) The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all sweet wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of most precious wood, and of brass and iron and marble. (13) And cinnamon, and incenses, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oils, and fine flour, and wheat, and cattle, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. (14) And the fruits that your soul lusted after are departed from you, and you shall find them no more at all. (15) The merchants of these things who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing. (16) And saying, Alas, alas that great city, which was clothed in fine linen, and purple,and scarlet, and decked with gold,and precious stones, and pearls! (17) For in one hour so great riches is come to nothing, and every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off. (18) And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city] is like this great city; (19) And they cast dust on their heads and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein all that had ships were made rich by reasons of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. (20) Rejoice over her you heavens, and you holy apostles and prophets; for God has avenged you of her. (21) And a mighty angel took up a great stone, like a millstone, and cast it into the sea saying, Thus, with violence shall the great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. (22) And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters shall be heard no more at all in you; and no craftsman of whatever craft, shall be found anymore within you, and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in you. (23) And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you, and the voice of the bridegroom and the bride shall be heard no more at all in you; for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your sorceries were all nations deceived. (24) And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.
For my readers, whether soon after this book was written or much later, you will be able to look back on these pages about the Fall of Babylon and give a clearer explanation to what their fulfillment was in the event. This chapter, though very detailed, speaks of one event only--the fall and disappearance of the Papacy.
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