Well, the big snow of 2007 has finally arrived.  Forecasters have been saying all week that this could be the biggest storm in nearly 2 years to hit Minnesota.  Had freezing rain last night and it is snowing pretty good right now.  Forecasters tell us that we might have over 12 inches before it is over with.  That would double our snow total for the season.  Snowmobilers will be delighted.  At least it is coming over the weekend.  Marlys and I were to drive to Chicago to attend my niece's wedding this weekend.  Needless to say, we decided to stay home.  Right now it looks like it was the right choice to make. 

 

Last night we saw the movie "Amazing Grace."  We had previously seen it while in Washington DC.  I strongly urge you to go and see it.  It is a powerful presentation of one man's dedication and perseverance to see the abolition of slavery in his day.  Many people have never heard of William Wilberforce before, but he is a man whose story is worth knowing.  You will not be disappointed. 

 

I hesitate to get started on what is happening in the world as it could easily fill the pages of this musing.  In Iraq the insurgent attacks have lessened as the Shi'ites have gone to the sidelines.  I believe they will wait it out until American and Coalition forces have left Iraq.  Then they will try to exert their numerical superiority.  So, it is basically the Sunnis who are still waging their jihad.  Will the surge in American troops help stabilize the Iraqi government?  Only time will tell.  Meanwhile in Israel, Secretary of State Rice met with both Prime Minister Olmert (Israel) and President Abbas (PA) to restart the "road map" peace plan.  Olmert promised more land for peace...really a bad idea, if you ask me.  He gave away the Gaza Strip and all it has created is more problems - rockets, terrorist attacks, etc.  But the United States seems to think that, by giving land, you can placate the Palestinians and they will become peaceful.  I believe it has just the opposite effect...it emboldens them.  In just a few weeks I will be in Israel and I will give you a full report when I get back.

 

Now for some time in the Word.  We have reached Revelation 17 and 18, two of the most difficult chapters in Revelation to understand.  Time will not permit an exhaustive study of either of these chapters, but I want to give a brief overview.  The focus of both chapters is one Babylon.  Now Babylon can refer to both a city and to a system.  Babylon is mentioned more often in the Bible than any other city except Jerusalem.  Revelation 17 refers to the religious system; Revelation 18 refers to the political and economic system.

 

I.  The Origin of Babylon

 

    A.  This city was built by Nimrod sometime after the flood - Genesis 10:8; Genesis 11:1-9.  It was originally built for the purpose of defying God.  He and his followers wanted to establish a religious center for pagan worship.  Nimrod's wife was named Semiramis, a woman more wicked than Jezebel. 

 

    B.  Semiramis is reputed to have originated the Babylonian mystery religion, which included secret rites, idolatry, and sacred prostitution.  According to legend, she outlived Nimrod and gave birth to a son called Tammuz after Nimrod's death.  She claimed this son was miraculously conceived (by a sunbeam) and he was hailed as a savior of his people and a false messiah supposedly to be the fulfillment of the promise given in Genesis 3:15.  Tammuz was killed by a wild boar, but was raised from the dead after 40 days of weeping by his mother.  Semiramis would be called "the queen of heaven."

 

    C.  It was the pagan practices of Babylon that filled the land of Canaan so when Israel came into the land God commanded them to drive out the Canaanites.

 

    D.  Scriptures which have their backgrounds rooted in this mystery religion:

 

          1.  Jeroboam and the golden calves - 1 Kings 12:25-30

          2.  Burning incense to the queen of heaven - Jeremiah 44:16-19

          3.  Ahab and the grove which refers to the groves devoted to the worship of Ashtoreth, the Babylonian goddess known as the "queen of heaven" - 1 Kings 16:30-33

          4.  Mention of Tammuz - Ezekiel 8:14-16

          5.  Mention of the "queen of heaven" - Jeremiah 7:16-19

 

II.  Two Babylons

 

     A.  Revelation 17 - Mystery Babylon

 

          1.  Is the apostate church which Christ referred to in His words to the church in Thyatira.

          2.  This dream of Nimrod for religious world domination will be realized during the first half of the Tribulation when the apostate church dominates through the Antichrist

          3.  She is called a harlot because she is guilty of spiritual fornication in that she unites a world government and sells herself out to the world

 

     B.  Revelation 18 - a revived Babylon as a city on the Euphrates

 

          1.  Prophecies concerning the destruction of Babylon - Jeremiah 50:35-40; Isaiah 13:17, 19-22

 

III.  Description of Babylon - Revelation 17:1-7

 

     A.  Unholy alliance of the apostate church of the Tribulation with the nations of the world - Revelation 17:2.  The rulers of the world use the apostate church to unite and control the masses of people.  The church yields to this arrangement in order to gain political preference and power

 

     B.  Beast is the Antichrist - Revelation 17:3.  The fact that the beast carries her indicates that she is considered the state religion and as a result, the apostate church will receive financial and political help as well as military protection.  Notice also, the harlot rides the beast - she has great input into the decisions the beast makes.

 

     C.  Her name "Mystery" - Revelation 17:5

 

           1.  Called a mystery because it was not revealed until 90 AD when John wrote the book

           2.  Called a mystery because of the religious rites of Babylonianism that are brought into the apostate church of the Tribulation

           3.  Called "mother of harlots" - she will bring all religions into one federation

 

    D.  Persecution will be upon believers living during the tribulation - Revelation 17:6

 

IV.  Matters which  concern Babylon - Revelation 17:8-15

 

     A.  A description of who this beast really is, where he comes from, and how he destroys the great harlot - Revelation 17:8

 

     B.  The seven heads of the beast - Revelation 17:9-11

 

          1.  Seven heads are seven hills - this seems to be a clear reference to Rome.  Seat of ecclesiastical power will be in Rome

          2.  Seven heads are seven kings or kingdoms

 

               a.  Refers to kings or dynasties: 5 had fallen before John wrote, 1 was in existence at the time of the writing, 1 was yet to come; out of the 7th would come the 8th which would be the kingdom of the Antichrist

               b.  Refers to world powers: 5 had fallen (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece); 1 was in existence (Rome); 1 was yet to come (final confederation during the Tribulation)

 

    C.  Ten horns of the beast - Revelation 17:12-14

 

          1.  Ten kings will reign with the Antichrist - Revelation 17:12

          2.  This 10-king federation with the Antichrist at its head, has the audacity to make war against the Lamb - Revelation 17:14

V.  Destruction of Babylon - Revelation 17:16-18

 

     A.  The apostate church is destroyed by the 10 kings and the Antichrist

     B.  Words "desolate, naked, eat, burn" all show the completeness of her annihilation

     C.  The hatred of the Antichrist against the apostate church is so great that his destruction of her is described as the cannibalistic picking of her bones, then burning them with fire.

     D.  By eliminating the apostate church, the way is made clear for the Antichrist to set himself up as God.

     E.  Notice that God is behind this action of judgment upon the apostate church - Revelation 17:17