The Judgment of Babylon the Great. Chap. 17, and 18.
THE former part of the seventeenth chapter gives us the principles of the false woman―Babylon the great; the latter part gives us the interpretation of the symbols.
She is seen sitting upon “many waters”― “upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads, and ten horns.” Her raiment is purple and scarlet color, and she is decked with “gold, and precious stones, and pearls.” She holds in her band a golden cup, brim full of abominations and filthiness. Abominations in the Old Testament often mean idolatries. (See Deuteronomy 32:1616They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. (Deuteronomy 32:16); 1 Kings 11:5-75For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6And Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and went not fully after the Lord, as did David his father. 7Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. (1 Kings 11:5‑7).) Her outward appearance is thus symbol iced. Her character is, that she is drunken with the blood of the saints, and of the martyrs of Jesus. She is a fornicatress with kings, and she has intoxicated the inhabitants of the earth with her wine. Thus is she both corrupt and corrupting. Mystery is written upon her forehead and her name is, “The mother of harlots, am abominations of the earth.” Her rest is in the world that crucified the Lord of glory. Thy nations are her support. Her repose is in till bosom of the people. Her corrupt heart knows no higher range than self-pleasing, and walking before men, the spirit of the world which is energized by Satan. Her display is in the very things which the Scripture enjoins modest women to refuse, namely, “gold, and pearls, and costly array.” Her great object is to corrupt others by her intoxicating wine. Her enmity to God am to Christ is manifested by her thirst for the blood of the saints, and of the martyrs of Jesus. Such are some of the characteristics of this unchaste woman; and let us never forget that the beloved apostle, at Patmos, needed to be in the Spirit to detect her corrupt character and ways, and so do we. The two evils of the flesh, corruption and violence, mentioned in Genesis 6:12, 1312And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:12‑13), are seen in full growth in the woman and the beast.
The explanation of the symbolic description of the woman, and of the beast which carrieth her, is brought before us in the eighth am following verses.
THE BEAST. The scarlet-colored beast whirl carried the woman is said to ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition. This shows its Satanic origin and hellish destiny. It has seven heads and ten horns, and may be easily identified with the beast of the thirteenth chapter, which we believe to be the Roman empire in its future resuscitated state. We are told, also, that the beast was, and is not, and yet shall be; thus giving it a past and future but not a present existence. And is not this exactly the fact with regard to the Roman empire? It has been in full energy, and for a long time it has not been known as an empire; but by and by the image of Daniel will be manifested in ten toes, or kingdoms, and the empire be revived, ―only, be it remembered, under special Satanic energy― “it ascends out of the bottomless pit.” But while the beast may thus be recognized as the Roman empire, we must also regard the beast as personified in a man; for the beast is spoken of in both those aspects: and then “the false prophet” will compel all to bow down and worship the beast, and to have his name in their foreheads or hands. Thus we are told again, what has been previously noticed, that this son of perdition will be the object of a world-wide admiration. It is said that “they that dwell upon the earth shall wonder, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast which was, and is not, and yet is.” (verse 8.) None are exempt from this terrible delusion, but those whose names are in the Book of Life. It may be well to notice here, in passing, that the Church is spoken of as chosen in Christ, not from, but before the foundation of the world. The saints who suffer under the beast will not be the Church―the body of Christ; for, as we have repeatedly noticed, we shall have been caught up before these terrible days, to meet the Lord in the air; but, if I mistake not, they will be Jewish saints, and are usually spoken of as in connection with that which is from the foundation of the world.
Some have thought that the seven-hilled city of Rome is referred to, by our being told that “the seven heads upon which the woman sitteth are seven mountains;” and others have gone so far as to state, that, because of this, Babylon the great mast be Popery, as if this wide-spread system were limited to that terrible work. But while Romanism is certainly a large example of Babylon, we may be assured that it abounds also in Protestantism, or wherever the world’s support is resorted to in connection with the name and work of the Lord. It is difficult almost to say where Babylon is not; for when we see the line of demarcation between the Church and the world so obliterated, and remember how perfectly distinct the teaching of our Lord and of His disciples was as to the opposite character of flesh and spirit, the world and the Church, we must conclude that Babel, or confusion, must be wherever the Lord is not wholly followed, His word fully obeyed, His Holy Spirit honored. It is not true, then, to limit Babylon to Popery.
After all, it seems more simple to regard the seven mountains, or heads, as seven Potentates, or form of government; for mountains may be regarded as representative of power or authority, the woman finding her rest in those national authorities. But, however this may be, we are distinctly told immediately after, that “they are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short time.” (verse 10.) That the five kings are five potentates which had passed away before the Apocalyptic visions were made known to John, that one was then in existence, and another was to appear, and continue for a short time, we should be ready enough to admit, for it is obvious; but here again we find this last potentate, whose duration is so brief, attributed to popery. This, however, seems unreasonable, that a system, which has existed for so many centuries, should be understood to be that which only continues for “a short space,” or “a little time” (Alford), especially when this king is put in connection with five other kings which had passed away.
But now there is a remarkable turn given to the description of the seven heads, for an eighth head springs up, which is said to be of the seven, which is the beast―the man of sin, who impersonates the Roman empire, and in his description is identified with it. We are told, “The beast that was, and is not, he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.” And further, we are informed that he, though springing out of the seven heads, will be in league with the ten horns, the kings of the revived Roman empire, the ten kingdoms of Daniel, which are brought upon the scene by and by, but only to continue for a brief period. All that is revealed seems to show us the rapidity with which events follow each other as the day approaches. “The ten horns which thou lamest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.” (verse 12.) These kings are all confederated together, fraternized, as some would say, and it is with the beast, to help on this Satanic man, the son of perdition. What an association! What union! What a combination of human and Satanic energy! Ah! union and unity are common words in our day, and give impetus to principles of action on all sides; but we do well to ask the question, Is the proposed unity with Christ, or against Him? for He said. “He that is not with me is against me.” This is getting more and more manifest, and ere long every individual will have to take his stand as either with Christ or against Him.
As to these kings, we are told, “These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.” (verse 13.)
The Active energy of this confederacy of the beast and kings of the earth is purely against Christ, but, as we might expect, their unity and co-operation only ends in their everlasting shame and destruction. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen and faithful.” (verse 14.) The last clause shews us that the Church is with Christ at that time; the words “called, chosen, and faithful” are exactly those used by the apostle in addressing the Church of God.
We need to turn to the book of Daniel to help as in the elucidation of the ten horns. The prophet saw a fourth beast, “diverse from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and behold there came up among them another little horn... in this torn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit.... I beheld then because of the mice of the great words which the born spake. I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. ... I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them, until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High: and he time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings which shall arise: and another shall rise after them... and he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and he dividing of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be even to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.” (Dan. 7:7-277After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 9I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. 11I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. 12As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time. 13I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. 14And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed. 15I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 18But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 19Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet; 20And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. 21I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. (Daniel 7:7‑27).) Thus we see the beast with ten horns, which Daniel saw, remarkably corresponds with the ten-horned beast of the Apocalypse, and the other little horn of Daniel with the eighth king of the Revelation. The saints, too, of Daniel first under the persecution of the great oppressor, and then, when God undertakes for them in judgment, they are brought into the blessing of the millennial kingdom, the hope of the true Israelites. They get into their promised blessing of the kingdom with judgment; we miter our eternal and heavenly blessing by being caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
We are further told, that the kings and the beast will be confederated together against the woman. The many waters on which we saw her sitting in the first verse, are “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (v.15) that is, the inhabitants of many countries. This, is her rest at present; but, if I mistake not, it is already beginning to be disturbed, and they will loon shake her off. They prefer their own carnal liberty and self-will. Their minds will become changed towards her, and they will hate her. Thus nominal Christianity will end in open infidelity. Now most men are pleased with some sort of religion, but ere long they will find their liberty and pleasure only in open defiance of the living and true God. The judgment, however, of this woman, is of God. He makes the wrath of the wicked to execute His own counsels; for God will put it into their hearts to fulfill His will. This is very solemn. If the judgment of God came severely upon apostate Israel, how much more terrible shall the stroke be upon the apostate Church. “The ten horns which thou rawest, (not upon, but) and the beast (see Alford), these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, (or act with one mind,) and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” (verses 16,17.) Thus we see that this confederacy will hate the harlot, rob her of her riches, strip her of her costliness deprive her of all she values, and eat her up, to advance the kingdom of the beast. All this God will accomplish, in His own time and way for His own glory; and spew that the wisdom of man is foolishness with God, and that He can take the wise in their own craftiness.
THE WOMAN. The symbolic character of the woman is referred to in the last verse, which links us on with the following chapter for she is called both a woman and a city. This shews how entirely symbolic the whole account is, and could not be here understood to be a material city. She is described as having kingship over kings. “The woman which thou rawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.”