Season 2 Episode 15

Revelation 18 - Fallen Babylon - The epicenter of Satan’s economic and political system during the tribulation period. 

Revelation 17:17 states that the Anti-Christ will destroy the whore riding on the beast (Apostate Church) during the tribulation period.  Many assume this will take place 3 1/2 years/halfway through the 7 year tribulation period when the Anti-Christ ends the sacrificial system on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and declares himself to be God (Matthew 24:15-21, Daniel 9: 27).   

Historical Significance of Babylon:
     1) The “Hanging Gardens”, one of the 7 wonders of the world, was located in Babylon under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar.  It is a city that represents luxury, wealth, power, self indulgence and the self sufficiency of man without God (Tower of Babel, Genesis 11: 1-9). 
     2) Babylon, 60 miles southwest of Baghdad in modern day Iraq is considered the geographical center of 3 continents: Africa, Europe and Asia.
     3) Two famous kings ruled from Babylon, the most powerful city in the ancient world (Hammurabi 1792-1750 B.C. and Nebuchadnezzar 604-562 B.C.)
     4) Iraq has at least 148 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and is the 5th largest oil producer in the world.  Low energy prices are a key to economic prosperity. Revelation 18:11-19 outlines the wealth of Babylon as a major city of commerce.  
     5) The United Nations along with leaders in Iraq are currently trying to develop and promote Babylon as an international tourism center. 
     6) The Garden of Eden, based on limited information in Genesis 2:10-14, was located in southern Mesopotamia, modern day Iraq where the Tigris and Euphrates run into the sea at the head of the Persian Gulf.
     7) Babylon always carries negative connotations in the Bible. It is the 2nd most mentioned city behind Jerusalem.  Babylon appears 287 times in 253 verses in the NKJV version. 
          a) Babylon glorifies the achievement of man and human sufficiency separated from God (Revelation 18:7).
          b) Unregenerate man will be drawn in to covet and worship the wealth and pleasure offered by Babylon (Revelation 18:9-19).
          c) Believers in Christ are called to come out and separate themselves from the allure of Babylon’s deceptive and demonic powers or be destroyed with her (Revelation 18:1-3).