And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was made bright with his glory. And he called out with a mighty voice,
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!
She has become a dwelling place for demons,
a haunt for every unclean spirit,
a haunt for every unclean bird,
a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.
For all nations have drunk
the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality,
and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”
Comment: We are given a glance into the imagery when we were told that ‘Babylon sits on many waters’, and we are now told that “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.‘ If ,as I wrote earlier the prostitute is the base of all heresy, whether that base is Rome or Islam, she is dealt a final death blow! Certainly there are few kings (governing bodies) which are truly faithful to the true gospel of God. By governing bodies I include state, religious, the United Nations etc. Remember the Beast (Satan or Satanic Forces) can appear as an ‘angel of light’ and not reveal his core of rebellion against God to the watching world unless God has/does open our eyes to see the truth.
The proclamation of the spectacular angel, opening heaven’s door, to announce Babylon’s fall is worth reading through again pensively to see the rotten-ness of ‘Babylon’ and the extent of her influence for evil.
Prayer: We will no doubt see this all fulfilled in Your future as You bring it to pass. In the meantime help us to live according the things You teach us as we read Your Word, Help us to shun evil and love righteousness, Father God
As I read it! 