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"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters." (Revelation 17:1).

             The word "Babylon" means: confusion. It matters not which segment of the world's institutional structures we consider, be it economical, political, or religious, there is one word that can be written across the whole, CONFUSION. It is the MIXTURE of good and evil that brings such confusion. So interwoven is truth with error, helping others while building a kingdom for self, good works that are a blessing to many, while fostering one's own name and reputation, that it is difficult to know which is right and which is wrong.
             Furthermore, Babylon also represents an incarnation of all that is opposed to God, for it is anti-christ. The word "anti" means: against, or, instead of. Every facet of the flesh bespeaks of the bestial, of antagonism toward God, and it would set itself up to be "instead of God." Indeed, it is a system that "opposeth and t. exalteth itself above all that is called God." (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Betimes there might be strong outward opposition, but often it is just a subtle substitution, self, flesh, the world, instead of God.
            Yet, even while we acknowledge this, be it remembered, Babylon is still in the sovereign hand of God Who controls all. Therefore even Babylon, in spite of all of its corruption, has been  used by God for a purpose. "Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken." (Jeremiah 51:7). And it is when her purpose is finished, that God has decreed her end. It is a prophetic word guaranteed of fulfillment.
             "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." (verse 2).
            Whoredom in the Scripture frequently denotes idolatry. It is a turning to worship and serve "other gods," rather than worshiping and serving our Creator/Redeemer. It is to place the system of the world before Him. This system has catered to, excited, and serviced all the lusts of the flesh. "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1 John 2:16). Men, have worshiped at the shrine of desire-- desire for fame, fortune, pleasure, etc. God has used this as a means of EXPOSING ALL THAT IS IN THEIR HEART. "Out of the heart of men proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, ..." (Mark 7:21). When desire and opportunity meet, that which is within shall be manifested. .
             The mystery goes back a very long time. "Cush begat Nimrod, he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord:... And the beginning of His kingdom was Babel (or, Babylon)." (Genesis 10:8-10).
             Briefly: Nimrod became a mighty one; powerful, famous, a leader in the affairs of men. He is the first one spoken of to organize a kingdom. And it is stated "he was a mighty hunter before the Lord." The Hebrew word "before" is used in a great variety of applications, and in this instance literally means "against." Nimrod set himself up before God, instead of God, and thus literally, AGAINST GOD. And his very name, Nimrod, is said to mean: upstart, or, let us rebel. One writer pointed out that the Jewish Encyclopedia says that Nimrod was "he who made all the people rebellious against God." Many of the paganistic practices of today are dated back to the time of Nimrod, as they rise in opposition against God-- are ANTI-God.
             Babylon is a union of the religious, political, and economical realms-- expressed through three different avenues, yet all under the same anti-christ spirit, and all three are very intertwined. Whether manifested as one man enterprises, or vast dictatorial regimes, they all bear the marks of confusion.
             Genesis 11, gives the record of how the people found a plain in the land of Shinar, and proceeded to built a city and a tower, but God intervened, confounded their language, and scattered them. Verse 9, "Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth."
             The Hebrew word for "confound" used here is " babal" meaning: to mix, to mingle, and thus literally, to mix self in. The more self -centered each man became, with his own expression, the less they could communicate with others, so frustration took over, and they left off building, and went every one his own way. Though self had been in evidence beforehand, now it was turned inward, and thus caused greater confusion.
             There are four things which are revealed in this record which bespeaks of the projection of SELF in man, and which carries down to present time.
             1) They came to this particular plain, saw that it was a good place to dwell, and decided to settle there. Self seeks to be surrounded with ease and prosperity. Religion still capitalizes on this aspect of man, with doctrines of prosperity, until many "suppose that gain is godliness," (1 Timothy 6:5), and measure their spirituality by how they prosper. Find a comfortable creed and doctrine, where flesh is appeased, and settle down to just enjoy it. Eat, drink, and be merry. Politicians appeal to this propensity in man, as they push for their own agenda. Financiers cater to this lust of the flesh, to promote their money schemes. Yes, the trappings of Babylon are everywhere.
             But "the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing." (Ecclesiastes 1:8). Not until the creature has returned to its Creator will there ever be true and lasting satisfaction, all else is an illusion. "As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." (Psalm 17:15).
             2) Self -building. Along with seeking satisfaction in their surroundings, men come to this next expression of self, "let us build us a city and a tower." The first time the word "build" is used in the Bible, is when Cain "went out from the presence of the Lord... and he builded a city." (Genesis 4:16-17). Build a kingdom, or fence in this little corner as MINE, no matter how small, or large, the same spirit is there, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:30). That is truly the spirit of Babylon, to glory in all of our self -works.
            3) Self-exaltation. Concurrent with the building comes the thought, "let us make us a name." How men like the sound of their own name, and they attach it to everything they are able to, that it might become well-known and lifted up. Yet surely, the more the cross works within us, "not my will, but Thine, be done," the more we desire only to exalt the name of the Lord our God.
             4) Self-preservation. "Lest we be scattered." It is one of the most basic instincts of the natural man, once you have built a kingdom, then you have to fight to maintain it, and fear takes over-- fear of loss, fear of being scattered. We must maintain our territorial rights. So men devise ways of self-protection and defense. But the cure for all of this is to abandon ourselves to God, then HE will keep us. "Whosoever will save his life shall lose it,. and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it." (Matthew 16:25).
             There are also four prominent things in Babylonian philosophy, four things which are ingrained in all institutionalized systems of the world today.   When God scattered them from the  "tower of Babel, they carried their philosophy in all directions.
             1) The very basic philosophy of Babylon is that all things are the result of organic evolution. This eliminates God as Creator, and opens the way for man to think that he helped in his own creation and evolvement. Man likes to think that inherent in his own selfhood lies the power for his advancement. Even in his religion he feels he has to "help God out."
             2) There was strong emphasis on what they termed the "thinker," or the brain. This projection of the ego of man, and emphasis on the "brain bank," gives pre-eminence to the intellect. The educational systems of the day are enmeshed in this ideology.
             3) It is also noted that part of Babylon's philosophy promoted promiscuity (sex-abandonment). It permeates all of society, resulting in the break-down of the home and marriage.
             4) Finally, the fourth part of Babylon's basic philosophy was for a total state, welfare society ( or what might be termed, totalitarianism ). This simply means that the State will act for the people, think for the people, do everything for the people. And again, this has crept into religion-- the whole of religious popery follows this, be it the local pastor who binds the sheep to himself, or the "headquarters" which sends out the edict for men to follow.
             "I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And upon her I forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth."
            This system of the world has infiltrated into every avenue of society--  "And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Significant that it speaks of "seven" mountains. It is from the Hebrew language that we get the meaning of the number seven, for the Hebrew word is "shevah" from the root "savah" which means: to be full or satisfied, thus it speaks of that which is full and complete, and in the positive sense, good and perfect. Not until Babylon's cup has come to its FULL, is it time for it to be judged.
             The principle remains, and we are admonished to "Judge nothing before its time." (1 Corinthians 4:5).
             As part of the outworking purpose of God, the seed of Abraham had to sojourn in Egypt for a time, because "The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full (complete)." (Genesis 15:16). Justice would not demand a full sentence upon an incomplete measure. But when it was "full up" then God sent Israel in to destroy them, and bring that realm to an end.
             And Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees of His day, "Ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers." (Matthew 23:31-32). Which they then proceeded to do in due time, when they killed Jesus.
             So the point becomes clear, Babylon, too, must come to its FULL EXPRESSION, its purpose be completed, and then it will be time for judgment, as the seventh vial is poured out-- and the decree comes from the throne, "It is done." FINISHED, full up and ended. And we do well to guard our spirit, so that we do not rail against that which God is still using in His plan of the ages.
            So through the generations, rising up in many different expressions, the various kingdoms of man have brought to the full the workings of Babylon. Seven heads-- they are seven mountains, or again, seven kingdoms-- one swallows up another, same old business under anew regime-- yet the latter is of the same spirit, as the former. The mother harlot, and all her daughters, differ not.
            A "beast that was, and is not, and yet is." "Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them." (Proverbs 5:6). If in some manner she seems to no longer exist, yet, in fact, she is still there under another name and form. The same old immorality under a new name. The kingdoms of man rise and fall, the leaders (ten horns) thrust and
war, and however it is considered-- the same evil spirit troubles the whole. Ten is the number of a completed cycle, and all of these kings combine-- "These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. " All their energy force is poured into supporting the system, each in their time and manner.
             "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." It matters not what kingdoms, or systems arise, nor how viciously they war against Him. Let "the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing. (Let) the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed, -He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." (Psalm 2:1-2, 4).
             The book of Revelation is not a "revelation of the whore," even though she is seen, exposed, and overcome. It is a "revelation of Jesus Christ," and thus He is revealed as THE LAMB THAT OVERCOMES, for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings." And He has the power "even to subdue (Greek, to set in array under) all things unto Himself." (Philippians 3:21).
             How continuously John reminds us all the way through this record of what was shown to him, that the theme is truly one of  OVERCOMING. The Lamb, the Redeemer, is Lord of all. As He reigns, He sets in array under Himself, "every man in his own order." Babylon may rise and spread its influence throughout the whole world, it may shift its position, change colors, and seek to cover up its evil ways-- but this is no threat to our Lord. He has overcome the world. All enemies shall be subdued under His feet.
             But the revelation of Christ is also expanding, for He is revealed THROUGH A PEOPLE, thus many times we are reminded that those who overcome as He overcame, will sit down with Him in His throne. They stand with Him on mount Zion. They are one in His victory. They are "called, chosen, and faithful."
             Called-- here the Greek word is "kletos." Paul uses it over and over again, "Called to be saints." (Romans 1:7). "Called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28). Sanctified and called, set apart and called, this is a sovereign in working of God. Certainly "No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God." t (Hebrews 5:4). And the fullness of our overcoming is assured, because "Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Truly it is GOD all the way!
             Chosen-- "eklektos" meaning: laid out, choice, elect. It speaks of being picked out by God-- after due consideration. The comparable Hebrew word "bachar" means: to choose after  testing. The calling is sovereignly by God, but once called, there is a responsive action on our part-- He calls, we come, and then He begins the processings, testing, purifying, and as we yield to Him, the qualifying takes place. "Not he who recommends himself, -but he whom the Lord recommends, that one has His approval placed upon him, that approval being based upon the fact that the approved one has met the test satisfactorily." (2 Corinthians 10:18, Wuest ). And so Peter admonished us to "Give diligence to make your calling and election sure." (2 Peter 1:10).
             Faithful-- "Moreover it is required... that a man be found faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2). Faithfulness can only be proven over time. One doesn't stand steady for a short duration and be known as a faithful one, but when the time is long, the testings seem endless, and the trial of our faith is stretched out, yet because of HIS GRACE we are able to endure and hold fast-- this proves our faithfulness. Time and tribulation are the agents that are used to reveal if we are truly faithful. "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night... (Revelation 7:14-15).
             Yes, "they follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. " Yes, they have been cleansed from all the marks of the beast, and now they bear only the marks of God. Yes, they are the lords of whom He is THE LORD. They are the kings of whom He is THE KING. And they are a part of that ministry which shall bring Babylon to an end, for there is no confusion in them-- they are conformed to His image, partakers of His divine nature. They are the body of which He is THE HEAD. They are overcomers in the Overcomer! And they, with Him, gain the victory over all of Babylon!
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  (1)  Prinzing, Ray and Doris . REVELATION A POSITIVE BOOK.   Boise, Idaho, 83705  P.O. Box 5822