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What To Do When Babylon Falls

At the end of Revelation 16 we are told that when the seventh bowl of wine is poured out upon Babylon, there is "a great earthquake" along with "hail." Some of this might have a literal application. We will probably see some sort of great earthquake occur that will shake the whole economic system. But hundred-pound hail stones are unlikely (though nothing is impossible with God).

Since we are no longer dealing with a physical city called Babylon, but a system of world government, global economies, and world courts, the hail is probably a symbol of Truth. Isaiah 28:17 says that "the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies." God has a way of uncovering things, and since MYSTERY Babylon relies upon secrecy by its very definition, exposure would be deadly.

The stock market was rattled yesterday over the indications from the Fed Chairman that further rises in interest rates were likely. He smells that elusive "inflation" rat and is hunting it with a cannon. One commentator ventured to say that we have the worst of both worlds now: a slowing economy and rising interest rates.

I noticed this back in early 2000 as well. The rise in oil prices raised overhead costs for all the corporations, which forced them to raise prices to cover costs. That was "inflationary," and so the Fed Chairman raised interest rates--which only succeeded in putting a double whammy on the corporations. Interest rates themselves are inflationary, because it raises the cost of doing business, and the only real antidote (other than closing the doors) is to send more jobs overseas to lower-paid workers.

Back in February 2000, I saw the rising interest rates as a confirmation that the first bowl of wine was to be poured out at the feast of Tabernacles (Oct. 2000). It did not take a degree in economics to see it coming. Sure enough, by the end of the year, the economy was in serious trouble with the markets crashing. When Alan Greenspan finally retired a few months ago, and people were talking about his legacy, many mentioned that his greatest mistake was raising interest rates too long in 2000.

Today, as we approach the seventh bowl of wine to be poured out at Tabernacles of 2006, it looks like we are seeing the same thing happen again. Those who have investments may want to think about these things. Rev. 18:15-17 makes it clear that "the merchants of the earth" are greatly affected by the fall of Babylon.

We have long related the seven bowls of Revelation 16 to the seven trips around Jericho on the seventh day (Joshua 6:4). The seventh and final trip around Jericho is depicted in the seventh bowl October 7, 2006, and my guess is that we will see the results of this in the following year, probably beginning in November 2006. Keep in mind, I am not giving a prophetic utterance here; I am just giving you my best understanding based upon things that the Lord has said and done in the past.

But surviving the fall of Babylon is not the primary goal or interest of the believer. The really important preparation is spiritual, and it helps also to have some mental understanding of what is to come. We may fear the unknown, but we are terrified when we are taken by surprise. The first and foremost factor is prayer and to be led by the Spirit. Those who do not know that God is in command of the situation--and leading them personally--will be under the most stress.

In the fall of Babylon, we are told to "rejoice" (Rev. 18:20), because these events are divinely ordered for our benefit--not to destroy us. And as for the rest of the world, it is also for the benefit of all nations ultimately. Babylon is to be replaced with the New Jerusalem. Rev. 21:24 says, "and the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it; and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honour unto it."

These are post-Babylonian nations that have become part of God's Kingdom, as prophesied earlier in Rev. 11:15,

"The kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign for the Ages of the Ages."

In Joshua 6 we are given the type and shadow of this in God's instructions to Israel. Joshua 6:19 says,

"But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron are consecrated unto the Lord; they shall come into the treasury of the Lord."

These metals represent the Babylonian nations, as we see in King Nebuchadnezzar's dream recorded in Daniel 2. The gold represents Babylon, the silver represents Medo-Persia, the brass represents Greece, and the iron represents Rome. Together, these are all different aspects of the Babylon succession of empires, and they represent all nations under the influence or authority of Mystery Babylon.

All of these nations are to come into God's treasury. That is, they are all destined to become part of the Kingdom of God. To disagree with that divine plan is to be like Achan, who refused to consecrate it all to God after the fall of Jericho (Joshua 7:1-24).

It is crucial, then, that we be not like Achan, who took silver, gold, and a Babylonian garment and hid them in the ground under his tent. Not only was this an example of theft, it was a type of belief that the nations (silver and gold) ought NOT to be consecrated to God. Instead, he buried them in the ground, as if to take the stand that it was his will that these nations be annihilated.

This view was wrong then, and it is still wrong today. The purpose of Babylon's overthrow is to set the nations free, not to destroy them. This is the key message of hope that we, as believers, need to know, so that when most people are running around in fear, we will be able to give them Hope.

That is why it is important to know these things. It is not only for your own personal benefit, but it is also to help those around you who live in fear.