The Whore of Babylon is Capitalism

[Michael K.]

IS "BABYLON THE GREAT" ABOUT TO FALL...
...USHERING IN A GLOBAL "BEAST" SYSTEM?

October, 2008
Steven Collins

The 17th and 18th chapters of Revelation contain a prophecy about the fall of "Babylon the Great" in the latter days. Babylon the Great is identified in Revelation 18:3 as an alliance of the "kings of the earth" with the "merchants of the earth." The "kings of the earth" are governmental / political leaders in the global public sector and the "merchants of the earth" are business / financial leaders of the global private sector. It is easy to identify this alliance in the modern world. This biblical prophecy also foretells that this global world system will collapse at some point in the latter days. This article examines the possibility that we are seeing this prophesied collapse unfold before our very eyes. Indeed, this article will propose a surprising, possible fulfillment of this prophecy which Christians have overlooked. If this fulfillment scenario is correct, we are much near the end of this age than any of us have realized.

Babylon the Great, as prophesied in the Bible, is the globalist financial / political system known as western capitalism. There is no other alternative. The "merchants of the earth" is a phrase which, though penned almost 2,000 years ago, aptly describes the global, multinational corporations now dominating world trade. Revelation 18 prophesied these latter-day "merchants" would have a global customer base (i.e. "merchants of the earth"). Revelation 17-18 predicted that multinational corporations, in league with the world's political leaders, would come to dominate a global political / economic system in the latter days of our age. This prophecy has been literally fulfilled in our time...

Revelation 18:12-14 prophesy that Babylon the Great's global trading system involves the merchandising of all manner of goods and services. It mentions finished goods, commodities, precious metals and "chariots and slaves and the souls of men." Consider these low-tech words in a high-tech application. "Chariots" would mean cars, trucks, SUVs, etc. "Slaves and souls of men" can mean the prostitution trade, but it has a much more salient application in our high-tech era. Consider the term "slaves" as applied to the millions of modern "debt-slaves" in Babylon the Great's debt system...

Revelation 18 prophesies that a specific "city" will be the hub of Babylon the Great's system in the latter days. It will be a global corporate/financial/commercial hub, a seaport city and the site of two great "falls" or "collapses" in the latter days. Revelation 17:18 also reveals this "great city" will "reign over the kings of the earth." This city can only be New York City. It is the home for Wall Street's large banks and investment banks, the New York Stock Exchange, the New York Federal Reserve District, the COMEX, the United Nations and its many global agencies, various media and corporate headquarters, etc. While such cities as London and Zurich are also financial hubs, no Swiss city is a seaport and only New York has experienced the two great, prophesied "falls" amidst fire and smoke in the latter days. Only New York City hosts the United Nations headquarters, which figuratively "rules over all nations" as the forum where "all nations" aassemble..

Revelation 17:1-9 states that Babylon the Great's system will "ride" a group of nations metaphorically called a "beast" with "seven mountains and ten horns." The western world's economic decisions have historically been dominated by the "Group of Seven" nations. These could easily be the "seven mountains" ("mountains" being a symbol of large nations in biblical prophecies) of this prophecy. Verse 16 prophesies that at some point in the latter days, the "seven heads" will expand or morph into a larger group of "ten horns" which will "hate the whore...make her desolate...and burn her with fire." The "beast" which has been dominated and ridden by the Great Whore of Babylon the Great will overthrow Babylon the Great's system and destroy it. The revolt will be led by "ten horns," and verse 12 prophesies that these ten world nations (or leaders) will give their allegiance to a new global "beast" system which will rule for only a short time on the world stage ("one hour"). The new "beast" system will itself be destroyed when it later opposes the heavenly armies of Jesus Christ who comes a few years after the beast power becomes ascendant (verse 12-14). Is a new global "beast" system about to replace the global system of Babylon the Great as a result of the convulsions now threatening to tear apart the world's current financial system?

It is an unfortunate happenstance that the word "beast" is so close to the word "bestial," which has a wicked connotation. We automatically assume the worst because of this similarity. However, the beginnings of the "beast" system may be a great improvement over the previous system of Babylon the Great. The "Gog-Magog" nations of Russia, China, Iran, etc. may cooperate with European / western nations in the establishment of this new global system. Indeed, it may usher in a pseudo-millennium where all nations subscribe to a new economic / political system which promotes and/or promises "world peace and prosperity." Revelation 19:19-20 prophesies the world's nations will fight Jesus Christ and his heavenly armies to defend the beast system so vast numbers of people will think the beast's rule is just fine.

I Thessalonians 5:2-3 warn that a deceptive time of global "peace and safety" will immediately precede an outbreak of "sudden destruction" at the very end of this age. I believe this "sudden destruction" will be the World War prophesied in Ezekiel 38 which will occur at the very climax of this age. Ezekiel 38 prophesies that a climactic attack by Russia, China, Iran, etc. will surprise the targeted nations of the West when it occurs so the western world will apparently be lulled into thinking that the Russian-led nations are not about to attack anyone. Even Christians are prophesied to be susceptible to the siren song of the beast's system. Matthew 24:24 warns that the deceptions of the latter days will be so powerful and pervasive that "if it were possible," even the "very elect" would be deceived...

These prophecies argue that the leader of the final "beast" system will not enter the world scene as some monstrous ogre who is even worse than Adolph Hitler. Far from it! Revelation 12:9 warns that Satan will succeed in deceiving the entire world in the latter days (except for those "very elect" spoken of in Matthew 24:24). II Corinthians 11:13-15 warns that Satan can dupe people into thinking he is an "angel of light" and his false human servants can appear in a most appealing guise. The traumas of the Nazi-era manifested Satan's wicked, maniacal form, and it created a perfect foil [the Holocaust --mk] for the final deceptive system which Satan intends to create on earth to oppose Jesus Christ at his return. Biblical prophecies indicate that the final world system, though energized by Satan himself (II Thessalonians 2:9-11), will have Satan manifesting himself and his human underlings as deliverers and messengers of light.  Biblical prophesies argue that the global leader of the final "beast" system is likely to be a popular, charismatic world figure who will rally support among all nations.

Revelation 17New International Version (NIV)

Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast

17 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."

3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

BABYLON THE GREAT

THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus.

When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.

9 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."

15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."


Isaiah 47New International Version (NIV)

The Fall of Babylon

47 "Go down, sit in the dust,
    Virgin Daughter Babylon;
sit on the ground without a throne,
    queen city of the Babylonians.
No more will you be called
    tender or delicate.
2 Take millstones and grind flour;
    take off your veil.
Lift up your skirts, bare your legs,
    and wade through the streams.
3 Your nakedness will be exposed
    and your shame uncovered.
I will take vengeance;
    I will spare no one."
4 Our Redeemer—the Lord Almighty is his name—
    is the Holy One of Israel.
5 "Sit in silence, go into darkness,
    queen city of the Babylonians;
no more will you be called
    queen of kingdoms.
6 I was angry with my people
    and desecrated my inheritance;
I gave them into your hand,
    and you showed them no mercy.
Even on the aged
    you laid a very heavy yoke.
7 You said, 'I am forever—
    the eternal queen!'
But you did not consider these things
    or reflect on what might happen.
8 "Now then, listen, you lover of pleasure,
    lounging in your security
and saying to yourself,
    'I am, and there is none besides me.
I will never be a widow
    or suffer the loss of children.'
9 Both of these will overtake you
    in a moment, on a single day:
    loss of children and widowhood.
They will come upon you in full measure,
    in spite of your many sorceries
    and all your potent spells.
10 You have trusted in your wickedness
    and have said, 'No one sees me.'
Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you
    when you say to yourself,
    'I am, and there is none besides me.'
11 Disaster will come upon you,
    and you will not know how to conjure it away.
A calamity will fall upon you
    that you cannot ward off with a ransom;
a catastrophe you cannot foresee
    will suddenly come upon you.
12 "Keep on, then, with your magic spells
    and with your many sorceries,
    which you have labored at since childhood.
Perhaps you will succeed,
    perhaps you will cause terror.
13 All the counsel you have received has only worn you out!
    Let your astrologers come forward,
those stargazers who make predictions month by month,
    let them save you from what is coming upon you.
14 Surely they are like stubble;
    the fire will burn them up.
They cannot even save themselves
    from the power of the flame.
These are not coals for warmth;
    this is not a fire to sit by.
15 That is all they are to you—
    these you have dealt with
    and labored with since childhood.
All of them go on in their error;
    there is not one that can save you.