Chapter 17 began the subject of Babylon the Great and it continues in this chapter.  In chapter 17 she was depicted as a great whore who had harlot daughters as well as other offspring that were called abominations.  In verse 16 of that chapter it spoke of her demise at the hands of ten horns, or kings, who were actually part of the same beast system that she sits astride and attempts to control.  In this chapter we will see her fall and we will also see a plea given from our Father warning us to come out of her before that happens.  She is an unsavory character with whom God was very patient, but His patience has run out.

Who is she exactly?  Her identity is somewhat blurred because she is involved so deeply within the affairs of western civilization and the nations that make it up.  One in particular at this time of the end is involved with her and it is the seat of her authority and might.  That nation is the seventh head of the beast, the head that she so ably manipulates to do her bidding.

I suppose that we could go wild thinking up and naming different entities, or systems, which could be construed to be represented by her, but when considering her be very careful not to sell her short.  She sits astride the beast and she attempts to control it like the equestrian controls the horse.  That means she is very powerful because the beast is awesome, the head of the beast at this time is the United States of America, a superpower.  So, the beast she rides is enormous with a very strong head and neck, but she turns it with her bridle and reins with considerable success.  That means she controls the world's preeminent superpower to a large degree.  Don't take her lightly.

In addition to being dubbed Babylon the Great, she is also called a whore.  What does that infer?  Well, as we go on through this chapter you will see that she has many lovers, especially the multi-national corporations who control commerce, but also others who include the religious, political, economic, educational, entertainment, and media entities within western civilization who disseminate and enforce her ideas and policies.  She is the great whore who seduces the world.

What is her makeup as we would comprehend her in simple layman terms?  Let's get into that briefly and also bring out some things that have been done in recent decades by her to show how she controls things.  As you read over the next few paragraphs, you may think that the information there is not germane to the subject, but it attempts to show how and why she controls things, and it gives you some background information that explains some of the things that are happening in the world now, and those that are to come.

She is made up of men and women, and groups of men and women, who are primarily from Judeo-Christian origins.  The top leaders within her are professing Jews and Christians although a few people from other persuasions also share some of the power.  If you are a Jew, or a Christian, you may consider that statement to be inappropriate, but I believe that it is apropos.  Even though western civilization today contains many religious and cultural elements it still has its primary roots in the Hebrews, and more specifically, in Abraham and his offspring which are as numerous now as the sand of the seashore.

Today, the western world is basically controlled by white Christians and Jews but there are a few others who are extremely powerful and important.  The offspring of Esau and the Kenites to name a couple.  The descendants of Esau are the Russians and her kindred nations, and the Kenites are the offspring of Lucifer through Cain who are hidden among us.  They are the tares of Matthew 13 and even though they are few in number relatively speaking, they are at the very top of things.  The Bible calls them Kenites in the Old Testament, and Jesus called them tares in the New Testament, but you may know them by other names.  One name that has been used occasionally for some of the most powerful within their ranks is "Bildebergers".  These tares are at the very heart of and core of Babylon the Great.

With regards to all this Daniel spoke of what it would be like during our time.  Let's go there and see what he had to say about it.  These following verses are from Daniel's well known interpretation of a dream of Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon.

Dan. 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

Dan. 2:41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

Dan. 2:42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.

Dan. 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.

Revelation 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

Rev. 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

Rev. 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Rev. 18:3  For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

Rev. 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

Rev. 18:5  For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Rev. 18:6  Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double.

Render her even as she rendered others, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath mixed, mix to her double.

Rev. 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Proverbs 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Jezebel thought this same thing.  She is the Old Testament parallel, or type, of Babylon the Great and if you aren't familiar with her, her husband Ahab, Elijah the prophet, and how she perished at the hand of Jehu, then go to 1 Kings 16-21 and 2 Kings 9 and study it now.

Jezebel was a tare, the daughter of the king of Sidon, a Kenite (descendant of Cain).  She was a type of Babylon the Great.  Ahab, her husband, was king of Israel and as such he was a type of the white Christian and Jewish leadership of western civilization today.

Ahab sinned greatly by marrying Jezebel (1 Kings 16:31) because it was adultery of the worst sort.  If you don't understand what adultery is in this case, then go to my website     ourfathersword.org     and study the lesson on adultery.  It just may not be what you think it is.  Anyway, Ahab married a daughter of Lucifer and she played him like a banjo.  He let her get away with it and ultimately he, she, and their children were all destroyed by Jehu, but not before great damage had been done within Israel.

Rev. 18:8  Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

Revelation 17:16  And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

Rev. 18:9  And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning.

Rev. 18:10  Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

This one hour is the same one hour in Revelation 17:12, 18:17, and 18:19, and it is the time of Antichrist.  At the beginning of his hour of rule he has taken away her power so that he can rule absolutely.  Other scriptures indicate that this prophetical hour of his is not less than five months, but no longer than 42 months.  Regardless of how long it is, this is the time of Antichrist when the ten kings reign with him and support him, and he uses them to take out Babylon the Great.  But to do that they must take out the 7th head of the beast also, and guess who that is.  Read the last seven verses of chapter 17 again.

Rev. 18:11  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

Regardless, after she is attacked and burned, established world institutions will fail during that time.  Commerce will be temporarily disrupted, and the nature of it may also change, especially within the western world.  Generally speaking, the leaders of western civilization will be forced into retirement.  Every institution and process that the people of western civilization knew will be slowed or inactive.  Nothing will be the same.

In addition, Antichrist will seize power in the confusion and proclaim that he is the savior of the world.  The churches will undoubtedly be packed with people as he, pretending to be God, will sit in the temple of God proclaiming himself to be God.  No more radio and television evangelists saving the world.  No more hundreds and hundreds of sects and cults.  They will all worship the image of the restored beast, and Antichrist.  He will not allow religious freedom but will establish his own religious culture based on worshipping him.  He is very smart, and in an effort to garner support he will also shut down all secular things that offend such as pornography, gambling, prostitution, drugs, and so forth.  He will appear to be very righteous indeed.

Rev. 18:12  The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

Rev. 18:13  And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

Rev. 18:14  And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

Rev. 18:15  The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,

Rev. 18:16  And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

Rev. 18:17  For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off,

Rev. 18:18  And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

Rev. 18:19  And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

Rev. 18:20  Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.

Rev. 18:21  And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.

Rev. 18:22  And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee;

Rev. 18:23  And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Rev. 18:24  And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

God bless with understanding of His word.