Revelation is an understandable story, where the angel explains the vision of the woman sitting upon the beast (Revelation 17:7 KJV). The following only highlights aspects of the description of the Whore, who represents the False Prophet, and the Beast, who represents the Antichrist. “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth” (17:9). The mountains represent kingdoms, i.e., like the “great mountain” (Daniel 2:35) of Daniel’s vision. “And there are seven kings: five are fallen [Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece] and one is [the Rome of John’s day], and the other is not yet come [Revived Roman Empire]; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space” (Revelation 17:10). “And the beast [Antichrist] that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition” (17:11). The Antichrist political system existed at one time, disappeared, and reemerged. “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings [Ten regions of the world, not just the European Union], which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive no power as kings one hour [possibly only 15 days] with the beast [Antichrist]” (17:12). “These shall make war with the Lamb [Battle of Armageddon at the end of the Seventieth Week of Daniel], 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” (17:14). “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 [the religious system of the Great Whore will be destroyed by the Antichrist, who got tired of taking directions from the Great Whore]” (17:16). The chapter ends identifying the whore with Rome. “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (17:18).
Babylon
Greatest Earthquake of All Time (Revelation 16:18)
Earthquakes are God’s signature judgment disaster, since earth dwellers generally reside on solid ground that God can shake. The final judgment of the Seven Vial Judgments is the greatest earthquake of all time. “And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great” (Revelation 16:18 KJV). This unprecedented shaking of everywhere on planet earth at the same time would be akin to heavy artillery softening things up, but worse, before invasion, as well as, ensuring no one will be ignored in the judgments of God. Once poured out, “there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done” (16:17). This is the Almighty declaring the last judgment of the Tribulation completed, just as the Messiah announced His atoning work was completely accomplished, “It is finished” (John 19:30). “Voices” (16:18) along with “thunders, and lightnings” (16:18) accompany the “great earthquake” (16:18). Those voices (Revelation 4:5; 8:5; 11:19) belong to a great “cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1) of humans and angels, voicing their agreement, approval, encouragement, congratulations, fascination, and interest in Jehovah’s “work, His strange work” (Isaiah 28:21) of judgment. God is schooling us for our future judgment of angels (1Corinthians 6:3).
Babylon is the “great city” (Revelation 16:19) that will be “divided into three parts” (16:19), in other words, destroyed. Since the Revelation narrative proceeds immediately to a description of Babylon the Great (Chapter 17) and the Fall of Babylon (Chapter 18), then Rome would be most likely the great city named. “And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath” (16:19). Additionally: (1) “the cities of the nations fell” (16:19), all cities are destroyed, like WW2 Stalingrad, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Dresden, or Berlin, (2) the topography of every “island fled away” (16:20) existing no longer, (3) “mountains were not found” (16:20) laying down, and (4) “gigantic hailstones, weighing about a hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people, but they blasphemed God because of the plague of hail, since it was so horrendous” (16:21 NET).
LORD, my mind reels from the description of the total devastation of just this Seventh Vial Judgment. We always knew You could do something so horrendously different, but now we can see why You have held back Your hand. Fulfill Your prophecies and faithfully pour out Your judgments. I give You thanks for delivering Your Church from the wrath to come and from all these things that will come to pass. May a righteous seed come even out of all of this. May Israel be that nation born in a day. Lord, come quickly, in Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 