THE FALL OF BABYLON PROCLAIMED

The Proclamation of the Fall of Babylon vs.  8

"And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

The Time of the Fall of the City

This is a prophetic forecast in its proper chronological order. The Kingdom was announced in 11:15, and the gospel goes out in the preced­ing verse. With the process of the Kingdom, Babylon, against which the Kingdom is arrayed, will fall. It falls immediately under Antichrist. This is the announcement of the judgment that falls upon the religious system in the midst of the week. This is providential judgment that the Antichrist brings upon the religious system (cf. 17:1-2, 16-17).

 

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.""And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:" "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."
"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." "For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled."

The City Which Falls Under Judgment

This city is the great system and seat of the beast. The wine of her fornication refers to spiritual harlotry (Jer. 51:7; 50:38; 25:15). This aspect of Babylon is judged in the midst of the 7-year week by Antichrist. From then on, he takes over as the head and leader of the reli­gious system.

 

"Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad."
"A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols."
"For thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it."

In fact, he is the^-system. His judgment comes at the close of the tribulation period.