Mystery Babylon is definable but since traditional eschatology has often declared that she is the Roman Catholic Church (RCC), it is an uphill battle to dismantle this “tradition”. But for obvious scriptural, historical and geographical reasons, she is not the RCC. However, even though the RCC is not Mystery Babylon itself, the RCC is certainly included among her broad posterity, as one of her many daughters. Mystery Babylon is more likely and better defined according to the writings of John the Revelator, outside the Book of Revelation.
By reviewing 1 John, one can more easily define Mystery Babylon as, for the lack of a better term, the god of SELF, i.e., the Natural/carnal cravings/desires of humanity, which is defined by John as the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (LLP) (see 1 John 2:16-18). LLP is often epitomized by and through religion (both pagan and apostate Judaism/Christendom), politics (empires/governments) and economics (trade/commerce) (RPE), but the driving force (LLP) of the RPE is always consistent. And, this is what John was talking about in 1 John Chapter 2. He presents the three main components of the “world” (kosmos: orderly arrangement) in verse 16 (LLP), foretells that it, the “world” (orderly arrangements), will pass away in verse 17 and then he introduces the concept of antichrist in verse 18, the first time the specific term shows up in scripture.
Over time it was/is this driving force of the LLP that has caused humanity to develop and construct present-day orderly arrangements on the earth (the “kosmos”) in the form of cities, states, countries and empires with their pagan religions, self-benefiting politics and especially self-benefiting economics. So what is wrong with city building, civilization, and the orderly arrangements of RPEs? Civilization is more likely to breed situations that lead to the shedding of innocent blood because there are more opportunities for the LLP sees to take advantage of. Whereas, dispersed food gatherers are too busy surviving. They have little time for politics, organized religion and advanced economics. Even the citizens of Israel, a religious state, had a hard time to suppress the LLP and what it leads to, i.e., murder, adultery, stealing, etc., etc.
In fact, there were times when the prophets (Psalms 137:8; Isaiah 47:1; Jeremiah 50:42; 51:33; Zachariah 2:7) called Israel the “daughter of Babylon. It was because Israel had lost her way; she began to focus on the SELF god over the true YHVH and followed after “strange gods”, to be like other nations hoping to acquire the delicacies (Ezekiel 27:27-33; Revelation 18:3, 17) that they coveted (Exodus 34:15, 16; Leviticus 17:17; 20:15, 6; Numbers 15:39; Deuteronomy 31:16; Judges 8:33; 1 Chronicles 5:25; Ezra 6:9; 23:30); in so doing they neglected the poor, the widows, the orphans, the stranger, and the disenfranchised (Isaiah 1:16-17, 23; 10:2; Daniel 4:27; Deuteronomy 6:12; 14:28-29; Malachi 3:8-9; Psalms 9:8-9; 103:6; 146:5-10). Because of this spiritual adultery YHVH judged Israel and it was this judgment that fostered the introduction of Daniel’s 70 Weeks to Israel and the world, the underpinnings of eschatology.
This is what Daniel was talking about; what was he referencing (Daniel 9:11) in his prayer. Review the following scriptures: Deuteronomy 6:1-3; 8:12-14, 17-20; 10:18-19; 16:10-11; 24:17-22; 26:12-19; 27:19; Leviticus 19:10, 15, 33-34, 37; 23:22; 24:22; 25:35-43; Numbers 15:16; Zachariah 7:10-12; Malachi 3:1-5. It is quite easy to see, that equally embedded in the moral commandments, given by YHVH, to the people of Israel, through Moses, were distinct commandments that were clearly close to the heart of YHVH. Over and over, Israel was reminded to remember their experience in Egypt and deal with the poor, the orphans, the widows, the strangers and the disenfranchised in light of their own past experience; to deal with them compassionately, generously, fairly and unforgettably. But this they did not do; they pursued the god SELF. Thus, YHVH judged them.
Economics often fuels the love of money (greed), due to the delicacies money can purchase; it is very intoxicating. Economics is the “collective” adhesive and fuel that keep organized religions and politics (cities, governments, empires) buttressed and functioning and it is the LLP that invariably drives the need for these “Collective RPE” mediums in the first place, mechanisms by which self-gratification (the god SELF) can be multiplied. As the RPE systems of civilization grew and developed over time, into ever more complex and advanced systems it has brought the world to its present economic state, with its current global trade, stock exchanges, monetary instruments, unions, etc., etc.
It would be difficult for anyone to deny that the LLP, with its RPE mediums, is the driving force of every murder, every carnal pursuit, and the rise and fall of every empire (Daniel 11:2; Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19; 10:23-24; Luke 8:14; 1 Timothy 6:17). It is also true that the LLP not only keeps people SELF focused but often (if not always) prevents them from being truly benevolent, charitable and exhibiting true acts of LOVE towards YHVH and others.
Of course, Satan knows this and has used the LLP as a snare to entrap many an individual through out history, including the facilitation of the first murder (John 8:44). In general, however, he does not need to escalate the LLP among the masses since the LLP leads to its own demise without any particular involvement or special attention from Satan himself. Nonetheless, Satan, along with the employ of any evil “princes” under him, has certainly, on sundry times, targeted wicked men/women, who could/would rise to world domination, to use them as pawns in his “game”. Conversely he has also targeted prominent holy men, to resist them (or to make them fall), since they are persons who are more likely to efficaciously thwart Satan’s gains.
Furthermore, note that John, through the Spirit of YHVH, seemed to place more focus (Revelation 17 & 18) on the economic element of Mystery Babylon and how it relates to murders of both the righteous and the unrighteous rather than on the “religious” or “paganistic” elements, even though the latter elements were certainly not overlooked either. The economic focus may also be due to the fact that the scriptures state (1 Timothy 6:10) that the “love of money is the root of all evil”, a seemingly strong correlation between money (economics) and evil, i.e., “all evil”. By definition, then, this would include evil starting from the fall. Therefore, it is not a “stretch” to link economics to the shedding of innocent blood. In fact, that seems to be what John was trying to imply in both his epistles (1 John 2) and in the Book of Revelation (Chapters 17 & 18).
Each of the three functional mediums (religion, politics and economics—RPE) was/is nothing more than a mechanism by which wicked humanity can advance/satisfy the SELF god (LLP). Thus the reason why most who are involved in them, including religious paganism or apostasy, refuse to leave it behind when they are shown truth (the reasons why they should forsake it) because their deeds are evil; their intent is to preserve the SELF god, which is enmity (Romans 8:7; James 4:4) against YHVH; following truth (the true YHVH) would require that they forsake SELF and submit to YHVH. This is little different than what John was talking (1 John 2:18; 2:22; 4:3; 2 John 1:7) about relative to the antichrist.
NOTE: Anti means: apposed, against or opposite; thus antichrist would mean apposed to “Christ”, against “Christ” or opposite of “Christ”.
Economics started with Cain (Genesis 4:17; Hebrews 11:4; Revelation 18:23-24), who was the first city builder (Genesis 4:17) and, hence the first murderer (the first spiller/shedder of human blood). One cannot build a city without agriculture and economics. Cain was the progenitor of both. The god of SELF embraced by Cain rebelled against YHVH, which led to the murder of his brother, Abel. His own personal (self) goals (LLP) exceeded his desire to please the creator of heaven and earth. Likewise, if a person will not depart from Mystery Babylon, even the “people” (Revelation 18:4) of YHVH, it will eventually destroy them.
The god SELF reappeared at Babel (Genesis 10:8-10; 11:1-9). The god SELF surfaced with Assyria, Egypt, Babylon (Daniel 4:4, 27); Persia, Greece, Rome, Caliphate, and will again with Persia resurrected.
Remember, YHVH called Abram (Genesis 11:31; Nehemiah 9:7) out of Babylon (Ur, within the Babylonia plains) and his wealth was independent of her (Genesis 14:23), it was from YHVH and he did not want it to be corrupted or confused with any other, thus the reason for not accepting spoils of war. The Church, too, must come out (Revelation 18:4) of Mystery Babylon, lest they too experience her plagues and destruction that will one day soon befall upon her.
Throughout the ages, LLP took on new forms through organized religions, politics and economics and always rode atop the backs of every rising empire, who were led by their own god of SELF (LLP), to become more powerful, to consume and own more of what was around them and to elevate themselves to the ranks of deity (Daniel 3:1-7; 4:37). But this was not just in the heart of rising kings/emperors of each rising/falling empire, but resided, to some degree, within the heart of every carnal man, woman and child. This pursuit of the SELF god caused the perpetual murders/shedding of blood throughout the ages, even the killing off of both righteous and unrighteous blood, which included the blood of prophets and saints, starting from righteous Abel all the way to present day.
Politics (governments, empires) are nothing more than a medium and venue for a collective LLP that fights against YHVH, his holy prophets and saints. Cities, governments, and empires produce collective “sin”, thus the reason and the need for coming “out of her”. When one joins (copulating) with a “harlot”, they partake (1 Corinthians 6:15-15) in her sins. In like manner, when believers participate in Babylon, they partake in her “collective sinning” (Revelation 18:4), which includes the wrongful shedding of innocent righteous (and unrighteous) blood (1 John 3:15), not to mention all the other sins that YHVH despises. And YHVH promised to avenge (Genesis 4:10; Deuteronomy 19:10; 32:43; 2 Kings 9:7; Revelation 6:10) innocent shed blood.
The only consistent element found in the earth from the beginning of time, prior to the existence of any institution, organization, government or empire, that was responsible for shedding innocent blood, was the LLP—the god SELF—and Satan’s beguiling manipulation of it, that he used upon Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:1-6, 13; 2 Corinthians 11:3; simplicity here means “without self-seeking”) to cause death to come upon them and the entire human race (Romans 5:12). Satan manipulated Cain (Jude 1:11; 1 John 3:12) next and so on and so forth, until the Flood, then on to Nimrod and onward; and the rest is history.
Jude (Jude 1:11) indicated that the sin of Cain paralleled Balaam’s and Korah’s sin. And what was Balaam’s sin? The story of Balaam’s sin is recorded in Numbers 22 and is referenced in numerous other places (Joshua 24:9; Nehemiah 13:2; 2 Peter 2:15; Jude 1:11, etc.) throughout scripture. Balaam allowed himself to be bought with money, to yield to the god SELF rather than to yield to and obey YHVH. This purchase was intended to bring harm (Numbers 22:6) to Israel, the shedding of innocent blood, the smiting of the children of Israel (Revelation 2:14)—blood money, not much different than Judas’ blood money. Thus one can conclude that Cain’s sin somehow involved money, pride, lust (i.e., the LLP), and murder of innocent blood, all because of his unacceptable sacrifice and his unwillingness to obey YHVH in correcting his error.
What was Korah’s sin? Korah (a Levite) challenged and murmured against Moses and Aaron, but it was more about Moses’ and Aaron’s position of leadership that he coveted, a position that he sought and believed was a powerful position, in his mind the level of a “prince” (Numbers 16:3, 13). It was not the work of service itself that Korah sought. Thus the underpinnings of this “collective” rebellion Korah led was pride, lust (LLP) and the love of money (commodities), for Moses actually implicated this in Numbers 16:15. This “gainsaying” of Korah and his convoy of cohorts ended in the shedding of blood (Numbers 16:31-38), the blood of Korah and all those who were seduced and beguiled into following him; to commit a “collective sin”, the sin of resisting against YHVH and those he placed in leadership, the elevation of the god of SELF, the LLP, over the true YHVH.
So, Jude made reference to Cain, Balaam and Korah and although each incident seems very distinct, there is also a common driving force present in each event, the LLP. With Cain one sees hate, murder and disobedience; with Balaam one sees filthy lucre; blood money (to put Israel in harms way), pride (prestige, fame seeking), greed, disobedience, indirect premeditated murder, spiritual blindness (Numbers 22:34) and being driven (perverse) by greed (Numbers 22:32); with Korah one sees pride (power hungry), greed, defamation (seeking self-elevation), rebellion and carnage. But, it is also easy to see the LLP at work driving each scenario. So, both Jude and John made indirect reference to the LLP in their cited examples and how it conceives sin. In fact, the whole world has been seduced (Revelation 17:2) by this whore, even YHVH’s people are found within her. Of course there are many more examples that could be given that are found in scripture, but that would only belabor the point.
So how are the LLP and its RPE mediums analogous to the Great Whore (Mystery Babylon)? First, the Great Whore (Mystery Babylon) is obviously symbolic of something that has spanned humanity’s history, but not tangible, certainly not tangible in the sense of a person, organization or government. Were she otherwise, then one could easily identify her since she rode atop (Revelation 17:3-7) each of the seven world empires and produced many daughters spread over many millennia. But no single identifiable physical entity exists that can be pinpointed through out history reaching back to the dawn of time. But what can be identified is something that, although intangible, is innate within humanity and has expressed itself repeatedly through out the ages. It is the driving force of the LLP (the god SELF), which, as already pointed out, has spawned three major “collective” mediums by which to operate in civilization, the RPE, which facilitates both individual and “collective” sinning. This LLP/RPE is what stimulated the building of world empires and the overthrowing of them, the predecessor by its successor; seven thus far; the LLP/RPE is the Whore that rode/sat atop these seven empires. The visual image of the Whore riding the Beast portrays the idea of her being in control, the driving force, the master of the direction the beast would go.
This “collective sinning” is a form of a depraved “collective consciousness” or as John put it, “every spirit” (1 John 4:3) that “confesseth not”. Although pneuma (spirit) usually refers to the Holy Spirit in New Testament scriptures, it can also carry the meaning of a “mental disposition”. And it would appear that John was not referring to the “Holy” spirit when he wrote concerning a “spirit” of antichrist but more in line with a carnal “mental disposition”. Apostle Paul also alluded to this same concept, when he wrote of being carnally minded (Romans 8:6), which is the enemy of YHVH (Romans 8:7), as did James when speaking of being friends (James 4:4) with the “world” (kosmos).
The English word “cosmos” comes from the Greek word kosmos, and is used to describe the galactic systems of the universe. Likewise, John and James used the term “world” (kosmos) to describe the many, broad reaching RPE systems (orderly arrangements) of civilization, which John defined as the LLP, which is the underpinnings of these RPE systems of civilization. John realized that the RPE of every town, city, state, territory, nation and amalgamated nations existed only because of the driving force of the LLP. This driving force, this LLP, this “collective consciousness”, is what sat atop of each world empire, which has facilitated advances in civilization’s RPE systems until they have reached their apex, today’s current complex RPE systems, and has made many people “rich” by her.
But John also saw that this Whore (the world, the orderly arrangements, the “collective LLP”) shall be destroyed. The world will fall (pass away) into chaos and economic ruin. This “collective LLP” and its complex RPE will collapse leaving all the inhabitants of the earth vulnerable to the initiation of the Mark of the Beast, which will be viewed as a “life boat” by all those that were involved in her sins. The tell tale signs of this falling is already becoming visible. For some time, the US dollar has been the accepted economic bedrock utilized by all the countries of world for trading (international buying an selling), backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), but that is fast changing as the end times draw near. With the US realizing its economic woes and its weakening dollar, it has been divesting into the SDR currency, the currency of the IMF, the strength behind the US dollar, which is not so strong after all. Therefore, the Gulf Monetary Union (GMU) (and eventually the OIC) has decided to create its own currency that will be stronger and better backed. The OIC will soon follow suit.
What is not understood by most people is the real reason why the US departed from the “gold standard” and went to a “debt system”. Although the surface intent seemed noble enough, the underpinnings were truly self-seeking, LLP driven. The marketed concept was that by departing from the “gold standard” more members of society would have a better chance of engaging in world economics, those who were once excluded (due to the high cost of gold) could then participate, quicker and sooner. But of course, this would only make those “at the top” richer and more powerful. Therefore, the current complex economic system, although it is much larger and has created many more rich people in the world than before, is also by far more delicate. Although, the current system has been perceived as invincible, she will fall, enabled by a new and growing entity in the world that hates the present Whore (Revelation 17:16), who will make every effort to see her completely destroyed. This new entity that will destroy the Whore is the ten-horned beast, the OIC. The GMU, who are making their own currency in an attempt to displace the US dollar and the current economic world-wide system (i.e., the IMF and the WB), are also members of the OIC. The GMU will demand that all nations of the earth pay for oil using the GMU’s new currency.
It is interesting to note that in addition to the OIC current 57 member nations both Russia and Thailand are currently OIC Observers and even the UN is now an intergovernmental organizational Observer of the OIC. And China has recently made its support for Palestine publicly known. In other words, the countries of the world as beginning to take the OIC (and their cause) very seriously and, in fact, will soon be seduce by this beast and participate in her currency (the Mark of the Beast) when it arrives.
Another parallel (Genesis 10:10; 11:4, 6) between Babel (later, the Babylonian Empire) and Mystery Babylon is the “world unity” that can be found in today’s present world, with the exception of the growing hate found in a growing global power, the OIC. The PRE (and the LLP force driving the PRE), has been personified (depicted) in various ways throughout history. However, in modern times, one can easily argue that it has currently developed into the UN (and NATO), currently as the “P” of the PRE; into the World Council of Churches (WCC) or the World Council of Religions (WCR) or the World Council of Religious Leaders (WCRL), or all three, since they all have identical agendas that support the UN and the IMF and that the UN and the IMF directly or indirectly prop them, as the “R” in the PRE; and lastly into the IMF/SDR, currently as the “E” of the PRE. Thus, when the OIC topples Mystery Babylon, the IMF, the UN and the WCC (or WCR and/or the WCRL) will fall with her. Keep in mind that the OIC is the only intergovernmental organization that adheres to just one religion (Islam) and YHVH will put a hate in their hearts for the HARLOT. While members of the OIC are also members of the UN and the the IMF, their growing dislike, distaste and resentment of the PRE (which includes the WCC) is growing and becoming more audible and visible around the world, in spite of their double tongued rhetoric—a deceptive beguiling trickery that most of the world will fall for.
So, why do or will most ministers (of every denomination) reject this view and fear this truth? Because, they would become guilty before YHVH; they will have to change; they will have to mobilize; they may become visible to governments that may destroy them; they may see themselves as becoming cult-like; they may lose their congregations and livelihoods; they do not trust the leadership of their religious organization; they will become too much like the early church; they will become to much like Israel or other religious states. In all of this, they have no experience. It scares them beyond expression.
Read more about the Image and the Mark of the Beast.
Foot Note:
Finally, why would Yahushua impose all the guilt (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51) of the righteous blood that was shed upon the earth upon his generation? Because, the Jews of his generation exhibited both flagrant “collective sin” thoughts (Matthew 27:25) and actions (Luke 11:52) that which are becoming of an antichrist. This spirit of antichrist existed prior to Mashiyach’s coming, during his tenure (which certainly climaxed in Yahushua’s generation, when he finally came in the flesh and to his own, but his own received him not (John 1:11)) and after his departure. Thus John said, every spirit that denies that Mashiyach has come in the flesh is antichrist (1 John 4:3). Any person that truly believes (confesses) that Mashiyach came in the flesh would not participate (“collective sin”) in killing Mashiyach (1 Corinthians 2:8). Furthermore, neither would a true believer hate (Leviticus 19:17; 1 John 4:20-21) his/her brother (particularly in action). In his discussion on antichrist (1 John), John talked about loving one another, which he extrapolated earlier, as love actions (1 John 3:17), or the lack thereof. This spirit of antichrist is inseparable from this discussion of what the Great Whore is, since they both deal with the neglect of others (brothers) facilitated by the preference for the god SELF (LLP). It causes people to behave contrary to the spirit of Mashiyach (LOVE), to commit sin. The culmination of Israel’s long history of sins climaxed with the killing of the Mashiyach; even more so for Israel since they were YHVH’s chosen people and forgot the lesson of Egypt relative to how they should treat their brothers, the poor, the widows, the orphans, even the strangers.
If one is guilty of one breach, then they are guilty of all and in this case, the lack of brotherly love towards one of their brothers, Yahushua, even to the point of death. The Jewish leaders preferred to salvage their limited favor with Rome and the pride, power, money, etc. that it may have brought them over acknowledging that Mashiyach had come in the flesh (John 11:50). Once again, the god SELF (LLP) prevailed to the shedding of innocent righteous blood, in this case the son of YHVH, the Mashiyach. For this, they had to pay a great debt, a horrible judgment from YHVH, the guilt of all righteous blood shed from Abel to Mashiyach.
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