From Babylon to Babylon the Great

The title of today's sermon, From Babylon to Babylon the Great, I want to show you a comparison between the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation. Most people, their interest in prophecy is usually focused on the time when Jesus Christ will return to destroy the system. The Bible refers to you as Babylon the Great. His return will end in era of Satan's domination over all of mankind's comings and goings, and will usher in a new era of peace and righteousness under the government of Christ when he establishes his Father's kingdom. But Jesus explains in Matthew 24 and verse 21 that his return will be preached by a time of great tribulation such as has not been seen since the beginning of the world until this time, No, nor ever shall be, unless those days were shortened no flesh would be saved, or spared, in other words. So all human life will be annihilated, but the worst of those days will have been shortened to a period of approximately 42 months or 3.5 years, as we're told in the book of Revelation. The desire for Christ's return and its intense interest in those events that precede his return make prophecies relating to this period of time most talked about in the Bible. So let's begin in Luke 21. Luke 21 verse 20.

The battle of the great day of the God Almighty is called the Battle of the Great Day of the God Almighty. So we've already talked about one time before duality and prophecy. Plus, you've heard many sermons on that if you've been in the church a number of times that things happen in history that will be repeated at the end time. So this battle of the great day of the Lord, of the great day of God Almighty, is mentioned in Revelation 16 verse 14.

And it's also described in some detail in Zechariah chapter 14. We won't go there. We're going to stay in Luke 21. Let's go now to verse 21. Then those who are in Judea to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

There's going to be great trouble around this city called Jerusalem. Verse 22. For these are the days of vengeance, and all things are written that may be fulfilled. The reason I'm reading this and the importance of this is there's so much speculation in prophecy, and honestly I don't mind it as long as people say, I'm speculating. I'm guessing. There can actually be some healthy reasoning things through. Well, what if this happens and what if that happens? As long as you draw the conclusion that's in the prophecies at the end of your speculation, you're okay.

Problem is, a lot of people get a little wonky, and their speculations take them away from what the prophecy actually says. These prophecies are centered around a geographic location on the planet. If anybody moves that geographic location, which so many people do, they're off. They're already off, and they're going to make this whole end time thing happen in the United States, or South America, or the Orient. And that is so off. It centers around a geographic location called Jerusalem. So you'll know immediately if somebody's speculation is taking you to the other side of the planet, you're no longer dealing with prophecy.

You're now dealing with somebody's fantasy. Verse 23, But woe to those who are pregnant, and those who have nursing babies in those days, for there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. We read in other prophecies that by this time the United States will already be brought to rubble. The people who are of Israel, Ephraim, and Manasseh, a great world-ruling empire, will have taken dominance on the world stage. And those nations which are identified as Israel by us, by our understanding, will be no more. They will be captives, servants of this new world-ruling empire.

That's actually not new at all. And they will, verse 24, fall by the edge of the sword and be led away captives into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the time of the Gentiles are fulfilled. And that is an important statement. What is the time of the Gentiles? The Gentile domination of Jerusalem and Palestine, particularly the land of ancient Israel and Judah that was given to them by God as an inheritance, is of great importance in the biblical prophecy.

So understanding what happens in that period of time to that land helps us to interpret prophecy correctly, so we assume. And we don't assume that we understand everything, which is why I say that. But we're fairly confident in what we do understand.

There are a lot of gaps. We just don't know what's going to happen. But some of these things interpret themselves, and they're very clear. As long as you don't drift away from the core of what the prophecy is actually talking about. And one of the keys to understanding this is, these prophecies center around Judah, and specifically the city of Jerusalem.

And it's important if we want to understand the books of Daniel and Revelation and how they relate to each other differently than other prophecies. Those two books stand out. Jerusalem is one of those keys. It became the capital of Israel at the time that God established the throne of King David to rule over all of Israel. It wasn't the capital before then. It remained under the rule of David's dynasty until the nation of Babylon, or the empire of Babylon, conquered the city and destroyed the temple that was built by Solomon.

And the Babylonians conquered it in 586 B.C. I want to set some perspective on that. The temple had been around for more than a thousand years. It had been around a long time. But 586 B.C. is not that long ago. It's only about 600 years before Jesus Christ came on the earth. It's less than 600 years before Jesus Christ came on the earth. A great system was established. Even though it's ancient history, and they still used chariots and swords and spears, essentially, and there were no rockets and flying aircraft, they were getting very close to the modern era.

Actually, I would say this probably started the modern era, even though we call them the Dark Ages. This started a new political system that is still in place today. And that's why I say it kind of started a modern era. This actually wasn't that long ago, 586 B.C. Jerusalem has never again been ruled by the descendants of David sitting on a throne, even to this day today. David's throne will be restored at the return of Jesus Christ, who is the rightful heir of that throne.

Therefore, those major events in the world affairs that significantly affect Jerusalem and the Holy Land of God's chosen people will occur within a period of time between ancient Babylon conquering the city and the deliverance of Jerusalem from the control of what we call Babylon the Great. And this is the primary setting of the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation, from Babylon to Babylon the Great. Daniel and Revelation are very similar to each other and very different from other books of prophecy.

Why are Daniel and Revelation so different from other books in prophecy? I mean, it's not that other books aren't important. Let's take Isaiah, for example. Isaiah is another major book of prophecy. Isaiah is often called the Shakespeare of Prophets. As a matter of fact, I believe that was one of the answers in a New York Times crossword puzzle, was who is the Shakespeare of prophecy? It's Isaiah. From Isaiah, we get some of the following quotes that most of us will remember that shape our thinking about God. Do you remember these? They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

That's Isaiah 11.9. Or how about this? But they wait upon the Lord, upon the Lord will renew their strength. They shall mount up with the wings of eagles, and they will run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40, verse 31.

Or come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land. Isaiah 1, verses 18 and 19. Or we all remember this one.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace is upon him, and by his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53.5. Or I think pretty much everybody in the Christian world knows this one. For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given. The government shall be on his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9, verse 6. There are many other major prophecies as well, so why are Daniel and Revelation unique among the prophecies? Almost all of the books of prophecy in the section called the Prophets, both the majors and the minors. Focused primarily on the unfaithfulness of Israel to the covenant of God, and the consequences of that unfaithfulness. Contained in those books is also the contrast promise of a future restoration of Israel under the rule of the Messiah. Not every single prophecy is about that, but most of them are. Daniel and Revelation, in contrast, are more focused on how a political, religious, commercial, and military system extending from the time of ancient Babylon to the fall of Babylon the Great will affect God's chosen people.

And how that system fits into God's master plan. It is the system which is repeatedly trampled down Jerusalem until the time of the Gentiles comes to an end. So, I do realize that some people believe that the time of the Gentiles refers to that last three and a half years. The times, times, and half a time. And it could. But it definitely also can refer to the time when Nebuchadnezzar conquered Jerusalem until Jesus Christ eliminates that system.

And we're going to go through that today. And this is the uniqueness and the parallel between Daniel and the book of Revelation. Here are some striking facts comparing how Revelation was written and how Daniel was written. And this was taken by the summarized Bible. It's a pretty interesting Bible, the summarized Bible. Striking facts. Quote, This book is written by a man who was greatly beloved, both Daniel and John. It deals with much of the same prophecies as in Revelation as written by the beloved disciple. Note the similarity between the two. First of all, both men were in captivity. Daniel 1 and verse 6, Daniel 8 and verse 2, and compare to Revelation 1 and verse 9.

Daniel 1 and verse 6, Revelation 1 and verse 9, both Daniel and John were being held captive when their books were written. Both were considered beloved by God. Daniel 10 and verse 11, and John 13 and verse 23, both authors were considered beloved by God.

Both authors heard the voice of the Lord. Daniel 8 and verse 16, Daniel 10 and verse 9, and compare that to Revelation 1 and verse 10. Both men saw the Lord's face. Daniel 10 and verse 6, Revelation 1 and verse 14. Both men fell flat on the ground when they were presented certain prophecies. These books are very similar. And I believe this is on purpose. I believe it's because we're supposed to put these two prophecies together in order to gain a full understanding. Daniel chapter 10 verses 8 through 9 is when Daniel was facedown, and Revelation chapter 1 and verse 17, when John was.

Both men were strengthened after they fell on the ground, miraculously strengthened. Daniel chapter 10, 10, and also in verse 18, compared to Revelation chapter 1 and verse 17. They were helped back up. Very, very similar in prophecies. Both were also taught by angels, not only by the Lord, but by angels.

You can see that in Daniel chapter 10 verses 11 and 12, and Revelation chapter 1 and verse 1. Plus, you can also go through other parts in Revelation and see where John discussed things with angels. At one point, he actually tried to bow down and worship an angel, and the angel said, If you don't worship me, I'm just a servant like you.

You worship the Lord. So both men actually spoke with angels as well. These two books are incredibly similar, and they talk about the same subject, an economic military power that dominates the globe from the time when Nebuchadnezzar took over Jerusalem until Jesus Christ returns. Even though these books were written six to seven hundred years apart from each other, they are remarkably similar works. And with this in mind, let's examine the content of Daniel and Revelation.

We'll begin in chapter 11 of Revelation. Revelation chapter 11 and verse 15. We're very familiar with this. And then the seventh angel sounded, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever and ever. And this is the point to which each book, each prophecy, draws its conclusion.

This is the ending point. That's why I started here. This is where we're going. And what I want to do at the end is show how you and I are supposed to get to this ending point. Both books make a specific point to the believers of God.

There is something personal, sorry, personal that we're supposed to get from these prophecies that have nothing to do with when or the timing of the return of Jesus Christ. And we oftentimes ask ourselves, myself included, guilty as charged, is this particular news event starting the tribulation? Is this setting up the temple? Are they going to start sacrifices? And we look at the when side of prophecy. When's it going to happen? There's actually another message in both of these books, and it is the same message to the believers of God. This is fascinating to me. I hope you think it's interesting, too, because it is important.

Babylon and all the succeeding kingdoms that inherit its power are the kingdoms of this world. They are guided and ruled by Satan. Now, let's drop down. We're still in chapter 11. Let's pick up in verse 16.

What dead? The dead nations. The time of those who are dead. Those people who used to dominate the globe. They shall be judged.

And that you should reward your servants, the prophets and the saints, and those who fear your name, small and great. And you should destroy those who destroy the earth. Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of his covenant was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings and noises and thunderings and earthquakes and hail, because God doesn't do anything small. Let's move right forward into the next chapter, chapter 12, verse 1. Now a great sign appeared in heaven. A woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. This is a direct reference to Joseph's dream in Genesis, chapter 37 and verse 9, where it says, Look, I have dreamed another dream, and at this time the sun and the moon and the eleven stars bowed down to me. And the reason there were only eleven stars is Joseph was the twelfth. This verse in Revelation, chapter 12, refers to Jacob and his descendants. Israel, in other words. Verse 2, Then being with child, she, these chosen people, cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven, Behold, a great fiery red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on the heads, representing authority.

His tale, here Satan is revealed to be the true power behind this great Babylonian system. And it says in verse 4, His tale drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth, and the dragon stood before the woman, who was ready to give birth, to devour the child as soon as it was born. She bore a male child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. Now it's very clear that Jesus Christ was to come from the people called Israel, and He was. He was a Jew. And her child was caught up to God and to His throne. Now, verse 12, Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them, woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea. For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time. Now, when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child.

This is not the church. The church did not give birth to the male child. Israel did. These are the Jews. This is physical Israel. Although the church is spiritual Israel, we'll have its share of persecution, as we see in verse 17. Let's drop down there. And the dragon was enraged with this woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring. And who are they who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ? Hey, that's you and me. We don't get out of this deal, either. Alright, let's go to Revelation 13, verse 1. And then, I stood on the sand of the sea, and I saw a beast rising up out of the sea. Now, this parallels Daniel 7, which we're not going to go into too much detail. But this is actually a parallel of a prophecy given about almost 700 years prior. I stood on the sand of the sea, I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads, ten horns, and on his horns were ten crowns. And on his heads, a blasphemous name. We read more about this blasphemous name. This person is actually held up, the leader, the one leader that actually ends up ruling this particular beast, ends up being worshipped as God, and that is blasphemy.

Now, the beast which I saw was like a leopard. His feet were like the feet of a bear and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. Just read Daniel 7, you'll see the exact parallel there, although Daniel breaks it up into different kingdoms, and this is the final kingdom, the final beast, which Daniel could not describe, which John is describing. The dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. So this beast contains the elements of the four beasts in Daniel 7, but this beast in Revelation represents the same Babylonian system that Daniel described in both chapter 2 of his prophecy and chapter 7. Now Revelation 17 and verse 18. And the woman who you saw is a great city.

Now we have a new city introduced. In contrast to Jerusalem, there is a counterfeit holy city, a counterfeit geographic location that Satan and this beast power use to dominate God's holy city, Jerusalem. Now the woman you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. At the time John wrote this, the great city was Rome. Later in history, the capital of the Roman Empire shifted back to an older capital from the Greek Empire that preceded it, which was the city Istanbul today, Constantinople back then.

It could be either one of those cities in the future, it could be a different city in the future. It does have to be north of Jerusalem. It does have to be north of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the center of all of these prophecies. So let's say it was Rome. Rome has inherited and preserved the traditions of the Babylonian mysteries that provide this philosophical base, and it is philosophical. It is actually a war of the mind more than it is political or economic. The big problem with this system is a philosophy. It is a counterfeit morality that lends itself to compromise with the pagan traditions of the people it controls. Compromise is what Babylon is all about. Another way to say that is, you don't really need to follow God. It's okay to compromise a little bit. They don't compromise a little bit. It's not okay to compromise a little bit, but they don't compromise just a little bit. This is a counterfeit system of philosophy that tells everybody they must compromise. You are bad if you do not compromise. It's not that you might want to compromise. In this system, people are forced to compromise. Moral compromise is what the Babylonian system is known for. Revelation 17, verse 5, backtracking a little bit. On her forehead, a name was written, Mystery Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and the Abomination of the Earth. I saw a woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Here it's calling the Jews the saints. We are the martyrs of Jesus because it's talking about both physical and spiritual Israel.

When I saw her, I marveled in great amazement. Even John, the apostle who was trained and beloved by Jesus Christ personally, looks at this system and is overwhelmed. At the end time, this system will dominate the entire world and very few will have the ability to stand up against it. Now let's take a look at chapter 18, verse 11. It says, The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys her merchandise anymore. This is one of the main ways that this system controls the earth. It's through the economy. You don't get to go to the grocery store and you don't get to go to the shopping mall if you don't compromise in this system. Without compromise, you don't eat.

Let's take a look now at the book of Daniel and how it is very similar to the book of Revelation. I'm going to quote an article on Bible.org written by Professor Dan Wallace, who I've quoted many times before. I'm actually going to quote him quoting another scholar, Freeman. So bear with me here.

Daniel Wallace talks about how the introduction of Daniel is written in the Hebrew language. But in chapter 2 through chapter 7, the language of the book shifts to Aramaic, which is a related Gentile language.

Then, from chapters 8 on, the book switches back to the Hebrew language. There are many people, including Dan Wallace, who believe this was critical to understanding the book of Daniel. I'm going to quote the article. Fourth, consider the evidence suggested by Freeman, Old Testament prophecies, pages 263 and 264. Quote, the key to the book is its linguistic structure. Hebrew is used in Daniel chapter 1 through 4a, Daniel 8 verses 1 through 12 verses 13. While Aramaic is found in chapters 2 verses 4b through chapter 7 verses 28. The reason for this peculiarity would seem to stem from the fact that Daniel had two distinct, although related, messages to deliver. One message was of judgment concerning the defeat and final overthrow of the Gentile world powers of whom Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and Cyrus were present the chief representatives. The other was the message of consolation and hope concerning the future deliverance of God's people. So, Wallace outlines the book of Daniel this way. Chapter 1 through 2 verses 3 is an introduction, and this is written in Hebrew. And then, chapters 2 verses 4 on to chapter 7 verses 28, prophecies related to Gentiles. And this is the section that's written in a Gentile language, Aramaic. Chapter 2, he talks about Nebuchadnezzar's dream of that image. And in chapter 7 he talks about the four beasts walking out of the sea. And he talks about a lot of God's judgment and God's power in between. And then, in chapters 8 through 12, prophecies related to the Jews or Israel and the Gentile kingdoms.

Let's take a look, briefly now, in Daniel chapter 2, starting in verse 26. I knew I would go a little over time, but we're not going to be that bad. We're close. Daniel chapter 2 verse 26, The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation? Daniel answered in the presence of the king and said, The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers, cannot declare to the king. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets. And he has made known to king Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Now, Daniel is very certain about this. Your dream and the vision on your head upon your bed were these. And then Daniel goes on to describe the image of a man like a statue, that had a head of gold, chest and arms of silver, a waist of bronze, legs of iron, and feet of iron and clay. And this is the introduction of the time of the Gentiles. This is the introduction of four world-ruling empires that are all a part of the same image, the same system, Babylon the Great, representing four world-ruling empires. The value of the metal declines, but the strength of the metal increases. And then, and I could speculate on that, I mean, it could be that the moral values of this system decline, but its military might and influence over the globe actually increase every time. It's possible. The stone, then, in the image is cut out of a mountain with no hands. Pick it up in chapter 2 and verse 45. Daniel chapter 2 and verse 45. Inasmuch as you saw, the stone was cut out of the mountains without hands, and then it broke into pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold. The great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain. The interpretation is sure. In both Daniel and Revelation, the major theme is the destruction of this Babylonian system. But there is a personal lesson from both books as well, something that you and I are to personally take out of these two great prophetic works. One single lesson. God's people do not compromise with God's instructions. His way. His morality. No moral compromise for God's people. There is a personal message in these prophecies. Let's notice something really key. In the first chapter of Daniel, when Daniel was a teenager, it says something so important, and a lot of times we skip over it because we want to get to the good stuff. And we miss this statement, which is central to the book of Daniel. Daniel chapter 1 and verse 8. Notice what it says here. But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with wine that he drank. Therefore, he requested of the chief eunuchs that he might not defile himself. Here we see no compromise on Daniel's part. The compromise would have been small. It was just food. Cold cuts, if you will. A little Canadian bacon.

The temptation came from the Babylonian king. The order came from the king. You are my slave. This is what you will eat. Moral compromise. The compromise was expected to be obeyed. Remember, Daniel had to get permission to avoid eating these foods. He had to fight for it. Notice the same theme in the book of Revelation, but this time it's with the Christians. Revelation chapter 20 and verse 4. Revelation chapter 20 and verse 4. And I saw thrones, and they that sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. And then I saw the souls of who?

Of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God. They held on to the witness of Jesus, hold on to the Word of God. They do not compromise. Let's read on. Who had not worshiped the beast and his image. Okay, that's the big deal. They don't worship the beast and his image. But notice there's more. And had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands.

Wow! Okay. A lot of people speculate of what this mark on the forehead and the hands are. I was taught, and I believe, that no matter what the mark actually is, some people say it's a chip, you know, some people say it's an ID badge, some people say it's a tattoo. It's not really the point. The point is where the mark is placed.

That's the significance of the mark. Not what the mark is, but where the mark is. It's on the head and it's on the hand. It's both the actions and the things that they do and the things that they think. Which means that this Babylonian system tells you how to think.

You must be tolerant of evil. You must accept other people, even if they behave evil. And if you don't accept them in your thinking, then you are evil. And the people of God do not compromise. And they don't play church either. They don't go to work and live one way with their actions, taking on the mark of the beast on their hand.

And then they come to church and say, Happy Sabbath, how was your week? They don't compromise. Both the book of Daniel and the book of Revelation shows a personal message. That the people of God will actually stand up to this time of the Gentiles that started from 586 B.C. when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, all the way until that great stone that's cut from the mountains without hands, Jesus Christ, wipes out this world-rolling empire. Just like Daniel's, Christians will be asked to compromise. In the hands, which is your effort, your work, and your actions, and everything that we do, and on your forehead, which is our thoughts or our heart.

Like Daniel, Christians do not compromise with God's moral standards. Not even a little. All prophecy, when it's woven together, paint a picture of a bright future for mankind. But Daniel and Revelation, along with Matthew 24, have very unique perspective from the other prophecies.

They're both focused on how a political, religious, commercial, and military system extending from the time of ancient Babylon to the fall of Babylon the Great will affect God's chosen people. And how that system fits into God's great plan, and what lesson you and I are supposed to take from it. It's a system that repeatedly tramples down Jerusalem until the time of the Gentiles comes to an end. This system camouflages itself as a moral system, but is filled with evil compromises against the way of God.

In both these great prophecies, Daniel and Revelation, the people of God do not yield to the compromise, but rather purpose in their heart to follow God even in the smallest of details, no matter what the personal cost. And you can read both Daniel and Revelation and get that theme over and over and over. It's repeated. But in the end, those who do not compromise with the rule of this world, the rule of the Gentiles, will actually rule with God and teach others the way of peace, happiness, and love by living every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.