End Time City of Babylon (ii)

In this chapter we will continue to cite from J. A. Seiss in his commentary upon Revelation chapter eighteen. In this commentary Seiss brings into view an ancient prophecy of Zechariah, which is that of the woman in the ephah (basket measure). We will cite from Seiss and make comments. Keep in mind that Seiss wrote these things in the latter part of the nineteenth century. First, however, we will examine old testament scriptures concerning the fall and destruction of Babylon to see if they have been completely fulfilled.

Old Testament Babylon Prophecies Fulfilled?

Seiss said:

"Fallen, Fallen, Babylon the Great." It is not simply the word of information as to what has been or what is to be, but the word which effects what it describes, — the word which brings Great Babylon down, and makes it "a habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit, and a hold of every unclean and hateful bird." The twice-repeated word describes two separate parts or stages of the fall, answering to the two aspects in which Babylon is contemplated, referring first to Babylon in mystery, as a system or spirit of false worship, and second to Babylon as a city in which this system or spirit is finally embodied. The thrice-repeated cry "woe, woe, woe," in chapter 8: 18, meant three distinct woes, as the subsequent account makes plain; and so here, the twice-repeated "fallen, fallen," means two distinct falls. The first fall, or the fall of Babylon in mystery, is accomplished through the agency of the Beast in confederation with the ten kings (chap. 17 : 16, 17), which occurs soon after the Antichrist is fully revealed; but after the denudation and burning which they inflict, she is represented as still existing as a city, who sits as a boastful queen, promising herself an immortality of worldly glory, and from which certain people are called out that they may not share her doom." (pgs. 165-166 of "The Apocalypse")

When it is said in Revelation 14: 8 that Babylon is fallen, fallen, it is not a commentary upon what took place when the Babylonian captivity of the Jews ended, or when the Babylonian empire ended by being conquered by the Medo-Persian empire, but is rather an announcement of the coming destruction of end time Babylon.

I also agree with Seiss that the repeated words "is fallen" denotes the fall of the two aspects of Babylon, the first being mystery Babylon, denoting the religion or belief system of Babylon, while the latter denotes the literal city. 

Seiss, in commentary upon old testament prophecies of the destruction of Babylon, cited the following prophecy of Isaiah and said:

"Thus would be fulfilled what Isaiah sung: "Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground; there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate...Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans; for thou shalt no more be called, the lady of kingdoms. Thou saidst, "I shall be a lady forever, so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it...Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly...mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off; and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know. Stand now with thine enchantments, and with the multitude of thy sorceries, wherein thou hast labored from thy youth; if so be thou shalt be able to profit, if so be thou mayest prevail. Thou art wearied in the multitude of thy counsels. Let now the astrologers, the star-gazers, the monthly prognosticators, stand up, and save thee from these things that shall come upon thee. Behold, they shall be as stubble; the fire shall burn them; they shall not deliver themselves from the power of the flame." (Isa. 47: 1, 5, 8, 11, 15)" (Pgs. 170-171)

"First of all, it seems to be pretty clear that the ancient predictions concerning the utter destruction of Babylon have never yet been entirely fulfilled. Isaiah gives the sentence upon Babylon, in which he says that her destruction shall come suddenly from the hand of the Almighty, that her glory and beauty shall be "as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah," never more to be inhabited, nor dwelt in from generation to generation; and that the Arabian shall never again pitch tent there, nor shepherds make their fold there. (See Isaiah 13) So again it was said to Jeremiah, "Babylon shall become heaps, a dwelling-place for dragons, an astonishment, and an hissing, without an inhabitant." At the same time he directed Seraiah to take the manuscript of this prophecy, after reading it, bind a stone to it, cast it into the midst of Euphrates, and say, "Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her." (Jer. 51.) That all this has been in large measure strikingly fulfilled must be admitted. It is part of the evidence of the "truth of God's word. And if it all belongs to the past, it is equally certain that Babylon never can be restored. Two facts, however, appear, which go very far to prove that these predictions do not belong exclusively to the past, but await further fulfilment. The one is, that Isaiah locates the destruction of which he speaks in "the day of the Lord" (Is. 13 : 6.). That day, in literal fulness, has not yet come. The world has witnessed many earnests and prelibations of it, but that day proper is still in the future, and only comes when Christ himself shall come again. And if the utter destruction thus suddenly to come upon Babylon belongs to "the day of the Lord," she must again revive in order to become the subject of it. The other fact is that Babylon, in all the deep calamities and desolations which have come upon her, never yet experienced all that has been thus prophesied. When did Babylon ever fall with so complete a fall, or meet with such an utter obliteration from the earth, "as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah?" Sodom and Gomorrah were completely blotted out. But this has never yet been the case with Babylon. Such was not its fate when the Medes and Persians seized it from the hands of the infamous Belshazzar, for they made it one of their royal cities. In the time of Alexander it still stood, and was the chosen capital of the Graeco-Macedoniau empire, the second city of Alexander's dominions, where he himself lived and died. It continued to he a populous place under the Syrian kings, who succeeded Alexander in the rule over it. In the time of the apostles it was still a populous place, for both Peter and Bartholomew preached the Gospel there, and there Peter wrote his first Epistle. As late as A.D. 250, there was a Christian church there, and an influential bishopric for many years thereafter. Five hundred years after Christ there were Jewish academies there, who issued the celebrated Babylonian Talmud. Here, then, was a lengthening out of the existence of Babylon as a populated city for more than a thousand years subsequent to the taking of it by Cyrus. And even to this present hour there is a city in the middle of the area occupied by old Babylon containing 10,000 people..." (pgs. 141-142) 

We must realize that some old testament prophecies have a "dual fulfillment," or are an instance where much of the prophecy is fulfilled at one time and the remainder at another time. Over the years I have shown this to be true regarding old testament prophecies of the coming and work of the Messiah. Some of those prophecies were fulfilled in Christ' first coming, and some await fulfillment in his second coming. In one chapter in my series on Bible Hermeneutics I cited from Dr. J. Dwight Pentecost and his book "Things To Come" where he said (See here):

"The law of double reference. Few laws are more important to observe in the interpretation of prophetic Scriptures than the law of double reference. Two events, widely separated as to the time of their fulfillment, may be brought together into the scope of one prophecy. This was done because the prophet had a message for his own day as well as for a future time. By bringing two widely separated events into the scope of the prophecy both purposes could be fulfilled."

In other postings I have shown how the prophecy of the coming of Elijah has a dual fulfillment. (See here) In that posting I also showed how prophecies of the new heavens and earth have one fulfillment in the millennial kingdom and another in the ages following the millennial reign of Christ. So it is with the old testament prophecies of the rise and fall of Babylon. In another posting titled "Law of Double Reference" (See here) I again cited Pentecost who also wrote:

"The law of double reference. Few laws are more important to observe in the interpretation of prophetic Scriptures than the law of double reference. Two events, widely separated as to the time of their fulfillment, may be brought together into the scope of one prophecy. This was done because the prophet had a message for his own day as well as for a future time. By bringing two widely separated events into the scope of the prophecy both purposes could be fulfilled. Horne says:

The same prophecies frequently have a double meaning, and refer to different events, the one near, the other remote; the one temporal, the other spiritual or perhaps eternal. The prophets thus having several events in view, their expressions may be partly applicable to one, and partly to another, and it is not always easy to make the transitions. What has not been fulfilled in the first, we must apply to the second; and what has already been fulfilled, may often be considered as typical of what remains to be accomplished."

Seiss, in his commentary on Rev. chapter eighteen, continues:

"Some think only an ideal city is meant, but nearly all interpreters, however diverse their ways of looking at these visions, agree that we must here understand a real city. Most of them say it is the city of Rome; some say it is Jerusalem; and a few say it is the island of England, which they take as the great center of an unclean system of union between Church and State. My own impressions are that a literal city is contemplated in the vision, but that we must look for it in a different region of the world. However much Rome, Jerusalem, or states having national churches may be involved, they do not, and it is hard to see how they possibly can, fill out the picture of this final Babylon. The realization is yet in the future, and we cannot speak with confidence as to how matters will eventuate; but there seems to be reason for the belief that the literal Babylon will be restored, and that we are to look to the coming up again of that primal city for the fulfillment of what is here foreshown. The mention of such a thing may seem like a wild dream, and appear to clash with some of the prophecies touching the irrecoverable destruction of ancient Babylon. But let us look a little at the subject, and endeavor to construe the Scriptures as they are, and not according to the loose impressions which have found currency as if they were settled truths."

I think it is quite plain that a literal city is described in Revelation chapter eighteen. As stated in the last introductory chapter, if it is non literal, then no one can be sure of what it symbolizes nor how to interpret each item in the description of the city. Thus, a foundational premise affirms that the city of that chapter is a real literal city and that it is likely to be a revived or rebuilt Babylon in the old city or in Iraq. Secondly, the city described did not exist in the time of John. John also is not describing a city that once existed but no longer. Thus, it is a literal city that will be realized in the future and will be destroyed by the second coming of Christ and day of judgment.

Seiss continues:

"First of all, it seems to be pretty clear that the ancient predictions concerning the utter destruction of Babylon have never yet been entirely fulfilled.

In the next place, there are Scripture prophecies which I am at a loss to understand except upon the theory that Babylon will be restored, become a great commercial center, and be the last of this world’s great centers to go down under the terrific visitations of the day of the Lord."

That is also what I firmly believe.

"5 Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. 6 And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah (basket measure - SG) that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. 7 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. 8 And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. 9 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. 10 Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? 11 And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base." (Zech. 5: 5-11 kjv)

By "the land of Shinar" is the land of Babylon. 

Seiss in commentary on this prophetic vision said:

"What is the world’s common symbol for commerce, the accepted picture to represent it? I have asked this question, and looked to verify the answer. In general I have found it to be an ornamented coin, weight, measure, or bowl of the scales, bearing a representation of the power that authorizes it, and a figure of a woman on each side, — one surrounded with the implements of navigation looking to the sea, and the other surrounded with the implements of trade, husbandry, and transportation looking toward the land, — the two mutually supporting what is between them, whilst above are the wings of some vigorous bird, to indicate the far-reaching flights of what is thus pictured to the eye and imagination. Nor would it be easy to improve on this. It has been evolved in the course of ages, and the whole modern world, so far as I know, has set the seal of its approval upon it as the accepted emblem of commerce. But it is the same that was shown to the prophet Zechariah 500 years before the commencement of the Christian era. Just at the time when he sees the great flying roll of the curse of God going forth over the face of the whole earth to cut off transgressors, he beholds an ephah, the common bushel measure, and a talent of lead, the flat rounded weight used in the calculation of tonnage, put upon the mouth or top of the bushel measure, whilst on each side of it was a woman, having wings “like the wings of a stork,” with the winds in their wings; and they two lifted up the ephah between earth and heaven to bear it away."

Seiss continues:

"Besides, in the midst of the united measure and weight was another woman called Wickedness, the Lawless Woman, answering to the Great Harlot of these chapters. The prophet wondered what it all meant, and asked the angel in converse with him what these intended to do with the measure and weight inclosing the Woman of Wickedness. The angel said: “To build it an house in the land of Shinar; and it shall be established and set there upon her own base.” (Zechariah 5:1-11.)

Now this joined measure and weight, with the two winged women bearing them, and the winds in their wings, is unquestionably a symbol of commerce; not so much as it was then, but as it was to become in the period verging on the end, and as it has become in our day. The building of a house for it, and the establishment and settling of it upon its own base, can mean nothing less than the creation for it of a great independent center, with its own ruler, king, or government. The place of this house is specifically stated to be “the land of Shinar.” What that land is we can have no difficulty in ascertaining. When the people in Nimrod’s time journeyed from the East they found a plain in the land of Shinar and dwelt there, and there built the city called Babel, or Babylon. (Genesis 11:2- 9.) When Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, invaded Palestine, it is said that he took Jehoiakim, and part of the vessels of the house of God, and carried them “into the land of Shinar,” that is, Babylon. (Daniel 1:1, 2.) “The land of Shinar,” then, is Babylon; and in this Shinar the angel said this commerce, borne by the favoring winds on mighty wings, was to be established and settled on its own base."

I am sure that end time Babylon is what is under consideration in the prophecy of Zechariah. To commerce will be built "an house" in the land of Shinar of Babylon. What kind of "house"? It is an international "trading house."

Seiss continues his commentary on the prophecy of Zechariah:

"This prophecy was delivered subsequent to the Babylonish captivity, and at least half a lifetime after Babylon had been conquered by the Medes and Persians. It certainly has never yet been fulfilled according to its terms. By the connection in which it is given, its fulfillment belongs to the time when the great curse of God upon the wicked goes forth over all the face of the earth; that is, in the great judgment period. By the indications thus given as to time, and by the whole contents of the foreshowing, its accomplishment belongs to the future, and necessarily includes the revival of old Babylon as a great commercial center, standing independent of all other powers, and exercising its own peculiar dominion over the governments of the earth. And this is all the more confirmed in that it exhibits the Woman of Wickedness, the Great Harlot, ensconced in it, as the great spirit which pervades the whole."

Again, that seems to me to be the clear truth of the prophecy of Zechariah and the apostle John.

Seiss continues:

"Furthermore, it seems to me impossible to do justice to the description which John here gives of the features and fall of the Great City which he was called to contemplate, except on the supposition of such a revival of the old Chaldean metropolis."

Seiss lived in the 19th century, and if he were alive on earth today and could see how important world trade between nations is, he would see how we are at the time when this prophecy will begin to be fulfilled. World trade is such an important issue today and President Trump is very much involved in what is called "the trade wars." On this coming trade war I have written several times over the years. (See here, here, here) The middle east has become an important area where nations have focused their attention and discussion has been on how to bring peace and prosperity to the region. We could write much about this but it would be adding too much to this chapter. Needless to say, to build an international trading center which has power over nations to regulate global trade between nations will bring prosperity to the region.

Seiss continues:

"The name itself is a tower of strength to the idea. There is no great city, Babylon, now; nor has there been for many ages. Nor is there any other great city on the face of the earth that answers to the picture, or that is at all likely ever to answer to it on any possibilities that can be imagined. And yet the name of this great city is Babylon — Babylon riving and ruling over the kings and nations of the earth when the day of judgment reaches its consummation. It is not Babylon in mystery, but simply the great city Babylon, the mighty city; and there is no intimation whatever that this city of Babylon does not mean the city of Babylon. By what right then are we to think of any other city than that which has been known by this name ever since Nimrod rived?"

Saddam began rebuilding the old city of Babylon but that was not the same degree of reconstruction that will occur when all the nations of the earth unite in building a completely new city, one that will be admired by all the world, for it will not only become the center of trade and commerce, but will be a truly modern city, with places to indulge in pleasures.

Those who believe in a future city of Babylon as such are divided over when it will be built. Dispensational Premillennialists think it will occur after the rapture, after the first stage of Christ's second coming, or during the time of "the great tribulation." Other Premillennialists, like I am, being non Dispensational, believe that the building of Babylon occurs prior to the second coming of Christ. Christ comes in Revelation chapter nineteen, but Babylon rises in chapter eighteen. Further, the rapture, occurring at the second coming, follows the building and destruction of Babylon.