For Times Like Today
Series No. 2
September 10, 2021

A despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred. (Daniel 11:21)

We all would like to think of America as remaining the strongest country in the world
. . . remaining the champion and protector of freedom and freedom-loving peoples around the globe. But is this the trend in America today? Do her people faithfully stand behind her motto, “In God We Trust?” Or has this nation, which was built upon Christian principles, succumbed to Satan’s illusion that happiness can be found in material things and in completely uninhibited behavior?

We love America for what she has been and traditionally stood for. But unless there is a spiritual revival among her people, our country will surely be doomed as a result of greed and immorality. Thousands of Christians are praying daily that the people of our once proud land will again trust in God and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

The United States in Prophecy
Many books written today on the subject of Bible prophecy devote chapter upon chapter to discussions of nations and groups of nations in the end times — Russia, Europe, the Arab states, the Orient, and Israel. It has been a very unpopular thing to suggest that America could ever become anything less than a nation given special blessing by God. Yet the Bible teaches that in the end times all of the nations will be judged for their sins. More and more Bible students are beginning to believe that America may actually have a major role in the panorama of the end times. Author Hal Lindsey concedes that the United States may be a part of the Antichrist’s empire.‘ [Dr. J. Dwight] Pentecost writes: “I do not speak dogmatically on this, but it is my understanding from my present knowledge of Scripture that the United States will be a part of this great system of the Beast.”2

Either the United States is mentioned (in symbolic terms) in the Bible, or we must believe that the greatest nation in history is accorded complete silence in Scripture. There are no other alternatives.

Uneasy Similarities
The Bible teaches that in the closing years of this age there will be a very strong and very influential nation called Mystery Babylon the Great (Revelation 17:5). Once a proud nation, Babylon is described as the mightiest nation ever to exist. Yet, in her years of decline, her people will turn their backs on God and will be consumed with greed for material things. Worse than that, they will reach such a spiritual low that they will even worship the king of Babylon — the Antichrist.

Babylon: Kingdom of Antichrist
The importance of studying the similarities between the United States and Babylon lies in the Biblical teaching that the Antichrist will rise to political power through Babylon.

Some people believe there will be a literal rebuilding of the ancient city of Babylon on its original site in Asia. But a careful examination of Scripture indicates otherwise: the mighty end time nation will not be a rebuilt city. It is simply likened to ancient Babylon’s sinful character.

The major passages of Scripture describing Babylon are Isaiah 13, Jeremiah 25, 50, 51, and Revelation 17 and 18. The Old Testament passages blend prophecies concerning the ancient Babylon with the future Babylon. Some prophecies were fulfilled in ancient Babylon and still others remain to be fulfilled in the end times. Yet others pertain to both! So it becomes necessary to cite the distinctions.

More than a City
Babylon the Great is described in the Bible as being more than a city. It will be the most powerful nation in history. [ . . . It]is described as “the great city that rules over the kings of the earth,” in Revelation 17:18 (NIV). But is it only a city? Not at all! Babylon will be a nation — as well as the capital city of that nation. Let’s look at supporting Scripture. Literally, Revelation 17:18 reads that Babylon will be a city that has a kingdom over the kings of the earth. Babylon will be the capital of the Antichrist in the country which he holds in tyrannical bondage.

In Revelation 17:9, Babylon is seen as the last in history’s long series of seven powerful kingdoms. And in the book of Jeremiah, we read that Babylon will be “the least (last) of the nations” (Jeremiah 50:12); “how Babylon has become an object of horror among the nations!” (Jeremiah 50:23); she is described as a “land” in Jeremiah 50:18 and 51:2; and in Jeremiah 51:43, “her cities” are mentioned. All this is language descriptive of a nation, not only a city.

We conclude that Scripture teaches in several places that the prophetical end time Babylon will be both the capital city and nation of the Antichrist.

History’s Last Gentile Empire
End time Babylon is the last in a series of seven powerful Gentile empires which have flourished at different times in history. These are identified by a majority of today’s Bible scholars as: Egypt (1600-1200 B.C.), Assyria (900-607 B.C.), Babylon (606-536 B.C.), Media-Persia (536-330 B.C.), Greece (330-146 B.C.), Rome (146 B.C. - 476 A.D.), and the end time Babylon. All of these empires were against God and His chosen people — first the Israelites, then later, in Roman times, Christians as well.

The Bible passages dealing with the seven empires are: Daniel 2, 7 and 8; and Revelation 13 and 17.

In the end, God will destroy sinful Babylon. Then the righteous kingdom of God will be established on earth.

Once Blessed of God
Babylon at one time was a cup of gold in the Lord’s hand (Jeremiah 51:7), but in the end she will tum from God “ . . . intoxicating all the earth. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are going mad” (Jeremiah 51:7).

This once proud and blessed nation will fall into the deepest depths of immorality and become utterly materialistic. Her commercial and political influence will be so great in the world that her sins will spread to other nations. And as a result, the prophet Jeremiah writes, they will go mad.

Babylon is said to be populated by people from many lands — the “foreigners (mixed multitudes, literally) who are in the midst of her” (Jeremiah 50:37).

God gave this great nation exceedingly great wealth —- Scripture says she is “abundant in treasures” (Jeremiah 51:13). God used the wealth of the nation to promote His work among the other nations. Jeremiah 50:23 calls Babylon a “hammer of the whole earth,” which graphically portrays her as an implement of God which He used in building other nations. And because of Babylon’s great wealth and power she is an influential voice in the world (Jeremiah 51:55) that God will use to shape the direction of progress in many other nations. But in the end, she will misuse her wealth and powerful influence for selfish, immoral purposes.

Jeremiah 51:13 uses the symbolism of “many waters” to show that Babylon will be greatly involved in the affairs of other nations. She becomes involved because of her exceedingly powerful national defenses (Jeremiah 51:53), and because of her role in world commerce and foreign aid (Revelation 18:3). Her scientific and industrial advancements (Jeremiah 51:53) establish her as a leader among nations, and give her people the world’s highest standard of living as well (Revelation 18:7).

Pathway to the Presidency
The Antichrist will become ruler over Babylon in an unconventional way.

In the United States not long ago we saw a President and a Vice President come into office in extraordinary circumstances. President Gerald Ford and Vice President Nelson Rockefeller both ascended to the highest governmental posts which normally are filled by election. Ford replaced Vice President Spiro Agnew, who resigned; he then assumed the Presidency when Richard Nixon resigned. Rockefeller was then appointed Vice President to fill the vacancy left: by Ford’s elevation to the Presidency. This whole affair simply demonstrates that it would be possible in the present framework of our governmental system for a shrewd and influential individual to arrange to become President, circumventing the electoral process. It warns that our system of checks and balances, while designed to safeguard against the rise of dictators, can only work as long as individual integrity prevails.

Now this next point is important in considering how the Antichrist will rise to power. In Daniel 11:21 we read that Antichrist will not be elected to govern Babylon but that he will become ruler through some scheme: “A despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred.”

While not all Bible scholars agree that Daniel 11:21 has the Antichrist in view, a number of prominent ones do. [Dr. J. Dwight] Pentecost states that the “Vile Person” mentioned in Daniel 11:21 (KJV) is a name applicable to the coming Antichrist.‘-”

[Dr. George Eldon] Ladd writes: “Daniel viewed the great eschatological enemy of God’s people as the historical king of Greece (Antiochus Epiphanes of the Seleucid Kingdom - Daniel 11:3), who yet took on the coloration of the eschatological Antichrist
. . . In typical prophetic manner, these two figures are sometimes blended together so that they seem to be practically one.”4

Dr. Jack MacArthur, originator and director of the Voice of Calvary radio and television program and pastor of the First Baptist Church of Eugene, Oregon, also regards Daniel 11:21 as a prophecy of the Antichrist.5

The late M. R. DeHaan, teacher of the popular Radio Bible Class, concedes that the passage may have parallels in the historical Antiochus Epiphanes, but states that the person to which it ultimately refers “is neverthe-less a type of the coming Man of Sin who shall arise . . . .”

The Great Conspiracy
A great conspiracy on the part of a small group of very powerful individuals will serve to elevate Antichrist into the position of indisputable power over the nation of Babylon. This group of conspirators will have available to it a tremendous source of money, influence and power in the world of commerce.

Revelation 17:12 reveals the conspiracy: “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.” This verse tells us that there will be a group of ten conspiring kings — literally, “sovereigns.” Now it’s important to note here that these ten kings are not heads of state: they “have not yet received a kingdom.” [Their objective of a future eighth kingdom under the Antichrist—a complete New World Order or global Babylon by whatever name.]

The ten horns are commercial “kings.” We’ve all heard expressions such as, “the king of jazz,” “the king of the road,” etc. Well, these ten individuals, because of the commercial context, are probably kings of finance, industry, commerce, etc. That is to say that they will be sovereign in the worlds of finance, industry, and commerce; they’ll know no equals. They will collectively control the economy of Babylon. Included among them may be the heads of powerful multi-national corporations. Already we see that no one nation has much control over the multi-nationals.

Men Not Nations
Some Bible expositors teach that the ten horns represent ten nations that will form a confederacy in Europe — possibly the European Common Market [now European Union] — which eventually will submit to the rule of the Antichrist. Scripture, however, does not put forth such a view. It does not say that the ten horns represent ten nations; rather, that they are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom. Only the seven heads of the beast represent kings who rule over kingdoms (Revelation 17:9).

The ten commercial kings will ultimately receive authority in a political sense — but only for a single hour! (Revelation 17:12). They will receive this short-lived authority along with the beast. The authority will come from God, as all authority to govern comes from God (Daniel 2:21, Romans 13:1). “For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be fulfilled” (Revelation 17:17). I believe the ten kings will be motivated to support the Antichrist out of their desire to further exploit the riches of Babylon and to use their new-found positions of influence as a springboard to world domination (see Daniel 11:24 and 39).

Three of these kings will apparently resist the movement at some point, only to be coerced into supporting Antichrist in his quest for rulership after all (Daniel 7:8,24). Exactly how Antichrist persuades them to stay in his ranks is not explained in Scripture.

The Eighth King
Only seven kingdoms are mentioned in Revelation 17, yet we are told that Antichrist will be of the seven and go on to become the eighth king (Revelation 17:11). He will rise to power through the seventh kingdom, but since he will institute a radical new form of dictatorship he is distinguished separately as an eighth king. Babylon will be the same nation, only its form of government will change.

Economic Ruin
Antichrist and his group of ten will exploit the economy of Babylon to the point of economic ruin: “And the ten horns which you saw and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and burn her up with fire” (Revelation 17:16). Her ruin will be economic ruin. She will be left naked of her once great material wealth and refinement. Her natural resources will be depleted. Her economic and ecological scars will be irreparable.

The Real Issue
But the real purposes behind the anti-christian conspiracy is to wage war against the followers of Jesus Christ. The little horn of Daniel 7:7,8,24,25, speaks “great things” and “great words against the most High.” This blasphemous speech against God is uttered by the same individual in Revelation 13:5,6. This is the Antichrist. And now we see him in action — the action from which he receives his name. He opposes Christ and all Christians. He will “wear out the saints of the Most High” and change all laws, morals, and customs. Believers will come under his dictatorial rule for three and a half years — “a time and times and the dividing of time” (Daniel 7:25 — KJV). Antichrist and his group of ten “will wage war against the Lamb (Christ), and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful” (Revelation 17:14 — see also Daniel 8:25, Matthew 24, Revelation 19:11-21).

Like a Fallen Woman
Babylon will decline in two respects: spiritually, and economically. First, her people will become spiritually bankrupt, a condition brought about by their own relentless striving for affluency — a form of materialistic covetous which the Bible terms idolatry (Jeremiah 50:38, Revelation 17:4). In turning from God to worship created things, her decadent nature worsens until her sins are “piled up as high as heaven”
(Revelation 18:5).

Tragically, her people will consider themselves immune from God’s judgmental righteousness. Consequently she will become prideful, boasting to “sit as a queen,” believing she “will never see mourning” (Revelation 18:7).

But Babylon will mourn. She will be like a fallen woman in the final years of her existence. She will die a slow spiritual death. Then the second phase of her decline will hit. For then the group of ten financial and commercial “kings” will elevate the Antichrist into position of dictator, and together they will strip Babylon of her wealth and possessions (Revelation 17:16, Jeremiah 50:38).

Babylon’s ultimate judgment and destruction by God will come at the close of the age, the end of [the second and last three and a half years of] Daniel’s [split] 70th Week. At that time, God will pour out His wrath upon Babylon’s ungodly people as judgment against their sins.

The entire chapter of Revelation 18 describes this final destruction of Babylon.

The Fall of Babylon
An angel shouting “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” will illuminate the entire earth with his great authority and magnificent splendor (Revelation 18:2 — see also
1 Thessalonians 4:16). Then, another voice is heard from heaven giving the command, “Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4).

The Gathering of the Saints
Here is a vivid picture of all the believers within Babylon being gathered together with other believers from around the world in an instant before God’s wrath of judgment is poured out upon the earth. For God will remember her crimes (Revelation 18:5), and will give her “the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath” (Revelation 16:19).

It is at this time that Jesus Christ will return to earth for his believers, and God’s wrath will be poured out on the earth. This is described by Jesus in Matthew 24:29-31; the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:52, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 and 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; and John in Revelation 6:12-17; 11:12-15, and 16:15-21.

The Church of Christ on earth will have at last realized the “blessed hope” — Jesus Christ’s appearing in glory (Titus 2:13).

The Kingdom of God
This is the great event prophesied by Daniel the prophet, the establishment of the everlasting kingdom of God: “But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion (Antichrist’s kingdom) will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him” (Daniel 7:26).

The Test of Tomorrow
This chapter has suggested many similarities between the end time Babylon and the United States. The true destiny of America will be borne out in the world of tomorrow, fulfilling Bible prophecy. So today we should weigh heavily what the Bible has to say about things to come; God’s word is trustworthy.

Notes:
1. Hal Lindsey, The Late Great Planet Earth, Zondervan, 1970, p. 161.
2. Pentecost, Prophecy for Today, p. 108.
3. Pentecost, Things to Come, p. 334.

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Copyright
“The Babylon Conspiracy,” by Frank Allnutt © 2021 Frank Allnutt, excerpted from Kissinger: Man of Destiny? © 1976 Frank Allnutt. All rights reserved. Content herein may be quoted, subject to the “fair use” doctrine of U.S. Copyright Law, and inclusion of the preceding copyright notice. Content may be downloaded for personal, non-commercial use, and cannot be reproduced or distributed in any manner, without the express written permission of the copyright owner.