Print Version

Jerusalem, a city that is over four thousand years old, is holy to all three of the world's monotheistic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The religious history of each is inextricably bound up with the city and its venerated sites. The city is the focal point of civilizations, saints and prophets and is a sacred place for pilgrims and their prayers.

To many believers, Jerusalem is God's Own City, a place replete with holy symbols and sites. This, in no small measure, explains why its history has been one of nearly ceaseless strife. Everything that happens, each piece of ground that is disturbed, each artifact that is dug up stirs ancient hopes and resentments. With Israelis and Arabs sharing an uneasy peace, and with an flood of fervent, sometimes unbalanced, Christian pilgrims, Jerusalem's international favor will no doubt prove to be a provocation to battle.

In the previous lesson on chapter 17, we discovered that the "great city" will one day be destroyed for all time.  Jesus warned of this long ago when He told His disciples not one Temple stone would be left upon another (Matthew 24:1-2).. In spite of many Biblical warnings about Jerusalem's downfall, few Bible students see the connection between the derogatory names in prophecy and the city.  Nonetheless, such offensive names as "Egypt" and "Sodom" are linked even in the book of Revelation to Jerusalem where the "Lord was [earlier] crucified," (11:8) and where the two witnesses would also be martyred.  Evidently God intend to disguise the true identity of the prostitute city until closer to the time when the wayward woman would meet her doom.  The most descriptive title in Revelation, which in itself communicates secrecy, is found in (17:5)-- 

"MYSTERY" 

BABYLON THE GREAT

THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE

EARTH 

Although a mystery, two promises are given in the Word of God for those who are searching both Daniel and Revelation for insight into this and other mysteries: "none of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand," Daniel 12:10; and "blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near," Revelation 1:3.  The wise, willing to take God at His word, will perceive the secret identity of Babylon and her great apostasy.

So great is Jerusalem's fall that a whole chapter is devoted to describing her ruin.  When God's people rejected the Holy One of Israel in ages past, the Temple was burnt to the ground and the city ravaged in both 586 B.C. and 70 A.D.  The false prophets declared with certainty that Yahweh loved the city too much to allow her destruction and those who live in the city.  "'Peace, peace,' they say, when there is no peace," Jeremiah 6:14.  In ages past the saints could not believe that God would judge His city and destroy the Sanctuary.  Likewise, the final generation will not believe that Jerusalem will fall in ruin, even though there are clear warnings for rejecting Messiah for Antichrist. 

1. After John saw the vision of chapter 17, his attention turned to the Messenger who descended down from Heaven with great authority.  What is said of His power and glorious brilliance (18:1)?   

The whole planet will be lit with His glorious radiance.  Archangel Michael, the Sun of Righteousness, will rise from the east with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:1-2).  The Lord God is a sun and shield," Psalm 84:11.  Psalm 80:3-7 relates Israel's cry for deliverance at the shining of God's face: "Awaken Your might; come and save us. Restore us, O God; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved. O LORD God Almighty, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people? You have fed them with the bread of tears; You have made them drink tears by the bowlful. You have made us a source of contention to our neighbors, and our enemies mock us. Restore us, O God Almighty; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved." 

Psalm 94:1-2 continues the theme of Messiah's shining glory on the Day of the Lord: "O LORD, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve."  Supernatural phenomenon in nature and sky will accompany His coming.  With His brilliant glory He will illuminate Planet Earth after having sat in silent and dark despondency for three days.  Along with judgment of the wicked, His return is always associated with the light of salvation for His people (Luke 1:78, John 1:4, 9, John 12:46, 2 Peter 1:19, Revelation 2:28).

2. His voice is "mighty" and He "shouted" a taunting, exultant dirge over Babylon as though she had already fallen.  How does this description compare to the Angel who John earlier saw "coming down to earth" in Revelation 10:1-3?

This Messenger we identified through the evidence of Scripture to be Michael Christ in Revelation 10 (Lesson 17).  At the time of Great Tribulation the Messenger of the Covenant will stand for the protection of His people (Daniel 12:1-2) and will then descend in the cloak of a global blackout to visit the abomination of His Sanctuary (Malachi 3:1-2), for judgment always begins at the Sanctuary (1 Peter 4:13, 17).  His radiant glory will fill the eastern skies (Ezekiel 43:2-4, 7) and in Zion He will cry with a voice like rushing waters and as deafening thunder heard literally around the globe.

Jeremiah adds these chilling words, "See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city [Jerusalem] that bears My Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword upon all who live on the earth, declares the LORD Almighty.' "Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them: "'The LORD will roar from on high; He will thunder from His holy dwelling and roar mightily against His land. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, shout against all who live on the earth. The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth, for the LORD will bring charges against the nations; He will bring judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword,'" declares the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Look! Disaster is spreading from nation to nation; a mighty storm is rising from the ends of the earth," (25:29-32).

3. What is the result of the Archangel's voice (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)?

While most commentators disassociate the Archangel's loud life-giving voice and resurrection shout from the voice of Messiah, John 5:25 makes it clear the Archangel's identity: "a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live."  The Son of God is the Archangel Michael.  The righteous dead in Christ will be raised first to be taken to Heaven a short time before Jesus returns at the Great Day of the Lord.  The living, the 144,000, who are still alive and are left behind for the short duration that remains must run for their very lives.

4. Babylon is about to fall.  What messages does Heaven's Messenger shout to the righteous elect "who are still alive and are left" in Mystery Babylon--Jerusalem (v. 2)?

Babylon the great is fallen in sin, which is an amplification of the angelic warning of Revelation 14:8.  Jerusalem has become a home for demons and evil spirits, and a dwelling place for every unclean and detestable bird.