The great harlot Babylon typifies confused, false Christianity found in churches and faith-based parachurch organizations (for more details, see ‘Summary Statement on Babylon’ below). Click here to view Babylon You Tube Video links.

Summary Statement on Babylon

Other Babylon Pages on this Website

Background of Babylon

Protestant Reformers on Babylon

Rev 17-19 Chart: Babylon, the Great Tribulation and the Last Day

Babylon in Prophecy – Past, Present and Future

Babylon – Euphrates River, Shinar, Chaldeans

Summary Statement on Babylon

The great harlot Babylon typifies confused, false Christianity found in churches and faith-based parachurch organizations.  As a queen, Babylon exerts influence and control over both leaders (politics) and the people of the world. This influence and control is achieved by making people spiritually drunken through the worship of false gods and idols, which includes but is not limited to greed, riches, worldly and new age wisdom, mighty works (such as military, political, sports, business conquests, etc.), false teaching and false gospels, materialism and all sorts of worldly pleasures.   Outwardly, she appears to be beautifully adorned with well-meaning religious people (some of who are genuine Christians), but inwardly, she is the habitation of demons, false ministers and unsaved persons. The majority of people in Babylon are unsaved (many are called, but few chosen).  Babylon has great ministers who spread Babylon’s false religion locally as well as worldwide through churches and faith-based, parachurch organizations.  Great Babylon has a wide range of spiritual ‘merchandise’ that deceive seekers of God that they have become spiritually rich by joining a church, being involved with faith-based, parachurch organizations and adhering to a set of doctrines or norms within Babylon.  But in reality, they are spiritually desolate.  The sorcery of deception is achieved particularly through music, church growth involving allowance for worshiping earthly god and idols of all sorts, false teaching and evangelizing a false gospel.  This abominable, confused world religious system glorifies itself and spiritually and / or physically persecutes genuine Christians, who individually or in groups are those who believe that Jesus is the Christ and trust in God’s grace (loving-kindness), judgment and righteousness.  Christians, whether individually or in groups who are in spiritual Babylon are exhorted to come out of Babylon and not be partakers of her sins, but some may linger and not come out until the Last Day when Babylon will be judged for her egregious sins. –  Based on Revelation 17-19

Other Babylon Pages on this Website:

• 13 Reasons why Babylon, the Great City is False Christianity
• Who is the Scarlet Beast (7^th Head is the Antichrist)
• Babylon in the Great Tribulation
• Babylon’s Fornication
• Babylon’s Merchandising of Christianity
• Babylon’s Sorcery and Deception
• Babylon’s Blood – Persecution of God’s People
• Babylonian Captivity – Type of the Great Tribulation
• When to Depart from Babylon
• Babylon’s Double Judgment
• Where is the True Church?
• King Manasseh’s Road to Babylon

Background of Babylon

The city of Babylon is mentioned more than 250 times in the Bible from Genesis 10 to Revelation 19.  The name, Babylon (which is the same word as ‘Babel’ in the Hebrew language) literally means ‘confusion’ (see Gen 11:9) and was first used is the ‘Tower of Babel’ passage in Genesis 11.  A substantial portion of the Bible discusses events involving Babylon, which was later used in the book of Revelation as a symbol of organized, apostate Christian religion that exists in the last days prior to the return of Christ.  Babylon is discussed extensively in the ‘major’ prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations Ezekiel and Daniel).  Babylon became the world power that ultimately took Judah into captivity and destroyed Jerusalem (2 Ki 24 and 25, 2 Chr 35, Jer 39, Jer 52, etc.).

Babylon is on display in Revelation 17-19 as prideful, powerful, influential, works-based false Christian religion that causes the world leaders and peoples to be drunken by idolatry including human wisdom, might, power, riches, pleasures, etc.  The sins of Babylon include:

• Spiritual fornication (worship of other gods and idols)
• Merchandising of Christianity for gain to live a rich, luxurious lifestyle
• Deception
• Persecution of God’s true people (true Christians)

It is the Babylon of the book of Revelation that is notably displayed in the last days up to the Final Day of Judgment (Rev 14:8, 16:19, 18:21, etc.).  It is Babylon who is judged by God and found guilty.  Also, Rev 18:4 warns God’s people to depart from Babylon, which indicates that God’s people can be deceived into being part of Babylon.  Therefore, it is vital to understand who Babylon refers to.

The book of Revelation, by and large, uses symbols to display what is to occur in the last days prior to the return of Jesus Christ and right up to Christ’s return and Judgment Day.  The purpose of this study is to examine the symbols provided in Rev 17-19 and, by comparing Scripture with Scripture (1 Cor 2:13), seek to discern what these symbols mean.  This would enable us to begin to understand the worldly entity who is referred to as ‘Babylon’ in Rev 17-19.

In the context of Revelation, Babylon appears in 3 notable passages:

• Rev 14:8 – 2^nd Angel of Judgment in Revelation 14
  • And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.  (Rev 14:8)
• Rev 16:19 – 7^th Bowl of Judgment
  • And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.  (Rev 16:19)
• Rev 17:1-19:6 – Babylon on the Scarlet Beast with 7 Heads and 10 Horns

Protestant Reformers on Babylon

• Protestant Reformation (500+ years ago)
  • Babylon as the Roman Catholic Church (500+ years ago)
    • Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, etc.
    • Their conclusion was based on symbols of Rev 17-18, but limited due to a narrower perspective of world conditions at that time
  • 21^st Century – Knowledge has increased – world is connected
    • Protestantism – idolatry, works-based, do-it-yourself gospels (free will)

Rev 17-19 Chart: Babylon, the Great Tribulation and the Last Day

	Verses	Event(s)
Great Tribulation	17:1-19:2 17:8-15 17:16-17	The Harlot Babylon’s description, inhabitants, location, merchandise and actions Scarlet-colored beast with 7 heads and 10 horns and the beast’s actions 10 Horns Hate the Whore
Last Day – Resurrection	19:1-6 19:6-10	Alleluia for Judgment on Babylon Announcement of Marriage Feast of the Lamb
Last Day – Judgment	17:12-14 18:1-24 19:11-16 19:17-21	10 Horns make war with the lamb Mourning for fall of Babylon (Great Millstone) Christ on the White Horse for Judgment The Supper, Battle, Judgment on Beast and False Prophet

Babylon in Prophecy – Past, Present and Future

1.    Tower of Babel (Gen 10:8-10, 11:1-9)

The name Babel is the identical Hebrew word as Babylon, which literally means confusion, because it is at the Tower of Babel that God confused the languages of the world.  The founder of Babel was Nimrod, who was a mighty hunter (similar to Esau, who is a type of the non-elect people searching and working to find God (Gen 25, Gen 27, Ro 9:13, Heb 12:16, Mal 1:2-3). Nimrod set out to build a city to reach to heaven (which is a picture of working to find God – Ro 10:6, Deut 30:12).  It also reflects a very organized city, as one with one language, that was pooling its resources to reach to heaven and make a name for themselves, lest they be scattered abroad (all symbols of glorifying themselves – see Rev 18:7, Hab 2:16, Rev 13:15).  God indeed did confuse their language and scatter them abroad.  Words and phrases to describe this first Babylon are:

• Mighty
• Not chosen
• Working to reach God
• Wanted to be admired / famous
• Organization
• Confusion

Outline of Babel:

• Spiritual Meaning of Babylon
  • Tower of Babel represents prideful, organized human effort to:
    • Make their own salvation plan
    • Build the Kingdom of Humankind (under the sway of Satan)
    • Reach heaven on their own (a false gospel)
    • Protect themselves so they are not scattered (no faith)
  • Babel is the identical Hebrew word for ‘Babylon’
    • Old Testament – 262 occurrences in Old Testament (usually as Babylon)
      • Hebrew word (Babel) H894 and H895 – literally ‘confusion’
    • New Testament – 12 occurrences (notably the Harlot of Revelation 17-18)
      • Greek word (Babulon) – G897
    • Babel founded by Nimrod
      • And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. Out of that land went forth Asshur, and builded Nineveh, and the city Rehoboth, and Calah (Gen 10:8-11)
      • Mighty hunter – just like unsaved Esau (Gen 25, Gen 27) – man’s works and ability(see Heb 12:16-17)
      • Babel the First Kingdom – Satan controls the kingdoms of this world
        • Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And said unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (Mat 4:8-9)
      • Babylon – an oppressor of Judah (Hab 1:12-2:1)
      • Assyria – an oppressor of Israel (Micah 5:6, 2 Ki 17)
    • Babel (Babylon) literally means CONFUSION
      • Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. (Gen 11:9)
      • And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech….and they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Gen 11:3-4)
        • City – organized – man’s desire for achievement, fellowship, prosperity
        • Tower – Desire to exalt themselves to heaven – pride / desire to be like God
      • Addressed to the King of Babylon:
        • How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (Isa 14:12-14)
      • And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. (Gen 11:4)
        • Let us make a name for ourselves = pride
        • The king spoke, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty? (Dan 4:30)
          • Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil 2:9-11)
        • God is our Tower
          • For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. (Psa 61:3)
          • The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous run into it, and is safe. (Pro 18:10)
            • Babel wanted to make a name for themselves instead of trusting in God’s name
            • But the righteousness which is of faith speaks on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) …But what says it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach: that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Rom 10:6, 8-9)
          • Human Potential
            • And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men built. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. (Gen 11:5-6)
              • And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Gen 6:5)
              • As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understand, there is none that seeks after God … there is none that doeth good, no, not one … with their tongues they have used deceit … whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness …and the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Rom 3:10-18)
            • Origin of Different Languages
              • Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. (Gen 11:7)
              • Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. (Psa 55:9)
              • God has a timetable:
                • And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (Act 1:7)
                • And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation (Act 17:26)
                • The Lord is not slow concerning His promise, as some count slowness, but is long-suffering toward us, not purposing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2Pe 3:9)
              • Communications is Restored
                • Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. (Gen 11:7)
                • Today – Tower of Babel is being rebuilt with advent of internet, social media, computer programs, etc.
                • But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Dan 12:4)
              • The Scattering
                • So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. (Gen 11:8)
                • Judgment on Israel for not following God:
                  • And it shall come to pass…so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nothing; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither you go to possess it. And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. (Deu 28:63-64)

2.    Where Abraham was Chosen From

• Ur of the Chaldees:
  • And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. (Gen 11:28)
  • And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. (Gen 11:31)
  • And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. (Gen 15:7)
  • Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; (Neh 9:7)
• New Testament related verses:
  • And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. (Act 7:2-4)
  • By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Heb 11:8-10)

3.    Abram Rescues Lot from 5 Kings (includes King of Shinar)

• King of Shinar was one of 5 kings who captured Lot
  • And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; (Gen 14:1)
  • With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. (Gen 14:9)
• Abram rescues Lot
  • And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan. And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them, and pursued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. (Gen 14:14-16)

4.    Samaria Occupation by Babylonians (Assyria) – 2 Ki 17:24-30

When the northern 10 tribes of Israel were vanquished by Assyria, Babylonians (as well as other peoples) were placed in the land of Samaria (capital of Israel). They were taught to fear the Lord God, but they still served their own gods, similar to the Revelation 17-19 Babylon.  In name only, they identified with the true god, but in practice, they continued to worship false gods.

• And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Ava, and from Hamath, and from Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel: and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof. And so it was at the beginning of their dwelling there, that they feared not the LORD: therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which slew some of them. Wherefore they spake to the king of Assyria, saying, The nations which thou hast removed, and placed in the cities of Samaria, know not the manner of the God of the land: therefore he hath sent lions among them, and, behold, they slay them, because they know not the manner of the God of the land. Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. Then one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD. Howbeit every nation made gods of their own, and put them in the houses of the high places which the Samaritans had made, every nation in their cities wherein they dwelt. And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. Unto this day they do after the former manners: they fear not the LORD, neither do they after their statutes, or after their ordinances, or after the law and commandment which the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel; With whom the LORD had made a covenant, and charged them, saying, Ye shall not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor serve them, nor sacrifice to them (2Ki 17:24-35)

5.    Babylon Views Judah’s Riches (Hezekiah)

• At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country, even from Babylon. And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD. Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? (2Ki 20:12-19)
• At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered. And Hezekiah was glad of them, and shewed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not. Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them. Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days. (Isa 39:1-8)
• Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies. (Mic 4:10)

6.    Babylonian Captivity (see also Babylonian Captivity Study)

A substantial portion of the Old Testament (2 Ki 24-25, 2 Chr 36, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Joel, Obadiah, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, etc.) address the captivity of God’s people by the Babylonian Empire in the 6^th century B.C.  Notably, Isaiah 14:10-16 indicate that the king of Babylon is a portrait of Satan.  Words and phrases to describe this Babylon are:

• Worldly, prideful, arrogant, glorious, godlike
• Religious practices, mystical, magic, sorcery
• Worldly wisdom
• Idolatry, worship of other gods / fornication
• Delight in riches, merchandise
• Oppressors of the genuine people of God
• Pomp and music
• Weaken / oppress the nations / destroy the land
• Flee from Babylon

Many of the descriptions of Babylon Rev 17-19 are quoted from Old Testament verses that discuss the Babylonian empire.  The Babylonian Empire took God’s people (southern two tribes of Judah / Jerusalem) captive as a result of their rebellion to God.  Judah essentially was incorporated (taken captive) into Babylon for 70 years (Jer 25:1-14, 27:10).  This period of time represented great affliction and tribulation for Judah.  This Old Testament event is used as a portrait in Rev 17-19 of the church becoming the Babylonian harlot queen as she was incorporated into Babylon during their captivity.

Babylon (a.k.a., Babel) appears in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation.  Then Bible teaches us in Rev 17:3, Rev 17:8-11 that Babylon sits on 7 heads.  This serves to remind us that Babylon, as a world-wide false religion has existed throughout Bible history.  As discussed more fully below (see section on Babylon’s Location, Sits on 7 Heads), the 7 heads represent 7 kingdoms that have oppressed or controlled God’s people throughout time (i.e., Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, Rome and the final 7^th kingdom controlled by the antichrist).  At the time of the 7thn king, the scarlet beast (Satan) will be loosed from his millennial prison (Rev 20:1-8) and becomes the beast that ‘yet is’ (Rev 17:8-11).   Although Babylon has symbolically existed throughout Bible history, the primary subject of Babylon of Rev 17-18 points to the final period of Great Tribulation on God’s people and God’s judgment on Babylon.

Babylon is the subject of much of the Bible including the major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel) as well as a topic in several of the minor prophets such as Hosea, Joel, Obadiah, Micah, Habakkuk and Zechariah.  The following sections outline the notable events involving Babylon (including spiritual Babylon).

Babylon Captivity Chronology Summary

606 B.C.	Nebuchadnezzar beseiges Jerusalem, took vessels and choice children to Babylon – 3rd year of Jehoiakim (Dan 1:1-4) – 1st year of Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ki 24:12). Jehoikim to Nebuchadnezzar 3 years before rebelling (2 Ki 24:1). Nebuchadnezzar beseiges Jerusalem, took vessels and choice children to Babylon – 3rd year of Jehoiakim (Dan 1:1-4) – 1st year of Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ki 24:12)
606 B.C.	Nebuchadnezzar smote army of Paroahnecho at Carchemish – 4th year of the reign of Jehoiakim (Jer 46:2).  King of Babylon now controls land from river of Egypt to Euphrates (king of Egypt came up no  more) (2 Ki 24:7) Jer 25 – Word to Jeremiah (Jer 25:1) (4th year of Jehoiakim, 1st year of Nebuchadnezzar) from the 13th year of Josiah to this day, the 23rd year (Jer 25:3). Serve King of Babylon 70 years (Jer 25:11, 29:10, Dan 9:2).  Jer 45 – message to Baruch 4th year of Jehoikim (Jer 45:1).
606 B.C.	Messages to Baruch Jer 45:1. 36:1 (Jer 36:1-8)
606 B.C.	Fast proclaimed and the book read (Jer 36:9-32) 2nd year of Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 2:1) – Daniel Chapter 2 – The Great Image
605 B.C	After 3 years, Jehoiakim rebels from Nebuchadnezzar (2 Ki 24:1).  Bands of Chaldees, Syrians, Moabites, Ammonites sent to destroy Judah due to sins of King Manasseh (2Ki 24:2-4).
598 B.C.	End of Jehoiakim’s Reign (2Ki 23:36), taken in fetters to Babylon (2 Chr 36:6, 2 Ki 24:1-3).  Also vessels of house of Lord taken to Babylon (2 Chr 36:7). Jehoiachin (18 yrs old) becomes king alone for 3 months, 10 days (2 Ki 24:6,8-9, 2 Chr 36:9).  Nebuchadnezzar beseiged Jerusalem, Jehoichin went out to meet him in 8th year of Nebuchanezzar’s reign (2 Ki 24:10-12). 7th year of Nebuchadnezzar carried away captive 3023 Jews (Jer 52:28)
597 B.C.	When year expired (2 Chr 36:10) – carried away all treasures, cut in pieces vessels of gold (goodly vessels), all princes, mighty men (7000), craftsmen and smiths (1000), Jehoichin and family, left only the poorest people – total of 10,000 taken captive (2 Ki 24:12-16, 2 Chr 36:10). Zedekiah’s name changed from Mattaniah (2 Ki 24:17) and Zedekiah (21 years old) made king for 11 years (2 Ki 24:18-20, 2 Chr 36:11). Zedekiah was evil (2 Ki 24:19) and humbled himself not before Jeremiah and rebelled from Nebuchadnezzar, mocked messengers of God, preists people did abominations (2 Chr 36:12-16, 2 Ki 24:21). Jer 29 – Jeconiah, queen, eunuchs, princes, carpenters and smiths departed (see 29:2).  Zedekiah reign begins, did evil and  rebelled against king of Babylon (Jer 52:1-3). Ezekiel likely taken in this captivity (Ez 1:1-3)
595 B.C.	Jer 27:12-22 and Jer 28 (see 28:1 and 28:17)
594 B.C.	On fifth day of the fourth month in the 5th year of Jehoiachin’s captivity (Ez 1:1-3). Ezekiel Chapter 1-7.
593 B.C.	5th day, of 6th month in 6th year (Ez 8:1). Ezekiel Chapters 8-19
592 B.C.	10th day, 5th month, 7th year (Ez 20:1).  Ezekiel Chapters 20-23.
588 B.C.	9th year, 10th month, 10th day of Zedekiah’s reign (2 Ki 25:1) – Nebuchadnezzar’s siege begins 9th year, 10th month, 10th day of Zedekiah’s reign (Jer 39:1, 52:4-5) – Nebuchadnezzar’s siege begins 10th day, 10th month, 9th year (Ez 24:1).  Ezekiel Chapters 24-25
587 B.C.	Jer 32 – 10th year of Zedekiah (18th year of Nebuchadnezzar) (Jer 32:1) 12th day, 10th month, 10th year (Ez 29:1). Ezekiel 29:1-30:19). 1st of the month, 11th year (Ez 26:1). Ezekiel Chapters 26-28.  7th of month, 1st month, 11 th year (Ez 30:20).  Ezekiel 30:20-31:18
586 B.C.	End of Zedekiah’s reign (2 Ki 24:20) – 4th month 9th day famine prevailed, city broken up, men of war fled, king fled was captured, army scattered (2 Ki 25:2-5). Young men and old  slain in sanctuary (2 Chr 36:17).  Zedekiah brought to Riblah to Neb. And slew his sons, put out his eyes (2 Ki 25:6-7). In 5th month, 7th day, which was the 19th year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan sent to Jerusalem (2 Ki 25:8) and burnt temple and houses burnt and walls broken down (2 Ki 25:9-10, 2 Chr 36:19).  People carried away , but left the poor (2 Ki 25:11-12).  Brass, pots, other implements, all vessels, king’s and prince’s treasures carried to Babylon (2 Ki 25:13-17, 2 Chr 36:18). Burnt the house of God, broke down wall of Jerusalem, burnt palaces and destroyed its vessels (2 Chr 36:19). Other people (priests, doorkeepers, scribes 60 other people) taken to Riblah and killed (2 Ki 25:18-21). Others had become servants in Babylon until king of Persia to fulfill word of Jeremiah until land enjoyed her sabbaths 70 years (2 Chr 36:20-21) 11th year, 4th month, 9th day, severe famine city broken up (Jer 39:2, 52:6-7). Princes of Babylon came in (Jer 39:3). Zedekiah and army fled out of city (Jer 39:4, 52:7).  Chaldean army caught Zedekiah and brought him the King Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah (Jer 39:5, 52:8) where Zedekiah sons and nobles were slain (Jer 39:6, 52:9-10). Zedekiah’s eyes put out (Jer 39:7, 52:11).  in 5th month, 10th day, burned Lord’s, king’s and people’s houses and burned and broke down walls of Jerusalem (Jer 39:8, 52:12-14).  18th year of Neb., carried away captive 832 persons (Jer 52:29), poor remant in city, those who fell away (Jer 39:9, 52:15). People carried away in the 5th month (Jer 1:3).  The poor of Judah left in the the land of Judah gave them vineyards (Jer 39:10, 52:16). Took away reamining broken materials to Babylon (Jer 52:17-23).    Other people (priests, doorkeepers, eunuch scribes and 60 people) taken to Riblah and killed (Jer 52:24-27). 12th year, 10th month, 5th day (Ez 33:21) – city is captured. Ezekiel 33:21-chapter 39.   1st day, 12th month, 12th year (Ez 32:1). Ezekiel Chapters 32:1-33:20
586 B.C. To 536 B.C.	Land Enjoys her Sabbaths (Jubilee) – Lev 26:34, Lev 26:43, 2 Chr 36:21

Key Old Testament References / Prophets

• Lev 26
• Deut 28
• 2 Kings
• 2Chronicles
• Ezra (post-exilic)
• Nehemiah (post-exilic)
• Esther
• Ps 79, Ps 137
• Isaiah
• Jeremiah (and Lamentations)
• Ezekiel
• Daniel
• Hosea
• Joel
• Amos
• Obadiah
• Micah
• Habakkuk
• Zephaniah
• Haggai / Zechariah (Post-Exilic Prophets)

Five key deportations

The primary example of captivity in the Old Testament is that of Babylon taking many of the people of Judah and Jerusalem captive.  In fact, we find five discrete captivities of Judah during the 70 year desolation of Jerusalem / Judah:

1. Daniel and selected youth of Israel – Dan 1:1-5 (606 B.C.)
2. King Jehoiakim and 3023 captives – Jer 52:28, 2 Chr 36:6, 2 Ki 24:1-3 (599 B.C. – 598 B.C.)
3. King Jehoiachin (including Ezekiel, all princes, mighty men (7000), craftsmen and smiths (1000), Jehoiachin and family) – 2 Chr 36:10, 2 Ki 24:12-16, Jer 29:2, 52:1-3, Eze 1:1-3 (597 B.C.)
4. Fall of Jerusalem – King Zedekiah (18th year of Nebuchadnezzar, carried away captive 832 persons (Jer 52:29), poor remnant in city, those who fell away (Jer 1:3, 39:7-9, 52:15, 2 Ki 25:7 2 Chr 36:6) – (586 B.C.). Jeremiah temporarily held captive (Jer 40:1)
5. 23rd year of Nebuchadnezzar, 745 Jews carried away captive – Jer 52:30 (582 B.C.)

Ishmael carries away Judean captives after the fall of Jerusalem

• Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king’s daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites. (Jer 41:10)
• So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah. (Jer 41:14)

Nebuchadnezzar Takes Captives from Egypt including Judeans

• And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them. And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword. And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace. He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire. (Jer 43:10-13)

7.    Defeat of Babylon by Medes/Persians

• In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans;  (Dan 9:1)
• The inferior kingdom (Dan 2:36-45)
  • This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. (Dan 2:36-45)
  • Note: Entire statue fell at the Final Judgment (Babylon was still the head of gold)
• The Handwriting on the Wall:
  • Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spake and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry? I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing: And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation. O thou king, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar thy father a kingdom, and majesty, and glory, and honour: And for the majesty that he gave him, all people, nations, and languages, trembled and feared before him: whom he would he slew; and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he set up; and whom he would he put down. But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him: And he was driven from the sons of men; and his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild asses: they fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven; till he knew that the most high God ruled in the kingdom of men, and that he appointeth over it whomsoever he will. And thou his son, O Belshazzar, hast not humbled thine heart, though thou knewest all this; But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified: Then was the part of the hand sent from him; and this writing was written. And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it. TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians. Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with scarlet, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom, being about threescore and two years old. (Dan 5:13-31)
• Daniel’s Vision of the 4 Beasts
  • In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. (Dan 7:1-8)
• Isaiah:
  • Behold, I will stir up the Medes against them, which shall not regard silver; and as for gold, they shall not delight in it.  (Isa 13:17)
• Jeremiah:
  • Make bright the arrows; gather the shields: the LORD hath raised up the spirit of the kings of the Medes: for his device is against Babylon, to destroy it; because it is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance of his temple.  (Jer 51:11)
  • Prepare against her the nations with the kings of the Medes, the captains thereof, and all the rulers thereof, and all the land of his dominion.  (Jer 51:28)

8.    Babylon at the Time of John the Apostle

• Babylon on scarlet beast (Satan) that ‘is not’
  • The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is. (Rev 17:8)
  • And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition. (Rev 17:11)
  • Binding of Satan – Rev 20:1-8, Mat 12:22-29, etc.
• One of the 7 heads of the beast ‘is’ (Roman empire)
  • And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. (Rev 17:10)
• John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;  (Rev 1:4)
• I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  (Rev 1:9)
• I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,  (Rev 1:10)
• The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.  (1Pe 5:13)

9.    Great Tribulation and Babylon

• See discussion below on ‘Great Tribulation Babylon of Rev 17-18’ below

Beast that ‘yet is’ / 7^th horn to come

• Five of these Satanic kingdoms have fallen, one is and one is yet to come. The kingdom that was present when John was inspired to write the Revelation was the Roman Empire (Acts 16:21).  The reference to 5 fallen kings likely is symbolic to highlight the number 5, which is a number that is used to signify both those who are saved or those who are lost (e.g., the 10 virgins – Mat 25:2-12, David’s 4 smooth stones – 1 Sam 17:40, etc.).
• The 7th head points to the end time Beast of Revelation 13 (also known as the little horn – Dan 7:3, 8, 17, 5:5, 7-9, 11:2-4, 13, 15, 27-29, etc., the wicked one of 2 Thess 2 and the antichrist – 1 John 2:18, etc.).  This 7th head would become active once the scarlet-colored beast of revelation 17 (Satan) is released from his abysmal prison resulting in the ‘Great Tribulation.  The scarlet beast (Satan) becomes the eighth beast and is contemporaneous with the antichrist (a.k.a., little horn, wicked one).

Babylon Judged – 10 Horns make her Desolate

• So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.  (Rev 17:3)
• And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.  (Rev 17:7)
• And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.  (Rev 17:12)
• These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.  (Rev 17:13)
• These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.  (Rev 17:14)
• And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.  (Rev 17:16)
• For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.  (Rev 17:17)
• And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Rev 18:1-2)
• For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double. How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her. (Rev 18:5-20)

Babylon – God’s People Commanded to Depart

• See section below ‘Come out of Babylon’ for additional details
• And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. (Rev 18:4)
• Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob. (Isa 48:20)
• Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks. For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. (Jer 50:8-9)
• For Israel hath not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the LORD of hosts; though their land was filled with sin against the Holy One of Israel. Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’S vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence. Babylon hath been a golden cup in the LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad. (Jer 51:5-7)
• Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed. We would have healed Babylon, but she is not healed: forsake her, and let us go every one into his own country: for her judgment reacheth unto heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. (Jer 51:8-9)
• And I will punish Bel in Babylon, and I will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up: and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him: yea, the wall of Babylon shall fall. My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD. (Jer 51:44-45)
• Then the heaven and the earth, and all that is therein, shall sing for Babylon: for the spoilers shall come unto her from the north, saith the LORD. As Babylon hath caused the slain of Israel to fall, so at Babylon shall fall the slain of all the earth. Ye that have escaped the sword, go away, stand not still: remember the LORD afar off, and let Jerusalem come into your mind. (Jer 51:48-50)
• Where God’s people come out of:
  • And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (Isa 11:11)

10.             Final Judgment on Babylon

• See also Isa 13-14, Jer 50-51 for additional details
• 2^nd Angel of Judgment in Rev 14:
  • And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.  (Rev 14:8)
  • And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground.  (Isa 21:9)
• 7^th Bowl Judgment in Rev 16 and Rev 17:1:
  • And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.  (Rev 16:19)
  • And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (Rev 19:15)
  • And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:  (Rev 17:1)
• Babylon is Fallen (see Rev 14:10, Isa 21:9):
  • And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. (Rev 18:1-2)
• Rewarded double for her sins:
  • For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. (Rev 18:5)
  • Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double.  (Rev 18:6)
• Judgment as a great millstone cast into the sea / no more inhabitants, blood of prophets found in her
  • And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth. (Rev 18:21-24)
  • And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah. (Jer 51:63-64)

Babylon – Euphrates River, Shinar, Chaldeans

When studying prophecy, it is important to be aware that Babylon is closely related to the Euphrates River, the land of Shinar and the Chaldeans.  Below is a summary of those relationships:

Euphrates River

• Euphrates – Old Testament – 19 occurrences
• One of the 4 rivers in Eden – Gen 2:14
• Boundary of the promised land – Gen 15:18, Deut 1:7, Deut 11:24, Josh 1:4, 1 Chr 5:9, 1 Chr 18:3, 2 Sam 8:3
• Associated w/ Assyria – 2 Ki 23:29 (Assyria later consumed into Babylon – Dan 2:37-38, Jer 27:5-7, Dan 4:21-22)
• Associated with Babylon – 2 Ki 24:7 (Babylon located on the Euphrates), Jer 13:4-7
• Where Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon defeated Egypt – Jer 46:2-10, 2 Chr 35:20 (Carchemish)
• Where Babylon will sink – Jer 51:63-64
• Euphrates – New Testament 2 occurrences – Rev 9:14, Rev 16:12
  • Rev 9:14 – 6^th Trumpet – 200,000,000 army to slay 1/3 part – Great Tribulation
  • Rev 16:12 – Euphrates dried up so Kings of the East – way prepared for final day of salvation

Shinar

• Hebrew word (shinar) – H8152
• Nimrod (H5248) – first cities:
  • And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth. (1Ch 1:10)
  • And the sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan. And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. (Gen 10:6-9)
  • And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. (Gen 10:10)
  • And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. (Gen 11:2)
  • And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. (Mic 5:6)
• Location of Babylon
  • See above on Gen 10:10
  • And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the vessels into the treasure house of his god. (Dan 1:2)
• King of Shinar was one of 5 kings who captured Lot
  • And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations; (Gen 14:1)
  • With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings with five. (Gen 14:9)
• When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.  (Jos 7:21)
• Where God’s people come out of:
  • And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. (Isa 11:11)
• Wicked woman in basket to build house in land of Shinar:
  • 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. (Zec 5:11)

Chaldeans

• Chaldeans – H3778 / H3779 – descendent of Kasdites (H3777) – 85 total occurrences
• Chaldeans (under direction of Satan) slay children of Job:
  • While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. (Job 1:17)
• Faithful Abraham comes out of Ur of the Chaldees:
• And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in Ur of the Chaldees. (Gen 11:28)
• And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son’s son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there. (Gen 11:31)
• And he said unto him, I am the LORD that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. (Gen 15:7)
• Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; (Neh 9:7)
• Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.  (Act 7:4)
• Nebuchadnezzar was a Chaldean – Ezr 5:12
• Chaldeans related to knowledgeable people
• Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king.  (Dan 2:2)
• Then spake the Chaldeans to the king in Syriack, O king, live for ever: tell thy servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation.  (Dan 2:4)
• The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.  (Dan 2:10)
• The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.  (Dan 5:7)
• There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;  (Dan 5:11)
• In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain.  (Dan 5:30)
• Bitter and hasty nation
• For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to possess the dwellingplaces that are not theirs. (Hab 1:6)
• See also – Gen 11:28, Gen 11:31, Gen 15:7, 2Ki 24:2, 2Ki 25:4, 2Ki 25:5, 2Ki 25:10, 2Ki 25:13, 2Ki 25:24, 2Ki 25:25, 2Ki 25:26, 2Ch 31:14, 2Ch 36:17, Neh 9:7, Job 1:17, Isa 13:19, Isa 23:13, Isa 43:14, Isa 47:1, Isa 47:5, Isa 48:14, Isa 48:20, Jer 21:4, Jer 21:9, Jer 22:25, Jer 24:5, Jer 25:12, Jer 32:4, Jer 32:5, Jer 32:24, Jer 32:25, Jer 32:28, Jer 32:29, Jer 32:43, Jer 33:5, Jer 35:11, Jer 37:5, Jer 37:8, Jer 37:9, Jer 37:10, Jer 37:11, Jer 37:13, Jer 37:14, Jer 38:2, Jer 38:18, Jer 38:19, Jer 38:23, Jer 39:5, Jer 39:8, Jer 40:9, Jer 40:10, Jer 41:3, Jer 41:18, Jer 43:3, Jer 50:1, Jer 50:8, Jer 50:10, Jer 50:25, Jer 50:35, Jer 50:45, Jer 51:4, Jer 51:24, Jer 51:35, Jer 51:54, Jer 52:7, Jer 52:8, Jer 52:14, Jer 52:17, Eze 1:3, Eze 11:24, Eze 12:13, Eze 16:29, Eze 23:14, Eze 23:15, Eze 23:16, Eze 23:23, Dan 1:4, Dan 2:2, Dan 2:4, Dan 9:1, Hab 1:6.