The prophet, Daniel found himself thrust into a key position in the court of Nebuchadnezzar II, which promoted a governmental system that began with the tyrant Nimrod. Babel, the city Nimrod ruled over, began as a city-state and expanded into an empire in opposition to God’s way of life. King Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon was the larger, more powerful version of Babel.
Daniel needed faith and courage to stand against this culture, choosing to obey God rather than man, and praying for wisdom and insight. God answered Daniel’s prayers and gave him the understanding he needed to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream when he was summoned before the great King. The king had dreamed of a giant statue made from different materials (Daniel 2) representing successive, powerful kingdoms that would arise. The golden head of the image represented Babylon and, as the head directs the body, Babylon is an age-long system continuing to impact today’s world.
Bible prophecies, found in the book of Daniel and elsewhere in the Bible, indicate a pervasive modern day Babylon-like governmental system will dominate the world just before Christ returns and, just like Nimrod’s Babel, the end-time Babylon will stand against God. The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible tells us: “Babylon is … understood as the archetypical head of all entrenched worldly resistance to God. Babylon is an age-long reality … Babylon, the mother of all harlots, is the great source and reservoir of enmity to God … which gives power and authority to false gods … She is the antithesis of the virgin bride of Christ, the holy city, the New Jerusalem, the kingdom of God” (p. 338, “Babylon (NT)”).
The book of Revelation reveals the Apostle John had a vision of a woman riding a beast (Revelation 17:3). This woman symbolizes a false church and religious system that has had influence over political governments throughout history. It is a biblical description of a combination of church and state that existed from ancient times and will reappear just before Christ returns. The Bible reveals there will be a great crisis and someone will step forward offering a solution from which a powerful combined political/religious system emerges. This governmental structure will have the same intention—to stand against God and to end God’s purpose for humanity.
The knowledge of such events should motivate us on our Christian journey. In the following verse Christ is asking us to consider our conduct: “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame” (Revelation 16:15). Jesus Christ is telling us to assess our spiritual condition. If it isn’t rooted in strong biblical teaching, faith and moral conduct, we are in danger of being caught up in this end-time deception.
Babylon the Great as described in Revelation is an attractive culture. Today we are being conditioned towards tolerance and acceptance of lifestyles and immorality that directly contradict biblical teaching. Don’t be deceived into compromising what God commands and His way of life.
