The world is transiting into a New Era in the 2030s (issue #2). This era will be marked by unprecedented darkness and the turbocharging of the global release of evil. Concurrently, there will be the increase in light and glory in God’s people who have understanding and who align with Him.
One key eschatological event we will see in the coming days is the emergence of the “Harlot-Babylon” found in Revelation 17 and 18. (She is also referred to by some scholars and theologians as the “Whore of Babylon”.)
While the attention of many in the Body of Christ has been rivetted on the issue of the Mark of the Beast (Rev. 13:17), what is more urgent and pressing for us to watch for is the emergence of the Harlot-Babylon, because if we understand the Biblical narrative, her appearance will precede that of the Mark-of-the-Beast system. In fact, she will lay the groundwork for the ascendency and reign of the Antichrist.
It’s high time for the Body of Christ to take heed. We have to shift our priority and focus to gaining understanding and having clarity of the Harlot-Babylon and to seriously prepare ourselves for her emergence!
Who and What is the Harlot-Babylon?
Do we know that the longest prophecy in both the Old and New Testaments speak about the Harlot-Babylon (Jer. 50–51; Rev. 17–18)?
Why? Because God wants us, especially the End-Time generation, to know and have clarity regarding the Harlot-Babylon, as this will be crucial for us going forward.
The Harlot-Babylon is both a spirit and a system. She is firstly a spirit that will manifest herself through a perverse religious network and a global economic system that will infiltrate and corrupt all nations. She will have authority and control over many nations through seduction and deception (Rev. 17:1–2).
At the same time, it is also a global religious and economic entity that will bring forth the One World Religion and One World Economy, which will in turn set the stage for the worship of the Antichrist and the Mark-of-the-Beast economic system!
This is why it is so critical for us to understand!
In fact, shakings are about to come that will lead to the emergence of the Harlot-Babylon system. God wants the Body of Christ to be awakened to this coming reality, be directed to the urgency of seeking His face in a sustained manner, and prioritise the preparation of ourselves and others unto being established in confidence in Him, so that we are ready for what is to come.
The Root and Origin of the Harlot-Babylon
The name “Babylon the Great” in Revelation 17:5 gives us a powerful hint of the root and origin of the Harlot-Babylon. It can be traced all the way back to the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11. It was at Babel that mankind came together as one in an attempt to reach God on their own terms. They wanted to illicitly access the spirit realm in a way that was forbidden by God. They wanted to open up a gateway to heaven for God to come down on earth.
This was open and outright rebellion against God!
What happened at the Tower of Babel will be re-enacted at the End of the Age because the same spirit that was at work then is the same spirit that is at work in the Harlot-Babylon. However, this time round, it will be far worse!
As we approach the fullness of times, God will remove His hand of restraint and allow this spirit to work until she attains to the fullness of abomination (2 Thes. 2:7–11; Rev. 17:4). There will be an unprecedented interaction between the demonic and human realms. The Harlot-Babylon will have demonic and occultic power to the highest. There will be the greatest spiritual darkness and deception that is unleashed upon the world, and this will lead to the release of God’s End-Time judgements.
The Harlot Religious System
The term “harlot” or “harlotry” is used to refer to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament and was always linked to idolatry (2 Chron. 21:13; Hos. 1:2; 2:5,7; 4:11–19). The term “Mother of Harlots” points to the fact that the Harlot-Babylon is the source of all false religions (Rev. 17:5). In fact, she will have the influence to pull all the religions of the world together. This is because she is empowered spiritually by the devil himself. She will move in sorcery and will have great powers to deceive and dull the hearts and consciences of people (Rev. 18:23; 1 Tim. 4:1–2).
The Harlot will be a religious system of affirmation and tolerance without absolutes. Yet, it will be a religious system that will come against the true believers of Jesus Christ (Rev. 17:6; 18:24). Many will be martyred by her.
It will be a counterfeit justice movement that will feed the poor, be involved in humanitarian projects, and appear to be good and filled with compassion. The nations will rejoice in the unity and world peace that this global religious movement will seemingly bring. Since military conflicts and wars are often linked to religious differences, many are looking for a “religious solution” that will enable lasting world peace and prosperity.
The inhabitants of the earth, including believers with no understanding, will be legitimately deceived by Harlot-Babylon. They will willingly embrace her because they will genuinely believe that she is good!
All religions will be involved, including some in the modern-day Christian church who subscribe to syncretism. In fact, Christian and Jewish religious leaders will likely play key leadership roles in this entity. The goal of this system is ostensibly for “peace” and tolerance. However, anyone who does not agree and participate in this system will be considered an enemy of peace, and legislation will likely be enacted to prosecute those who resist (Rev. 17:6).
Even now, there are many working to bring the three monotheistic religions together (Christianity, Judaism, and Islam). They seek to unify liberal “Christianity” (whether Catholic, Protestant, or Orthodox) with moderate Islam and Judaism, together with Hinduism, Buddhism, New Age, etc. Each group will be required to commit to moral and religious tolerance and will have to make many compromises to reach “unity.”
It is essential for us to acquire understanding regarding the emergence of the Harlot-Babylon as she will powerfully seduce and deceive Israel, the Church and people across the nations. We have to pay attention and discern her emergence as it will come masquerading as a solution for stability and peace amid difficult times!
The majority of the world will consider this new amalgamated religion as the much-awaited solution to achieve lasting peace. In fact, the Harlot-Babylon will soften and prepare the ground for the confirmation of the ultimate peace treaty between Israel and the surrounding nations that is brokered by the Antichrist (Dan. 9:27). This will lead to a period of false peace and safety in the first three-and-a-half years of the final seven years of human history (1 Thes. 5:3).
There will be huge governmental and societal pressure exerted on everyone across nations to be part of the Harlot-Babylon. Some will join her to avoid being penalised or prosecuted. Others will join for the perceived benefits she will bring. Though outwardly the Harlot-Babylon appears to be working towards peaceful co-existence of religions, in reality, she will not allow religions to hold fast to the fundamental truths of their faith that are perceived to cause disunity.
What’s more, this One World Religion will serve as a precursor that prepares the ground for the reign of the Antichrist. It does so by dulling the hearts and conscience of people globally so that when the time comes to transit into the Antichrist worship system, the leaders and people in various religions will not resist but will readily embrace and worship the Antichrist as God (1 Tim. 4:1–2; Rev. 13:3,4,8)!
The Babylon Economic System
Besides the religious system, there is the “Babylon” aspect of the Harlot-Babylon, which is an evil global economic network that will be synergistically and intricately linked with the Harlot.
Economies of nations all over the world are currently either facing slower growth rates or are in recession. Many nations of the world are saddled with huge debts. This is setting the stage for a global economic reset that will come sooner than later.
We are nearing an impending economic crisis that will shake nations globally! This shaking is God’s judgement on the current Egyptian system of economy. This will lead to the transition into the Babylon economic system. Everyone will be looking for an answer to alleviate the financial burden that will be created by the global collapse of debt-ridden economies of nations. They will embrace the new system with open arms!
This new global economic system will have utopian goals to bring fairness, equity and stability to member nations. This is not yet the “666 Mark-of-the-Beast” trading system, but it will lead to the One World Economy that will be implemented across nations. This in turn sets the stage for the Antichrist to use the system as a means to control people and nations. Many nations will be seduced by the benefits of the Babylon system and will willingly prostitute themselves for money.
Do Not Fear
Indeed, the level of pressure that is coming will be immense and intense, and many who are not watching and prepared will compromise and fall into this snare!
However, as believers, we do not need to fear! Remember that our God sits on the throne. He is in full control. God shakes not to create panic or fear, but to awaken His people to the urgency of the hour. He wants to shift us to a place of seeking His face in a sustained manner and being established in confidence in Him.
We who prepare ourselves now will gain strength so as not to fall into the snare of the evil one. Remember that Jesus forewarned us that we would surely face persecution (Lk. 21:12; Jn. 15:20; 2 Tim. 3:12). But if we prepare ourselves now, we will have the grace to endure, remain faithful until the end, and receive our eternal rewards (Matt. 5:11; Rev. 2:8–11).
The Right Approach and Response
We must approach understanding the mystery of the Harlot-Babylon with discernment and guidance from the Holy Spirit. We must not swing to the extreme of being suspicious of everything, which leads to paranoia and wrong interpretation of events or developments. This creates an unhealthy fear that is not of God (2 Tim. 1:7).
However, we should also not be ignorant and naïve, brushing aside everything as “wild conspiracy theories”. Doing so will cause us to be weak and unprepared for the coming crises and pressures that will come upon the earth.
Now that we are aware of the imminent emergence of the Harlot Babylon, how should we respond?
Firstly, believers are to come out of Babylon now (Rev. 18:4)! We are to be people who are pure and without mixture, who do not lift up our soul to an idol (Ps. 24:4). We need to crown Jesus as King and relate with Him on His terms and not ours. If the evil one or the world has anything in us, or if there are any secret unholy desires in our heart, it would be easy for us to compromise because of the Harlot’s power of seduction and deception. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts and reveal any “wicked way” in us so that we can deal with them now (Ps. 139:23–24).
Secondly, we need to watch and pray with sobriety, actively looking out for the emergence of the Harlot-Babylon, looking past superficial appearances into the evil reality of this entity. Like Daniel, we need to press in to seek the wisdom and understanding that the Lord has reserved for the End-Time generation with regard to the Mystery of the Harlot-Babylon, and to interpret what is happening in the world through the lens of the Holy Scriptures (Dan. 10:12; 12:9–10; Jer. 23:20).
Thirdly, we need to gather together to pray as His Ekklesia, discern and understand God’s strategies for His people to overcome, and bring His plans to pass from the place of intercession and declaration.
As we watch, pray, and receive understanding, we need to then prepare ourselves rightly in accordance to God’s divine blueprint, and also arise to be voices that warn and also teach others about the Harlot-Babylon.
God’s Answer to the Harlot-Babylon
Amidst the global culmination of the fullness of iniquity, God is raising up the mature sons of God and the equally yoked Bride of Christ. In response to the counterfeit “oneness” offered by the Harlot-Babylon, God is raising up the John 17 generation that walks in oneness with the Trinitarian God and with one another. They will have the reality of God and His wisdom and counsel in their midst, which is what the world needs in times of shaking and trouble.
Led by the Spirit, they will walk in total trust and obedience to the Lord, not yielding to the pressures of the Harlot-Babylon system. Like Daniel who lived in the time of the Babylonian empire, they will not bend or bow in compromise, and will willingly lay down their lives for their faith.
These Daniel 11:32–33 people will know their God and have understanding. They will walk in purity, power and authority in the midst of the darkest hour. They will experience God’s supernatural provision, protection, guidance and deliverance, even as they hold fast to Him and declare His truth without fear!
May we arise to be God’s answer in such a time as this!
Understanding the Harlot-Babylon (Rev. 17 – 18)
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