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The Reader's Corner
By Pat Homan
October, 2008, Steven Collins, a well known Church of God historian, wrote an insightful article about Revelation 17 and 18 where Babylon the Great is identified as a global alliance of the “kings of the earth” (government / political leaders) with the “merchants of the earth” (business / financial leaders).
It is very possible that we are right now witnessing the collapse of this system. The two names that keep coming up in the news reports, Federal Reserve Board Chairman, Ben Bernanke, and US Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson, are the two men who talked the US Congress into the 750,000,000,000 bailout fund. That money went to the merchants on Wall Street. “To put this in Revelation 18's context, Babylon the Great's “merchants” convinced a complicit White House and Congress (Babylon the Great's “kings”) to rescue the “merchants of the earth” from the consequences of their own actions while sticking innocent taxpayers with the bill”, writes Mr. Collins in his research paper.
Mr. Collins continues with, “Revelation 18:3 accurately foretold all nations would belong to this end-time, global economic system, and that the political leaders would be so “in bed” with the economic/financial leaders that it uses the term “fornication” to describe their relationship.”
It is possible that the infusion of some money will stall off a total collapse, but it's obvious that it all hangs by a weak thread. Ancient Babylon is where the financial systems began and now we see it compass all nations of the earth. The practice of borrowing money, paying interest and creating money out of thin air has now burst it's bubble.
Mr. Collins continued, “I used to think that Babylon the Great's system would collapse when Jesus Christ returned; however, I now see that a literal application of Bible prophecy allows for an earlier fulfillment. Revelation 17:3, 9-18 indicate that a latter-day “beast” power with “seven heads and ten horns” will emerge and turn wrathfully against Babylon the Great's system--“burning it with fire” (Rev. 17:16). This has to happen prior to the return of Jesus Christ because after the beast power overthrows Babylon the Great, it later makes war against the Lamb (Jesus Christ) at his return and is, itself, “overcome” by the Lamb's army (described in greater detail in Revelation 19:11-21).”
He may be correct in his analysis. Rev 17 indicated the Babylon system unravels and is then replaced by the beast system. Revelation 18:2 proclaims “Babylon the Great is fallen, is fallen.” Fallen is stated twice and might mean that there are two collapses. September 11, 2001 the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were destroyed within one hour of each other and burned up with fire. Seven years later, we have the collapse of our banking system that is filled with people with lavish lifestyles and “golden parachutes”.
Mr. Collins further states, “Revelation 18 prophesies that a specific “city” will be the hub of Babylon the Great's system in the latter days. It will be a global corporate / financial / commercial hub, a seaport city and the site of two great “falls” or “collapses” in the latter days. Revelation 17:18 also reveals this “great city” will “reign over the kings of the earth.” This city can only be New York City. It is the home for Wall Street's large banks and investment banks, the New York Stock Exchange, the New York Federal Reserve District, the COMEX, the United Nations and its many global agencies, various media and corporate headquarters, etc. While such cities as London and Zurich are also financial hubs, no Swiss city is a seaport and only New York has experienced the two great, prophesied “falls” amidst fire and smoke in the latter days. Only New York City hosts the United Nations headquarters, which figuratively “rules over all nations” as the forum where “all nations” assemble. “
This is just an over view of a lengthy article on this subject. It may be a good idea to read Revelation along side current events. For the complete article see Mr. Collins website.
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