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Revelation
19
and
20
(1)
Babylon
Must
be
Destroyed
(Rev. 19:1 -4)
By comparing this passage with Jeremiah 25:9 -11 it will be seen that
it is a reversal of the doom that fell upon Israel at their captivity by
Nebuchadnezzar. This condition is referred to again in Jeremiah 33:4 -11.
The fall of Babylon is given in detail in Jeremiah 50 and 51.
If the destruction of Babylon immediately precedes the Millennium, it
follows that it remains and endures throughout any and every `Pre -Millennial
kingdom' since Genesis 10. In like manner, if Israel are to be gathered from
the lands of their dispersion at the coming of the Lord, it follows that they
cannot have been `gathered' before as the centre and focus of light and
blessing in the earth.
The following items must be included in what we have called `Millennial
Contexts' -- if any be excluded, or felt to be an intrusion, that will be a
sure sign that our interpretation of the place where the Millennium fits, is
wrong. Associated with this final judgment on Babylon should be noted the
following features:
(a)
Israel will return and seek the Lord
(Jer.
50:4).
(b)
Israel will be brought back to the Lord
(Jer.
50:19).
(c)
Israel's iniquity will be completely forgiven
(Jer.
50:20).
(d)
Israel is exhorted to leave Babylon
(Jer.
51:6,45).
(e)
As the Alleluias arise in Revelation 19:1 -6
so will heaven and earth sing for Babylon
(Jer. 51:48).
The Millennium therefore will be preceded by two noted events, the
final destruction of Babylon and the return of Israel. The return of Israel
is linked with the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31 -37). The history and destiny of
the two cities, Babylon and Jerusalem, are intimately related.
(2)
The
Lord
God
Omnipotent
Reigneth
(Rev. 19:6)
The word translated `omnipotent' is the Greek pantokrator, and occurs
in Revelation nine times.
Pantokrator in the Apocalypse
`I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord,
which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty' (Rev.
1:8).
`Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to
come' (Rev. 4:8).
`We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art
to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast
reigned' (Rev. 11:17).
`Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true
are Thy ways, Thou King of saints (or ages)' (Rev. 15:3).
`Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Thy judgments'
(Rev. 16:7).
`The battle of that great day of God Almighty' (Rev. 16:14).
`Alleluia: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth' (Rev. 19:6)