Babylon the Great is Here!
cf. Revelation 17:5; 18:2
Preface
The Bible is wonderful. It is the only book in the world that, without error, explains exactly what is happening in the world, what is going to happen, and what we need to do about it.
And two "great cities," Jerusalem and Babylon the Great, dominate the attention of "time of the end" (Daniel 12:9) / "end-of-the-age" (Matthew 24:3) Bible prophecies. Two chapters and parts of other chapters in the book of Revelation, plus numerous chapters in the Old Covenant (“Old Testament”) Scriptures, focus on the identity and destiny of modern, prophesied Babylon the Great. Therefore, a key to understanding the book of Revelation is understanding the identity and destiny of Babylon the Great.
By the time you finish reading this commentary, in addition
to having a crystal clear understanding of the sequence and timing of all the
prophesied events of the final seven years of world history and what will
happen after that (which is what the Revelation is mainly all about), you will
have an equally clear, irrefutable understanding, in the context of Bible
prophecy, particularly the book of Revelation, of the identity and destiny of
Babylon the Great and what Elohim (“God”) tells His people in that evil
city-state/nation/empire to do to be saved from its soul-destroying wickedness. You will also have a clear understanding of
current events in the light of Bible prophecy and where we are on the timeline
of prophesied end-times events—how close we are to The End of this world, as we
have known it all our lives.
From Where I am Coming
However, before we get into the commentary, please allow me to state an explanation and a disclaimer regarding my background and assumptions. You will notice that I use a few Hebrew names and titles in this commentary. That’s not because I am a Jew or even consider myself to be a “grafted-in” Israelite or a “Hebrew Roots” or a “Messianic” believer. Nor, although I was raised in a devout “Christian” family, attended and graduated from a “Christian” college, and was involved in the church in which I was raised until I was about 30, do I consider myself a mainstream “Christian.” I reject all such mainstream categories and denominational designations because, having been involved in many of them during my almost 80 years of life, I have found that virtually all of them have doctrinal quirks and practices that separate them from rather than unite them with one another, which is not Elohim’s (“God’s”) will (cf. John 17:20-22). I am simply a believer in and follower of the Messiah Yeshua (“Christ Jesus”). Please read “About Watchman Bob” for more details.
Although I am not dogmatic about using certain names, terms, and titles, the reason I prefer to use some Hebrew names, terms, and titles is because, after being as confused and perplexed about the meaning of the Revelation as anyone for years after I started studying it diligently, I came to realize (I believe the Holy Spirit showed me) that the Revelation can only be fully understood from the Hebraic point of view of the one who penned it, the apostle John, who was a Jew (Israelite). Much is lost in translations from Hebrew to other languages and in filtering the Hebrew language, religion, culture, and point of view through the lenses of other cultures, languages, and points of view. Besides, far more than any other New Covenant (“New Testament”) book, the Revelation is based on and alludes to Old Covenant (“Old Testament”) Scriptures. One scholar, Steve P. Moyise, who wrote a commentary entitled The Old Testament in the Book of Revelation, stated that there are 584 allusions to the “Old Testament” in the Revelation, mainly to its books of prophecy. And once I started studying the Revelation in the light of all those Old Covenant Scriptures, everything started to fall into place until, today, after more than 20 years of prayerful, diligent study of the end-times prophecies of the Bible, especially the book of Revelation, My Heavenly Father has given me a very clear understanding of them. I have also been a passionate student of current events in the light of Bible prophecy about that same length of time. And, believing that I have been called to be a watchman for the body of the Messiah Yeshua (the “Church”), I tell any Bible believers (and non-believers open to the Truth) who will listen what the Spirit is showing me about what is happening in the light of Bible prophecy, what will soon happen, and what our Heavenly Father tells us to do about it before it’s too late.
There are mountains of research and libraries of books on various spellings and pronunciations of Hebrew terms. I use the terms that seem, from my own study of the research, to be the most solidly documented and substantiated. However, again, I am not dogmatic about particular spellings and pronunciations of any of these terms. Doesn’t placing more importance on particular spellings and pronunciations of terms rather than on knowing who or what they represent miss the whole point of what true life in the Messiah (“Christianity”) is all about? I don’t think our Heavenly Father is going to condemn His little children if we unintentionally mispronounce or misspell some words, even His name. I think, like any loving father, He will be delighted that we are even attempting to learn His name and His language, don’t you?
So, if you are one who is uncomfortable with the Hebrew terms used in this commentary, please don’t let that dissuade you from reading it. If you will visit and read the “Important Terms and Concepts” page of this website, I think you will understand the importance of being familiar with and using some Hebrew terms, especially the names and titles of the "God" of the Bible and His Son. On the other hand, if you are a “Hebrew Roots” or a “Messianic” believer, or even a Jew (Israelite), I also pray that you will read this commentary. You might find the Hebraic point of view from which it is written, and the emphasis on understanding the New Covenant prophetic Scriptures in the light of the Old Covenant prophetic Scriptures, informative and enlightening.
Finally,
please note: One purpose of this website is to help its visitors to stay on
top of current events in the light of Bible prophecy so that you will understand
the times in which you live and know what to do about it (1 Chronicles 12:32).
There is a Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy
blog page to help you keep
abreast of what's happening now. Also, this is an interactive,
collaborative website. You are invited to add your own comments or
commentary. On most pages, simply scroll to the bottom of the page to add your
own comments or commentary concerning the topic(s) discussed on that page. Or,
to see a list of topics and instructions for entering your commentary, go to
the Guest Commentary page. I respond to many of those comments and they
help me to continually gain new insights into what Bible prophecy
has to say about current events. So, I am very thankful for feedback from
this site's visitors. There is also a Contact Watchman Bob page through which you can communicate with me directly.
Introduction
You will notice that there is a lot of emphasis on what is happening in the United States of America in the light of Bible prophecy in this commentary. That’s because (1) I am a 70+ year-old American—born and raised in the U.S.A.—so I am particularly concerned about what will happen to this nation and what to do about it at the end of the age, and (2) although most Bible prophecy teachers see little if any mention of the U.S.A. in Bible prophecy, America, at least in its final form and government as a nation, plays a very prominent role on the stage of end-times events, which will become very clear as you proceed through this commentary and the appendices at the end.
Warning! If you are in a state of complacency, just wanting to maintain the status quo, this Revelation commentary may shake you.
That’s because most cannot handle what the Revelation really tells us about what is happening in the world right now, what is soon going to happen, and what the "God" of the Bible (Yehovah) tells His people to do about it. The Body of Believers in Yeshua ("Jesus") (the "Church") is closing her eyes to those realities because it is just too painful and threatening to face. That is why this commentator has not yet found even one Christian leader, minister, teacher, theologian, or author to endorse this commentary. And that is not because none agree with it—some do. They just will not put their reputations and positions in Christendom and in the communities in which they live on the line for the plain Truth of Yehovah’s prophetic Word. But that is exactly why Yeshua told the religious leaders who asked Him for a “sign from Heaven” to prove Himself: “Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky [to predict the weather], but you cannot discern the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:1, 3). Yeshua did not come to Earth to perpetuate the status quo. His message was radical, using the Scriptures to expose the spiritual bankruptcy of the religious establishment. He was not one to mince words as He vilified the religious leaders because of their hypocrisy in ignoring the signs of the times. They were willfully ignoring the hundreds of prophecies that clearly told who He was and of His coming. Religious leaders and their followers do exactly the same today in ignoring the obvious signs of the second coming of the Messiah, how we need to be prepared for His return and the events preceding His return, which modern city-state/nation/empire is Babylon the Great, what is going to happen at the “end of the age” (Matthew 24:3), who the true people of Elohim (“God”) are, and what He tells us to do about what’s coming very soon.
It is the prayer of this watchman, expositor, and
commentator that the visitors to this website will not be like that. It is my prayer that you will understand that
time is short. Act now! And it is my prayer that you will have the
courage, humility, and honesty to face up to reality and really want to know
what to do about it. If that’s you, please,
keep reading.
A Brief Summary of End-Times Bible Prophecies that are being Fulfilled at the Present Time, including in America
In about 540 BBM (Before the Birth of the Messiah), the prophet Daniel was given a revelation about the "prince that shall come" (the false messiah) (Daniel 9:26), his treachery toward the nation of Israel at the mid-point of a seven-year treaty with that nation (Daniel 9:27; 11:21-24, 32), how he would blaspheme the Most High Elohim (“God”) Yehovah (“the LORD”) and exalt himself above all gods (Daniel 11:36), and his reign of terror over all the people of Yehovah for three and one-half years (Daniel 7:25; 12:7). But then, rather than giving Daniel the details of those and subsequent events, Yehovah told Daniel to seal up the scroll until the "time of the end" (Daniel 12:4, 9).
So, the purpose of the Revelation of Yeshua the Messiah (“Jesus Christ”)—the last book of the Bible—is to finish the prophecy given through Daniel concerning the events of the "time of the end”—the last few years of Planet Earth until it is restored to its original Edenic condition by the soon-coming true Messiah. In other words, the Revelation is the description of the events leading up to the prophesied show-down between the false messiah ("Antichrist") and the true Messiah Yeshua and what will happen after that cataclysmic, world-changing conflict.
His disciples asked Yeshua (Jesus), “Tell us, when will these things [the events that will cause the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem] be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age” (Matthew 24:3). In answer to their questions, Yeshua gave His disciples the following outline of future world history:
First, deceptions of false Messiahs ("Christs"), wars and rumors of wars, ethnic (Greek: ethnos) group against ethnic group, kingdom (nation) against kingdom, famines (food shortages), pestilences (pandemics), and earthquakes (among other natural disasters) (Matthew 24:4-8). Who can deny that all these events have occurred with increasing frequency and intensity throughout history, culminating in their global scope and impact at the present time?
Next, the hatred, persecution, and killing of His disciples by everyone (all ethnic groups) (Matthew 24:9). At the present time, statistics tell us that followers of Yeshua ("Christians," Hebrew Roots and Messianic believers), and Jews who believe in the coming Messiah but who have been temporarily blinded to who He is (Romans 11:7-8, 23), are being persecuted and killed world-wide more than at any time in history.
Yeshua and other writers of the prophetic Scriptures also tell us what will happen after these “beginnings of sorrows” (Mark 13:8), including the three-stage destruction of Babylon the Great, the rise of the false messiah ("Antichrist"), the establishment of the false messiah's global kingdom, his despotic rule (the time of “great tribulation” (Matthew 24:21), the return of the true Messiah to destroy His enemies and reestablish His perfect, Edenic kingdom on earth, and the final judgment of all evil, corrupt forces and people on the earth.
Every one of these events is prophesied in detail in the book of Revelation.
So, you will see as you read through this crystal-clear, common-sense commentary on the book of Revelation, Yehovah does reveal, in an astonishing way through His prophetic Word, exactly what is happening in the world, what will soon happen, and what His People need to be doing about it, before it is too late.
If your eyes are even half open to what’s happening in the world, you should realize that the “beginnings of sorrows” events are being rapidly fulfilled on a global scale at the present time
Signs of the Times
All last-days Bible prophecies, including those regarding Israel and Babylon the Great, are being fulfilled exactly, at an astonishing rate, are seriously shaking the economies and social stability of the whole world, and are showing no signs of letting up. Here are some prophesied events toward which current trends are inexorably moving:
Please see Psalm 83, Ezekiel 38, Matthew 24, and the Revelation Understood! Commentary on chapters 6, 13, 17 and 18 for details.
And as you proceed through the commentary, you will see how
those events are leading to the fulfillment of all the prophecies about
the last three and one-half years of world history as we have known it all our
lives.
Specific End-times Prophesies being Fulfilled at the Beginning of 2023
Again, to help you stay on top of the above prophesied events and others as
they unfold, please visit the Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy
blog page of this website.
What does it all mean?
So, what is the meaning of all this turmoil and the current state of affairs in the world and in United States of America? Is it just the natural, normal course of events, or does it have prophetic significance? What is going to happen in the immediate and distant future? Is there any real hope for relief? Is the downward destiny of humanity inevitable, beyond our control? Or will we be able to turn things around and make something good out of this mess in which we increasingly find ourselves?
Some trends analysts like Gerald Celente (renowned for the accuracy of his political and economic forecasts) are predicting global disasters (e.g., “The Greatest Depression” and “The Greatest World War”) in the short term. But most trends prognosticators, including Celente, and Bible prophecy teachers are trying to maintain a positive long-range outlook, stating that, even if there are terrible tribulations during the next few years, the ones who are prepared will survive, turn things around, and make the world a better place than ever in which to live (a veiled humanistic, survival-of-the-fittest philosophy).
Do you believe them? I am going to state this bluntly,
because correctly forecasting what is going to happen in the near future is not
just a matter of idle speculation or trends analysis; it is a matter of eternal
life or death necessity. Actually, trends analysts, self-proclaimed prophets,
and most Bible prophecy teachers do not have a clue about what
is going to happen past a year or two in the future! Their sophisticated trends
research tools or “prophetic” insights may get part—even a large part—of what
is going to happen correct—a few months or even a year or two ahead; but beyond
that, they do not have a clue! And you are a fool if
you believe them and stake any part of your future on what they say.
Only One Source of Truth
However, there is good news. There is one (and only one) source of information about the future that is totally, 100% reliable, on which every one of us can stake his or her future and can have the very real expectation of a glorious, joyful, and wonderful eternal life in the World to Come: the inspired Word of Yehovah, specifically Yehovah’s prophetic Word, and most especially the Revelation of Adonai ("the Lord"). All the turmoil that is happening in the world today, including what is happening specifically in the United States of America, was exactly and completely predicted 2,000 years ago by Yeshua when He was speaking to His disciples (c.f., Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21) and in His Revelation, by other New Covenant Scriptures ("New Testament") writers, and hundreds of years earlier by BBM (Before the Birth of the Messiah) prophets. But, unlike what secular forecasters are able to even begin to do accurately, the prophetic Scriptures tell us exactly what will happen in the future—all the way into eternity—and what we need to be doing about it.
Father Yehovah does not want His children to be in the dark about what is happening in the world in these last days. He wants His people, like Israel’s tribe Issachar, to understand the times in which we live so that we will know what to do (1 Chronicles 12:32).
That is why He gave us His Revelation. The Revelation, when
rightly understood, casts startling light on current events, explaining not
only exactly what is happening in the world today but where it is all headed,
how it is going to end, and how we need to be living our lives in the knowledge
of that reality. Amazingly, for example, what is happening in and to the
United States of America at the present time is exactly what this commentary predicted to
happen when it was first published in June, 2010! Elohim's "sure Word of prophecy" (2 Peter 1:19) is 100% accurate!
Why the Confusion?
So, why is there so much confusion and disagreement about the meaning and practical implications of the Revelation? Why do so many say that they do not understand it?
The reason is that the "Christian Church," especially in the United States of America, is being led by blind guides. And that is not because the Revelation of Adonai is difficult to understand: Ministers, Bible scholars, and teachers in the "Christian Church," especially the American "Church," are selectively ignoring certain key truths given to us in the Bible.
And one of the most important keys for unlocking the meaning of the Revelation (that is being ignored) is that it, like every other book of the Bible, is written from a Hebraic perspective. Very few "Christian" Bible expositors acknowledge the critical importance of understanding the Hebrew language, idioms, modes of thought, and culture in correctly interpreting both the “Old Testament” (Old Covenant Scriptures) and the “New Testament” (New Covenant Scriptures). Very few of them recognize that all of Scripture, including the Revelation, was given by Adonai to all of His People, including the Jews (Israelites) who have not yet (but will) recognize that Yeshua is the Messiah and the Believers in Yeshua at the present time ("Christians"). Very few of them recognize the absolutely essential necessity of thoroughly knowing and understanding the Old Covenant Scriptures (the "Old Testament") in correctly interpreting the Scriptures written and compiled after the first coming of Yeshua. This is especially true of the Revelation, which contains far more allusions to the Old Covenant ("Old Testament") Scriptures than any other New Covenant ("New Testament") book of the Bible. Indeed, the Revelation is the completion of the revelation to Daniel - the revelation of the contents of the scroll that Daniel was told to seal until “the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4, 9).
Also, another of the most important keys for unlocking the meaning of the Revelation that is being ignored are the identities of modern, prophesied, “mystery” (spiritual, religious) Babylon and modern, prophesied, secular, political Babylon. Of the twenty-two chapters of Revelation, two entire chapters plus parts of other chapters are devoted to modern "Babylon the Great." The final exultation of the multitude in Heaven at the end of the Final Seven Years is over the destruction of Babylon. Modern Babylon is not named in the Bible because she existed only spiritually (not physically) when the Revelation, the last book of the Bible, was written. However, there are over sixty indicators in over 250 verses of Scripture that tell us very clearly who she is. When it came time for Babylon to take her place on the world stage in her full spiritual and physical manifestation among the nations of the world, Yehovah obviously intended for there to be no doubt as to who she is. If you want to jump ahead, for a complete, irrefutable exposition of the identity and the destiny of modern Babylon the Great, please visit Who is Modern Babylon the Great?
And to, for FREE, download or read online my solidly Scripture-based book about the identity, role in current events, and soon-coming destiny of modern Babylon the Great, and what the Lord tells his people in that great but doomed city-state/nation/empire to do before it's too late, go to Come Out of Her NOW, My People!
Ready or Not
The second coming of the prophesied Messiah and all the awesome events that will accompany His coming will occur soon—very soon. And it is the prayer of this commentator that if this Revelation Commentary is distributed widely enough, Yehovah will use it to open the eyes of some to the critically-important true meaning and practical implications of His Revelation. And it is my prayer that many true Believers will visit the Get Involved! page of this website, and some will join us in this watchmen’s ministry. Yes, I pray that it will be as in the days of Elijah, when he cried out to Yehovah, “I alone am left, and they seek to take my life,” to which Yehovah replied, “I have reserved seven thousand in Israel . . . all whose knees have not bowed to Baal . . .” (1 Kings 19:14, 18). I pray that there are at least seven thousand among the Followers of Yeshua who have not bowed to the god of Babylon (Satan) (cf. Isaiah 14:4) and who want to join us in warning our loved ones to “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:4), before it is too late.
Meanwhile, please judge for yourself. Read this Revelation Commentary, and if the Spirit of Yehovah witnesses to your spirit that what you are reading is the Truth, please let me know through Contact Watchman Bob. Every positive response is a life-sustaining breath of fresh air and drink of pure, cool water in this suffocating, scorching spiritual desert called Babylon.
And once we do look at Yehovah's prophetic Word through the
eyes of those who put it into writing and accept the true identity of modern,
prophesied Babylon, it is amazing how the meaning of the whole book of
Revelation slides seamlessly and with crystal clarity into place. All those
vexing questions about the timing of the “Rapture,” the role of the
anti-messiah ("Antichrist"), how Elohim is going to deal with Jews, the Community of Believers
in Yeshua ("Christians") and others during the Final Seven Years, and other questions are easily answered by studying the Revelation in the same literal,
common-sense manner that we study any other book of the Bible. And
that kind of study is what this Revelation Commentary offers.
What You Get
Included in this Revelation commentary (which is more than just a commentary) is a brief, common-sense guide to understanding Bible prophecy (not that difficult if a few simple study principles are followed); the verse-by-verse commentary; an essay that gives historical and scriptural, irrefutable proof as to the identity of modern, prophesied Babylon; how we can be saved from the Wrath of Elohim ("God"); who the People of Elohim really are; the real difference between a True follower of the Messiah (a "Christian") and a phony “Christian”; the timing of the “Rapture”; and fantastic Good News for those Believers in Yeshua who remain faithful to The End. There is also a blog to help keep you updated on current events in the light of Bible prophecy.
The verse-by-verse commentary is concise. That means that it
does not go into a lot of detail or provide a lot of documentation for many of
its assertions and interpretations. However, that does not mean that those
assertions or interpretations are “off the wall” or unsubstantiated. The idea
is to be clear, not to bog you down with unnecessary technical
details or confusing references to various, often contradictory interpretations
the way most commentaries do. Please remember that a major premise of this
Revelation commentary is that the Bible is its own
best interpreter. Plenty of Scriptural cross-references are provided to
back up the interpretations and observations in this commentary. Please read
those. Then, if you still have doubts or questions about any point made, please
contact me through the Contact Watchman Bob page. Many years of diligent, prayerful study have gone into this work,
and I will be glad to discuss and provide additional documentation or
explanation for any part of it.
May Yehovah Elohim ("the LORD God") bless your study!
I just pray that Yehovah will speak to your heart through this website because, as is indicated by current events in the light of His prophetic Word, the awesome, terrible, fantastic, and wonderful events of the Revelation could start literally any day now. And those who do not understand what is happening and submit to how our Heavenly Father tells us to deal with the Final Seven Years will be lost.
So, please keep reading. I promise that the true message of the Revelation of Adonai ("the Lord") will not be boring or difficult to understand. Even if it does infuriate you or terrify you, it will, in going far, far beyond what any Nostradamus or trends analyst can tell you, be very enlightening. And if you will believe it, take it to heart, place your life in the hands of the Messiah Yeshua, and trust Him to show you what to do, you will be filled with joy and thrilled beyond measure as you anticipate the very-soon-to-come Day of Yehovah!
May Yehovah use this website to open more than ever the eyes of your understanding to the true meaning of His magnificent Revelation. And through correctly discerning the “signs of the times” and acting in faith on that understanding, may you be one of the very few (cf. Matthew 7:14) who, rather than being fearful or angry because of the terrible circumstances of this tumultuous, rapidly deteriorating, disintegrating world, are filled with the joy of His salvation in anticipation of the awesome events “which must shortly take place” (Revelation 1:1).
Yours in the Way, the Truth, and the Life—Yeshua
the Messiah,
Watchman Bob
First published June 2010
Updated every year
Last update January 2023
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1 Please visit the Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy page for updates on important current events prophesied in the Bible that you may not see published by the mainstream media.
Please click on the links below, or those on the left or right navigation bars, to visit other pages of this site and to learn what is really happening in the world, in the light of Bible prophecy, and what we need to do about it, before it is too late.
Common English translations of Hebrew and Messianic terms used in this commentary:
Yehovah - the LORD or GOD
Yah - I Am (the short form of Yehovah)
Elohim - God
El - God (the short form of Elohim)
Adonai - my Lord or Master
Yeshua - Jesus
Followers of Yeshua -
Christians
Messiah - Christ
Assembly of Followers of
Yeshua - the Church
Antimessiah - Antichrist
BBM - Before the Birth of
the Messiah (rather than
BC or BCE)
ABM - After the Birth of the Messiah (rather than AD
or CE)
For a complete explanation of Hebrew terms used, go to Important Terms and Concepts.
Stay Informed!
Current Events in the Light of Bible Prophecy
Get Involved!
Be a Watchman.
If you want to know the prophesied identity, role in current events, and soon-coming destiny of the United States of America, the reality of which very few prophecy students, teachers, and preachers in America want to face, and to know what God wants His people in America to do about it before its too late, get the FREE book,
Come Out of Her NOW, My People
For quick access to the commentary on a chapter of the Revelation, click on its link below:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Questions? Comments? Requests? Suggestions?
Contact Watchman Bob.
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