Revelation 18

“All this will happen because your merchants were the nobility of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery, and the blood of prophets and saints, and of all those slaughtered on earth, was found in you.” Revelation 18:23b-24 (HCSB)

The idea that the “Great Prostitute” would seduce and collect kings & merchants is not new to Scripture. Jeremiah records that Babylon’s king, Evil-Merodach, “pardoned King Jehoiachin of Judah and released him from the prison. He spoke kindly to him and set his throne above the thrones of the kings who were with him in Babylon.”

Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar often captured & imprisoned the kings and officials of nations he defeated. Then, he redistributed those nations’ people throughout the Babylonian kingdom. His purpose was to kill cultures by creating melting pots of nationalities.

Mystery Babylon dominates the World by enticing, enslaving, and assimilating mankind into her adulteries. How do nations, merchants, and kings become deceived by “Mystery Babylon”? They willingly choose to be enslaved by succumbing to her enticements. They sell themselves into bondage and then respond with appreciation when their “master” promotes them within her system.  

“But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desires.”  James 1:14 (HCSB)

Mystery Babylon’s methods are very different from God’s. He certainly doesn’t want men to live in forced bondage because He gives us the freedom to choose Him.  God does not tempt men. Nor does He desire that they sin and undergo judgment.  

“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (HCSB)

It isn’t until we feel the impact of our fall and recognize our powerlessness to recover that we cry out for God. When we repent in humility and sincerity, He answers gracefully and mercifully.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 (NKJV)

We do not have to live in the bondage of this World. We are free to choose whether to serve God or the World, which the Lord has now revealed to us as the great enticer and “Mystery, Babylon the Great, Mother of Harlots…” (Revelation 17:5)