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Posted on 09/15/2001 12:11:44 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6

THE NEW YORK ATTACKS WERE THE FULFILLMENT OF REVELATION 17 & 18

1. IT FITS THE SCRIPTURAL CONTEXT
The description of "Babylon’s" destruction in Rev. 17-18 follows the depiction of 28 judgments: the 7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 Plagues, and 7 Bowls (Rev. 6-16), so the natural presumption is that it must follow them in time. Since those judgments have not yet occurred, it seems logical to conclude that this event must still lie in the future. However, a closer reading suggests just the opposite: that the destruction of Babylon precedes these judgments. There are two reasons:

(1) Internal Timing Clues
In Rev. 18 an angel announces, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the great!" A description of Babylon’s fall follows. However, the same event is described earlier in Rev. 14:8, where an angel makes exactly the same announcement. Note that both are given in the past tense: Babylon is already fallen. The first-occurring reference, in chapter 14, comes before the Plague and Bowl judgments, and we are not told how far back it refers, only that it is already accomplished. Thus, the placement of the narrative describing Babylon’s fall, coming after the judgments, is not indicative of its actual occurrence in time. Indeed, the Bible does not seem to place it in time at all, beyond a general indication that it occurs as part of the end-times.

(2) Lack of Reference to the Judgments
Nowhere in chapters 17-18 is there anything that suggests that any of the judgments have already occurred. However, the severity and omnipresence of many of those judgments, had they already happened, would be highly likely to cause them to be noticeable within the narrative. Instead, we see ships still at sea and the destruction of a booming trade in every conceivable commodity; moreover, immediately prior to its destruction Babylon is described as still being the epitome of luxury, which would be impossible after the judgments.

2. SYMBOLIC "BABYLON’S" DESCRIPTION FITS ONLY NEW YORK CITY

(1) "Babylon" Is Surely Symbolic
The Babylon we see destroyed in Ch. 18 is a world-leading city near an ocean (vv. 17-19), which could not fit the original Babylon in modern times. Moreover, the author finds it necessary to identify which city (17:18: "…the great city that rules…"), which would be pointless if the actual Babylon were intended.

(2) The Specific Political Description Fits Only New York City
In 17:18 we are told, "The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth." This is a political description: Kings are the rulers of countries, and the only entity that even purports to rule over them is the United Nations, which is based in New York City.

(3) The Specific Economic Description Fits Only New York City
The extensive economic description in 18:11-24 fits only New York. It is the financial center of the world, housing Wall Street (NYSE, ASE, NASDAQ), and the US Dollar it controls commands the utmost respect worldwide. Thus, it rules over the merchants of the earth, who control the kings.

3. THE DESTRUCTION DESCRIBED AGREES

(1) The Timing Agrees
Three times in Chapter 18, in verses 10, 17, and 19, the destruction is described as having occurred in one hour. Note that the destruction took some time to occur: it was not instantaneous, for the text does not say "Your doom has come in an instant (or moment)." The two New York attacks came within one hour of each other (actually eighteen minutes apart; "minutes" were not used in Biblical times).

(2) The Method Agrees
The Bible specifies fire and overwhelming smoke (18:18), which certainly describes what occurred in New York.

(3) The Target Agrees
The target was the World Trade Center, the most visible New York symbol of international commerce. The entire last half of chapter eighteen describes the "merchants of the earth" and the economic devastation.

4. WHAT IT ALL MEANS
The 28 judgments described in Revelation 6-16 have a specific purpose: to warn people that this is their last chance to turn to God before the end. Many will finally do so. That is the context in which the destruction of "Babylon" occurs.

God’s people rejected Him, and Babylon was the agent God used when He finally expelled Judah from the Promised Land. As such, Babylon represents their rejection of Him. People continue to reject Him today. Instead of trusting Him, they put their trust in man-made hopes: "world peace" and "personal wealth." New York represents both. The United Nations is the most visible symbol of man’s attempt to achieve peace, and Wall Street is the corresponding symbol for achieving material wealth and comfort.

Man has been striving to save himself, rather than permitting God to save him, since the Garden. God allowed that striving for a time, but now He has signalled that that time is over. He demonstrated in one hour that those who trust in man’s peace and wealth are without hope. He will follow with 28 more judgments, increasingly severe.

Heed the warning. God sent His Son to save us. You cannot save yourself--instead, you must trust Him. If you seek Him earnestly, He will find you.

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