Jeremiah 50

“Call together the archers against Babylon. All you who bend the bow, encamp against it all around; let none of them escape. Repay her according to her work; according to all she has done, do to her; for she has been proud against the Lord, against the Holy One of Israel. Therefore her young men shall fall in the streets, and all her men of war shall be cut off in that day,” says the Lord. “Behold, I am against you, O most haughty one!” says the Lord God of hosts; “For your day has come, the time that I will punish you. The most proud shall stumble and fall, and no one will raise him up; I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it will devour all around him.” Jeremiah 50:29-32 (NKJV)

The Lord allowed the damage that the culture of Babylon had inflicted on the people of Israel (through seductive idolatry – aka spiritual adultery) to physically manifest itself on the Jewish people by their being conquered by the kingdom of Babylon. If Judah were to forsake God for Babylonian idols, then the Lord would withdraw His protection and allow them to live under Babylonian pagan taskmasters! While the kingdom of Babylon was destroyed thousands of years ago, its idolatrous enticements are still seducing God’s people today. Just as Babylon was judged in the Bible, so the lingering “whore” who entices mankind away from following the Lord (Mystery of Babylon) awaits judgment in the last days.

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’ So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.  The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.” Revelation 17:1-6 (NKJV)

But a remnant of the “Chosen” people will again choose God! (Jerimiah 50:4-5; Rev 7:4)

“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘The children of Israel were oppressed, along with the children of Judah; all who took them captive have held them fast; they have refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is His name. He will thoroughly plead their case, that He may give rest to the land, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.’” Jeremiah 50:33-34 (NKJV)

“My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1 (NKJV)