THE REDEEMER MAGAZINE- The Magazine for Thinking Christians.

EDITION 3 : VOLUME 1 *YES, BABYLON HAS FALLEN - DIGITAL VERSION

The featured article in this magazine expounds on the Subject "Yes, Babylon has Fallen." View excerpts from this magazine down below. If you wish to order this magazine. Send your name and address to www.preacherotis@juno.com.

THE REDEEMER MAGAZINEŠ- The Magazine for Thinking Christians.

THE REDEEMER® - VOLUME 1 ****EDITION 3 - OMPS® INC. 2014
All articles in this magazine are written in whole or part by Dr. Otis T. Williams Sr. Th.D.....© 2014 These articles are the literary properties of Otis Media Publications Syndication Inc.©

No! New York City is not Babylon of Revelation.

The book of Revelation contains the phrase "Babylon is fallen". Theologians from all walks of life considers this to be some entity other than what the bible plainly tells us Babylon is. Some has considered it to be the Roman Catholic Church. Some has called it the Soviet Union while others wants to go so far as to call it New York City. Even as the twin towers were falling during 9-11, many prophecy teachers considered this to be the falling Babylon. These prophecy teachers are stewards of self fulfilling prophecy and not true biblical prophecy. I have this astounding but not so critical statemant to make to those of futurist belief and those who believe that Babylon falling is prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled. No! Babylon is not New York City: nor is it any entity in our modern day or future yet to come. Yes; Babylon has fallen and according to the scriptures it fell a very long time ago.

No! My friend the earth is not coming to an end. (Ecclesiastes 1:4: One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.) Jesus will not come back ridiing a white horse according to Acts 1:11... shall so come in like manner as ye see him go into heaven. As a matter of fact Jesus said the world would see him no more according to the writer as he spoke to the disciples in John:14:19: Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but you see me: because I live, ye shall live also. Does "no more" means "no more"? The previous scriptures when left in their proper context (1st century context) do not give anyone the wrong meaning of what they are talking about. When they are left in their proper context they make more sense than when we use our preconceived ideas as to measure what they mean. The same goes for Revelation14:8 announcing the fall of Babylon. When the falling of Babylon is studied and left in the proper context there is no confusing as to what the prophet John is saying. Again; I say New York City is not Babylon. Nor the United States, Great Britain or some revised Roman Empire. Nor is it the Babylon of Old Iraq.

A DEFINITIVE TRUTH During the World Trade Center disaster many thought that to be a sign of last days prophecy and that it was a sign of the falling of Babylon. Many people are convinced that Babylon is New York City. I was raised in the traditional Baptist setting which never really gave a view of what Babylon was or either gave an indecisive view of Babylon being old ancient Babylon in Iraq that Saddam Hussein was going to restore. Babylon of Revelation is none of the above and I will attempt to prove it using scriptures and a good hermenutic approach.

If we mis-identify Babylon of Revelation, our entire study of end time things will be wrong. However, if we place Babylon and her judgement in our future, when in fact the book of Revelation places the Judgement of Babylon in the first century then pretty clearly our study of last things will be steered in the opposing direction of truth and made unbibliical. Therefore it is absolutely critical that we be able to identify correcrtly and biblical what this Babylon of Revelation is.

One noted theologian has said that Babylon of Revelation is a corrupt religious form of Christianity that will eventually end in a final rebellion against God at some point of time at the end of the Christian age. We can see how this view completely forms his view of end time things. That is why it is so important that we properly identify who Babylon is. It is very noted that the Key to interpreting the book of Revelation has been in print as long as the book itself. Yet 99% of all bible students has refused to use the key. The key to interpreting the book of Revelation is Chapter 1: verses 1-3: 1:The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2:who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. 3:Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. This is the key to interpreting Revelation. Knowing that this is the key it is ironic to me how so many do not use the key.

INTERPRETATION USING THE KEY If we are going to allow language of the Bible to mean anything: the term "literal" as used by futurist must be just that: the literal meaning in the first verse of the book cannot be mistaken. Most furturist would say "the bible means what it says and it says what it means." Let's see, if that is true by interpreting the first three verses of Revelation......John two thousand years ago was told that the Father through the Son was telling first century saints that the time of the fulfillmment of the prop[hecy of Revelation "must shortly come to pass" and that the time for the fulfillment of the prophecy of Revelation "was at hand". How is it that modern day commentaries completely ignore what the book tells us twice in the first three verses?

Our concept of how things were suppose to happen makes modern day evangelists and religious leaders completely ignore the verses. It's often said that "I know the book say these things but it is obvious it didn't happen." Again, our concept of how things were suppose to happen void the literal meaning of the first three verses of Revelation. Therefore no matter what one's concept is, God's statements are correct. When God gives us a time frame; that time frame is correct no matter how we think the event is to come about. God gave John the time frame for the fulfillment of Revelation as being "shortly" and "at hand". Can you get this? There is no ratioinal way around ignoring this scripture. I've asked this question over and over again; if "at hand" does not mean "at hand"; what does "not at hand" means? I always get the same old repetitive answer "one day with the Lord is a thousand years and a thousand years is one day therefore when God says something is at hand He could mean thousands of years away". That answer is absurd. Does Jesus tell us in John 11:9 Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in the day?......Twelve hours in the day and twelve hours in the night. That should put to rest the old misinterpretation of 2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. One of the most misqouted and misunderstood verse in the Bible.
John in talking about the judgement of Babylon and while defining Babylon for us was told twice in the first three verses. He is told the same thing in the middle of the book and no less than seven times at the end of the book. John was told by Jesus Christ Himself given the mesasage from the Father that the book was suppose to be fulfilled shortly(possibly within John's lifetime but definetely in his generation).

Otis Media Publications Syndication Group Inc.Š 2014

FAULT ONLY BABYLON WAS GUILTY OF

Furthermore; not only was the prophecy about to be fulfilled; it was to be fulfilled shortly for the time was at hand and these things were coming quickly. Also John tells us that Babylon of Revelation had already been guilty of doing some really horrible things that only Babylon of Revelation would be found guilty of. It was a result of things that Babylon had already done for which Babylon was going to be judged according to scripture. Those things which Babylon had already done absolutely precludes and excludes identifying the Roman Catholic Church, America, New York City and a revised Roman Empire or any entity in our future as being Babylon. It also excludes literal Babylon in Literal Iraq as being Babylon of Revelation.

Babylon of Revelation was not going to do the things which she was guilty of. Instead she had already done the things in which she was guilty of. Big difference. Therefore the guilt of Babylon has already been committed and therefore it cannot be committed in our future. What Babylon is accused of doing; it is absolutely impossible for any present or future Babylon to do. If it is not possible for a present or future entity to do or be what Babylon of Revelation is accused of doing, then it is proof that no present or future entity can be Babylon of Revelation.

WHO KILLED THE PROPHETS OF GOD? JERUSALEM (BABYLON OF REVELATION)

I was raised in the Baptist church and I never learned what Babylon had done until I read Revelation for itself. I was shocked and stunned to find such knowledge and evidence by just letting God be my guide in letting scripture interpret itself. Here are the things that nails down and precludes any present or future entity from being Babylon of Revelation.

*Babylon of Revelation had killed The Prophets -That is to say the Old Testament prophets of God. Revelation 16:6-7 6: For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.
7: And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

One thing to remember is that when the new Testament uses the word “prophets” or “the prophets” without any contextual qualifier it is referring to the prophets of the Old Testament (i.e. Hebrews 1:1).The word “prophets” appears 88 times in the new Testament. Anytime you see the term prophets used with a qualifier letting you know who these prophets are (i.e. 1st Corinthians 12:28:)the prophets listed here are obvious Christian prophets. The same as in Ephesians 4:11. Clearly here we are talking about the church. This is important because in Revelation 16:6-7 it says Babylon had killed the prophets of God. The prophets of God are Old Testament prophets. The importance behind that is there is but one city the Bible identifies as guilty of killing Old Testament Prophets and that city was Babylon of Revelation. Literal old Babylon of Iraq tried to kill the prophets.(i.e. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego,). Old literal Babylon tried to kill them but did not succeed. However Jesus said in Lk:13:33: ..........it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. Furthermore Stephen stood in the Temple in Acts chapter 7 addressing his Jewish contemporaries speaking of their long bloody history. Stephen said Acts:7:52: Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Jesus again in Matthew 23:30: And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31: Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. The one city in all of the Bible that is consistent identified as the city that killed Old Testament prophets is Old Covenant Jerusalem. Please please understand this. New York City has never and never will killed an Old Testament prophet. The reason I know this is because there are no more Old Testament prophet walking around. There will never be any Old Testament prophets ever again. All Old Testament prophets are dead.

Otis Media Publications Syndication Group Inc.Š 2014

WHERE WAS JESUS SLAIN?- JERUSALEM(BABYLON)

Let me say this again

"The book of Revelation describes Babylon as the city that already had (not one day would) killed prophets of God. Unless you can prove that The Roman Catholic Church, New York City, Or literal Babylon of Ancient Iraq killed prophets of God, then they are not Babylon of Revelation. If we accept what the Bible says we will have no problem in determining who or what Babylon of Revelation is. The determining factor of who killed the prophets of God leads us to one definite conclusion that Babylon of Revelation was(is) OLD COVENANT JERUSALEM."

Let’s look at the second point to be raised. This great city called Babylon is where “the Lord was slain.” Rv:11:8: And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. The previous verse would let anybody know that Jesus;our Lord was not killed in New York City nor was he crucified in any other place other than Jerusalem. The scripture calls that city; Babylon(where Jesus was crucified). This is another and great indication that Revelation cannot be in our future because Jesus has already been crucified and old covenant Jerusalem no longer exists.

Although Rev. 11:8 talks about it(Jerusalem) being called spiritually Sodom and Egypt. Here’s something exciting; the book of Deuteronomy chapter 32:19-21 contains what is known as the song of Moses which is emphatically stated to be a prophecy of Israel history in her last days. Therefore we know who this is about. It is about Israel last days. Not about the last days of time; not about the last days of the Christian age. It is about Israel in her last days.

Here is another thing to ponder. Rv:17:5: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. This city called Babylon was also the harlot of Revelation. As foretold in Jeremiah. Jeremiah 3:8: And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. As a matter of fact this city Babylon in Revelation is guilty of adultery. Jesus said Israel was a wicked and adulterous generation; seeks after a sign. The Babylon of Revelation had been in some kind of a covenant relationship with Jehovah. She has committed adultery and as noted in Revelation chapter 17 she will be burned with fire and stoned in Revelation chapter 18. As Leviticus Chapter 21 and Deuteronomy explains these are the punishment for the wife of a priest who has committed adultery. Just about everything in Revelation is taken from Old covenant terminology and the old covenant relationship God had with Israel.

Let’s back up to Deuteronomy 32. God in speaking of Israel and her last days said Deut:32:32: For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter:

Did you catch the mastery of this? Please understand. In the book of Revelation this city called Babylon is where the Lord was crucified. Which was Jerusalem. This is not even debatable. Then in Revelation we have this city called Babylon as being spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. Which was Jerusalem according to God in Deut:32:32. See how it all comes together when we let scripture be scripture.

Also in Deut. 32:43 it’s telling of Israel in her last days; God will avenge the blood of his saints and Revelation is talking about the avenging of the blood of the martyrs and the saints that have died for the testimony.

Deut:32 said the blood of the martyrs would be avenged in the last days when Israel became Sodom. John in Revelation is talking about the last days and the judgement upon Babylon.

Now, Deuteronomy said those events were not near. Deut. Chapter 32: God said when many generations has passed and you tell your children about these things.

In other words Deuteronomy says a long time will pass and finally the last days will arrive. John in Revelation is speaking about the very same things in Deuteronomy 32 saying that now during his time these things had become a reality and now these things are to come to pass. What was not near in Deuteronomy is now near in Revelation. What Moses said would happen to Israel in the last days; John, who preached the fulfillment of Israel promises is predicting it(the avenging of the blood of the martyrs and the saints) would take place in the judgment of Babylon. This means that Babylon has to have some relationship to that promise of Deuteronomy 32 because Deuteronomy 32 says that in the last days of Israel God would avenge the blood of the saints and here John writing about the last days saying the blood of the saints was going to be avenged in the Judgment of Babylon.

WHO KILLED JESUS AND THE PROPHETS OF JESUS? JERUSALEM.

When the Apostle Paul took his first run down to Jerusalem he met with Peter and James. On his second trip down he met with Peter, James, and John. Is it any wonder why when Peter wrote 1^st Peter he said in the closing of the letter. The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you: and so doth Marcus my son. Was not Peter in Jerusalem? However Peter here mentions Jerusalem as being Babylon. Peter was not in Rome is the point I am making. I know church tradition says that Peter was in Rome but in so far as the Biblical record is concerned Peters’ home base where Paul always met him was at Jerusalem. Peter undeniably calls Jerusalem...... Babylon!

Babylon of Revelation had killed and was killing the Apostles and the Prophets of Jesus Christ. How convincing is this???? Look Below;

*Babylon had killed Old Testament Prophets;

*Babylon is where the Lord has already been crucified.

*Babylon was the city evidently where the persecution of the prophets and Apostles of Jesus Christ was still ongoing as John wrote Revelation.

Remember in Matthew 23 Jesus in speaking to Israel Matt. 23:31: Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

32: Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

33: Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

34: Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

35: That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

To reiterate what I have written: *Babylon(old covenant Israel) had killed the Old Testament Prophets: they were going to kill Jesus; and they were going to kill the Prophets and Apostles that Jesus sent out. REV. 8:24: And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Jesus said in doing what they had done and what they were about to do(fill the measure of her sin) and they would be judged in His(Jesus’) generation. Matt 24:34: Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

To sum it all up John depicted Babylon as; 1).Having killed the Prophets. 2).Having killed Jesus. 3).In the process of killing Apostles and Prophets of Jesus. Now her cup is full of the blood of the saints and of the blood of the martyrs of Jesus and Jesus says “behold I come quickly.”Rev. 22:20

The words of the scriptures must be taken as being truth. It was Israel that was the heart and core of the persecution of the Prophets. Even the Prophet Nehemiah and Stephen acknowledged it every where you turn in the Bible there is never any emphasis laid on any one killing the Prophets other than Old Covenant Jerusalem. Be mindful that this has nothing to do with present day Israel. Read the Bible and allow it to say what it means. Yes my friend Babylon has fallen and it fell a long time ago. With the preceding evidence from the scriptures there should be no misunderstanding as to who Babylon of Revelation is. Surely it was not or ever will be New York City. Babylon of Revelation is none other than Old Covenant Jerusalem and Old Covenant Jerusalem did fall in A.D. 70 in direct correlation of Rev. 1:1 .......things which must shortly come to pass;. If you make Babylon anything or anyone else you will have to violate the inspired text that said two thousand years ago these things must shortly come to pass from the time that John wrote Revelation. Amen.

YES, BABYLON HAS FALLEN - DIGITAL VERSION

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