She Wears Red, White, and Blue

We are told that Babylon of the latter days (ie. our time) wears red, white, and blue.

Revelation 18:16
and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen [WHITE], purple [BLUE], and scarlet [RED], and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls!

OK, it says purple. But does it really matter? I suppose to some it might matter. So courtesy of Carlos at http://nabiy4america.wordpress.com/ here is some very intriguing research that indicates the word purple here could also mean blue.

His sources include:

"Mystery Babylon the Great, Defender of Israel- A Search for America in Bible Prophecy" by Kristie Johnson

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From pages 79 and 80:

"The woman is dressed in white, purple and red. It is almost like red, white and blue."

"Out of curiosity you might look up the Greek word for purple. You would learn (to my disappointment), that it means purple. But if one researches how purple is different from blue, that is where you learn something very interesting. Not only is the word blue used very seldom in the Bible, but it is never found in the New Testament at all!"

Carlos: this is true, just check the Bible Wheel: http://www.biblewheel.com/gr/GR_Database.asp?SearchBy_Word=blue "blue" occurs 49 times, all in the Old Testament! Back to the Johnson quote:

"According to the Strong's Concordance, the Greek word for the color purple comes from the shellfish (a mussel) it was made from. Since the word blue is found only in the Old Testament, you can look up only the Hebrew word for blue. There you learn that the word blue comes from the shellfish (a mussel) from which it is made. This is the same shellfish from which the color purple was also extracted. The Hebrew word for blue means blue or "violet" which means bluish-purple. In the Old Testament (Hebrew) this word is never translated as purple, only as blue. In the Old Testament, the word translated as purple from the Hebrew is always a different word than the one related to the shellfish."

"In trying to simply this information, the word blue never appears in the New Testament. The word translated as purple in the New Testament comes from the mussel shellfish. In the Old Testament the word blue comes from the word for the mussel shellfish and is described as "violet," (bluish-purple) and is always rendered as blue, not purple. In the Old Testament the color purple is always translated from a different word unrelated to the color from the mussel shellfish."

"It is possible that the Greek word translated as purple could also have been rendered as blue".

Carlos: ... I decided to research these little mussels myself ... As Ms. Johnston stated, it is a specific type of mussel that was used for extraction of the colors. However, the Genus contains a few species which look about the same, and slghtly different shades can be obtained from different species. Also, the processing is very important as to whether the final coloration is more "blue" or "purple". All in all, a study of the extraction process for these colors, from the shellfish, fully supports the theory that the woman described in Revelation is likely adorned in "red, white, and blue".

This verse from Jeremiah contains both "blue" and "purple" and here are the Hebrew definitions-

Jer 10:9 Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. Strong's H8504 for blue (courtesy of the Bible Wheel) תכלת tekeleth {tek-ay'-leth} probably for 07827; TWOT - 2510; n f AV - blue 50; 50 1) violet, violet stuff 1a) violet thread 1b) violet stuff or fabric 2) (TWOT) blue (covering spectrum from brilliant red through deep purple) Strong's H0713 for purple (courtesy of the Bible Wheel) ארגמן 'argaman {ar-gaw-mawn'} of foreign origin; TWOT - 157b; n m AV - purple 38; 38 1) purple, red-purple So, you can see we have a variety of colors possible for each of those two words, and since there is not "blue" in Greek of the New Testament, we are left with "purple" meaning anywhere from violet to purple, to red-purple, to blue, which is entirely supported by the derivation of the dyes from the shellfish!

*** Until You Understand This One Thing, You Understand Nothing

"Wake up, Neo!"

Did you see the movie The Matrix? The main character, Neo, reaches a cross-roads in his life. He must choose to either go one direction, or the other. He must choose to understand who he is, or forever lose the opportunity to understand. He must choose the red pill, which will wake him up, or the blue pill and return to his dream...to his state of amnesia.

He chose the red pill. He chose to wake up out of his dream. He chose to understand and it made all the difference in the world. Life imitates art.

In the book of Hosea we see another similar story. This time it was Gomer who forgot her identity. She was in a state of amnesia. And in her story she also wakes up. She realizes who she is.

And at the end of this age, the Almighty calls to us: Wake up, My people! Wake up out of your dream. Awake from your amnesia.

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In Isaiah 28 we see this question being asked: "Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message?" What message? The entire book of Isaiah is about the tribulation period. It's about the "latter days", the "day of the Lord". Folks, this is not an easy topic to understand. Just as Jesus spoke in parables, we see the "latter days" discussed in the Bible in a very non-straightforward, and even sometimes cryptic, manner. It's not for the faint of heart. If you give up easily then don't plan on understanding how that 'day' will transpire. And if you rely on popular books to explain it to you then you will be misled.

But we see the question is answered. Who will understand? "Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?" Will a small child understand? If you only understand the basics of the faith, will you understand the "latter days"? No, you won't. You have to progress beyond the basic tenants of the faith. Just as a child is weaned from milk and progresses to solid food and then eventually to meat, you too must progress in your understanding of the things of God. If you are, spiritually, a child, you won't undertand the latter days.

Next we see the requirements for understanding the latter days. "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little." Precept upon precept, line upon line. Do you know what precepts and lines are here? They are the building blocks of our understanding. If you set out to build a house you better make sure your foundation is solid. And likewise, if you set out to understand the latter days, you better make sure your precepts and lines are true and not false. If your foundation is unstable, your house will fall. And if you lack the proper precepts and lines, you won't understand the message.

So what is that fundamental precept of the latter days? What's the one question, that if you answer incorrectly, your whole house of cards will come tumbling down upon? Before I tell you, I have to warn you first. If you are a prideful person, you may as well stop now because you won't get it. If you approach the word of God thinking you already know something, then you will fail to understand. If you are convinced of some doctrine and won't even listen to an opposing viewpoint, then your mind is already made up. You, my friend, are filled with pride. I'm sorry, but it's true. This is where most people stumble. They have it set in their mind they know how something goes. The picture in their head has blinded their eyes. ("Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive." Isaiah 6:9) Their mind is closed off to what may very well be the truth right in front of them. Now lest anyone accuse me of apostasy: I'm not talking about the fundamentals of the faith. We believe on Jesus (Yeshuah) for our salvation. We put our trust in him. That is the milk of the Word. I'm talking about the meat of understanding the latter days.

Who are the lost sheep? When the prophets say "Israel and Judah", who are they talking about? Until you understand this, you won't understand much at all regarding the latter days. Until you understand who you are, you won't understand the message. Until you wake up from your amnesia, you will continue in your dream...in the vain imaginations of your thoughts.

But if you want to take the red pill, you might want to start here:

Galatians 6:16

Romans 9

Ephesians 2:11-20

Ephesians 3:6

Galatians 3:7-9

Welcome Visitors From Around The World

I just want to say a quick hello to my visitors from outside the United States (see below). It's always nice seeing the various countries represented in my blog stats. Behind each page view is a person with a story. My prayer is that each visitor is encouraged to study God's word to mankind. I believe we are the generation that will experience the Day of the Lord and the return of Christ. The Bible has much to say about that time. It's going to be nothing of short of incredible.

And the Bible has much to say about a nation during that time referred to as Babylon. The one country today that fits the description we are given is America. When America is destroyed by nuclear fire, then you will know that the Day of the Lord is here.

Canada

Australia

South Korea

Netherlands

Russia

United Kingdom

Switzerland

Germany

Ukraine

Israel

Slovenia
China

Turkey

Ukraine

Japan

Iraq

Taiwan

Poland

Philippines

Brazil

Spain

France

Greece

Croatia

Monaco

Norway

Belgium
Singapore
Austria
South Africa
Finland
Italy
Bulgaria
Faroe Islands
Saudi Arabia
Panama
Ecuador
Botswana
Ireland
New Zealand
Malaysia
Kenya
Argentina
Hong Kong
Zimbabwe
Ethiopia
Thailand
Romania
Columbia
Lithuania
United Arab Emirates
Chile
Jamaica
Morocco
India
Indonesia
New Zealand
Denmark
Senegal
Mongolia
Mexico
Kyrgyzstan
Pakistan
Moldova
Antigua and Barbuda
Vietnam
Iran

Belize
Mauritius
Northern Mariana Islands
Georgia
Venezuela
Slovakia

Zephaniah 2:3

Seek the LORD, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the LORD's anger.

Isaiah 11:12
He will set up a banner for the nations, And will assemble the outcasts of Israel, And gather together the dispersed of Judah From the four corners of the earth.

Isaiah 14 Notes

Chapter 14

The people taunt the now-deceased king of Babylon.

The timing of this taunt is given in verses 1 through 3. Remember, chapters 1-12 told us the story of how the Day of the Lord will begin and what it will mean to the people of God. Then chapter 13 was a flashback and gave us more detail of chapter 1, describing how the very beginning of that 'day' will start with the utter destruction of Babylon/America. Then we come to chapter 14, which picks up where chapter 12 left off. So the setting is after the people of God have been brought back to God's land, settled there, and have overcome the onslaught of the Assyrian army.

So after all this happens, then the people will have a minute to actually breath. And their former life will come to mind. Specifically they'll remember the king of Babylon (aka El Presidente) and his prideful boasting just prior to his demise. It should be noted here that the people seem to be remembering what would have been public knowledge. It's not expected that they were in the President's inner circle. They seem to be recalling his public boasting. What I take away from this is that the President of America at the time of her fall will not be a humble man. Instead he'll have very high and lofty ideas.

I don't claim to understand all the language in this chapter. But I will give it my best shot. I must note here that there is a grievous error in the translation of one word in particular. Something wasn't adding up as I studied this chapter. Is this chapter talking about a person, about Satan, or both? Certainly it starts off talking about the king, a person. Then, because of the mistranslation, seems to talk about Satan. Then it seems to talk about a person again. We know that Satan is a spirit. Spirits don't decay in the ground. But a person's body will decay after he dies.

So is something wrong here? Look at verse 12. The Hebrew word "heylel" is translated as "Lucifer". Is that right? Is that a good translation? Look, I don't know latin, but I found an article that explains the whole hairy deal. It so goes that Jerome was commissioned by Pope Damascus in 382 A.D. to make an official Latin translation of the Bible. So off he went and came back with the Latin Vulgate that included TWO uses of the word lucifer. In Latin, Lucifer means light-bearer or light-bringer. In Greek, the word with the same meaning is Phosphoros. This is important because the King James Version only has ONE use of the word lucifer. The other verse that Jerome translated as "lucifer" (small "l") is 2 Peter 1:19. This verse is talking about Jesus Christ, Yeshuah. So Jerome correctly translated 2 Peter 1:19 but incorrectly translated Isaiah 14:12. The English translators came along and used Jerome's mistranslation of Isaiah 14:12 but then used a completely in-accurate translation for 2 Peter 1:19. I won't go into all the details, you can read the article yourself. But I personally think Jerome knew what he was doing and was up to no good. Suffice it to say that Isaiah 14:12 should not have been translated as light-bearer. The correct translation would have been "boaster" which is exactly the context of those verses.

The king of Babylon is boasting.

So all that being said, I believe this chapter is a taunt against the President of America at the time of America's demise...and only a taunt against him and not Satan. After all, at this point in time, Satan is just getting warmed up. Remember, we're still at the beginning of tribulation...my guess is it's about 8 or so months into tribulation at the time of Isaiah 14. Now I'll point out the things that stood out to me.

v1 Descendants of Jacob...the whole house of Israel (10-Israel and Judah).

v2 Even other people will so recognize the move of God in that day that'll they'll come and cling to the house of Jacob to the point of servitude.

v4 ...the golden city...America. "How the oppressor has ceased" (compare Isaiah 21:2)

v5 With America out of the way, it's a new world order.

v6 Compare Habakkuk 1:6,10-11; Habakkuk 2:5,8; Isaiah 21:1; Jeremiah 51:25
v4-11 Seems to me that this is a taunt against the nation as well as the king.

v12 See commentary above...lucifer is a mistranslation.


Now that we know that heylel means "boaster", what do the following words mean?


ben shachar yalal


Literally, "son of the morning wailing."


"ben" or "son" here has many possible meanings.  It's not necessarily "son" as in a father's son.  It can mean "recipient of"...for instance "son of stripes" would metaphorically mean one who is doomed to stripes.


So what is this saying?  I believe it's saying that this king of Babylon, the last President of the United States of America is the one who will inherit the morning wailing.

Amos 5:16
Therefore the LORD God of hosts, the Lord, says this: "There shall be wailing in all streets, And they shall say in all the highways, 'Alas! Alas!' They shall call the farmer to mourning, And skillful lamenters to wailing.


Isaiah 17:14
Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more. This is the portion of those who plunder us, And the lot of those who rob us.


Revelation 18:15
The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,


Isaiah 47:9
But these two things shall come to you In a moment, in one day: The loss of children, and widowhood. They shall come upon you in their fullness Because of the multitude of your sorceries, For the great abundance of your enchantments.


Isaiah 21:12
The watchman said, "The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; Return! Come back!"


This king of Babylon ushered in the tribulation period because of his boasting.  Whatever he said was enough to cause the other nations to execute their plans.


v13 Lots going on in this verse. Needs further study to pull out the details. Farthest sides of the north could mean 'the darkest of the darkest'. Most likely spiritual in nature. Congregation means the assembly of people but also could mean time and place. For instance, at the appointed time on a certain date.

v20 Seems a lot to place on one person. I suspect this will become evident after-the-fact when we know the events surrounding the demise of America in one hour. Does the destroyer come specifically because of something the President does or says? We see in verse 13 that he seems to have aspirations of global rule. And the blame seems to fall squarely on him here in verse 20. Is it too much of a stretch to say that really the only way out of America's debt is world war? Sad but true. I realize this is just speculation at this point. But certainly global war would reset the balance sheets. I suspect certain nations like Russia and China will not let that happen.


v22-25 I'm going to destroy Babylon, then I'm going to destroy the Assyrian army in my own land.


v26 Summary of the purpose of the tribulation: to break the yoke of evil from off the necks of his people.


v29-31 Don't rejoice, Palestinians, when you see America destroyed. Why? Because someone else is coming to destroy you.


v32 I love this! What's everyone going to say when all this takes place? What's the world to think? "

That the LORD has founded Zion, And the poor of His people shall take refuge in it."

Isaiah 13 Notes

Chapter 13

Here starts Part II of the book of Isaiah. See chapter 12 notes for a summary of Part I. I've written elsewhere concerning this chapter. Isaiah 13 is the word of the Lord spoken, or prophecied, against a nation who goes by code-name of Babylon. We see this nation again and again spoken of in both the old and new testaments. For starters see Isaiah 18 and 47; Jeremiah 50 and 51; Revelation 17-18; Habakkuk 1-2; Isaiah 21; Psalms 137; Revelation 14...others...Isaiah 1; Ezekiel 7; Zephaniah 2. These are just off the top of my head.

Look, the Day of the Lord is a big deal in scripture. God finally says "Enough". His time of grace has ended and he will now enter into judgment with the nations. It's the last chapter before Christ returns to earth. It's at the opening of this last chapter when Babylon/America is destroyed by nuclear holocaust in one hour. I have already shown in five separate texts that this is in fact the case. We are even told what time of year this judgment begins.

Isaiah 13 is one of those five texts. It's clear that the judgment spoken against Babylon is tied to the start of that "day"...the Day of the Lord...the hour of his judgment.

It should be noted that chapters 1-12 of Isaiah lay out the start of the last chapter of this present age of mankind. Now we see here in chapter 13 that God is going back and giving more detail regarding what we saw in chapter 1 of Isaiah when Israel's foreign land of captivity, America, was burned with fire.

Jeremiah 50 and 51 give us even more detail of the complete and utter destruction of America by nuclear fire. Jeremiah is completely consistent with Isaiah regarding the remnant who will be rescued from this nuclear holocaust.

Isaiah 14 Notes

Isaiah 12 Notes

Chapter 12

If you followed the narrative from chapter 1 through 12, you may realize that chapter 12 is actually an end-point or conclusion. I would call it the last chapter of Part I of the book of Isaiah.

To quickly summarize, we saw a remnant of the children of Israel (the church, Israel of God - Galatians 6:16) of the latter days (ie. this time we're living in today) leave their land because it was burned with fire. From there we saw them reunited with Judah in God's land. But they brought their false mindsets with them, and older brother Judah (the "jews") still weren't convinced that these people whom God rescued and brought back to the land were actually his brother and from God. So God gave Judah a sign: Immanuel. The remnant whom God brings back to Judah will have this sign, "God is with us".

But among Israel and Judah are a rebellious people who have it in their hearts to curse God when things don't go right. They are used to the the comfort and abundance of Babylon (ie. America). So God must send an enemy their way to prove them and try them and ultimately sift and refine them into a smaller, but more holy, remnant. And through war Judah and Israel learn to trust God and become one people, God's people, whose name is Jacob, the whole house of Israel.

v1 In "that day". After all this happens...after God finishes "his work" among his people. (See Isaiah 10:12). Then the people praise the Lord. He was angry but now his anger is turned away and he comforts them.

v2-4 He has become my salvation. I think Judah now is fully aware that Yeshua is the long awaited Messiah.

v5 "This is known in all the earth". America has just been destroyed some months prior but all eyes are on the holy land. All the earth knows that God is at work there among his people.

Isaiah 13 Notes

How Close Is America To Economic Collapse?

This is the number one question people are asking today. I know because I can see what search terms people used to find my blog.

When will the U.S. currency collapse? When will the gravy train be derailed? Everybody is asking. Everybody wants to know.

Here's your answer: It Doesn't Matter...something MUCH worse is on the way.

It doesn't matter one bit if you don't believe the Bible. God knew what would happen before anything happened.

Oh, but America isn't in the Bible. Yes, that is the lie we've all heard.

But America IS in the Bible. And her fate will astonish you.

As for your money. It doesn't matter. I don't think the economy will collapse. We are told that those people who are selling America stuff will cry out when they see her burning. Why are they crying out? Because they just lost their best customer. America imports more stuff from around the world than any other country. We are by far the richest country in the world. When all that buying stops, there will be people in other countries who will be distraught enough to commit suicide. Their entire lively-hood will go up in smoke in only one hour.

Which, by the way, is exactly what we're told will happen to America. She will be utterly and entirely destroyed in only one hour. There's only one weapon on earth that can do so much damage so quickly.

So read up, friends. Get out your Bibles and follow along. Draw near to God with your whole heart. Stop paying him lip-service only. There's only one way you'll be saved in that day. You have to know the One who's more powerful than a nuclear bomb. He will protect those who belong to him. And it won't be the rapture.

How close are we? (Economic Collapse)

What Time of Year Is Babylon Destroyed?

We established that the very first event of the tribulation is the complete and total destruction of Babylon (a.k.a America). But what time of year will it occur. Yes, we are told what time of year. We are even told two other things that will happen on the same night that America is destroyed.

We already know that the tribulation (a.k.a. Day of the Lord, a.k.a. hour of judgment) begins with sudden destruction (Isaiah 13:6, Isaiah 13:9, I Thes. 5:3, Joel 1:15). And we know that the destruction happens to one nation in particular, America. When Is Babylon Destroyed?

But what time of year does it happen? Many well-intentioned believers, those who are watching for the return of Christ, watch all year around...not knowing that there is a two-month window each year in which the tribulation can actually start.

*** Isaiah 17:11

In the day you will make your plant to grow, And in the morning you will make your seed to flourish; But the harvest will be a heap of ruins In the day of grief and desperate sorrow.

What time of year, in America, do you make your plants to grow and your seeds to flourish?

*** Isaiah 18:5

For before the harvest, when the bud is perfect And the sour grape is ripening in the flower, He will both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks And take away and cut down the branches.

What time of year, in America, does bud-break occur and the sour grapes begin ripening in the flower?

*** Habakkuk 3:17

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls—

No blossoms yet, no fruit yet. What time of year is it in America?

*** Isaiah 21:1

The burden against the Wilderness of the Sea. As whirlwinds in the South pass through, So it comes from the desert, from a terrible land.

What time of year do tornadoes typically start travelling up through tornado alley in America?

Answer: spring time.

Bonus:

Two other things going on the same night that Babylon is destroyed.

1. The 'king' of Babylon is throwing a great feast...think State Dinner. ( Isaiah 21:5, Jeremiah 51:39, Jeremiah 51:57, Nahum 1:10, Nahum 3:11)

2. It's a new moon night. ( Hosea 5:7)

When Is Babylon Destroyed?

Update 2012/08/04

This book reveals the exact day.  The following reveals when, relative to the Tribulation.

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Relative to the tribulation, do you know at what point Babylon is destroyed? I bet you don't. Most people don't. Oh, it's one of the last chapters of Revelation, so it must be right before Christ returns. Nope.

Babylon (a.k.a. America, sea to shining sea), as I will show here, is destroyed by nuclear holocaust at the very beginning of the tribulation, the Day of the Lord, the hour of his wrath.

How many scripture texts do you need to be convinced? I have at least five.

*** Revelation 14:6-8

6 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth— to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people—

7 saying with a loud voice, "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."

8 And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."

Verse 6: The gospel is preached throughout the world. This is now.

Verse 7: Announcement: The time of tribulation, the hour of his judgment, is here.

Verse 8: Babylon is fallen, is fallen!

Does it get any more obvious than this? Folks, it's the very first event of the tribulation! Need more proof? Read on.

*** Isaiah 13

1 The burden against Babylon which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw.

This chapter is about the judgment that will befall Babylon in the latter days.

4 ... The LORD of hosts musters The army for battle.

An army is coming against Babylon.

6 Wail, for the day of the LORD is at hand! It will come as destruction from the Almighty.

This isn't just any old war. This is the start of that much talked-about time, the Day Of The Lord. It will come as destruction. The very start of this time will be utter destruction. That's how you know it's starting, when Babylon is destroyed.

8 ...They will be amazed at one another; Their faces will be like flames.

They won't even know what hit them. The citizens of America will be totally taken off guard. They won't believe this is happening. Babylon Won't Know

9 Behold, the day of the LORD comes, Cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, To lay the land desolate; And He will destroy its sinners from it.

Again, this is how the 'day' starts. It starts by laying the land desolate. What land? America.

11 "I will punish the world for its evil,...

This time isn't just about America. America is where judgment starts. But this time, this 'day', is about judging the world for it's sin and rebellion against God.

Isaiah 13...has it already happened?

*** Isaiah 21:12

9 "Babylon is fallen, is fallen! And all the carved images of her gods He has broken to the ground."

12 The watchman said, "The morning comes, and also the night. If you will inquire, inquire; Return! Come back!"

The morning comes. What morning?

Isaiah 17:14

...Then behold, at eventide, trouble! And before the morning, he is no more.

The morning is coming. Babylon is going to be destroyed in one hour, and in the morning she is gone. But then night comes. What is the night? The tribulation.

*** Zechariah 5

2 "I see a flying scroll."...

3 "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth: 'Every thief shall be expelled,' according to this side of the scroll; and, 'Every perjurer shall be expelled,' according to that side of it."

4 "I will send out the curse,"...

What is the scroll? It's represents the judgment of the tribulation. What time is being spoken of? When it is sent out...the start of the tribulation.

The context has been established. The backdrop of this vision is the start of the tribulation. Now let's get to the heart of the matter:

5 Then the angel who talked with me came out and said to me, "Lift your eyes now, and see what this is that goes forth."

6 So I asked, "What is it?" And he said, "It is a basket that is going forth." He also said, "This is their resemblance throughout the earth:

7 "Here is a lead disc lifted up, and this is a woman sitting inside the basket";

8 then he said, "This is Wickedness!" (Compare Revelation 18:2) And he thrust her down into the basket, and threw the lead cover over its mouth.

The Hebrew word "shalak" is used twice in this verse. It's a violent action meaning to cast away or cast down, throw away, throw down.

It's also a double judgment. As we've seen before "Babylon is fallen, is fallen."...stated twice to signify a double judgment.

Revelation 18:6 "Render to her just as she rendered to you, andrepay her double according to her works; in the cup which she has mixed, mix double for her.

v7 "In the measure that she glorified herself and lived luxuriously, in the same measure give her torment and sorrow; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.'

Now look at that word "basket". The Hebrew word is ephah and an ephah is a unit of measure. Now look at Revelation 18:7. It uses the word measure. The connection here should be obvious. The woman is being judged and she is positioned inside her judgment. First she is violently cast down. This is her first judgment. This is the nuclear destruction of America in one hour. Then a lead disc is placed over her. This is her second judgment. We are told exactly what this second judgment is in Jeremiah 51:42, 51:64 and Revelation 18:21. We are told she will ultimately suffer the same fate as Atlantis, where she will sink beneath the ocean waves.

10 ..."Where are they carrying the basket?"

11 And he said to me, "To build a house for it in the land of Shinar; when it is ready, the basket will be set there on its base."

Where is Shinar? It's Hebrew for Babylon.

*** Zephaniah 2:15

Here's the backdrop.

Zephaniah 1:2 "I will utterly consume everything From the face of the land," Says the LORD;

1:7 Be silent in the presence of the Lord GOD; For the day of the LORD is at hand, For the LORD has prepared a sacrifice; He has invited His guests.

1:14 The great day of the LORD is near; It is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; There the mighty men shall cry out.

The context is the tribulation...the Day of the Lord...the hour of God's judgment. It's an overview of the things that will take place at the beginning of the tribulation. If that were it then I'd have to say, yeah, Babylon is mentioned here but there's nothing to indicate her destruction comes first. Until you come to chapter 2 verse 14.

2:14 ... Desolation shall be at the threshold;...

What is the threshold? It's the door. My next thought is about the very start of that day.

2:15 This is the rejoicing city That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, "I am it, and there is none besides me." How has she become a desolation, A place for beasts to lie down! Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist.

Who is he talking about in verse 15?

* That dwelt securely, That said in her heart, "I am it, and there is none besides me."

Isaiah 47:8

"Therefore hear this now, you who are given to pleasures, Who dwell securely, Who say in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one else besides me; I shall not sit as a widow, Nor shall I know the loss of children';

See also:

Nahum 1:12,

1 Thessalonians 5:3

* Everyone who passes by her Shall hiss and shake his fist.

Jeremiah 50:13 Because of the wrath of the LORD She shall not be inhabited, But she shall be wholly desolate. Everyone who goes by Babylon shall be horrified And hiss at all her plagues.

Who Is Babylon?

One final note on this. If we don't know how tribulation starts then we are bound to get the other 'precepts' wrong. End-time prophecy is scattered throughout the Old and New Testaments like a giant puzzle. We are told that to understand we must add precept to precept and line upon line (Isaiah 28). If we get the start of tribulation wrong then often we will mess up other parts of the picture as well. For example, how can the tribulation only be 3 1/2 years as some say? We know that the remnant is told to flee to the wilderness when they see the abomination of desolation. In the wilderness they will be comforted for 1260 days, or 3 1/2 years. So the people of Babylon are delivered from nuclear holocaust, regathered to Zion (see Jeremiah 51:10) and then immediately flee to Bozrah? It makes no sense. And it also completely ignores the first 10 chapters of Isaiah. Isaiah 1-10 tell us that when her land is burned with fire (Babylon), then God will return Ephraim (10-Israel, the church) to Zion. Then God will bring an enemy against them (Judah and Israel) to sift them and refine them, through which they learn to trust God and they become one people, Jacob.