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Scripture Fulfilled: Rev. 17 & 18 Predicted the NY Attacks!
Revelation 17, 18 | September 15, 2001 | Hebrews 11:6

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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To: carlspackler
For a brand new newbie, you really have a way with words!

You came 'to post a question', yet the first two questions you have are rather questionable and your post, which is full of insults, has nothing to contribute.

I wonder how long you will last?

21 posted on 09/15/2001 12:27:45 PM PDT by Exit148
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To: Hebrews 11:6
Sorry Heb.11:6, but this isn't even close. The falling of Babylon prophesied in Revelation 17 and 18 is a total destruction economically and politically that causes the nations to mourn the loss of commerce for their goods.
22 posted on 09/15/2001 12:27:53 PM PDT by VRWCmember
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To: johniegrad
I didn't get to read this clowns reply(oh how will I live). We really should consider starting a school for disrupters at least it could improve the quality.
23 posted on 09/15/2001 12:30:04 PM PDT by Valin
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To: Hebrews 11:6
Let's start a list of all the events in the last few hundred years that have been "predicted" in Revelations as the start of the end of the world ...
1) The Hundred Years War
2) The American Revolution
3) The French Revolution
4) The War of 1812
5) The American Cival War
6) World War 1
7) The founding of the Soviet Union
8) World War 2
9) The founding of Communist China
10) The founding of Israel
11) The Korean War
12) The Vietnam War
13) The election of John F Kennedy
14) The assassination of JFK
15) The election of Richard Nixon
16) The fall of Richard Nixon
17) The election of Jimmy Carter
18) The election of Ronald Reagan
19) The attempted assassination of RR
20) The fall of the Soviet Union
21) The Iran-Iraq war
22) The Gulf War
23) The election of Bill Clinton
24, 25, 26, 27 .....

You get my point ... its an affront to God to use the Book of Revelation to predict the future.

24 posted on 09/15/2001 12:30:51 PM PDT by JPR_Boise_ID
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To: ConsistentLibertarian
Did anyone predict before Tuesday that Revelations would turn out after Tuseday to have predicted the NY attacks?

No, of course not. The secret decoder rings only work on Revelation once events have occurred. (Don't flame me Xtians, I'm one of ya)

25 posted on 09/15/2001 12:30:57 PM PDT by the808bass
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To: Hebrews 11:6
First thing to do: Learn the difference between exegesis and eisegesis.
26 posted on 09/15/2001 12:31:05 PM PDT by aruanan
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To: jude24
"Babylon" is not a particular place It is "the world," that is the "nation" of those who "worship" the things of the flesh.

"Babylon is fallen" simply signifies the overthrow of worldly, fleshly power in favor of the Kingdom of God.

27 posted on 09/15/2001 12:31:36 PM PDT by Illbay
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To: Valin
Darn it ... once again while composing my own reply I miss a really good disruptor post before it gets pulled. My own fault for being so verbose.
28 posted on 09/15/2001 12:35:11 PM PDT by JPR_Boise_ID
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To: Exit148
I wonder how long you (carlspackler) will last?

I clicked on his name to try to send an email and it said "no current FreeRepublic member with that name" (or something like that)." Someone had a quick finger on the "delete idiot" button, so I guess you don't have to wonder anymore about how long he will last.

29 posted on 09/15/2001 12:36:28 PM PDT by Gil4
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To: Hebrews 11:6
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.

This is statement is correct.


However we haven't gotten to Revelation 4:1 yet.

See this ! dailyChristian Thought Have you ever been confused by the book of Revelation?

Lookup !

1Co. 16:21 I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.
1Co. 16:22 If anyone does not love the Lord - a curse be on him.
Come, O Lord! [In Aramaic the expression Come, O Lord is
Marana tha.]
1Co. 16:23 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.

XeniaSt

30 posted on 09/15/2001 12:38:38 PM PDT by Uri’el-2012 (truth@YeshuaHaMashiach)
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To: Hebrews 11:6
While listening to airline passengers tell about having to land for an unexplained reason, it reminded me of the "Left Behind" movie and books. They were fun to read --- but they are fiction.

Is it Revelation? Prophecies of Christ were only realized after the events. This changes nothing but our perspective.

31 posted on 09/15/2001 12:40:30 PM PDT by eccentric
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To: Vindibudd
True. Babylon is Babylon. Revelation is the fulfillment of Daniel's 70th week, also known in Jereniah as the "time of Jacob's Trouble."

Hence, it is about Jews and the Middle East, not about America and the Christian Church.

32 posted on 09/15/2001 12:41:28 PM PDT by Stingray
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To: Hebrews 11:6
PLEASE GET A LIFE.................
33 posted on 09/15/2001 12:42:23 PM PDT by Cactus
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To: Hebrews 11:6
Wednesday Morning ... the most righteous and Christian person I've every known ... my Grand mother, passed away quitely. I have to admit ... it made me think of the Rapsody
34 posted on 09/15/2001 12:44:50 PM PDT by clamper1797
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To: clamper1797
And then I saw the Falwell was still with us and made me feel so much better
35 posted on 09/15/2001 12:45:36 PM PDT by clamper1797
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To: Cactus
You can make that old Bible mean anything you want to. Where were you a week ago? All the religious references on both sides of this conflict are perversions.
36 posted on 09/15/2001 12:45:51 PM PDT by Vinomori
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Idiots.
37 posted on 09/15/2001 12:47:49 PM PDT by babylonian
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To: the808bass
That's a turntable, right? I've heard of them. I work with a guy who's almost 50 and he tells me his Linn turntable is better than any CD player. But I've never heard a turntable. What are they like?
38 posted on 09/15/2001 12:49:15 PM PDT by ConsistentLibertarian
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To: ConsistentLibertarian, Hebrews 11:6, RevNan, PresbyRev, AntiTyrant, anymouse
I still think John Lennon was most prophetic of this event when he said "Corporation teeshirt, stupid bloody Tuesday, man you've been a naughty boy you let your face grow long. I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, I am the walrus - GOO GOO GA JOOB."

Note that "walrus" begins with a dubaya.

39 posted on 09/15/2001 12:50:10 PM PDT by Rockinfreakapotamus (FIGHT LIKE A BRAVE !!!)
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To: Vinomori
I like Nostradamus better than Revelation. I think it is easier to distort.
40 posted on 09/15/2001 12:51:03 PM PDT by appeal2
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