‘Babylon’ is Biblical shorthand for ‘opposed to God’. It is the anti-God, seen in anti-church, and led by an anti-Christ. Its characteristics were established way back in Genesis 11:1-9, where humans banded together, not to build a tower, but to ‘make a name for ourselves’ (Gen.11:4) – the tower expresses this. It is to oppose God, on every level. It creates an ‘anti-church’, a community that is seduced by the lies of ‘I am God’ and seduced by the indulgence and materialism that goes with that. It is led by an ‘anti-Christ’, a messianic figure who mimics Jesus. And it will be defeated, by God.

Such an expression has been evident across all time – from the ruthless nature of Rome, through the horror of Nazism, into the materialism of communism, and now in our slavery today to materialism, authentic experiences, and economic wellbeing.

As we view the fall of Babylon, there should be rejoicing by God’s mob. But there should also be sobriety, as we reflect on how seductive Babylon is…