Revelation 18:2, says, “And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” This passage is one of the most mysterious in all of scripture, and because it is concealed many have misinterpreted what or who it is for generations. The Bible says that at the fall of this Babylon that it would be overrun by the demonic. Jesus says something in Matthew 12:43-45, that gives us a key in understanding what happened to this fallen Babylon, saying “When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.” Jesus in this context was speaking to the scribes and Pharisees who asked Him to show them a sign to prove that He was the Messiah. Jesus called them an evil and adulteress generation. This same generation would lose the presence of the Most High in the temple in Matthew 23:35-38, Saying, “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. Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” The removal of the presence of God from the temple after the death of Christ on the cross is clearly seen when the veil of the temple was rent from the top to the bottom. But Jerusalem wouldn’t even notice Yahweh had left, and would continue to offer sacrifices for a generation. But as a result of this iniquity the book of Revelation says in Revelation 18:5, and 24 “For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities…And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” Not only did their continual sacrifices for sin not get accepted by God, but it would add iniquity unto iniquity because they rejected the Messiah who was the once for all sacrifice. Do you remember the passage of the unclean spirit going out of a man? The House and the man in this context is first century Jerusalem. Jesus had come to bring the kingdom, and anytime the kingdom comes demons are cast out by the power of God, but once they Rejected Christ and crucified the Lord of Glory, the devil returned to an invited empty house where he could bring seven more demons more wicked than himself. Jeremiah 9:11, says, “And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.” First century Jerusalem was the Babylon of Revelation 18, which was judged and destroyed in A.D.70, yet her judgment is not alone for the world is a Babylon! Christ fulfilled the law on the cross! The sting of death was sin, and the strength of sin was the law of Moses, but Jesus took sins strength away by nailing the law to the cross and shut the mouth of Satan against the believer. But Satan being the father of lies would try and say Christ has not fulfilled the law therefore deceiving many into being justified by the law, by keeping sabbaths, festivals, tithing or abstaining from supposed unclean meats. The scriptures say that the enemy would have intelligence with them that forsake the Holy Covenant, that is the New Covenant. For the scripture says of Satan that thou art wiser than Daniel. Paul said to the Galatian believers, who has bewitched you that you should not obey the Gospel? My friends, It is Satan the father of lies. 1 Timothy 4:1-3, says, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” The last days appeared when Christ came on the scene and upon his death on the cross established the mountain of the Lord, that Heavenly Jerusalem that Isaiah talked about that was ushered in by the Spirit. Satan knows he cannot undo his destruction, but what he will do is try to undo your understanding of the truth by the deception of doctrines of demons. Matthew 24:24, says, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.“ This is so vital for our understanding, that if possible the elect could be deceived, but the Lord Jesus will not let that happen to His chosen. Many are looking toward Israel yet they as a nation still has rejected the true Messiah, Jesus. But there is a remnant that is waiting on Christ to return. John 8:32, says, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” God is raising up those that walk in the discerning of Spirits to try all things in this season like never before. They are leaders that have been prepared for this time like never before.
-Anthony D. Booker
The GATHERING Place 