Destruction of Rome
The city of Babylon which is a mystical name for Rome in Rev. 18 is to be utterly consumed by the destructive judgments of God (verses 8-10). She is to be utterly burned with fire. Her former merchants will bewail her sudden catastrophe. The smoke of her burning will generate wonder and amazement (verse 18). The saints rejoice over her destruction (verse 20). “Thus With Violence shall that great city Babylon (Rome) Be Thrown Down, and shall be found no more at all” (verse 21).
All of this seems to mean that the city of Rome will be subjected to a fiery, violent destruction; and will cease to exist. while perhaps the smoke related to hr means of destruction, will continue to rise during the Millennium of her judgment at the hand of God. A volcanic eruption, or fiery cataclysm of some sort seems to be indicated. Rome will probably be engulfed in a fiery abyss. It may be that the condemned leaders will go down with Rome into the fiery pit like those who are associated with the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram went down “alive into the pit” (Numbers 16:29-33).
A Twofold Memorial
There will then be for the rest of the world to witness during the Millennium the graveyard or city of the dead where Gog and his atheistic multitude are buried; and smoke arising from the spot where the headquarters of the apostate religious system, with all of its signs and wonders, once stood in all its glory and magnificence. One will memorialize the end of atheism, and the other the end of the universal apostate religious system.
All the World Enlightened
Eventually, the whole world will be subjugated and enlightened with the knowledge of the glory of God. This will be done gradually, and in stages, but thoroughly and completely. It will take time. This will permit those who will to submit and be converted, and seek after God, because this is the real purpose of the establishment of the kingdom of God (Acts 15:16,17) Several invasions of different parts of the world may be in progress at the same time. The stages in the program of these events are given in Rev. 14.
The Stages of Development
There is first the enthronement of the Lamb and the 144,000 on Mount Zion as a result of the destruction of the Gogian host. Then there is the warning which issues from Christ and the saints to all nations to submit to God and “give glory to Him, for the hour of His kingdom is come,” or is impending (Verses 6 and 7). And then there is the destruction of Babylon (Rome). (See verse 8). A warning then goes forth to all the rest of the world concerning their attitude toward the Roman Catholic religious system (verses 9-11). In verses 14-20 there is repeated an outline of the stages of development in the execution of God’s judgments upon the world. Verse 14 represents Christ and the saints about to open the program of events. Verses 15 and 16 picture the opening stages of the destruction of the Gogian horde in the land of Israel (Joel 3:13). Verse 17 is the warning proclamations of verses 6 and 7. Verses 18 and 19 represent the execution of the judgment on the area of the territory of the ten horn dominion. And finally in verse 20, those remote areas in all the rest of the world outside the influence of the great city; such as many islands, and places not particularly affected by the doctrines of apostate Christianity.
The Grand Finale
When all this has been accomplished and order has been restored to the places affected by the execution of God’s judgments and “all the earth sitteth still and is at rest” (Zech. 1:14) and the temple of Ezekiel’s prophecy is completed and has been consecrated for use (Ezek. 43:25-27) and the first Passover is celebrated therein (Ezek. 45:21) and all Jews who desire have been gathered to the land of Israel (Isa. 11:11-16; Ezek. 20:40-42) and the people are ready to begin to go up to Jerusalem to worship from year to year; then the year one of the Millennium begins. Then the -“knowledge of the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea” (Hab. 2:14), and the “whole earth will be filled with His glory”: Amen and Amen (Psa. 72:19′).
Chronological Order of Events
Christ Comes
Rev. 16:15
Resurrection
1 Thess. 4:16; 2 thess, 2:1
Judgment Of The Responsible
1 Peter 4:17; Rev. 16:15; 1 Thess. 4:17
Gogian Confederacy Invades Israel
Rev. 16:16; Ezekiel 38; Joel 2 and 3; Zech. 14; Daniel 11:40-45
Israel Cries To God For Help
Joel 2:12-17
Israel Overrun And Crushed, Militarily And Politically
Ezek. 38:9; Dan. 11:41-45; Jer. 30:-4-7; Zech. 14:1 & 2; Joel 2:1-10
Two Thirds Of Israel Die
Zech. 13:8
Gog’s Army Marches Into Egypt
Dan. 11:42,43
Tidings Out Of The East And North: Sinai And Jerusalem
Dan. 11:44
Gog Goes Forth From Egypt To Utterly Destroy
Dan. 11:44
Goes Toward Jerusalem
Joel 3: 1,2; 9-16
Olivet Earthquake–Religious Shrines Topple
Zech. 14: 3,4; Ezek. 38:19-23
Way Of Escape For Jews; Trap For Gog
Zech. 14; 4,5; Isa. 24: 17-23; Ezek. 28:19-23
Gogian Host Smitten And Driven To Southern End Of Dead Sea Region
Joel 2:20; Isa. 17:12-14; Ezek. 39:11
Jews Inquire: Who is this
Isa. 63:1-6
Jesus Reveals Himself To Israel
Zech. 13:6; Zech. 12:10-14
Order Restored—Israel Rallies—Army Formed
Ezek. 37:10; Jere. 51 :19-23; Zech. 10:3-5
World is Called Upon to Submit — Judgments Threatened For Failure to do so
Rev. 14:6, 7; Isa. 18:3
Elijah Sent Before Coming Judgments On Nations
Mal. 4:4-6
Local Enemies Of Israel Subdued
Isa. 11:14
Temple Started
Zech. 6:12-15; Ezek. 40-48
Prepares Israel to carry war to Nations
Psa.. 2; Mic. 4:11; Mic. 5:8
Moves Into North To Free Jews
Zech. 6:1-8; Jer. 3:12-18; Jer. 16:14,15
Papal European Coalition Prepares To Resist
Rev. 17:12-14; Rev. 19:11-21
Jews Take Europe, Rome, Papal and other Leaders
Rev. 14:14-16; Rev. 17:14; Rev. 14:8-11
Papal Officials Receive Sentence By Divine Decree
Rev. 18; Rev. 17; Rev. 19
Volcanic Action Destroys Rome and Vatican Officials
Rev. 18
Rome Descends into Fiery Abyss—Smoke Arises
Rev. 18
Rest Of World Eventually Subdued And Converted
Rev. 14:17-20
Jews Gathered to Land of Israel
Isa. 11:11-16
Temple Consecrated
Ezek. 43:18-27
First Passover Celebrated
Ezek. 45:21
Nations Begin to Go to Jerusalem to Keep the Feast of Tabernacles
Zech. 14:16
Year One of the Millennium
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One