Hello Gino,

 

an earlier destruction of Mystery, Babylon?

 

I don't see The Revelation chapters as a linear timeline either.  I see some chapters as an 'overview' and others as more detailed and still others that overlap with each other.  Some dovetail into each other.  

 

Gino, I think I have as many questions as you about Mystery Babylon. 

 

I believe that Mystery Babylon (MB) is destroyed early in the Tribulation  - remember, I lean more towards a 1260 day Tribulation period than a 7 year time period.  (I see it more as a 7 year tribulation without the first 3.5 years of relative 'peace.')

 

I see the destruction of MB coming before the judgements - because of the kings, sailors, merchants and ships that stand off shore - these people see MB burning and wail at her loss.  So things in the 'sea/ocean' and elsewhere seem fairly normal.  Not any crazy stuff going on.

 

Since there are sailors and ships and merchants and kings watching Mystery Babylon burn, this must be before the judgments hit.  As the Tribulation progresses there is very much destruction to the seas/oceans -  -  the second vial has the sea becoming as the blood of a dead man and "every living soul died in the the sea"  Rev 16:3;  the second trumpet results in a third of the sea becoming blood and a third of the ships are destroyed Rev 8:7, 8, 9.; the sixth seal results in a great earthquake, the sun becomes black, the moon red and the stars of heaven fall to earth and the kings and rich men and mighty men and bondsmen hid in the dens and rocks of the mountains Rev 6: 12 - 17 - just a few examples.  So it seems MB is destroyed before all of that destruction hits.  If one is looking at a 7 year tribulation, then MB is destroyed before The Great Tribulation - the last 3.5 years because that's when the judgments hit.

 

It seems that the ships and sailors and kings would have more to be concerned about than the destruction of Mystery Babylon if the judgements had begun before MB's destruction - - just reading about the vials, seals, trumpets - they will have their hands full - every man for himself.

 

I write this because with all the destruction coming upon the seas...there has to be some 'normalcy' for the ships and sailors to be off shore lamenting the loss of MB - seems they'd be more concerned about the blood and dead sea life and the destroyed ships.  

 

So MB is destroyed so that the AC can take over the beast (beasts global rule/control?).  And the ten kings 'attached' to the beast give him their power.

 

Since I'm leaning more towards a 1260 day Tribulation period...things happen quickly (as in the last 3.5 years of a 7 year Tribulation) - MB is destroyed then the kings can give their kingdom, their power and authority to the AC for 'one hour' then at Armageddon they all unit and take on the Lamb with His armies.

 

"These kings have one purpose:  to yield their power and authority to the beast.  They give their kingdom to the beast.   They will make war against the Lamb and the lamb will triumph over them, ...He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones." Rev 17: 13,14  They rule with the AC for one hour.  We do not know how long one hour is.  

 

These ten kings certainly have a symbiotic relationship with MB - they've gotten rich off of her and do global business with her.  It looks like there are just ten kings in the world that hate her and destroy her - we are told they are doing the will of God.  Yet, "the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her."  Rev 18:9  So these 'kings' are not the ten that destroyed her. The ten that destroyed her are glad she is gone.  

 

I believe Mystery Babylon is certainly destroyed before Armageddon.  The ten kings hate her and they destroy her and rule 'one hour' with the beast.  So Mystery Babylon is gone when they hand over their power to the AC.

 

We are not told in The Revelation exactly when the judgments actually begin.  And over what length of time..other than they are wrapped up when Jesus returns.   I think they can happen quickly - maybe days, weeks, months...the judgments do overlap.  Things could happen quickly.

 

I use to see the AC as all powerful over the world, but he obviously isn't. There are other kings mentioned in Daniel and The Revelation.  And he has problems with some as per Daniel.   He's in the Middle East.  He's trying to destroy Israel and the Jewish people.  He's trying to prevent the return of Jesus and the setting up of His kingdom on Earth - the Millennial kingdom.  I believe these things are his purpose.  

 

Gino, I liked what you wrote about the Vatican and the U.S.   And now we have this new Pope - who I think could be the False Prophet.  Is everything getting put in place for the start of the Tribulation period?

 

As for the U.S., you mentioned "the Christians leave for heaven, then there will be no Christians left in the U.S. to be also consumed in this fiery judgment."  And the U.S. is out of the way in the Middle East for the Gog and Magog War.  This would certainly explain why the Lord said, "And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."  Rev 18:4.  That would be the Rapture.  The Rapture happens right before the Tribulation period starts with the destruction of Mystery Babylon.  Then the ten kings give the AC their power and authority and he sets up his kingdom in Israel/Jerusalem and reigns for 1260 days.

 

These are just my thoughts for now.  Thank you for your insightful and thoughtful letter - more questions than I can answer!

 

Maranatha!

 

Chance