182    The Bible and the Future of the World 

The Fall of the Great City (Rev 18) 

     And they threw dust on their heads, as they wept and mourned, crying 

out, `Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by 

her wealth! In one hour she has been laid waste. Rejoice over her, O heaven, 

O saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you 

against her!'   (Rev 18:19 20). 

    The city called Babylon is again the city of Rome; it is Rome as the capital 

of the kingdom of Antichrist. When the city is punished by God, those who 

benefited from its former prosperity mourn and weep. Yet these same people 

realize that Heaven and God's servants on earth are rejoicing. Even these 

evildoers see that the destruction of the city is from God. 

    The city of Rome will be destroyed after the end of the Church's great 

suffering, during the punishment from God on the kingdom of Antichrist. I 

do not know whether the fall of Babylon (Rome) will occur before the seven 

bowls full of plagues (Rev 14:8), or at the end of the seven plagues (Rev 

16:19). But the merchants and sailors who did business in that city are still 

alive to stand far off and mourn its demise (Rev 18:9 20), so the destruction 

of Rome occurs before God completely destroys the wicked on earth (Rev 

19:21). Holy Scripture does not always place every event's description in 

chronological order. 

    The city of Rome will be destroyed three times. Once during the war with 

the Arabs, World War III, (in July of 2013). A second time Rome will be 

destroyed when Antichrist and his followers attack the city (Rev 17:16), near 

the start of the Antichrist's reign (A.D. 2430). And a third time the city will 

be destroyed when God punishes the kingdom of Antichrist and its capital 

city, Rome, about the year A.D. 2438. 

The Battle at Armageddon (Rev 19) 

     Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon 

it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes 

war.... And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, 

followed him on white horses.  (Rev 19:11.14). 

     And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered 

to make war against him who sits upon the horse and against his army. And 

the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had 

worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of 

the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive 

into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone. And the rest were slain by the 

sword of him who sits upon the horse, the sword that issues from his 

mouth....  (Rev 19:19 21).