Just as Zion found refuge in ancient Babylon, so does Zion the Church find refuge in religious Babylon that will rise with the final World Empire.
Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, Like a woman in birth pangs. For now you shall go forth from the city, You shall dwell in the field, And to Babylon you shall go. There you shall be delivered; There the LORD will redeem you From the hand of your enemies. (Mic. 4:10 NKJ)
At first the "False Christ" "man of sin" will covenant with the world's religions, but then break it after 3.5 years:
Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate." (Dan. 9:27 NKJ)
For the first half of his reign, the False Christ is friends with the world's religions (Babylon the Great), but at mid-week he declares himself to be "the seed of Satan" (Gen. 3:15) "Son of Destruction" (2 Thess. 2:3-4) and his supporters burn Babylon the Harlot with Fire, because the Beast declares himself God and no longer needs the world's religions:
16 "And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (Rev. 17:16 NKJ)
When Babylon is destroyed, the political protection she gave the Church "in the wilderness" within her, is removed and all the haters of Christianity rise up to destroy it and the Great Tribulation to force the church accept the Mark of the Beast begins:
Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time;
and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished. (Dan. 12:7 NKJ)
8 And another angel followed, saying, "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication."
9 Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand,
10 "he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb.
11 "And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name."
12 Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Write:`Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'" "Yes," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them."
But before the bowls of God's wrath are poured out, the Church is raptured
14 Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and on the cloud sat One like the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle.
15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Thrust in Your sickle and reap, for the time has come for You to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."
16 So He who sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 Then another angel came o (Rev. 14:8-17 NKJ)
11 "And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.
12 "Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.
(Dan. 12:11-12 NKJ)
For a complete timeline of events:
When the First Seal is opened (Rev. 6:2) the First Half of End-Time "Week" of 7 Years (= 84 months; 2,520 days) begins: A disclaimer: I am a Cessationist, a believer in the sufficiency of Scripture (sola scriptura). Not one word of this is "thus saith the Lord prophecy". I pray its correct so...
endtimenews.net