Alas, alas, that great city, ..... For in one hour she is made desolate

Rev 18:11-24

When the "woman" was judged, the "merchants of the earth" mourn and weep over her. This indicates the woman or great city, has been the greatest commercial hub of the world. It is a symbol of materialism, luxury and Godlessness. Though the merchants weep, they dare not go near for fear of the severe judgment being inflicted on her. The riches that the city build over the years is destroyed in an instant.

To further illustrate the point, the angel took a a great stone and threw it down the sea to show the suddenness of the destruction. The great city is named as Babylon, which may be symbolic of a great city or the rebuilt city of ancient Babylon. No matter which is true, it will be a great city that leads the seduction of all nations. The angel further explained that the merchants are not only commerce people, but are in fact leaders in the world. Babylon has deceived the nations with her sorceries and also destroyed God's prophets, saints and others.

Solomon Builds the Temple

Solomon began building the temple on Mount Moriah in Jerusalem, where the LORD had appeared to father, David. Interesting to note that Solomon began the building only at the fourth year of his reign, even though there had been great anticipation and great preparation for the building of the Temple since before his reign started. Perhaps this patience was also part of the wisdom of Solomon in that he did not rush into the project even though he knew he was appointed for it.

There was no expenses spared for the Temple, gold was used to overlay the interior of the Temple. Precious stoned were used to decorate many parts of the Temple. There was also mention of two pillars in front of the temple that was given the names of Jachin and Boaz for the right and left pillars respectively.



2 Chronicles 3

Solomon Builds the Temple

 1 Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD[a] had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan[b] the Jebusite. 2 And he began to build on the second day of the second month in the fourth year of his reign.
3 This is the foundation which Solomon laid for building the house of God: The length was sixty cubits (by cubits according to the former measure) and the width twenty cubits. 4 And the vestibule that was in front of the sanctuary[c] was twenty cubits long across the width of the house, and the height was one hundred and[d] twenty. He overlaid the inside with pure gold. 5 The larger room[e] he paneled with cypress which he overlaid with fine gold, and he carved palm trees and chainwork on it. 6 And he decorated the house with precious stones for beauty, and the gold was gold from Parvaim. 7 He also overlaid the house—the beams and doorposts, its walls and doors—with gold; and he carved cherubim on the walls.
8 And he made the Most Holy Place. Its length was according to the width of the house, twenty cubits, and its width twenty cubits. He overlaid it with six hundred talents of fine gold. 9 The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold; and he overlaid the upper area with gold. 10 In the Most Holy Place he made two cherubim, fashioned by carving, and overlaid them with gold. 11 The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits in overall length: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the room, and the other wing was five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub; 12 one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, touching the wall of the room, and the other wing also was five cubits, touching the wing of the other cherub. 13 The wings of these cherubim spanned twenty cubits overall. They stood on their feet, and they faced inward. 14 And he made the veil of blue, purple, crimson, and fine linen, and wove cherubim into it.
15 Also he made in front of the temple[f] two pillars thirty-five[g] cubits high, and the capital that was on the top of each of them was five cubits. 16 He made wreaths of chainwork, as in the inner sanctuary, and put them on top of the pillars; and he made one hundred pomegranates, and put them on the wreaths of chainwork. 17 Then he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left; he called the name of the one on the right hand Jachin, and the name of the one on the left Boaz.