WHO IS BABYLON/HARLOT IN REVELATION?

[Eloy Craft]

Cain settled in China.

Before the flood?

 

[parousia70]

I wasn't there at Buffalo Bill's camp when the Pawnee Indians brought the huge bones of giants for him to see, and then told him about the flood the Great Spirit brought to destroy them. However, I tend to believe it, just as Buffalo Bill wrote it in his autobiography.

Wait... the Pawnee lived to tell Buffalo Bill about a flood the great spirit sent to destroy them?

How does that work?

sounds a little like Monte Python:

“She turned me into a Newt...”

“Wait...She turned you into a Newt?”

“I got better...”

 

[Davy]

Wait... the Pawnee lived to tell Buffalo Bill about a flood the great spirit sent to destroy them?

How does that work?

sounds a little like Monte Python:

“She turned me into a Newt...”

“Wait...She turned you into a Newt?”

“I got better...”

I searched out the oldest copies of Buffalo Bill's autobiography that I could find, just to see if he actually wrote that in his book. He did.

The editions I have go back to the 1920's. The 1st edition was around 1878, so the 1920's edition isn't too far away.

Not asking anyone to believe if they don't want to, likewise why should anyone want to believe The Bible either if they don't want to? It's much easier to make comparisons to comedians.

 

[Ligurian]

In Revelation 17:5, the Harlot appears as “Babylon the Great.”

She is repeatedly called “The Great City.”

We then encounter the phrase “the great city” in

Revelation 11:8 “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of THE GREAT CITY which is mystically called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.”

Two things to consider.

1. There is only one city throughout the Bible which is referred to as Sodom and Egypt and guess which city IT IS NOT? IT IS NOT ROME.

But the Bible does refer metaphorically to on multiple occasions Jerusalem as Sodom and Egypt.

2. Notice the last 6 words of Revelation 11:8 “WHERE ALSO THEIR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED.”

Jesus was NOT crucified in Rome.

Jesus WAS crucified in Jerusalem.

Therefore, The Harlot, and Babylon can be none other than Jerusalem NOT Rome.

Revelation 18:24 says “In her (Babylon) was found the blood of prophets and saints.”

This same language appears in Revelation 16:6, 17:6, and 18:21 and 18:24. John is making the same statements as Jesus made in Luke 11:50-51.

Luke 11:50-51: “In order that the blood of all the prophets, she’d since the foundation of the world may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the house of God, yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.”

Rome never killed an Old Testament prophet as per Revelation 18:24, but Jerusalem certainly did.

The New Testament shows over and over the Jewish persecution of the prophets (Matt. 23:29-37; Luke 6:23-26; Luke 11:47-50; Luke 13:34; Romans 11:3; 1Thessalonians 2:15; and Hebrews 11:32-38.)

The Harlot being drunk on the blood of the saints and prophets ONLY fits Jerusalem.

Last thing: Even the Harlot’s attire provides evidence of Jerusalem.

Revelation 17:4 The woman was clothed in "PURPLE AND SCARLET...”

Revelation 18:6 “Woe, woe, the great city clothed in fine linen and PURPLE and SCARLET...”

Notice the clothing of the Harlot is the exact clothing required of the priests who served in the Temple in Jerusalem (Exodus 28:4-5 and also verses 8-9.)

This attire of the harlot also matches the decor of the Temple (Exodus 26:1).

Lastly notice the harlot has headgear (Revelation 17:5)

And so did the High Priest who served in the Old Testament Temple (Exodus 28:36 -38).

The Harlot and Babylon again only fits Jerusalem and NOT ROME!


Most that identify Rome as Babylon do so because of the phrase “the city on 7 hills” and Rome certainly was known as the city on 7 hills, but what most don’t know or either forget is that Jerusalem was known first as the city on 7 hills.
1. The Mount of Olives
2. Mount Scopus
3. Mount of Corruption
4. Original Mount Zion/called Temple Mount
5. The New Mount Zion/called Western Hill
6. Mount Ophel
7. Antonia Fortress Hill

Agreed. Good job!
Rome is wrongly called the city and/or the beast. But Rome is neither one.

The woman is sitting on 7 hills, which are also called waters.
The peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues = the kings of the earth.

Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. … 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Now... having not read the rest of the posts in this thread, I think it's fair to assume that Rome will have been called the Inquisitionist by many of them. But since Pharisees and Jerusalem have both been called (Matthew 23:29 Matthew 23:35 Matthew 23:37) the killers... either Jerusalem or the Pharisees must have been ruling Rome when the Inquisition happened, etc. Let the chips fall where they may: Jesus must be believed.

 

[iamlamad]

In Revelation 17:5, the Harlot appears as “Babylon the Great.”

She is repeatedly called “The Great City.”

We then encounter the phrase “the great city” in

Revelation 11:8 “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of THE GREAT CITY which is mystically called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.”

Two things to consider.

1. There is only one city throughout the Bible which is referred to as Sodom and Egypt and guess which city IT IS NOT? IT IS NOT ROME.

But the Bible does refer metaphorically to on multiple occasions Jerusalem as Sodom and Egypt.

2. Notice the last 6 words of Revelation 11:8 “WHERE ALSO THEIR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED.”

Jesus was NOT crucified in Rome.

Jesus WAS crucified in Jerusalem.

Therefore, The Harlot, and Babylon can be none other than Jerusalem NOT Rome.

Revelation 18:24 says “In her (Babylon) was found the blood of prophets and saints.”

This same language appears in Revelation 16:6, 17:6, and 18:21 and 18:24. John is making the same statements as Jesus made in Luke 11:50-51.

Luke 11:50-51: “In order that the blood of all the prophets, she’d since the foundation of the world may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the house of God, yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.”

Rome never killed an Old Testament prophet as per Revelation 18:24, but Jerusalem certainly did.

The New Testament shows over and over the Jewish persecution of the prophets (Matt. 23:29-37; Luke 6:23-26; Luke 11:47-50; Luke 13:34; Romans 11:3; 1Thessalonians 2:15; and Hebrews 11:32-38.)

The Harlot being drunk on the blood of the saints and prophets ONLY fits Jerusalem.

Last thing: Even the Harlot’s attire provides evidence of Jerusalem.

Revelation 17:4 The woman was clothed in "PURPLE AND SCARLET...”

Revelation 18:6 “Woe, woe, the great city clothed in fine linen and PURPLE and SCARLET...”

Notice the clothing of the Harlot is the exact clothing required of the priests who served in the Temple in Jerusalem (Exodus 28:4-5 and also verses 8-9.)

This attire of the harlot also matches the decor of the Temple (Exodus 26:1).

Lastly notice the harlot has headgear (Revelation 17:5)

And so did the High Priest who served in the Old Testament Temple (Exodus 28:36 -38).

The Harlot and Babylon again only fits Jerusalem and NOT ROME!


Most that identify Rome as Babylon do so because of the phrase “the city on 7 hills” and Rome certainly was known as the city on 7 hills, but what most don’t know or either forget is that Jerusalem was known first as the city on 7 hills.
1. The Mount of Olives
2. Mount Scopus
3. Mount of Corruption
4. Original Mount Zion/called Temple Mount
5. The New Mount Zion/called Western Hill
6. Mount Ophel
7. Antonia Fortress Hill

Nailed it!

 

[ewq1938]

In Rev 11:2 before the Great Tribulation starts, Jerusalem is called "the holy city" so it was considered holy even right up to just before the Great Tribulation begins. Only during the 42 months of the AC's reign does the city become "Sodom and Egypt" because the abomination of desolation causes a spiritual desolation in Jerusalem. By Revelation 11:8 the Great Tribulation is almost over. Jerusalem is never a single time called Babylon in scripture but it is called Sodom and Egypt,. Jerusalem is a literal city where Babylon is a symbolic city, symbolized by a religious harlot that rides the ten horned beast. Babylon must therefore be something far larger and global than any one literal city. She is all cities and peoples of the entire world who accepts the false religion of the false god.

 

[ewq1938]

Most that identify Rome as Babylon do so because of the phrase “the city on 7 hills” and Rome certainly was known as the city on 7 hills, but what most don’t know or either forget is that Jerusalem was known first as the city on 7 hills.
1. The Mount of Olives
2. Mount Scopus
3. Mount of Corruption
4. Original Mount Zion/called Temple Mount
5. The New Mount Zion/called Western Hill
6. Mount Ophel
7. Antonia Fortress Hill

Jerusalem sits on at least 8 hills and I didn't even include some that you did so Jerusalem doesn't match a city of 7 hills.

Zion, Ophel, Moriah, Bezetha, Acra, Gareb, Goath, Herzl.

If we add both lists together there are much more than 7 hills.

 

[iamlamad]

In Rev 11:2 before the Great Tribulation starts, Jerusalem is called "the holy city" so it was considered holy even right up to just before the Great Tribulation begins. Only during the 42 months of the AC's reign does the city become "Sodom and Egypt" because the abomination of desolation causes a spiritual desolation in Jerusalem. By Revelation 11:8 the Great Tribulation is almost over. Jerusalem is never a single time called Babylon in scripture but it is called Sodom and Egypt,. Jerusalem is a literal city where Babylon is a symbolic city, symbolized by a religious harlot that rides the ten horned beast. Babylon must therefore be something far larger and global than any one literal city. She is all cities and peoples of the entire world who accepts the false religion of the false god.

Wrong. Jerusalem will be the city where the Beast and False Prophet will deceive THE ENTIRE WORLD!

 

[FredVB]

Agreed. Good job!
Rome is wrongly called the city and/or the beast. But Rome is neither one.

The woman is sitting on 7 hills, which are also called waters.
The peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues = the kings of the earth.

Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. … 18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Now... having not read the rest of the posts in this thread, I think it's fair to assume that Rome will have been called the Inquisitionist by many of them. But since Pharisees and Jerusalem have both been called (Matthew 23:29 Matthew 23:35 Matthew 23:37) the killers... either Jerusalem or the Pharisees must have been ruling Rome when the Inquisition happened, etc. Let the chips fall where they may: Jesus must be believed.

Jerusalem sits on at least 8 hills and I didn't even include some that you did so Jerusalem doesn't match a city of 7 hills.

Zion, Ophel, Moriah, Bezetha, Acra, Gareb, Goath, Herzl.

If we add both lists together there are much more than 7 hills.

The great issue and the descriptions shown for Mystery Babylon with all its attention in the Bible show it is more than any one city, which would not merit that. There are seven continents that human civilization has reached, all cities of civilization together match what is depicted in prophecy and they are godless and heading toward the coming collapse. We as people of God should not be staying here with that. Get away from the cities, and grow what things are needed, living sustainably, it can be, it should be, with other believers.

 

[Lost Witness]

The United States Is Mystery Babylon

 

[iamlamad]

Why can't people just believe John? The final verse in chapter 17 tells us that Mystery Babylon is "that great city." In a prevous chapter John tells us what city he cosidered the great city: its where Jesus was crucified.

This is not hard to understand: the Antichrist Beast and the False Prophet are going to make Jerusalem their headquarters city to deceive the ENTIRE WORLD. No other false religion has ever come close.

 

[ewq1938]

Rev_16:19 And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.

To identify Babylon all we have to do is find out who the wine of wrath is given to.

Rev 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:

Babylon literally means confusion. Being a harlot means Babylon serves a false God. Scripture says Babylon will be given the cup of the wine of the wrath of God, and scripture also says the one's who take the mark of the beast will be given the wine of the wrath of God so we know Babylon is comprised of all the confused and marked people of the Antichrist. Paul wrote of someone who would claim to be God, elevating himself above God and all the is worshiped showing that he was God. This is a false God, and believing and serving and worshiping him is a false religion, religious CONFUSION (Babylon/confusion).

The harlot Babylon is those deceived by false religion of this false God, who take the mark of the beast.

Babylon is symbolic city and a city is primarily made up of people. Babylon is also a woman, a symbolic woman and a woman in that sense is, again, symbolic of people.

 

[TribulationSigns]

Who is Mystery Babylon the Great?

1.) Not Rome.
2.) Not the United States.
2.) Not the Catholic Church.
3.) Not Preterism's 70A.D. Jerusalem.
4.) Not the modern Jewish city of Jerusalem.

She is Jerusalem, the congregation of God. She is a spouse who became a harlot.

So why is she "mystery?" The mystery or secret is that she is representing Christ, but is not really a follower of Him. Those inside think she is, but she is unfaithful. Moreover, it is not that she is "a" false church, but rather that she is "the" false church harboring the sinful or lawless man that rules within her. The mystery is that it is without the people realizing it. That's what the cryptic and paradoxical language illustrates. The Greek word translated mystery in Revelation 17 is [musterion] from [myein] meaning "to close or shut," and by extension something that is a secret. The mystery means it is something that would be dumbfounding, mystifying, bewildering, or perplexing. It means here that the imagery of this woman is an enigma that eludes the understanding of the people. For example, consider the context of John being perplexed by what he is seeing and the Messenger's response to him:

Revelation 17:7

• "And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns."

The angel is asking John, why are you amazed or mystified, and responds that He would tell him what this symbolic or cryptic woman symbolizes. The word translated marvel is [thaumazo] and means to be surprised/amazed or to wonder, as though you are perplexed by what you see. Note the messenger's question is WHY is John in amazement or puzzled by this Woman. Then he proceeds to explain that he would for all intents and purposes, solve the riddle for him. He would reveal to John the secret or mystery of this cryptic imagery. In other words, what was once a mystery (unexplained or unknown to John), this angel or Messenger of God would now reveal to him. And in the following verses, God proceeds to reveal that this woman is spiritually Babylon, the unfaithful representation of the woman that is the bride of Christ. Because this woman has unfaithfully gone after other gods and thus has become an unrighteous woman (become a harlot). He also reveals the Beast that carries her is of the nature and dominion of Satan, and that the ten horns are the fullness of power wherein he "rules" as king over her for a short period of time (1 hour). This is all appointed by God where Satan must be loosed from the pit for a short period to judge the church near His second coming.

Please note that "A" false church is not a mystery. But the complete fall of the externally covenanted church of God (like that experienced by the nation Israel representing the Old Testament congregation over 2000 years ago), is. And just as Old Testament Israel then couldn't imagine the whole congregation could fall, so the New Testament congregation, the church, TODAY can't imagine that it can fall. That's the secret or mystery to them because they are unfaithful, refusing to receive the love of God in truth. It is something hard for the average Christian to imagine. Just as it was years ago when the congregation of O.T. Israel couldn't imagine it. It is not something new, but again it seems we do not learn from history--Biblical or otherwise. Listen to O.T. Israel's lamentation of how the people just couldn't believe that Israel would have fallen.

Lamentations 4:12-13

• "The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
• For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her,"

No one believed that God would allow the adversary Satan to enter into the gates of that great city of God, Jerusalem. Their sins were hidden (secret) to them where they never even expected God's judgment would come upon them. But it was revealed to God's servants, even as to John concerning the New Testament CHURCH that would abandon the man of God to serve the sinful man or man of sin. Even as no one in the nation of Israel would have thought that they would be blinded (in part) and fall where they would no longer be the representation of the Kingdom of God on earth (Matthew 21:43). But Israel was blinded as a nation and fell, didn't it? It was hidden from their eyes, it was the great mystery. Likewise, today Christians think they are somehow better than Israel, and it cannot happen to them and their church. They continue their abominations within the house of God oblivious to its coming judgment. But they've got it all wrong because they didn't learn from Biblical history.

Some will protest that there have been false churches since the time of the Apostles, and that is true. But God is not spending all these chapters talking about "A" false church in New York, Rome, or Jersualem that will fall. And again, the context tells the tale of how the Babylonian church is a mystery. Even to the Apostle John before it was revealed to him by this messenger. It is a mystery because this woman Babylon has a form, an outward appearance of Godliness, but that is only cloaking or covering up her secret, which is her true beastly nature in service to the man of sin. Selah.

Revelation 17:4

• "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:"

This is the outward appearance of queenship. This woman Babylon is all decked out with purple and scarlet as royalty, even as the Tabernacle of God (Exodus 26:1) was, and with this beautiful cup of Gold. Note the symbolism that its outward "appearance" hides the filth inside it. Babylon's confusion is this mystery or unseen truth that will only be revealed to God's Elect today as the Messenger reveals it to John. Those with the Spirit of God, will have it revealed by the messenger of God to discern both who she is, what she is serving up, and her true nature. And they discern this not by the outward appearance of the church (as of appearance) but by what filth she is offering from this cup. By her changing laws, and doctrines, by her collusion, deceit, unfaithfulness, and compromise. In a word, it is "confusion," meaning Babylon! God's servants "SEE" this abomination not by the appearance of her cup that appears to be of great value, but by seeing the abominations within it.

Matthew 24:15-16

• "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: )
• Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:"

Why do you think God adds here that "whoever reads this, let him understand!" Well, because it is a mystery, a spiritual enigma that is not easy to understand. It is illustrating the lawlessness of unfaithful people in God's house (abomination standing in the holy place), in cryptic language. God was not talking about a certain physical city, but his congregation. Even saying God's servants are to flee Judea to the Mountains. The Mountains are symbolism of the protection where God resides (Psalms 36:6; Psalms 125:2). In symbolism, what or where is the Holy Place on this side of the Cross for Christians? Unfortunately, as I also saw on this forum, there are professing Christians all over claiming this is all about the middle east city of Jerusalem with the rebuilt new temple, others claiming it is about Jerusalem in 70 AD and the Romans, others claiming it is about a certain religion in Rome, so on and so forth. But God wants "His people" to "read and understand" that the truth of this mystery is "spiritually discerned." No man knows what God is talking about, nor can he. The mystery has to be revealed "by God's word" through the Spirit. It gets redundant, but is worth repeating:

1st Corinthians 2:10-14

• "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
• For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
• Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
• Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
• But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

That's why God highlights and emphasizes in Matthew 24 when speaking cryptically about the church that, "whoso readeth, let him understand." Because the Holy Place where this abomination stands is a mystery that remains hidden from people who are not spirit-filled and Christ-centered. They simply cannot refuse or believe that God would do this to His own church, His own people, His own Holy Place, His own Holy Temple today. It makes no sense to them because they are reading the Bible, but are not really listening to it.

The golden cup of the New Testament in her hand illustrates her will. In Scripture, the hand is symbolic of the will. The Cup is the offering. Its outward appearance is as Gold, which is valuable and precious, but the Messenger reveals to God's people that the cup is full of abominations and the filthiness of her "spiritual fornication" of abandoning her God.

As for why church is called "Babylon", it is twofold. Because she holds the people therein captive as Babylon did with the Old Testament Israel, and because she professes Christ while under rule of Satan. Thus she is babel or Confusion. In other words, confusion because she is trying to have it both ways in offering testament of the cup of Christ, while serving in the dominion of the Beast. But those are two diverse tables where God's people cannot sit.

1st Corinthians 10:21

• "Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."

Babylon is babel or confusion (Babel meaning confusion, Genesis 11:9). I've had arguments with Christians here who have vehemently defended the untenable position that they would remain in their church even if the man of sin ruled there. Because (in their own reasoning) God wants them to continue to fight there and regain control. This is foolishness, but sad to say most Christians are worshiping the church and not Christ. They do not see the difference and they cannot see what is the mystery, which is the hidden filthiness inside the outward appearance of a golden cup. We are not to be partakers with her in (Revelation 18:4) by remaining in that city, but are to depart out of such an abominable place. When you see an abomination stand in the Holy place, flee to the mountains. It's a COMMAND, not a suggestion. So there will only be FEW people understand that God has given her a title written, Babylon, because she is such a mystery or secret to them.

Selah!

@Spiritual Jew
@Sovereign Grace

 

[TribulationSigns]

Now if Babylon the Great is NOT the church, then what is the secret of her to the church that needs to be revealed to its servants? There is no mystery of the world system to the servants of God. Every believer should know that the world is the Devil's kingdom, and friendship with her makes us enemies of God. The world and its system are "NOT" a mystery or secret to the people of the church. What is a mystery to the church is its people within it being deceived. This is what deception is! It's the people there not knowing that they don't have the truth because they are deceived. It's a mystery or secret to them. Period! And except God reveal it to them, Babylon will remain a secret to them. Even as the word of God warned its people time and time again.

2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4

• "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
• Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

It's not that God has not revealed the mystery, it's that SO MANY PEOPLE in the church are BLINDED to the mystery because of their sins. Just as the Old Testament congregation of Israel was before them! You may ask, "what is a mystery (Revelation 17:7) to the church?" ...the answer is, to many it is the degradation of its composition. Just as it was a mystery to God's Old Testament congregation over 2000 years ago that Gentiles were going to be a part of it. Likewise, it is a mystery that iniquity was in it but it was being hindered by God in its working so that a remnant (the true believers of the congregation) could be sealed. A mystery that the Priests, Scribes, and Pharisees, never could figure out, as they believed ALL Israel was God's chosen people. A mystery that was also revealed to the messengers of the seven churches of Asia. Even as He warned the Messengers of those churches:

Revelation 2:16-17

• "Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
• [He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

As God warned the messengers of those churches, so God warns the messengers of today's churches. But they (to a large degree) are not hearing Him because "truth" is a mystery to them.

Babylon in Revelation is noted by God as a symbol or representation of the one great city called "Jerusalem", the church as it has fallen into captivity because she has been deceived and is deluded that she is serving God. Just as the Old Testament congregation of Israel was. Her true composition is a secret/mystery to most in her "because" they are unfaithful people who are under a strong delusion because they refuse to receive the love of God's truth. Just like many here who say, "No, no, no... our church can't be Babylon because it is God's people." ...Ha, just like Old Testament Israel said! Or as God also illustrated many times.

Lamentations 4:12-13

• "The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem.
• For the sins of her prophets, and the iniquities of her priests, that have shed the blood of the just in the midst of her."

It's always for the same reason. God's people were overcome by the enemy because of her own sins. The moniker Babylon is to represent captivity. Even as Old Testament Israel went into captivity in Babylon as an example because of her sins. The mystery of Babylon is seen in the imagery of Revelation chapter 17 where we see that superficially (on the outside) she "appears" good, clean, valuable, precious, the righteous congregation of the Lord. But it is further revealed that within the golden cup that she offers, is hypocrisy, filth, uncleanness, and abominations to God. This is how she deceives by sight, rather than the evidence of her works. A tree is known by its fruits, not its appearance as a tree. This harlot appears as clothed in Royalty (see the appearance of the Lord's priests in the Old Testament), but her appearance hides her abominations. Just like many New Testament churches today, especially Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston for example. That is the secret or mystery, and also why (without the grace of God) many professing Christians mistake her (deceived by her) to be the beautiful, royal, kingly, house of God. She is contemptuously mimicking (Jeremiah 52:19) the Lord's house.

Revelation 17:4-5

• "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
• And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

The Holy Spirit reveals to God's true people the mystery of just who she really is, why she is called Babylon, who is the beast that carries her, and what are the abominations that she carries within her precious looking/appearing cup.

Revelation 17:7

• "And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns."

The messenger of God reveals to His servants the secret of who she is and who the beast is. Thus we need not marvel that God does not reveal to many professed Christians who are NOT really His servants, who she really is.

See, per Revelation 20, Satan was bound with a chain and restrained in the church after Christ's crucifixion. But the mystery is that there are still workers of iniquity that secretly dwell in the corporate church, yet they have been restrained for the last 2000 years so that the nations/gentiles could be loosed from being deceived. Even as among the twelve apostles, there was still the mystery of a traitor (Judas) "secretly" dwelling among the eleven elect of the group. He was waiting until his appointed time to reveal himself and cause Christ's death. The others DIDN'T KNOW of his treachery until it was revealed to them later. So when you ask, when is the mystery revealed, the answer is that it is revealed in God's own appointed time (as the scripture I'll quote below says unambiguously). Revealed as God predetermined it to be, and according to His own purpose and will, even as it was kept secret about Judas until the other disciples needed to know. The iniquity of Satan is restrained in the church by God according to His work on the cross, but only until the thousand years are finished and all the children of Israel to be sealed, are sealed.

2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7

• "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
• For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way."

Letteth means restraineth. The mystery is how there has always been iniquity in the church (see the 7 churches of Asia) as there have always been those who were rebellious there, but God has been withholding and retraining them there by His Spirit so that He could build His church with His Elect. That was the real purpose of Satan being bound!! It was so God could call his election from the deceived nations of the world. It was "for this reason" Satan was bound and iniquity restrained.

Revelation 20:3

• "And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season."

And Revelation 20 explains that after the millennial reign of Christ's kingdom on earth, that is to say, after all the election of Israel that God intends to seal has been sealed (Revelation11) plus when the testimony of Two Witnesses for the purpose of sealing the Elect is finished, THEN Satan is once again loosed. Because his reason for being bound has been accomplished! Selah! At this time God will stop withholding Satan's power of iniquity, loosing it to bring a strong delusion in the church as judgment for their refusing to receive truth. Even as many here won't today. Then God will reveal this mystery to His Sealed people, the Elect who shall flee out of this spiritual Babylon to the mountains, wherein dwelleth their God. There they watch this "once great city" fall and burn, never to be inhabited by God's people and commerce again!

2nd Thessalonians 2:6-11

• "And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
• For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
• And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
• Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
• And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
• And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"

When that great spiritual city Babylon falls, then shall God's elect mourn for her for a short season before the Lord returns on the clouds of Glory, and His people shall be changed, and shall forever be with Him as the books are opened and the wicked shall be judged.

Hope this helps!

 

[FredVB]

Now if Babylon the Great is NOT the church, then what is the secret of her to the church that needs to be revealed to its servants? There is no mystery of the world system to the servants of God. Every believer should know that the world is the Devil's kingdom, and friendship with her makes us enemies of God. The world and its system are "NOT" a mystery or secret to the people of the church.

Yes, it is still a mystery. Believers are in the system and generally can't see it with living in it and hearing only what is spoken in it. Leaders in Christianity did not know so they made their best guesses, with using passages, and would tell followers in their church that it was another church. Most believers then understand it that way, and speak for that. Others make their own best guesses with passages they use, and figure out it is one certain city, or another. But Revelation 18 is still mostly disregarded, where it is shown what is characterizing what it calls Mystery Babylon. And it is showing that it is all cities of civilization. That remains a mystery because believers generally are not ready and don't want to learn that where they are is Mystery Babylon, that they should get out from there. And we do not belong in Mystery Babylon. If we do not listen to others interpretations, and that is what they are, and learn more about what is going on, the fulfilling of prophecies will be seen, and telling signs are all around that cities of civilization are all collectively the Mystery Babylon that will fall and collapse. It is not godly, and never was, but believers who are prospering (not all are though) are materialistic along with the culture around them, and would not just be willing to depart from what they have here, even while it is with what there is destruction to this earth from it that God hates (Revelation 11:18) along with all the exploitation Revelation 18 speaks of. God never started or endorsed the civilization that comes to this, it was never godly. Believers need to come out, any who would not continue to be a part of that should come out.

 

[TribulationSigns]

Yes, it is still a mystery. Believers are in the system and generally can't see it with living in it and hearing only what is spoken in it. Leaders in Christianity did not know so they made their best guesses, with using passages, and would tell followers in their church that it was another church. Most believers then understand it that way, and speak for that. Others make their own best guesses with passages they use, and figure out it is one certain city, or another. But Revelation 18 is still mostly disregarded, where it is shown what is characterizing what it calls Mystery Babylon. And it is showing that it is all cities of civilization. That remains a mystery because believers generally are not ready and don't want to learn that where they are is Mystery Babylon, that they should get out from there. And we do not belong in Mystery Babylon. If we do not listen to others interpretations, and that is what they are, and learn more about what is going on, the fulfilling of prophecies will be seen, and telling signs are all around that cities of civilization are all collectively the Mystery Babylon that will fall and collapse. It is not godly, and never was, but believers who are prospering (not all are though) are materialistic along with the culture around them, and would not just be willing to depart from what they have here, even while it is with what there is destruction to this earth from it that God hates (Revelation 11:18) along with all the exploitation Revelation 18 speaks of. God never started or endorsed the civilization that comes to this, it was never godly. Believers need to come out, any who would not continue to be a part of that should come out.

Basically, you are insisting that Mystery Babylon is simply the world - the "cities of civilization". Sorry, your position on this is already out of the window for God clearly said in Revelation 18 which you claimed was disregarded by many:

Rev 18:2-3
(2) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
(3) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

What you fail to understand is that Babylon is a woman who was ONCE FAITHFUL REPRESENTATIVE OF GOD'S KINGDOM but has BECOME the habitation of devils. The "Cities of Civilization" were always in Satan's dominion since the fall of man. They were NEVER a representative of God's kingdom! Not at all. Mystery Babylon is the New Testament Congregation that eventually becomes unfaithful near the end where she has become a home of the false prophets and christs with the spirit of antichrist (foul spirit, unclean and hateful birds).

And God commanded His people to come out of Babylon. So ask yourself honestly, how will God's Elect need to come out of the "world" only to stand afar off to mourn over her? Your position does not make sense. Per Matthew 24, it is the New Testament congregation that the Elect needs to come out when they see the abomination of desolation, standing in the HOLY PLACE, standing afar mourning over the church for who she once was but is now under the judgment of God. Your so-called "cities of civilization" was never considered holy place anyway since they never represented God before the fall!

Selah!

 

[FredVB]

Basically, you are insisting that Mystery Babylon is simply the world - the "cities of civilization". Sorry, your position on this is already out of the window for God clearly said in Revelation 18 which you claimed was disregarded by many:

Rev 18:2-3
(2) And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
(3) For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

What you fail to understand is that Babylon is a woman who was ONCE FAITHFUL REPRESENTATIVE OF GOD'S KINGDOM but has BECOME the habitation of devils. The "Cities of Civilization" were always in Satan's dominion since the fall of man. They were NEVER a representative of God's kingdom! Not at all. Mystery Babylon is the New Testament Congregation that eventually becomes unfaithful near the end where she has become a home of the false prophets and christs with the spirit of antichrist (foul spirit, unclean and hateful birds).

And God commanded His people to come out of Babylon. So ask yourself honestly, how will God's Elect need to come out of the "world" only to stand afar off to mourn over her? Your position does not make sense. Per Matthew 24, it is the New Testament congregation that the Elect needs to come out when they see the abomination of desolation, standing in the HOLY PLACE, standing afar mourning over the church for who she once was but is now under the judgment of God. Your so-called "cities of civilization" was never considered holy place anyway since they never represented God before the fall!

Selah!

Yes, I say it is because it is according to many passages, you are false, I do not disregard anything. You object with this one metaphorical passage, that I dealt with, "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird."

 

[Emun]

In Revelation 17:5, the Harlot appears as “Babylon the Great.”

She is repeatedly called “The Great City.”

We then encounter the phrase “the great city” in

Revelation 11:8 “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of THE GREAT CITY which is mystically called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.”

Two things to consider.

1. There is only one city throughout the Bible which is referred to as Sodom and Egypt and guess which city IT IS NOT? IT IS NOT ROME.

But the Bible does refer metaphorically to on multiple occasions Jerusalem as Sodom and Egypt.

2. Notice the last 6 words of Revelation 11:8 “WHERE ALSO THEIR LORD WAS CRUCIFIED.”

Jesus was NOT crucified in Rome.

Jesus WAS crucified in Jerusalem.

Therefore, The Harlot, and Babylon can be none other than Jerusalem NOT Rome.

Revelation 18:24 says “In her (Babylon) was found the blood of prophets and saints.”

This same language appears in Revelation 16:6, 17:6, and 18:21 and 18:24. John is making the same statements as Jesus made in Luke 11:50-51.

Luke 11:50-51: “In order that the blood of all the prophets, she’d since the foundation of the world may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the house of God, yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation.”

Rome never killed an Old Testament prophet as per Revelation 18:24, but Jerusalem certainly did.

The New Testament shows over and over the Jewish persecution of the prophets (Matt. 23:29-37; Luke 6:23-26; Luke 11:47-50; Luke 13:34; Romans 11:3; 1Thessalonians 2:15; and Hebrews 11:32-38.)

The Harlot being drunk on the blood of the saints and prophets ONLY fits Jerusalem.

Last thing: Even the Harlot’s attire provides evidence of Jerusalem.

Revelation 17:4 The woman was clothed in "PURPLE AND SCARLET...”

Revelation 18:6 “Woe, woe, the great city clothed in fine linen and PURPLE and SCARLET...”

Notice the clothing of the Harlot is the exact clothing required of the priests who served in the Temple in Jerusalem (Exodus 28:4-5 and also verses 8-9.)

This attire of the harlot also matches the decor of the Temple (Exodus 26:1).

Lastly notice the harlot has headgear (Revelation 17:5)

And so did the High Priest who served in the Old Testament Temple (Exodus 28:36 -38).

The Harlot and Babylon again only fits Jerusalem and NOT ROME!

Very well explained.

Most that identify Rome as Babylon do so because of the phrase “the city on 7 hills” and Rome certainly was known as the city on 7 hills, but what most don’t know or either forget is that Jerusalem was known first as the city on 7 hills.
1. The Mount of Olives
2. Mount Scopus
3. Mount of Corruption
4. Original Mount Zion/called Temple Mount
5. The New Mount Zion/called Western Hill
6. Mount Ophel
7. Antonia Fortress Hill

The mountains are symbolic. The first 6 mountains represent the kingdoms from Neo-Babylon to Rome.

1. Neo-Babylon (Lion/Gold)
2. Medo-Persia (Bear/Silver)
3. Alexander's Macedonia (leopard, 1st head/bronze)
4. Ptolemaic (Leopard, 2nd head/Bronze)
5. Seleucid (Leopard, 3rd head/Bronze)
6. Rome (Leopard, 4th head/Bronze)

Revelation implies that Babylon the Great had influence since the first head and killed prophets. This undoubtedly disqualifies Rome, since Rome only played a role from the 6th head on. Only Jerusalem can be Babylon, since it has had influence and killed prophets since the 1st head.

 

[Emun]

He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality, and upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.” I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. (Rev. 17:3-6)

The Great Harlot that John sees riding the Beast is first century Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, the home of the Temple of God. Let me show you the evidence.

The first line of evidence that Jerusalem is the Harlot is the perfect correspondence with Revelation’s theme. John writes Revelation as a prophecy of Christ’s judgment against those who “pierced him” (Rev. 1:7) The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes Israel’s covenantal culpability in Christ’s death. Paul, a Hebrew of the Hebrews (Phil. 3:5), observes regarding the Jews: they “Both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men” (1Thess. 2:15). Consequently, he notes “the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost” (1 Thess. 2:16).

We must understand that this theme of judgment on Israel is limited to first century Israel. Revelation specifically mentions the Treading down of her Temple---which no longer exists (it was destroyed in AD 70) and has not existed for 2000 plus years (Rev. 11:1-2; Luke 21:20-24).

Since the Harlot represents first century Jerusalem, this fits perfectly with John’s “must shortly come to pass” time statements (Rev. 1:1-3; 22:6, 10). This also perfectly fits Jesus’ denunciation of the first century Jews, when he calls them an “adulterous generation” (Matt. 12:39; 16:4; Mark 8:12, 38; Luke 11:29).

He repeatedly rebukes the first century Jews in “this generation” (Matt. 11:16-19) as an “evil generation” (Matt. 12:41-45), an “unbelieving and perverted generation” (Matt. 17:17), and “a wicked generation” (Luke 11:29).

He emphatically prophesies that “all the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the house of God: yes I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation” (Luke 11:50-51).


In Revelation, the Harlot appears as “Babylon the Great” (Rev. 17:5). She is repeatedly called “the great city” (Rev. 16:19; 17:18; 18:10, 16, 18, 21).

Revelation 11:8: And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.

Here, “the great city” is specifically tied to the place “where also their Lord was crucified.” This must refer to Jerusalem, for that is the historical site of Christ’s crucifixion (Luke 13:33; Matt. 23:34-37).


How lonely sits the city that was full of people! She has become like a widow who was once great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a forced laborer! (Lam. 1:1)

John even uses Jeremiah’s widow imagery from Lamentations in his description of the Harlot:

To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning, for she says in her heart, “I sit as queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.” (Rev. 18:7)

Jerusalem fits the concept of a “great city” covenentally and historically. In Revelation, she appears as the “great city” and the “Great Harlot.”

John frequently presents the Harlot to his reader as “filled with the blood of the saints.”

In her was found the blood of prophets and saints and all who have been slain on the earth. (Rev. 18:24)

This same language appears in Revelation 16:6; 17:6, and 18:21, 24. John is apparently reflecting on a statement made by Christ to the leaders of Israel:

In order that the blood of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the world, may be charged against this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the house of God, yes, I tell you, it shall be charged against this generation. (Luke 11:50-51)

Not only is the language strikingly similar, but the time frames match: John speaks of events that “must shortly take place,” while Jesus speaks of this judgment occurring in “this generation.”

Israel’s persecution against Christians recurs throughout the Bible.

I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and putting both men and women into prisons, as also the high priest and all the Council of the elders can testify. From them I also received letters to the brethren, and started off for Damascus in order to bring even those who were there to Jerusalem as prisoners to be punished. (Acts 22:4-5; see also the following chapters in Acts: 4-9; 11-14; 17-26).

Stephen denounces Israel with these words:

You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit. You are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. (Acts 7:51-52)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentions Israel’s persecution of the prophets:

Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:12)

The New Testament returns over and over to the theme of Jewish persecution of the prophets. (Matt. 23:29-37; Luke 6:23-26; 11:47-50; 13:34; Romans 11:3; 1Thess. 2:15; and Heb11:32-38) The Harlot’s being drunk on the blood of the saints and prophets well fits Israel’s history.


Stephen charged Israel with breach of covenantal Law: You “received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it” (Acts 7:53) In all of this, we must remember Jesus came to his own and his own did not receive him (John 1:11). This is Jesus’ message in Matthew 23:37-38:

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling. Behold, your house is being left to you desolate! (Matt. 23:37-38)

The whole book of Hebrews lays out the heightened failure of the Jewish rejection of Christ.

Anyone who has set the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay. The Lord will judge His people. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Heb. 10:28-31)

Israel’s failure is so great that John presents her as the Great Harlot drunk on the blood of God’s people! So not only is she guilty of “piercing” the Messiah (Rev. 1:7), she is unrepentant and even exacerbates her rebellion by attacking His followers.

John provides two short, but revealing statements about the harlot’s garments.

The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality. (Rev. 17:4)

Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. (Rev 18:16)

Her dress reflects her covenantal status as a kingdom of priests, particularly reminding the first century reader of Jerusalem’s central Temple and its prominent High Priest (note his great authority in Acts 23:4). In Exodous 28 we read of the High Priest’s ritual attire:

These are the garments which they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a tunic of checkered work, a turban, a sash, and holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister as priest to me. They shall take the blue and purple and scarlet material and the fine linen…the skillfully woven band, which is on it, shall be like its workmanship, of the same material: of gold, blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen. (Exo. 28:4-5; 8-9)

This attire also matches the décor of the Temple.

You shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material, you shall make them with the cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. (Exo. 26:1)

The Old Testament descrition of the Temple points out that the altar (which received the blood of sacrifices, Exo 24:6; 29:12; Lev. 1:5) was gold---like the cup from which the Harlot drank the blood of the saints:

The whole altar which was by the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold (1 Kgs. 6:22)

In fact, the Temple contained numerous gold utensils:

Let the gold and silver utensils of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took from the temple in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be returned and brought to their places in the temple in Jerusalem, and you shall put them and them in the house of God. (Ezra 6:5)

The historian Josephus gives us an eyewitness description of the first century Temple, which parallels the Harlot’s dress.

The temple’s tapestry was Babylonian tapestry in which blue, purple, scarlet, and linen were mingled. (War 5:5:4)

The greatest part of the vessels that were put in them was of silver and gold. (War 5:4:5)

An interesting detail regarding the Harlot’s attire regards her headgear:

Upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlot’s and of the Abominations of the Earth. (Rev. 17:5)

John’s focus on her forehead is significant. In the description of the High Priest in the Old Testament, we read:

You shall make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave “Holy to the Lord”…It shall be on Aaron’s forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all their holy gifts, and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord. (Exo. 28:36, 38)

John dresses the Harlot in a way that draws out attention to her forehead. When we look there we see the opposite of what appears on the forehead of the High Priest, showing John’s estimation of what the Holy City, Temple of God, and priesthood have become. Interestingly, Jeremiah also mentions the harlotrous forehead of Jerusalem in Jeremiah 3:3.

Among the prophets of Jerusalem, I have seen a horrible thing. The committing of adultery and walking in falsehood. They strengthen the hands of evildoers so that no one has turned back from his wickedness. All of them have become to Me like Sodom, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah. (Jer. 23:14)

John applies to Jerusalem names involving evil biblical associations:

Their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city, which mystically is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified (Rev. 11:8).

Note that he calls this city “mystically” Sodom and Egypt, but that he actually locates it at the place, “where also their Lord was crucified,” which we know is Jerusalem (Luke 9:31; 13:33; 18:31; 24:18).

Later in Revelation, John calls Jerusalem, “Babylon.” He appears to do this because of the soon coming destruction of the Second Temple, the Temple of Jesus’ day. The first Temple had been destroyed by historical Babylon in the Old Testament (2 Kings 25:8-9; 2 Chr. 36:17-20; Ezra 5:12; Jer. 52:13). Now Jerusalem is aligned with Babylon as a Temple destroyer for causing the final destruction of the house of God.

John structures two major female images in Revelation as positive and negative images. He names the Harlot as “Babylon the Great” and presents her evil character in Revelation 17. John also presents her destruction in chapters 18 and 19.

He cried out in a mighty voice saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, a prison of every unclean and hateful bird. (Rev. 18:2)

Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come. (Rev. 18:10)

A strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it in the sea, saying, Thus will be Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. (Rev. 18:21)

John now introduces a new woman. She is called the holy city, the new Jerusalem.

I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. (Rev. 21:2)

Elsewhere the New Testament we have the same contrast of old and new Jerusalem:

This Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. The Jerusalem from above is free. She is our mother. (Gal. 4:25-26)

The writer of Hebrews encourages the professing Jews to remain faithful to the Christian conversion:

You have come to Mount Zion to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels. (Heb. 12:22)

John records for us his experience in witnessing both the Great Harlot and the Bride from heaven. One becomes the negative image of the other:

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters. (Rev. 17:1)

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said come here and said, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb. (Rev. 21:9)

The positive-negative contrast continues with the old and new Jerusalem. The angel in both instances carries John, but to radically different environments:

He carried me away in the spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. (Rev. 17:3)

He carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (Rev. 21:9)

Kudos. Very good explanation. Whoever after this still doubts that Jerusalem is Babylon, then he should urgently pray for the Holy Spirit. And those who still support Israel, even though Israel is Babylon, will share the same fate with Israel.

Jesus called the Father/God of the Jews the devil and called their synagogues devilish. How clearer do you want it to be? Paul calls the Jews the enemies of mankind and enemies of God. How clearer do you want it to be? Jesus called the Jews false Jews. Why? We find the answer in Paul. He says a real Jew is not someone who is ethnically descended from Abraham, a real Jew is someone who is inwardly/spiritually. Yes, the Christians are the true Jews. The Christians are the true descendants of Abraham, because for God it is not the flesh but the spiritual attitude that counts, because Jesus said that God could create descendants of Abraham out of stones if he wanted to, thus breaking the pride of the Jews who prided themselves so much on being descendants of Abraham.

The Islamic world, the 7th head, has an incredible hatred for Israel. This hatred was prophesied in Revelation. Yes, the final destruction of Israel is coming and no one can prevent it, because it is God's will. Christians will rejoice on that day that the murderer of the prophets and saints will be punished.

 

[Emun]

The time statements of Revelation of "things which must take place soon" and "for the time is near" does not fit a future Rome, but fits 1st century Jerusalem.

For God, 1 day is like 1000 years. When he speaks of "soon" or "short" then this can be a time span of over 1000 years.

Babylon's final destruction has not yet been fulfilled, since Revelation tells that it will be the 7th head that will destroy Babylon. The Roman Empire is the 6th head and the 7th head must be a kingdom that comes after the 6th head.