The prophecy of Revelation 17 details a great city, metaphorically depicted as a woman, who sits in the wilderness with her companion; a beast with seven heads and ten horns. The woman, dressed in scarlet and purple is a bastion of spiritual depravity, who has kingship over the kings of the earth in the last days. She is economically corrupt, a habitation of foul spirits, regulating a religious merchant system of buying and selling.
During the time period of great tribulation, those who wonder after the beast: R 13:3b; 17:8b, will bow in submission before its image, its name, or the number of the name of it, and receive a mark. The mark is worn on the right hand or the forehead, granting special privileges to buy and sell: 13:15-17. Those who refuse this global ordinance will be killed.
The woman, that great city who rules over the kings of the earth, will be a global economic powerhouse, regulating the flow of merchandise tied to the global spiritual harlotry of buying and selling: 17:1; 18:3,11-19. And, for this harlotry, she faces judgement.
... Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath: Revelation 16:19b
John is in the midst of great tribulation, serving as a witness, watching it unfold, when an Angel appears. The Angel arrives to explain why Babylon has been singled out by God for judgement. The Angel shows John the judgement of the woman arrayed in scarlet and purple, adorned with the riches of the world. The name written upon her forehead: Babylon the Great indicates a middle eastern location, in the heart of the ancient Babylonian kingdom. In order for a judgement to occur, there needs to be a merchant city in the land of Shinar, the land between the rivers, the ancient Babylonian kingdom.
The Bible details a great city which will exist in the future. But over the course of history, Babylon has been removed from prophecy, and exchanged with Rome. Not only has Babylon been replaced with Rome, but, the entire middle east has been replaced by Europe.
Somewhere down the line, Babylon was replaced by Rome; removing the prophetic significance of Babylon in the last days.
The Revelation prophecy details a beast with seven heads and ten horns that rises from the depths of the abyss, and a great city who persecutes the saints. And, everyone exclaimed "this is Rome! This is the church of Rome!" The Catholic church had become a mortal enemy, and their offenses against mankind where simply horrendous. What better way to insult a religious institution, then to place them into prophecy as the Mother of Harlots, connecting Rome to Babylon, as Martin Luther had done.
Then came 1853 and the shocking tale of how every false religion in the world was connected to Nimrod, and a woman named Semiramis. This tale, driven by mythology, fables and fictional characters, was the brainchild of Baptist minister, Alexander Hislop. Hislop paired Nimrod with a brazen blond haired beauty named Semiramis, and a god child named Tammuz.
There are many versions of the story, with no biblical documentation. One has to wonder how this bizarre tale spread so quickly. The basic premise was that Nimrod, the mighty hunter before the Lord, met and married a blue eyed floozy who wanted to rule Babel and, eventually the entire world. In several versions, Nimrod marries his own mother, wife of Cush, who Hislop bequeathed a name: Semiramis. Where Hislop found this information is a mystery; it's almost as if he made it up. Apparently, Cush was so devastated that he transformed into the Mesopotamian god, Bel. Though no biblical accounts exist, this had been widely taught as both, a historical and Biblical narrative.
Shortly after the wedding, Nimrods new wife had him put to death, and quickly elevated him to sun god status. Nimrod directed a ray of sunlight upon her, creating a halo and she conceived. The child was Tammuz, the reincarnation of Nimrod. The woman, Semiramis then married her son, and demanded worship filled with magical rites and bizarre ceremonies, for herself and the god-child of the sun. Thus began a mother child religious system that went deep underground, traveling in secret, through 3000 years of history and culture, and is now the religious system found in the Catholic church; Semiramis is Mary and Tammuz is Christ Jesus. Never mind that Hislop's hypothesis was driven by fables, reincarnation, mythical figures and fictional characters; but, we were told this would happen: 2 Timothy 4:4.
This bizarre teaching caught fire, and quickly spread through the church, mesmerizing the flock to look at the Revelation 17 prophecy in a whole new light. In this age of technology, various versions of this tale began to appear on Christian websites, gaining recognition throughout the online churches, even though Revelation 22:18-19 warns against these types of teachings. Once again, the woman of Revelation 17 was connected to the church of Rome, and the woman became the church. Over the course of several decades, the prophetic significance of Babylon was removed, and replaced with Rome.
The number of people who believed that a 'mystery religion' from Babel or Babylon, had been embedded into the Roman Catholic church, swiftly climbed to astronomical heights. No one bothered to check Hislop's theories, and hypothesis to see if they were factual. It's shocking how many Christians still believe that a mother-child system that didn't even exist in Babylon, was relocated to Rome and, how defensively they hold onto that teaching.
In many churches, Babylon's prophetic role in the end times had been erased and replaced by Rome. Contrary to popular belief, Babylon still has prophetic significance in the end of days, which will be fulfilled just as stated in scripture. Babylon is located in the middle east, in a land called Shinar, a literal, physical location which is not even close to Europe. The major religious system of the middle east is not a mother child religion that allegedly rose from Babel or, Babylon, but one that rose from the ancient city of UR, and spread to Arabia.
For centuries, it had been taught that Babylon isn't Babylon, it's Rome, and Babylon is simply a code word for Rome. The teaching focuses on the dream image in Daniel 2, and the rise of the Roman empire nearly 2,000 years ago. The theory is that Rome (partially) fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel's fourth kingdom (the tribulation / antichrist kingdom) which rises after the time period of the 'legs of iron' is complete.
While the legs of iron barely get a mention, four words, half a verse: 2:33a, the focus of the fourth kingdom is directed to the feet and toes of iron and shard clay. In relation to Babylon and the King who wanted to know about the future of his kingdom, these two legs indicate a time gap in Babylon's history between the third kingdom of brass, and the fourth - the feet and toes of iron and shard clay. This time gap, seen through the lens of history, reflects the prophesied fall of Babylon; Babylons decline and desolation.
The fall began after the conquest of Babylon by the Mede-Persians, which is seen by the deterioration of the various metals - from gold, to silver and then brass. After the death of Alexander the Great, who ruled the middle east while living in Babylon, the fall tailspins out of control as Babylon declines into desolation; a kingdom without a king. The time gap reflects an era of decay and ruin - which exists to this day. The fourth kingdom rises after the time period of the prophetic fall of Babylon has been fulfilled, emerging from the legs of iron, providing the final king.
The dream image in Daniel 2 focuses on Nebuchadnezzar as King of Babylon, and the future of his kingdom in the latter days. The borders of Babylon extended to the various seas which surround the middle east, defining the boundaries of the Babylonian kingdom. The dream image is an historical timeline of future kingdoms that conquered the middle east; the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar. Each ruling kingdom had a king that lived in Babylon. The image begins with Nebuchadnezzar as the head of gold, and ends with a fourth kingdom at the base of the image: the feet and toes of iron mixed with clay, - the Antichrist kingdom.
The legs of iron indicate a gap in history, when Babylon declined, showing us an overview of the fall of Babylon: Jeremiah 25:12. During this 2300+ year window of time, the world progressed, moving on never giving the barren city in the wilderness a second glance. The world will continue to progress, until the era of the legs of iron is complete, and the prophetic parts and pieces for the time of tribulation, are firmly in place. When the appointed time period of the legs of iron - the fall of Babylon is fulfilled, a prophetic fourth kingdom will seize world power, and ten kings will rise. This kingdom is defined as the feet and toes of iron and shard clay.
The legs of iron predate the feet and toes, paving the way for the fourth kingdom to rise. The fourth kingdom, the feet and toes of iron and shard clay, parallel Daniel's fourth beast of ten horns: Daniel 7:7. There are four kingdoms but, five time periods in the dream image of Nebuchadnezzar, indicating a gap in Babylon's timeline, an addition period of time which needs to be fulfilled, before the fourth kingdom can rise.
Four Beast: 1) Lion - Babylon, 2) Bear - Persian, 3) Leopard - Grecian, 4) Beast of ten horns - Antichrist / Tribulation.
Four Metals: 1) Gold - Babylon, 2) Silver - Persian, 3) Brass - Grecian, 4) Iron - fall of Babylon 5. Iron mixed with shard clay - Antichrist / Tribulation.
The Misplaced Fourth Kingdom: Generally, and more often than not, the legs of iron are taught as the fourth kingdom, which appears to makes sense, as the legs of iron follow the third kingdom of brass, the Grecian kingdom of Alexander the Great. But, when studying the multifaceted details of prophecy, and the positioning of the fourth kingdom which rises in the latter days, the imagery of the legs of iron signify the fulfillment of God's judgment over Babylon; the prophetic fall of Babylon, a time of perpetual desolation, which stands as a testimony to God's judgement.
The focus of the image, which is the future of the Babylonian kingdom, shows that the fourth kingdom, the antichrist / tribulation kingdom rises at a later time; after the time period of the legs of iron, has been fulfilled. There are four kingdoms and four kings, but five time periods, indicating that the legs of iron fulfill a different role in relation to Babylon, the focus of the dream image.
Babylon's Historical Timeline: Head of Gold, Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldean dynasty fell in 539 B.C.. Babylon was conquered the night of the writing on the wall by the silver, the Mede-Persian kingdom of Cyrus the Great: Jeremiah 25:12. Darius the Mede took the throne and ruled the Babylon kingdom: Daniel 5:31; 6:28 The Persian kingdom was later defeated by the brass, the kingdom of Alexander the Great who ruled the middle east from Babylon where he later died: 323 B.C.. Alexander was the last ruling king connected to the dream image of Babylon's kingdoms. After that, Babylon had no king.
After the death of Alexander the Great, Babylon's judgement accelerated; a kingdom without a king. The fall of Babylon is depicted as the legs of iron: 323 B,C, - 2026 A.D. = 2349 years. The interpretation of the kings dream, reflects the future of his kingdom, and what would become of it in the latter days. Three kingdoms ruled the middle east, with kings who lived in Babylon with a fourth, who has yet to come. The kingdom of iron and shard clay, the feet and toes, will rise in the latter days, fulfilling the prophecy of the fourth kingdom, and the final king - the little horn or Antichrist.
The legs of iron indicate that Babylon had fallen, just as prophesied. This time period predates the feet and toes of iron and shard clay, which parallel the beast of ten horns - the fourth 'beast' kingdom, which rises to seize world power in the end of days.
In the majority of teachings, the prophecy concerning the fourth kingdom, which will rule all the earth in the latter days, has been pushed backward in time to included the 2300+ year time period depicted as the legs of iron - when Babylon had no king. To complete the prophecy of the fourth kingdom, we are told that a 'Roman empire' needs to 'revive' into - the fourth kingdom, the feet and toes of iron and clay, exchanging the historical significance of the legs of iron (the fall of Babylon) for Rome.
By exchanging the significance of the legs of iron for Rome, the feet and toes become a fifth kingdom, a 'revived' Roman empire, creating a new kingdom. This altercation of scripture distorts the entire focus of the King's dream, which is the future of Babylon, removing the prophetic timeline of Babylon from the image, and replacing it with a new timeline focused on Rome. Note: scripture lacks any mention of a fifth kingdom or, corresponding fifth beast.
This illusionary fifth kingdom replaces the prophetic fourth kingdom, whose imagery parallels the 'fourth' beast of ten horns, moving it backwards in time. The beast of ten horns is the kingdom that rises from the sea during the time of tribulation: Revelation 13:1-4. There is no 5th kingdom in Daniel 2, just as there is no 5th beast in Daniel 7.
These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth: Daniel 7:17. - These four huge animals are four kingdoms that will arise on earth. (CJB) ...Thus he said, the fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth.... 7:23a
The fourth becomes a non-existent fifth, while the fourth is relocated, repositioned and replaced by Rome. This replacement, moves the fourth kingdom back in time, presenting a partial preterist view, with a secondary futurist fulfillment yet to come.
Switching the order of kingdoms and creating an additional fifth kingdom, forces Rome into Nebuchadnezzar's image as a fourth and a fifth kingdom, creating a scriptural conflict. According to this scriptural altercation and addition kingdom, the prophetic fourth kingdom, the tribulation kingdom that ascends to world power after the time period of the legs of iron has expired, is now European. This exchange removes Babylon from the equation, replacing Nebuchadnezzar's fourth kingdom, with a fifth one that is European.
So now, we have a dream which focused on kingdoms which ruled the middle east (the former Babylon kingdom), where the head, chest, belly and thighs are kingdoms that conquered the middle east with kings who lived in Babylon, while the knees, ankles, feet and toes are European - even though the image represents Babylon; Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. This view doubles down on a flawed interpretation of scripture. This scriptural conflict can be averted with a bit of historical and scriptural insight, reading scripture as written, and allowing the Bible to speak for itself.
Because of this misrepresentation of scripture, no one foresees a fourth kingdom that isn't European - even through the dream image of Nebuchadnezzar, represents the future of his kingdom, which was Babylon, and kingdoms that ruled the middle east. Note: Babylon is middle eastern, not European. The same people that tell you that the fourth kingdom is European, are also the same people that tell you the Babylon city in Revelation 17 and 18, has been exchanged for Rome.
The fourth kingdom, the tribulation kingdom, rises after the time period of the legs of iron is fulfilled. In relation to Babylon, the legs of iron indicate a gap in history when Babylon fell into decline and desolation, which can be reviewed by a simple study of history. The focus is the Babylonian kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, and the future of his kingdom. Rome is European, not middle eastern, nor did it rule the middle east from a Babylon kingdom. The fourth kingdom rises to seize world power in the latter days.
Yes, the Roman empire and the Catholic church rose in the west during the 2300+ year time period depicted as the legs of iron but, this western obsession with Rome, overlooks any and all events that transpired in the middle east - the focal point of the King's dream. The most notable event was the rise of Islam, a political and religious system focused on conquest, conversion and world dominance, which is now the second largest 'religion' in the world.
After the conquest of Constantinople, Islam became the dominate political and religious system of the middle east, replacing a Christian stronghold with an Islamic one. And now, as the entire European continent is under conquest; it appears as though the theory of a 'revived' Roman empire, may just be a conquered one; preparing the way for Daniel's fourth kingdom to rise.
Six world kingdoms are recorded in the Bible: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Mede-Persian, Grecian, and Rome. With the placement of Daniel's fourth kingdom rising in the latter days, the world kingdoms now look like this: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Mede-Persian, Grecian, Rome and 7) Daniel's fourth kingdom: the tribulation / antichrist kingdom.
The fourth kingdom is also the fourth beast in Daniel 7:7-25 which corresponds with the feet and toes of the image: Daniel 2:40-44. (Note: there is no fifth beast) The fourth beast is an amalgamation of the three previous beast kingdoms: the lion, the bear and the leopard and, it has ten horns: Daniel 7:7,19; Revelation 13:1-2a. The fourth beast also has various metals from Nebuchadnezzar's dream image mixed into its genetic makeup; the feet of the bear has nails of brass, and the mouth of the lion has teeth of iron.
When Rome is wiggled into the position of Daniel's fourth kingdom, fulfilling two roles; a previous, partial fulfillment nearly 2000 years ago, which collapsed in 476 A.D., and then, a future one; a fifth kingdom the future tribulation kingdom - the feet and toes - it conflicts with what Daniel had recorded. To make this interpretation of scripture work, the legs of iron are revived or, transformed into a fifth kingdom, which doesn't exist in scripture.
It's literally maddening and no one questions why this is done. Man doesn't see what God has revealed, so he forces a version of scripture molded after his own understanding, by adding a fabricated fifth kingdom.
Once scripture is interpreted as Rome, the significance of the fourth kingdom of iron and shard clay (the political and religious system of the antichrist kingdom - Rev 13) is moved backwards, to include the time period of the legs of iron; the 2300+ year extension of time between the third and fourth kingdoms, which is interpreted as Rome. After the death of Alexander the Great 323 B.C., (in Babylon), Babylon gradually fell into desolation and decline, and after 1200 A.D., it was deserted altogether, presenting a long period of time when Babylon was barren and desolate, a kingdom without a king... which mirrors the prophecy of the fall of Babylon, and continues to this day. But things are moving quickly on the global stage, and the location of the ancient Babylon kingdom may very well be on the verge of transforming into an global economic hub.
The image represents Nebuchadnezzar and the future of his kingdom - in the latter days. The entire reason for the Kings dream is forgotten, ignored and overlooked to force Rome into the statue as the fourth, and non-existent fifth kingdom. The focus of the dream is the King's desire to know what will become of his kingdom in the latter days. His kingdom ruled the entire middle east, but over a course of several centuries, the focus of the Kings dream has been relocated to Rome; adding an additional fifth kingdom to scripture, moving the fourth kingdom backward in time. Where is the fifth beast?
Babylon is the key to unlocking the prophecy of the fourth kingdom, as it connects to the Revelation 17 & 18 prophecy of the last days. But, Babylon has been replaced by Rome, just as the middle east has been replaced with Europe. Europe is not Daniel's fourth kingdom, it is simply preparing the way for the fourth kingdom to rise. Relocating Babylon's end time role to Rome or any place other than Babylon, misrepresents scripture, presenting a scriptural conflict, an eisegesis, prioritizing generalized ideas, personal perceptions or assumptions, other than what is defined by scripture.
"But you Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase."
Once the ancient Roman empire was forced into the position of Daniel's fourth kingdom, then Babylon the Great, the city in Revelation 17 & 18, is transformed into Rome, the city of seven hills. This was done by the use of code words that replaced Babylon with Rome, literally exchanging one city for another. Babylon now means Rome. Any biblical mention of Babylon was crossed out, and Rome was written in, eradicating Babylon's prophetic role in the end of days. This altercation of scripture removes the authority of the Bible, and the prophetic significance of Babylon in the last days.
Would an Angel of God use 'code words' when delivering prophetic messages? Apparently so, according to most Bible scholars.
Did Bible teachers realize that they were altering scripture, replacing one city for another? Of course - which should set off major red flags. Did anyone research to see if any these beliefs were biblically sound? Not even one. Did this continue as an intentional deception? Probably not. Bible prophecy had to fit a narrative that could be understood as a feasible alternative to a revived Babylonian kingdom, centered around a great city in Babylon, which at that time, seemed implausible.
Most didn't believe that it was possible for a future Babylon city to rise... Afterall, the old Babylon was nothing but desert wasteland, and crumbling infrastructure, from an era that had passed long ago. And so, the teaching continued.
Even though the prophecies of Revelation 13,17 and 18 are yet future, many still rely on these old teachings, from an era where understanding was confounded by the world around them. Even today, many interpret prophecy from a preterist view, seeing these prophecies fulfilled during the time of the Roman empire and, the rise of the Roman Catholic church.
And now, many await a second fulfillment yet to come - the fourth kingdom, which has been relocated into the position of a fifth kingdom - a non-existent fifth kingdom which is needed to reinforce the theory of a 'revived' Roman empire. So now, the prophetic role of the fourth kingdom has been repositioned to include the time period of the legs of iron, the 2300+ year window of time signifying the fall of Babylon. This scriptural alteration fits a preconceived narrative which hinges on preterism and futurism.
And so, over a course of many, many centuries, Rome, and the religious system of the Roman Catholic church, became the tribulation city of Revelation 17, which has yet to revive, turning Catholics into fanatical religious zombies who will hunt non-Catholic Christians for extinction, and any others who refuse to take its 'mark'; which the Bible defines as allegiance to the beast - the kingdom, in order to buy or sell.
Contrary to popular opinion, Rome was not the fourth kingdom; as Daniel's fourth kingdom is yet future: the kingdom which rises after the time period of the legs of iron expires, indicating God's judgment on Babylon. Yes, Rome rose during that time but, so did the Islamic kingdom in the middle east. Columbus discovered America, Israel was reborn, A.I. is now a thing, and rockets can penetrate space... a lot has happened in the 2300+ year time period - which predates the tribulation kingdom of antichrist - Daniels fourth kingdom. The events of the past 2300 years prepare the way for the fourth kingdom to rise.
But, it wasn't enough that the Roman empire had replaced Daniel's prophecy of Babylon's fourth kingdom; Rome replaces Babylon's future prophetic role altogether. Not only is "Mystery Babylon" Rome and, the religious system of Rome, the Roman Catholic church, but, Mystery Babylon has become the United States, New York, Washington D.C., Istanbul, Geneva, Mecca or, Jerusalem... and just about anywhere, except what is stated in scripture! But, Rome and the church of Semiramis, are still the favorite.
The conditioning is complete - Babylon means Rome.
The Christian world will be astonished, expecting a 'revived' Roman empire, and a king who rises from the dead, with his mortal wound healed, but instead, discover a mortally wounded beast kingdom, raised from the abyss, ruled by ten kings. And, they will wonder how they didn't see this coming, when scripture has not changed, and it has always existed in prophetic scripture. ... and the world will wonder after the beast...
Everything written in Revelation concerning the rise of Daniel's fourth beast and its Babylon city has been relocated to Europe, the city of Rome and, the religious system found in the Roman Catholic church. The Revelation 17 prophecy is often based upon altercations of scripture, and completely gobsmacked out of proportion. Over the course of history, Revelation 17 has been the only chapter in the entirety of the Bible to be taught by using code words and altercations of scripture.
Babylon is mentioned 287 times in 253 verses, making Babylon the second most mentioned city in the Bible; Jerusalem is first with 800 mentions. Rome brings up the rear with 9 mentions. Babylon is always Babylon, except in the Revelation 17 prophecy, where it has been transformed into Rome.
The great city of commercial corruption is now a church of religious harlotry. The woman arrayed in scarlet and purple and adorned in gold, pearls and precious stones; points to the wealth of the Catholic church, whereas; the purple and scarlet are garments worn by Popes and priests. Her golden cup 17:4; Jeremiah 51:7, is replaced by a golden chalice. The seven heads where the woman sits, which are seven mountains and seven kings become the seven hills of Rome or, seven Roman Emperors who died thousands of years ago.
These alterations of scripture assume that the fourth beast is European, completely ignoring the prophetic implications of the middle east where Babylon is located.
Part 2: Rome and the Harlot Church: Mystery, Babylon
Relocating Babylon to Rome as the Mother of Harlots, was dependent upon two things; the context in which her name is deciphered and, the placement of Daniels fourth kingdom, the tribulation kingdom which modern interpretations have assigned to Rome. Hatred and resentment against the Roman Catholic Church, helped to justify this relocation.
And upon her forehead a mysterious name was written, Mystery, Babylon the Great; Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth: 17:5.
The name written upon her forehead was (a) 'mystery.' The placement of the name written upon her forehead indicates an allegiance to the beast kingdom; the image of the beast, its name or, the number of the name of it. The seven heads, where the woman sits, are full of the names of blasphemy: Revelation 13:1b, just as the entire beast kingdom is full of blasphemy: 17:3b. The name upon her forehead indicates that the woman wears the name of blasphemy, the mark of the kingdom: Babylon the Great.
During John's time, Babylon was a city without a king, rapidly declining, a mere shadow of the brazen beauty she once was when her kings ruled the middle east. John is unaware that the woman is a metaphor for a great city, which will reign over the kings of the earth in the last days. The angel will disclose her identity to John, recorded in verse 18, but for now, this is an unknown.
The Greek translation for name is ονομα (onoma) a noun, a proper name. Mystery is not a proper noun; it is an adjective, a neuter-gendered description, providing additional information regarding John's lack of understanding. That she has a mysterious name written upon her forehead, indicates her submission and loyalty to the beast, with seven heads and ten horns, which carries her.
The name: Babylon the Great, is a proper noun, a proper name. Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth, define attributes; which act as statements of achievement, defining her role, similar to a job title or, job description. In modern terms, she would be the 'supreme leader,' 'President' or, 'CEO' over her harlots; cities, nations and kings involved in global corruption, harlotries and abominations.
The woman with a mysterious name written on her forehead has been defined by connecting the adjective, Mystery and just part of her proper name, implying that Babylon the Great, is to be interpreted as 'Mystery Babylon' and, not a literal Babylon the Great, with an adjoining title, removing the prophetic significance of Babylon in the end of days.
So, over the course of several centuries; Babylon the Great became Mystery Babylon: symbolic, mystical, implying a well kept secret, a riddle which needs to be solved.
I will tell you the mystery of the woman....
Bible teachers and scholars attempted to 'solve the mystery,' before its time, claiming that Babylon was a secret code name for Rome. This alteration of scripture was explained by a theory which claimed that John could not name Rome for fear of persecution and death. This explanation automatically implies that the woman is Rome, constraining further investigation of prophecy.
Since Rome doesn't sit on seven literal mountains, the seven mountains where the woman sits, were exchanged for seven hills. This exchange forced the narrative even further, presenting the woman as Rome, which sits on seven hills. Once this was done, Rome became the woman who sat upon seven hills of the beast which was the Roman empire. So now, Rome is seen as the 'beast' with seven hills, and ten horns - the tribulation kingdom, that has not yet come.
This interpretation removed the prophetic significance of the seven heads - which are seven mountains and seven kings, where the woman sits: 17:9.
So, Rome became the mystery woman, carried by the Roman empire, which is now the beast kingdom of seven hills and ten horns. Eventually, the woman morphed into the Roman Catholic Church, which sits on Vatican hill, which sits opposite of Rome's seven hills. So the interpretation changes again, and we interpret a Church as a woman, located in Vatican city, which sits on one hill, located in Rome, the city of seven hills. The church that sits upon one hill, now replaces the city which sits upon seven hills, removing Rome from the equation.
Over the course of history, Revelation 17 had become the only chapter in the entirety of the Bible that used code words, and a switching of nouns, to force a specific interpretation.
Oh, what a tangled web we weave.
But, Rome Sits on Seven Hills! The Mystery of the Seven Heads, Seven Kingdoms:
There is information in scripture that identifies the seven heads, as seven kingdoms. In prophetic literature, a mountain represents a kingdom. Revelation 17:9 tells us that wisdom is needed in order the understand the symbolic significance of the seven heads, which are seven mountains; kingdoms by old testament standards, Verse 10 tells us that they are also seven kings; as kings rule over kingdoms, and kingdom are ruled by kings.
In Daniels night vision, four beasts rose from the sea as four kingdoms: lion, bear, leopard and the beast with ten horns. There are seven heads upon the red dragon and seven heads upon the beast from the sea: his earthly kingdom. This beast is 'like the leopard:' 13:2; Daniel 7:6. The leopard had four heads, four dynasties which became four kingdoms, that rose after the death of Alexander the Great.
Instead of four heads, the sea beast has seven heads; seven world kingdoms, given to him by the red dragon: 13:2b. Four heads or, kingdoms are beast kingdoms: the lion, the bear, the leopard and the beast of ten horns; while three heads or kingdoms are not beast kingdoms, Egypt, Assyria and Rome, having longer life spans then the four beasts.
A beast kingdom can be mortally wounded and slain: 13:3, as it is a beast, genetically non-human, living breathing entity. Yes, it takes a bit of study and old testament research, to fully grasp the symbolic significance of the seven heads or, seven world kingdoms that showcase Satan's reign of power and authority, but, once you see what John is defining, it tells an extraordinary story of prophetic events... soon to come.
Symbolic Meaning of Seven Mountains:
The Greek word for mountain is: ὄρη, (όρος, óros) is found in the dialogue between John and the Angel in R 17:9. Throughout the Bible, a mountain is a literal mountain OR, a kingdom when used in symbolic or prophetic references: Lucifer walked upon the fiery stones on the holy mountain (kingdom) of God until he was cast out: Ezekiel 28:14-16. Babylon is a destroying mountain: (kingdom) who destroys the whole earth: Jeremiah 51:25,26.
Satan promised Jesus the kingdoms of the world if he would bow to him in worship: Luke 4:5:-8; Matthew 4:8-11. Satan could do this because the kingdoms were given to him and, he could do with them what he pleased. The kingdoms are showcased as his seven heads; his source of power and authority: Rev 12:3; 13:2b. As we know, a kingdom can have many kings over a period of time; but each head upon the red dragon has a single crown; one for each kingdom, not one for each king - demonstrating that Satan's seat of ruling power and authority lies in his seven heads, aka: seven world kingdoms. As the beast kingdom rises from the sea: 13:1, instead of crowns, the heads wear the name of blasphemy, indicating loyalty and allegiance to the beast kingdom. Crowns are given to the ten horns instead, handing immense amounts of power and ruling authority to the ten kings.
The stone that struck the image in Daniel 2:35, becomes a great mountain and fills the entire earth; highlighting a prophecy of God's eternal kingdom that will come ... in the days of these kings: Daniel 2:44. The mountains, where the woman sits ruling over the kings of the earth, are seven kingdoms which were given to the beast from the sea: 13:1-4. The seven mountains are also seven kings: Rev 17:10. Do kings rule over hills or, do kings rule over kingdoms?
The Greek word for hill is: βουνός, bounos, and can not be found in verse 9. A hill does not carry the same prophetic significance as a mountain; and, hills are not mountains. But, it has been taught this way by so many for so long that prophecy students automatically look for a city, located in the wilderness, which sits on seven hills: Rome, Tehran, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Mecca, New York and even America - which instantly fails the criteria of the great city: 17:18. In order for prophecy to be fulfilled it must be fulfilled 100% - as 99.9% does not meet the criteria of a fulfilled prophecy.
There are six world kingdoms documented in the Bible; Rome is number six, the sixth head of the beast. Does the woman sit on just the sixth head or, does she sit on all seven heads?
And here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman sits: 17:9
The woman sits on seven heads, seven world kingdoms, ruling over the kings of the earth.
By switching out the seven mountains or, seven kingdoms for seven hills, prophecy stops at Rome; and becomes concentrated solely on the sixth head, the sixth world power. But, the first angel, who tells John about the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her 17:7, shows John that a seventh king, a seventh kingdom, a seventh mountain, a seventh head, will rise after the one that is, and will remain a short time: 17:10.
If Rome was the sixth world power, then, the one that rises after Rome is the seventh; the one that has not yet come: the kingdom that was, is not (was slain) and shall be, indicating that Daniel's fourth beast rises as the seventh kingdom; the kingdom of ten kings. The beast with the genetic makeup of three previous beast: the lion, the bear and the leopard; beast kingdoms which ruled the middle east.
Prophecy did not stop at Rome, but continued as time progressed, which means that territories once ruled by the ancient Roman empire will be treaded down and conquered, just as the capital city of the Byzantine empire, Constantinople, was conquered in 1453; which removed the final remnant of the Roman empire from the middle east.
If there are seven heads, seven mountains, seven kings, then, there must be a seventh kingdom that rises after Rome, seeking global control. Revelation 17:10 tells us the order and succession of world kingdoms which match the number of heads upon the red dragon and his earthly kingdom; Daniel's fourth beast from the sea - the beast of ten horns.
And they are seven kings; five are fallen, and one is (Rome), and the other (the wounded head) is not yet come and when he comes, he must continue a short space. And the beast (kingdom) that was, and is not, is the eighth and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.
A beast is a kingdom and the horns are his kings. These seven kingdoms are where the woman sits; sloshing the contents of her golden cup over the heads of the beast, while the kings of the earth make all nations drunk with her vile abominations.
Babylon has been a golden cup in the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
The nations are mad: literally insane, crazy, driven to madness by her vile intoxications.
And for this, her judgment awaits.
... Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all the nations drink the wine of the wrath of her immorality. Revelation 14:8 - No mention of Rome.
God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath: Revelation 16:19b. No mention of Rome.
Revelation 17 and 18 focus on a future Babylonian city that rises in the end of days, called Babylon the Great - no mention of Rome. ...
Rev 17:5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” - no mention of Rome.
And the second Angel came down from heaven: Revelation 18:2 - 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. --- Babylon the Great - no mention of Rome.
Rev 18:10 - They will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! Alas! You great city, you mighty city, Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.”- no mention of Rome.
And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns."
This is a work in progress as it is a current, ongoing pet peeve and updated regularly.
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