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.
Her name is Babylon the Great, indicating a great city located in the heart of the ancient Babylon kingdom. Though Babylon's end time role in the last days, has been relocated to Europe over a time period of several centuries, there is nothing in scripture to verify this relocation. There are no implications from the Angel that suggest that Babylon is Rome, the Roman Catholic church, a nation or any other city except what is stated in scripture. Generally, Babylon is interpreted as any where else other than Babylon, which conflicts with scripture. This can be viewed as a misinterpretation of scripture, an eisegesis, prioritizing generalized ideas, perceptions or assumptions, other than what is stated - which leads to scriptural friction.
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 literally 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 will show John the judgement of the woman arrayed in scarlet and purple, adorned with the riches of the world. In order for a judgement to occur, there needs to be a 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 replaced 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 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 Babylon to Rome, 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 and fables was the brainchild of Baptist minister, Alexander Hislop. Hislop paired Nimrod with a brazen blond haired beauty, named Semiramis and a child named Tammuz.
There are many versions of the story, with no historical documentation. One has to wonder how this bizarre tale spread so quickly. The basic premise was that Nimrod, the mighty hunter before the Lord and mighty kingdom builder, met and married a blue eyed floozy who wanted to rule Babel and, eventually the entire world. In several versions, Nimrod married his own mother, wife of Cush, who Hislop claimed was 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 historical 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 sun upon her, creating a halo and she conceived. The child was Tammuz, the reincarnation of Nimrod. The woman, Semiramis then married her son, Nimrod incarnate, and demanded worship for herself and the god-child. Worship was filled with magical rites and bizarre ceremonies. 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. Never mind that Hislop's hypothesis was driven by fables, mythology and fictional characters and possibly, a touch of madness.
This bizarre teaching caught fire, and and spread through the churches, mesmerizing the flock to look at the Revelation 17 prophecy in a whole new light. In the modern age with the rise of technology, various stories appeared on Christian websites and gained traction 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 centuries, the prophetic significance of Babylon was removed and replaced with Rome.
The number of people who believe that a 'mystery religion' from Babel or Babylon, had been embedded into the Roman Catholic church, swiftly climbed to astronomical heights. No one had ever bothered to check to see if Hislop's theories, and hypothesis were factual. It's shocking how many Christians were deceived into believing 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 has been erased and, replaced by Rome. Contrary to popular belief, Babylon still has prophetic significance in the end times, 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 rose from Babel or, even Babylon, but one that rose from the ancient city of UR.
And now, that religious system is set on global domination.
For centuries, it had been taught that Babylon doesn't mean Babylon, it means Rome, and Babylon is simply a code word for Rome. The teaching focuses on the rise of the Roman empire, nearly 2,000 years ago, claiming that Rome (partially) fulfilled the prophecy of Daniel's fourth kingdom (the tribulation kingdom) which rises after the time period of the 'legs of iron' is complete. The legs of iron present a time gap, between the third kingdom of brass or, bronze in some translations, and the fourth - the feet and toes of iron and shard clay - the Antichrist kingdom.
Much has happened during this 2300 year time period, and history is still being made. History will continue until the time of the legs of iron is complete. Then, prior to the time of tribulation, Daniel's fourth kingdom will rise to seize world power, and ten kings will rise from this kingdom.
The legs of iron precede the feet and toes, paving the way for the fourth kingdom to rise. To complete the prophecy of the fourth kingdom, we are told that the Roman empire needs to 'revive' into - 'the fourth kingdom', the feet and toes of iron and shard clay which parallel Daniel's fourth beast of ten horns; the tribulation kingdom aka: the antichrist kingdom: Daniel 7:7.
The Misplaced Roman Kingdom: Generally, and more often than not, the legs of iron are presented as Rome, which appears to makes sense, as the legs of iron fall directly after the third kingdom of brass, the Grecian kingdom of Alexander the Great. But, when studying the multifaceted details of prophecy, it shows that the fourth kingdom, the tribulation kingdom rises at a later time; after the time period of the legs of iron is complete. The legs of iron are not the fourth kingdom but, the time period which precedes the fourth kingdom; the feet and toes of iron and shard clay, which parallel the beast of ten horns - the fourth 'beast' kingdom.
In many churches, the prophecy concerning the fourth kingdom (which will rule all the world) has been pushed back to included the 2300+ year window of time, presented as the legs of iron. The legs of iron are shifted into position as a fourth kingdom and, the feet and toes are transformed into a fifth kingdom, the 'revived' Roman empire. Note: there is no fifth kingdom in scripture. This illusionary fifth kingdom, is actually the fourth kingdom, the feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzar's dream image, whose imagery parallels the 'fourth' beast of ten horns which rises from the sea in Revelation 13:1-4. There is no 5th kingdom just as there is no 5th beast.
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 fifth, which forces the legs of iron into prophecy as the fourth kingdom presenting a partial preterist view with a secondary futurist fulfillment yet to come. Switching the order of kingdoms and creating an additional fifth kingdoms, places Rome into Nebuchadnezzar's image as a fourth and a fifth kingdom, which 'fits' a preconceived narrative, presenting a scriptural conflict. According to this altercation of scripture and an addition kingdom, the fourth kingdom, the tribulation kingdom that rises after Rome is: Rome.
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 the kingdoms that ruled the middle east. Note: Babylon is middle eastern, not European.
The fourth kingdom, the tribulation kingdom is the one that rises after the time period of the legs of iron is complete. Yes, the Roman empire and the Catholic church rose during the 2300 year time period depicted as the legs of iron but, so did Islam. Islam removed the last remnant of the Roman empire from the middle east, and quickly became the dominate political and religious system. And now, that political and religious system seeks world dominance for its prophet, and its god.
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 the fourth Beast in Daniel 7:7 which parallels the feet and toes Daniel 2:40-44. The fourth beast is a composite of the previous three beast kingdoms: the lion, the bear and the leopard and, it has ten horns: Daniel 7:7,19; Revelation 13:2a.
When Rome is wiggled into the position of Daniel's fourth kingdom, fulfilling two roles; a previous, partial fulfillment nearly 2000 years ago as the legs of iron which collapsed in 476; and then, a future one; a fifth kingdom the future kingdom of the feet and toes - it misrepresents 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 back nearly 2000 years, to include the time period of the legs of iron; the 2300+ year extension of time between the third and fourth kingdoms. After the death of Alexander the Great (who lived 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 dormant, a kingdom without a king.
The image represents Nebuchadnezzar and the future of his kingdom. As per the future of Babylon, Rome never placed a king in Babylon or, ruled the middle east from Babylon - the focus of Nebuchadnezzar's dream: Daniel 2. Babylon is the key to unlocking the prophecy of the fourth kingdom, but Babylon has been replaced by Rome, just as the middle east has been replaced with Europe. Which means that Rome must seize the middle east, and take full control of the Al Faw Grand Port, and the road and rail system that will extend into Turkey, and then into Europe. Rome must also reclaim the port city of Constantinople, now Istanbul, Turkey.
"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, present during the time period of the legs of iron, was forced into the position of Daniel's fourth kingdom, then Babylon the Great, the city in Revelation 17 & 18, transformed into Rome, the city of seven hills. This was done by the use of code words or a code name, exchanging Babylon with Rome. Babylon means Rome. All mentions of Babylon were 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. Was this an intentional deception? Probably not. Bible prophecy had to fit a narrative that could be understood, and taught as a feasible alternative to a revived middle eastern kingdom centered around Babylon, which at that time, seemed implausible.
Most didn't believe that it was possible for a future Babylon city to rise... even though it is clearly stated in prophecy that in the latter days - one would. Afterall, Babylon was nothing but desert wasteland, and crumbling infrastructure, from an era that had passed long ago.
Even though the prophecies of Revelation 13,17 and 18 are yet future, many have fallen to preterism, interpreting these as being fulfilled during the time of the Roman empire and, the rise of the Roman Catholic church; with a second fulfillment yet to come - the fourth kingdom, which has been moved into the position of a fifth kingdom - a non-existent kingdom to explain the theory of a 'revived' Roman empire. This was why the prophetic role of the fourth kingdom had to include the 2300+ year time period of the legs of iron, to fit a preconceived narrative hinging 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 zealots who will hunt non-Catholic Christians for extinction, and any others who refuse to convert to Catholicism or, take its 'mark'. This mark is often defined (by various religious sects) as the worship and veneration of Mary, ashes from ash Wednesday worn upon the forehead or, the removal of the Sabbath and the forcing of a Sunday law, among other things.
Contrary to popular opinion, Rome was NOT the fourth kingdom; as the fourth kingdom is yet future; the tribulation kingdom, the kingdom which rises after the time period of the legs of iron expires. Yes, Rome rose during this time but, so did the Islamic kingdom in the middle east. Columbus discovered America, A.I. is now a thing, and rockets can penetrate space... a lot has happened in the 2300 year time period contained within the legs of iron - which predate the tribulation kingdom of antichrist - Daniels fourth kingdom.
But, it wasn't enough that the Roman empire had replaced Daniel's prophecy of a fourth kingdom; Rome now replaced Babylon's future prophetic role altogether. Mystery Babylon is Rome, and also the Roman Catholic church, the religious system of Rome. Mystery Babylon is also the United States, New York, Istanbul, Washington D.C., or, Jerusalem... anywhere, except what is stated in scripture! But, Rome and the church of Semiramis, is 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 its been there all along.
Everything John had detailed concerning the rise of a beast kingdom and its Babylon city has been relocated to Rome and, the religious system found in the Roman Catholic church. The Revelation 17 prophecy is taught 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.
The great city of commercial corruption is now a church of religious harlotry. The woman is arrayed in scarlet and purple and adorned in gold, pearls and precious stones. The 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 or, a golden sun disk. 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 lived 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.
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 upon her forehead suggests an allegiance to the beast kingdom; the image of the beast, its name or the number of the name of it. Just as the seven heads, where the woman sits, are full of the names of blasphemy: Revelation 13:1b, the woman is also full of blasphemy.
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 still 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 was unknown.
The Greek translation for name is ονομα (onoma) meaning a noun, a proper name. Mystery is not a proper noun; it is an adjective, a neuter-gendered description, providing additional information regarding the interpretation of the name and, the sum of her authority. That she has a mysterious name written upon her forehead, indicates her submission and loyalty to the beast kingdom, 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 'President' or, 'CEO' over harlots; cities and nations 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, 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,' 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 implied that the woman was 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 the beast which was the Roman empire. So now, Rome is seen as the fourth kingdom, the 'beast' kingdom, of 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. Over the course of history, the woman had gradually morphed into the Roman Catholic Church, which sits on one of Rome's seven hills: Vatican hill. 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 her 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 his spawn or seed; the beast from the sea. The beast is 'like the leopard:' 13:2; Daniel 7:6. The leopard had four heads, four dynasties which became 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 kingdoms are beast kingdoms: the lion, the bear, the leopard and the seventh, the beast of ten horns; while three heads or kingdoms are not beast kingdoms, having a longer life span then the four beasts; which is further documented in the Kindle edition featured in the sidebar: In the Land of Shinar, Kings and Kingdoms.
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 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) which is found in the dialogue between John and the Angel in R 17:9. Throughout the Bible, mountain is used as a literal mountain OR, a kingdom when used as a symbolic reference. For Example: Lucifer walked upon the fiery stones on the holy mountain of God until he was cast out: Ezekiel 28:14-16. Babylon is a destroying mountain: 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, 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; 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, 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 soon 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 is not 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 literal hills: Rome, Tehran, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Mecca, 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 kingdom documented in the Bible; Rome is number six, the sixth empire, 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 the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her 17:7, lets John in on a little secret: a seventh kingdom, a seventh head, will rise after Rome, and will remain a short time.
If Rome was the sixth world kingdom, the sixth head then, the one that rises after Rome is the seventh head; the one that has not yet come: the kingdom that was, is not (was slain) and shall be: the beast of ten horns with the genetic makeup of three previous beast kingdoms: the lion, the bear and the leopard.
Prophecy does not stop at Rome, but continues as time progresses, 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, removing 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. Revelation 17:10 tells us the order and succession of world kingdoms which match the number of heads upon the red dragon and his seed or spawn; the beast kingdom from the sea.
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 that was, and is not, is the eighth and is of the seven, and goes into perdition.
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 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 who 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.
When someone removes Babylon from prophecy and replaces it with Rome, to fit a predetermined narrative, they are altering scripture and removing the authority of the Bible. The placement of the fourth kingdom in its position of the feet and toes has now been moved back 2000 years, and a fifth kingdom - which can not be found in scripture, replaces the fourth - the tribulation kingdom. The insanity of it all just boggles my mind!
Revelation 17 Quick Overview:
The great city is viewed from two angelic viewpoints. The first angel arrives to show John the judgement brought against the nations; the vile intoxication of the commercially corrupt one; the international prostitute who is carried by the beast with seven heads and ten horns: 17:1,7,15; 18:3a; Jeremiah 51:7.
John is taken by the spirit into the wilderness: 17:3, where he sees a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast which had seven heads and ten horns. The beast is full of blasphemy and the name of blasphemy is worn upon his seven heads: 13:1. This indicates that the name of the beast or the number of its name lies upon the seven kingdoms aka: the seven heads.
The first angel begins at the time of tribulation, and carries the narrative into the great tribulation, with the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and the martyrs of Christ Jesus: 17:6. Verses 1-6, 9 and 15, detail the woman's basic characteristics and her global reach, while verse 18 defines her as a great city, who has kingship over the kings of the earth. This declaration of the woman's identity as a great city then pivots the narrative over to chapter 18. (chapter breaks were added in 1557 when an English version of the Geneva Bible was published, with chapters and numbered verses.)
The first angel describes the connection between the woman, the beast kingdom and the kings of the earth, and how they are joined by spiritual fornication and economic harlotry: 17:2,9,15. The second angel continues with this narrative, adding additional characters; the merchants of the earth: 18:3.
Rise of the Beast Kingdom:
Verses 17:8-14, 16 and 17, break away from the woman to focus on the mystery of the beast, with the seven heads and ten horns:13:1; 17:7. The focus now centers on the formation and rise of the antichrist kingdom seen in 13:1-4. The angel explains the mystery of the wounded head, unraveling unanswered questions from Rev 13:3,14b. The wounded head was, was not (was slain, mortally wounded) and shall be again, rising from the abyss, healed and restored to become the eighth world power:17:8,11. By the time John saw the beast rise from the sea, his deadly head wound was already healed: 13:3.
Verse 10 let's us know that five world kingdoms had their power removed, and a sixth now reigns in John's timing of events, leaving a seventh kingdom yet to come. The seventh is the one that was, was not, yet is and shall be, the mortally wounded head, the fourth beast kingdom. The fourth beast is an amalgamation of three previous beast kingdoms: the lion, the bear and the leopard who were mortally wounded, and yet, are a part of the formation of the fourth beast of ten horns: Daniel 7:7,19; Rev 13:2a. It is this kingdom which rises after Rome as a seventh head, a seventh world power.
It is the seventh head, the beast of ten horns, which ascends from the abyss healed and restored, as the eighth world power, rising from the sea: 13:1-4. This revived beast kingdom: the lion, joined with the bear and the leopard: 13:2, will amaze the world, and all the world will wonder after the beast: that was, and is not, and yet is. Rev 13:3b; 17:8b,11.
Note: Scripture supports only one transition, the seven head /kingdom of ten horns into the eighth. Rome was the sixth world power, but, it still belongs to the beast kingdom as it is attached to the beast as a sixth head. It is the seventh kingdom which provides the eleventh king: the little horn, aka: antichrist, not the sixth. There are no scriptural references which place Rome into the position as the seventh kingdom.
A Second Angel Comes Down From Heaven:
The second angel, in Chapter 18, begins near the end of the great tribulation continuing the narrative of that great city. This angel shows John her role as a merchant port city, and details several abominations she is involved in: human trafficking and her sorceries aka: pharmakeia: 18:13b, 23b. The second angel shows John her relationship with the kings of the earth, merchants of the earth, the shipmasters, and the merchants of the sea and, how the sudden destruction of the city affects them.
The kings of the earth along with the various merchants: Greek: global traders, throw dust on their heads, weeping and wailing at the sight of her burning: 18:9-19. The second angel ties the woman, that great city, to the first verse in chapter 17: the judgement of the great πόρνης; commercially corrupt one - to export or sell.
Both chapters roll into one time of judgement. The ten kings which rise from the head of the beast: Daniel 7:20a,24, conspire to destroy her: 17:16,17. God has put this into their hearts, as judgment is promised by God; Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city. Rev 14:8; 18:2; which aligns with the seventh bowl judgement: the plague of the air.
This is the judgement of the great harlot city, shown to John from the perspective of two different angels, which span the entirety of the tribulation period. When you see how the symbology plays out, its nothing short of wondrous.
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."
As per bible prophecy, power returns to the middle east, with the rise of a fourth beast kingdom; the beast of ten horns. The fourth beast is middle eastern; not European. Many scoff at this and roll their eyes or argue till they are blue in the face, but this is what scripture points to; the rise of a fourth kingdom located in the middle east; the ancient territory which once belonged to King Nebuchadnezzar. A great city, will also rise, fulfilling a literal interpretation of prophecy.
And so, the mystery remains. a literal Babylon or, a 'Mystery Babylon'? Seven world kingdoms or seven hills? Babylon or Rome? Should scripture be interpreted through the lens of the bible or, with code words and alterations of scripture?
This is a work in progress as it is a current, ongoing study and updated regularly.
No comments:
Post a Comment