Babylon of Revelation
"Babylon" is mentioned in Revelation 6 times and is translated from the Greek word, Βαβυλών (Babylṓn, bab-oo-lone' G897). It is of Hebrew origin (H894 confusion) => Literally, the capitol of Chaldæa(perhaps at the site of the tower of Babel) or figuratively, in Revelation, as a type of tyranny.(Strong's Concordance, Webster's 1828 Dictionary)
Genesis 11:9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel(H894 בָּבֶל Bâbel, baw-bel'); because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Revelation 14:8 ¶ And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen[also in Rev18:2], that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
- This is the 2nd of the 3 angel's messages, the context being of the last days before Christ comes again, as we see in the 1st angel's message in verse 7: "... Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come..."(Rev14:7). More about the God of the 1st angel's message => http://sidnash.org/?1stAC
- In prophecy, a woman represents a religion - sometimes Godly; sometimes evil. Since Rev17 identifies Babylon as a woman and we see here that Babylon is fallen, we know that Babylon is an apostate and/or false religious organization(s).
- That "Babylon is fallen..." must indicate their is more of Babylon, other than papal Rome, for it was never unfallen.
Revelation 16:19-21 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. 20 And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. 21 And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.
- "The great city was clearly identified as Babylon in Rev14:8, so it must be Babylon["an apostate and/or false religious organization(s)"] that "was divided into three parts": Presumably, Paganism, Catholicism, and apostate Protestantism
Revelation 17:1-3,5 ... I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters. 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns... 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT[also in Rev18:2], THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
- Notice in Rev12:3, "a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns" as pagan Rome. Then in Rev13:1, we see "beast coming up, having seven heads and ten horns" as papal Rome. Then in vs 2, we see that "the dragon[pagan Rome] gave him[beast - papal Rome] his power, and his seat, and great authority". Likewise, in Rev17, we see papal Rome(the "great whore) riding on the authority and power of pagan Rome. But, Babylon can not be just the papacy, because she has daughters who are also harlots - the same daughters who we saw before as Paganism and apostate(fallen, Rev14:8) Protestantism.
Revelation 18:2-3 And he[another angel (vs1)] cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen[also in Rev14:8], 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.
- "Babylon is a term which embraces not only the Roman Catholic Church, but religious bodies which have sprung from her, bringing many of her errors and traditions along with them" (DaR Rev18:1-3.1). This fall must be a moral one, because God's people are later instructed to come out of her so as not to receive her plagues(vs 4&8). We also see Babylon's judgement and destruction later in this chapter. Again, I will mention that since both the pagan and papal branches of Rome were always apostate, the moral fall must refer to the daughters of the whore(Rev17:5) - all religious bodies that sprung from her at first for good moral reasons, who later have fallen, as we see today. These will eventually form the image of the beast of Rev13, who will take control of the civil power to persecuted God's people.
Revelation 18:9-11 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her[Babylon], shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their[the merchants of the earth] merchandise any more.
- Regarding "in one hour", could this be applicable? => Isaiah 34:8 "For it is the day of the LORD'S vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion." Could the "in one hour" of Rev18:10 be " the year of recompences" of Is34:8?
- Regarding "the merchants of the earth", could this be the "elite" of the world today? Uriah Smith offers this understanding: "They who but a short time before had issued a decree that the saints of God should neither buy nor sell, now find themselves put under the same restriction by a far more effectual process"(DaR Rev 18:9-11.1). "... for no man buyeth their merchandise any more."(Rev18:11)
Revelation 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah (Deut8:3; Matt4:4)
-Sid Nash: 09/27/2023. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/RevBabylon.html