ESCHATOLOLOGY

THE DOCTRINE OF LAST THINGS

BABYLON

INTRODUCTION.

Babylon is one of the oldest cities of the ancient world. It is located about 30 miles southwest of the present-day city of Baghdad in Iraq and it was the second most influential cities of the world, the other being Rome. In the Bible, the city is mentioned 250 times, second only to Jerusalem, which the Bible mentions more than 300 times.

According to Genesis 11:1-9, the city was founded by group of rebellious descendants of Noah about 100 years after the great flood.

"And they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city,
and a tower whose top will reach to heaven,
and let us make for ourselves a name;
lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth'" (Gen. 11:4 NAS)

These early settlers probably designed the ziggurat as a temple for their worship of the stars ( Hitchcock, p. 41). Babel is also the place of the origin of the infamous mother-child cult. According to an extrabiblical tradition, Nimrod's wife, Semiramis, had a son named Tammuz through an alleged miraculous conception. According to tradition, Tammuz was killed by a wild animal and miraculously restore to life ( Walvoord, p. 970). The legend of Semiramis and Tammuz eventually spread from Babel throughout the world, but with their names changed in different cultures. In Assyria, the mother was called Ishtar and the son was Tammuz. And in Phoenicia, it was Astarte and Baal. In Greece, it was Aphrodite and Eros. In Rome, it was Venus and Cupid ( Hitchcock, p. 42). Babylon became the "mother of harlotries" as the central influence in all following cultures ( Garland).

According to Genesis 11:1-9, God frustrated this world-wide apostasy by confusing the builder's language, thus stopping them from communicating with one another. God's action had a purpose. Humanity would have been lead away from the truth more easily if only one government existed and this single government happened to fall into the hands of anti-God forces. But with the existence of multiple governments, those nations that reject the anti-God agendas can work together to restrain evil to some extent. As the result of the Tower of Babel incident, God has decreed that mankind be ordered according to racial and national boundaries rather than global government (Deut. 32:8; Acts 17:26).

But Satan's purpose throughout history has been to subvert this divine ordering of the nations and bring the world back together so that he can once again have unlimited control of it through one man ( Hitchcock, p. 43). Thus, Satan's ambition may have always been to bring man back to Babylon under his authority. That human rebellion could one day return to where it began comes as no surprise because of numerous parallel themes running through the books of Genesis and Revelation.

The city of Babylon grew in influence and in rebellion against God; it became a hotbed of idolatry and false religion. By 600 B.C., King Nebuchadnezzer had made Babylon into the pagan empire of Babylonia, a center of religion, commerce, and goverment. Babylonia may have been the most powerful monarchy in the history of the ancient world. God eventually brought the children of Israel in captivity to Babylon as a punishment for their worshipping idols. There, through the prophet Daniel, God taught the world that "there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets." Israel stay in Babylon once and for all cured the children of Israel of their worship of idols.

But Babylon's control and influence would not last forever. The prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah predicted the end of its powerful reign over the world. Babylon fell in one night to the armies of Cyrius the Persian in 539 B.C. and it ceased to be a world power. The city of Babylon eventually became a mound of ruins, just as the prophets foretold.

Prophecies Concerning Babylon.

1. Isaiah 13:19-20.
   1. Babylon will be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.
   2. It will never be inhabited.
   3. Neither will the Arabian pitch tent there.
   4. Neither will the shepherds make their fold there.
2. Jeremiah 50:3, 8, 39-40.
   1. None will dwell in Babylon; it will not be inhabited; it will be wholly desolate.
   2. The Jews in captivity were exhorted to move out of the midst of Babylon.
   3. It will not be inhabited forever.
   4. Neither will it be dwelt in from generation to generation.
3. Jeremiah 51:6,26, 43, 45.
   1. The Jews were urged to flee out of the midst of Babylon before its destruction and to deliver themselves:
      "... be not cut off in her iniquity;
      for this is the time of the Lord's vengeance."
   2. None should take from Babylon a stone for building purpose;
      it would be desolate forever.
   3. Babylon would become desolate heaps, a dwelling place for "dragons," an astonishment without inhabitant.
   4. The Lord spoke to cut off Babylon that none would remain in it, neither man nor beast, but it would become desolate forever.
4. Jeremiah 25:17-26, 30-33.
   Babylon (Sheshach, verse 26) will drink of the cup of the Lord's wrath last of all powers of the earth. Jewish and other interpreters agree that Sheshach has reference to Babylon ( Henry C. Thiessen; R. A. Torrey; Cambridge Bible).

Babylon in the Book of Revelation.

Several theories exist about the identity of Babylon in the book of Revelation (Revelation chapters 17 and 18). It is called "mystery, Babylon" in Revelation 17:5. The word "mystery" here does not mean what is "mysterious" in our sense of the word, but something that men could never figure out for themselves, but that which is made known only by God. It is often used in New Testament of the content of the Gospel message (Eph. 3:1-6; Col. 1:25-27). Here it means that which God makes known the meaning of certain symbols which men could not have figured out for themselves. When the Apostle John was carried in the Spirit into a wilderness, he was shown

"^3b a woman sitting on a scarlet beast
full of blasphemous names
having seven heads and ten horns.
⁴ And 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 unclearn things of her immorality;
⁵ and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery,
'BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.'
⁶ And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints,
and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.
And when I saw her, I wondered greatly." (Rev. 17:3b-6 NAS)

"⁷ But the angel said to me, 'Why marvel?
I will tell you the mystery of the woman,
and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
⁸ The beast that you saw was, and is not,
and is to ascend from the bottomless pit and go to perdition;
and the dwellers on earth whose name have not been written
in the book of life from the foundations of the world,
will marvel to behold the beast,
because it was and is not and is to come.
⁹ This calls for a mind with wisdom:
the seven heads are seven hills on which the woman is seated;
¹⁰ they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen,
one is, the other has not yet come,
and when he comes he must remain for little while.
¹¹ As for the beast that was and is not,
it is the eighth but it belongs to the seven,
and it goes to perdition.
¹² And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings
who have not yet received royal power,
but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour,
together with the beast;
¹³ These are one mind and give over their power
and authority to the beast;
¹⁴ they will make war on the Lamb,
and the Lamb will conquer them,
for he is Lord of lords and King of kings,
and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.'"
(Rev. 17:7-14)

"The woman is said to have a name on her forehead (verse 5). In Rome the prostitutes in the public brothels wore upon their foreheads a frontlet giving their names. This is another vivid detail in the picture of Rome as the great corrupting prostitute among the nations.

In verse 6 the woman is said to be drunk with the blood of God's dedicated people and with the blood of the martyrs. This is a reference to the persecution of the Christians in the Roman Empire. But it is more than simply stamp Rome as the great persecutor. She is glutted with slaughter; and she has revelled in that slaughter as a drunken man revels in wine."
Barclay, p. 137.

With the Roman emperor cult thus widely spread, temples of worship could be found in many of the great centers of the Mediterranean world; but most emperors were content with leaving the worship of themselves by the citizens on a voluntary basis. Emperors like Tiberius (A.D. 14-37) and Claudius (A.D.41-54) tried to forbid the citizens of paying worship to them; but other emperors were concerned that the worship of them be taken seriously by the people. Caligula (A.D. 37-41) demanded universal worship of his statue, which brought great persecutions of the Jews at Alexandria and Jamnia who failed to comply. Towards the end of his reign, Caligula ordered a statue of himself to be erected as Zeus Manifest and put in the Jerusalem Temple, with Roman soldiers placed there to see that Jewish worship of him was enforced. However, the spirit of the popular opinion and resistance of the Jews so aroused the friends of Caligula that the order was withdrawn; then Caligula recanted and again insisted that his bust be worshipped in the Jewish Temple. But soon Caligula was murdered, and the problem of the Jews worshipping Roman emperors ceased.

Vespasian (A.D.69-79) was another emperor who exalted himself and his family within the emperor cult. He gave his wife the titleof Augusta (an epithet to a goddess). Though he never declared himself the son of a god, he felt that he was the heir of Augustus' politics. Peace, Victory, and Fortune were three political words which he greatly emphasized. He was called Benefactor and Savior by his people. Elaborate services of worship and ceremony were offered in his behalf. Some scholars have felt that Revelation might have been written during the reign of Vespasia, since his reign follows almost immediately after the reign of Nero, who was expected to return to wreak vengeance upon the Romans and persecutions upon the Christians.

It was not until the reign of Domitian (A.D. 81-96) that the Roman emperor cult becomes highly organized and enforced throughout the empire, with the command that Christian worship Domitian as a god or suffer persecution or death. Domitian was such an infamous person that the Roman Senate refused to vote him the status of a god, so that he with his Roman legions set out to enoforce worship of himself as a god, in spite of the Senate's verdict.

The worst of the first-century persecutions of Christians had been brought about by Nero (A.D. 54-68) in the year 64. Historians say that he blamed the Great Fire of Rome upon the detested Christians. The terrible artocities of Nero against Christians were confined to Rome, and according to tradition both Paul and Peter were put to death during the time of terror. During the reign of Domitian, however, the persecution of Christians became more universal, though not so outrageous as those which took place under Nero, consisting of banishment, imprisonment, confiscation of property, and at times death. See Kepler, pp. 47-49.

In the interpretation of Revelation, the statement "a beast...like a leopard...bear...lion" (Rev. 13:2) is taken to mean that the Roman emperor cult embodies all the vices and powers of the three world empires mentioned in Daniel (chapter 7): the leopard is Babylonia, the bear is Media, and the lion is Persia.

And the statement "the beast with ten horns and seven heads" (Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3, 7) is understood as referring to the cult of Roman emperor worship ("the first beast") as compared with the priesthood ["Another (second) beast"]; its ten horns and seven heads are the previous emperors Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, Vesparian, Titus, and Domitian as the ten horns; and subtracting the lesser emperors, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius, we have the seven heads, since each of these three ruled for a few months each in 68-69. It is this beast which Christians are forced to worship under Domitian. See Kepler, p. 70.

The fundamental objection to this interpretation is that the persecution of the Christians by the Roman Empire stopped with the advent of Constantine, and Rome was taken by barbarians only a century later. But this very popular theory that Rome is the city of seven hills of Revelation 17 is really unscriptural.
In the first place, there is no mention of the name of such a city built on seven hills in Revelation 17 or in any other scripture. The seven heads of the beast of Revelation 17 refers to kingdoms, and are not reference to literal hills on which Rome, Moscow, or any other city is built.
In the second place, if the seven heads referred to literal hills on which Rome is built, we would have to believe and teach that five of those hills had already become flattened out before John wrote the Revelation, for "five are fallen" (Rev. 17:10). Rome would be on only one hill at the time John wrote Revelation, for only "one is" (Rev. 17:10). And, Rome would have to be moved from this, the sixth hill, to a seventh hill sometimes after John wrote Revelation, for only "one is not yet come" (Rev. 17:10). From the seventh, which would continue "a short space" (Rev. 17:10), Rome would be moved on to an eighth hill (Rev. 17:11). Clearly the seven heads does not refer to seven literal hills.

Such a theory is unreasonable when we understand that the seven hills refer to kingdoms. There are eight kingdoms that have persecuted and will yet persecute Israel in "the times of the Gentiles" and that they are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, Revised Rome, and Revived Grecia. The beast of Revelation 13 and 17 are "like a leopard" (Rev. 13:2), which is interpreted as symbolizing the old Grecian Empire. This is the last one of the five kingdoms (Greece) that had fallen before John wrote Revelation, and when it is revived again it will become the eighth kingdom (Revived Grecia) of Rev. 17:11. The seventh empire (Revised Rome) will be made up of ten kingdoms, and the eighth (Revived Grecia) will be one of the same 10 kingdoms only formed into one empire under the human Antichrist.

A few (mostly preterist interpreters who holds that Revelation is simply a sketch of the conditions of the Roman empire in the first century) assign the title "Babylon" to first-century Jerusalem. But the mention of rivers and ships and extensive commerical activity does not fit the holy city. Other commentators see John's use of "Babylon" as a metaphor for a world-wide system of evil. They believe that the reference to Babylon is symbolic, that Babylon is not to be defined geographically but ecclesiastically. Some in this group interpret Babylon as the papacy, which through the centuries persecuted multitudes of the saints of God. The Reformers shared this view. Others of this group understand Revelation 17 and 18 as a description not so much of the Roman church at the end of the age but of apostate Christendom as a whole. They believe that whatever the identity of Babylon, the following factors are clear:

1. at the end of this age two powerful forces, a federation of nations and an ecclesiastical apostate body, will unitedly exercise jurisdiction over the world;
2. there will be persecution of the saints of God;
3. a godless, economic, commerical worldwide system will hold sway;
4. a dual judgment will bring this condition of abomination to an end;
5. the ecclesiastical power will be torn to pieces by the federation of nations; and
6. the whole ungodly system, staggering in drunkenness of Babylonian pride, power, and wealth, will be destroyed by an act of God, which will bring rejoicing to the people of God (Rev. 18:20). If there is any chronological sequence in these last chapters of the book of Revelation, the judgment upon Babylon will soon be followed by the battle of Armageddon. (see W. M. Smith.)

"which in the first century would been recognized as the imperial power of Rome, but which in any age can be identified with political powers which are set purely on material aims apart from God. The vision of Babylon's fall is, therefore, a vision of the fall of all such political powers.... The symbol of Babylon was chosen because it stood for the oppressors of God's people. The destruction of the symbolic city is not so much a precursor as an accompaniment of the coming of the victorious Lamb. The lament over Babylon in chapter 18 brings out magnificently the utter impotence and ultimate futility of material power and wealth face to face with the righteous anger of God...."

Thus the two leading interpretations are the following:

1. "Mystery Babylon" describes symbolically a great centralized system of wickedness in the end times.
2. "Mystery Babylon" refers to the old literal city of Babylon on the Euphrates, which will be restored as the world's leading city of commerce and iniquity in the end times. Tim LaHaye believes that in the coming tribulation period, the Antichrist will rule the world from his headquarters in the literal, rebuilt city of Babylon on the Euphrates River in modern-day Iraq.

Arguments for Restoration of a Literal Babylon.

Those who interpret the Old Testament prophecies listed above as not having been fulfilled in the past history of Babylon support their views as follows:

1. Babylon was not overthrown as suddenly and completely as were the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, never to be found. The sites of Sodom and Gomorrah have not been located by archaeologists, but there is no doubt as to the location of ancient Babylon. At present there are several small, but growing, cities on the site of Babylon, one of which retains the ancient name Babylon.
2. The prophecies of Jeremiah 51:11 were fulfilled in a measure in the capture of ancient Babylon by the Medes, but the destruction at that time did not result in any such utter destruction as described in Revelation 18.
3. When Babylon was captured in 538 B.C. by Cyrus the Great, Medo-Persian monarch, the city was left intact. Evidently the Israelites did not flee the city at that time as urged by the prophecies. Daniel, one of their prophets, along with most of Daniel's people remained and was captured by the Medes. This exhortation must refer, therefore, to the restored Babylon of the end times, for the exhortation is repeated in Revelation 18:4 (KJV):

   "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins,
   and that ye receive not of her plagues."

4. The city gradually disintegrated through the succeeding centuries. There never was a sudden destruction as that which overtook Sodom and Gomorrah. In 500 B.C., Darius Hystaspic punished the Babylonians by throwing down the walls and the gates because of an insurrection to gain emancipation from Persian bondage. Under Seleucas Nicator (died 280 B.C.), the city began to sink more rapidly when he built Seleucia on the Tigris River from the ruins of Babylon and drew many inhabitants from Babylon. Peter the Apostle is believed to have written his epistles from Babylon in A.D. 64 (I Pet 5:13). Jerome (fourth century) wrote that he had heard that the site of Babylon had been converted into a hunting ground for the recreation of Persian monarchs and that to preserve the game the walls had been repaired. Strabo (ninth century) said that in his time the place laid in ruins. There was a small village on the site in 1100, however, and the name was changed from Babylon to Hillah. In 1883, the population was about 10,000, which grew to about 30,000 in 1936.
5. Today the cities on the site of ancient Babylon have a large Arab population, and their occupation is shepherding of flocks.
6. Babylon's destruction as the fall of Sodom and Gomorrah is identified as occurring "in the day of the Lord," a time when "the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light; the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause the light to shine" (Isa. 13:6, 10). Such events are described in the New Testament as to occur at the end of the tribulation period of the end time (Matt. 6:12-17).
7. Israel was not given the "rest from sorrow, and from fear" which was promised as following the destruction of Babylon (Isa. 14:3-4).
8. The bricks and stones from ancient Babylon have been used for building purposes, contrary to the prophecy of Jeremiah 51:26. Archaeologists have discovered bricks bearing the old Babylonian stamp in several other cities. The Greeks built Seleucia; the Parthians built Ctesiphon; the Persians built al Maiden; and the Caliphs built Kufa from the ruins of Babylon. Houses in Baghdad are also said to contain bricks bearing the old Babylonian stamp.
9. Babylon shall drink of the cup of the Lord's wrath last of all the kingdoms of the earth (Jer. 25:17-26).
10. Babylon is to be destroyed in one hour's time:

    "¹⁰ Alas! alas! thou great city,
    thou mighty city, Babylon!
    In one hour has thy judgment come. ...
    ¹⁶ Alas, alas, for the great city,
    that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet,
    bedecked with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
    ¹⁷ In one hour all this wealth has been laid waste. ...
    ^19b Alas, alas, for the great city
    where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth!
    In one hour is she has been laid waste. ..."
    (Rev. 18:10, 16-17, 19b).

    This has never yet been literally fulfilled.
11. Zechariah prophesies of the return of wickedness and commerce to Babylon (Zech. 5:5-11). But this prophecy was given to Zechariah after the fall of Babylon as a great kingdom in Old Testament history. His prophecy pictures two women carrying the ephah to the land of Shinar (Babylon) "to built it a base." Therefore, there must be a future restoration of the ancient city.
12. If Babylon is not a future literal city, it seems strange that the Holy Spirit would reveal its existence at the close of the tribulation judgments, together with such a detailed list of merchandise marketed in the city (Rev. 17 and 18):

    "The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones,
    and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet,
    and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory,
    and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass,
    and of iron, and marble, and cinnamon, and odours, and ointments,
    and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat,
    and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots,
    and slaves, and souls of men" (Rev. 18:12-13 KJV).

13. The present interest of the nations in the Near East makes the rebuilding of Babylon seem very likely. The area contains some of the richest oil fields of the world. The Persian Gulf, for instance, supplied twenty-eight percent of all oil used in the world in 1970. Its lands contain sixty-two percent of all the world's oil reserves. The oil from this area alone supplies one half of Western Europe's oil and from ninety to ninety-five percent of Japan's needs. The United States has seventy percent of the oil concessions. Russia spent two hundred million dollars on the development of the North Rumeila oil fields near Kuwait in Iraq, which Premier Kosygin in person officially opened in April, 1972. In event of a confrontation in the Middle East, this oil could be at the mercy of the dominant power.

    According to the Encyclopedia Americana, a 26 million dollar plan is under study to excavate and restore ancient Babylon, including a new Tower of Babel and possibly the Hanging Gardens as a tourist attraction.

    After the Iraq gulf war in 1991, it has been widely reported that Saddam Hussein viewed himself as something of a contemporary Nebuchadnezzer. Also Bible professor Charles Dyer in his 1991 book Rise of Babylon has reported that Saddam Hussein was attempting to rebuild Babylon.

    "As of February 1990, over sixty thousand bricks had been laid in the reconstruction of Nebuchadnezzar's fabled city. Saddam Hussein has ignored the objections of archaeologists who consider it a crime to build over ancient ruins. On the exact site of ancient Babylon, he has reconstructed the Southern Palace of Nebuchadnezzar, including the Procession Street, a Greek theatre, many temples, what was once Nebuchadnezzar's throne room, and a half-scale model of the Ishtar Gate. Hussein plans to rebuild the hanging gardens, once considered one of the seven wonders of the world: he has offered a 1.5 million prize to any Iraqi who can devise a plan to irrigate the gardens using only the technology available in ancient Babylon. [1]

Arguments Against the Restoration of Literal Babylon.

Those who affirm the view that a literal Babylon will not be restored in the end time interpret "mystery, Babylon" of Rev. 17 and 18 as a figurative description of a great centralize system of wickedness rather than as a great literal city. They support their view as follows:
(The following material is taken from R. Ludwigson's book A Survey of Bible Prophecy, pp. 36-37)

1. The prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah were directed against the literal Babylon of their day, whose destruction they foretold. This is evident from the following:
   1. Babylon's ancient gods are named: Bel, Merodac (Jer. 50:2; 51:44).
   2. Specific geographical place of the ancient time are named:
      Lebanon (Isa. 14:8); Zion (Jer. 50:5); Assyria (Jer. 50:17);
      Carmel, Bashan, Ephraim, Gilead (Jer. 50:19); Jordan (Jer. 50:44);
      Judah (Jer. 51:5); Ararat, Minni, Ashchenaz (Jer. 51:27);
      Euphrates (Jer. 51:63).
   3. Individual and nations of that time are mentioned:
      King of the Medes (Isa. 13:17; Jer. 51:11,28);
      Chaldeans (Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:1, 8, 35, 45; 51:4);
      Jacob, Israel, Judah (Isa. 14:1-2; Jer. 50:4, 33; 51:5);
      King of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar (Isa. 14:4; Jer. 50:17, 43; 51:34);
      King of Assyria (Jer. 50:17);
      Seraiah the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah (Jer. 51:59);
      Zedekiah the king of Judah (Jer. 51;59).
   4. Definite time references are given:
      Assyrian captivity is past (Jer. 50:17-18);
      these prophecies were given in the fourth year of the reign of Zedekiah (Jer. 51:59).
   5. The name of the enemy who would destroy Babylon is prophesied: great nations from the north, the Medes, accompanied by the King of the Medes (Isa. 13:17; Jer. 50:3, 9, 41; 51:11);
2. The literal features of Babylon's destruction contained in these prophecies were fulfilled at the fall of Babylon to Medo-Persia in 538 B.C. A rebuilding of the city would be a violation of the statement that "it shall never be inhabited" (Isa. 13:20).
3. Any symbolical statements, such as Babylon's destruction being as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, never to be inhabited from generation to generation, is prophetic imagery of the destruction of Babylon in 538 B.C.
4. Zechariah's prophecy (Zech. 5:5-11) is symbolic of the cleansing of Israel and Palestine from the wickedness learned in the Babylonian captivity. Evil commercialism is to be sent back to the "land of Shinar," i.e. Babylon.
5. The city in Revelation 17 and 18 is called "mystery, Babylon." This city exercises dominion over "the kings of the earth"; "peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues." The fact that the word "mystery" describes Babylon suggests not a literal city but a symbolic one, that is, some power or system of the future.
6. The prophecy of Isaiah (13:19-22) applies either
   1. to the Babylon yet to come, or
   2. the Babylon of the Apocalypse is the figurative application of the name to a totally different city, or
   3. the use of the term in Revelation applies to a system or civilization rather than to any specific geographical center.

Summary and Conclusion.

Revelation chapters 17 and 18 seems to imply that a great commerical city will come into existence during the tribulation period at the end of this age. But it is called "mystery, Babylon" (see Rev. 17:5, 7). And the fact that the word "mystery" is used to describe Babylon suggests that it is not a literal city but a symbolic one, that is, it is some power or system of the future. It is also described as "the great harlot" (Rev. 17:1) "with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and with the wine of whose fornication the dwellers on earth have become drunk" (Rev. 17:2). This reference to harlotry which is repeated often in Revelation (Rev. 17:4, 15, 16; 18:3, 7) is an echo of the Old Testament prophets, who used the term to describe the infidelity of man to God, especially in relation to idolatry. The first chapter of Isaiah denounced Jerusalem as "the faithful city become a harlot" (Isa. 1:21). Jeremiah condemned Jerusalem in almost the same words: "under every green tree thou didst bow thyself, playing the harlot" (Jer. 2:20), and the figure was applied later both to Israel and to Judah in his prophecy (Jer. 3). Ezekiel, in similar fashion, drew the portrait of the sisters, Oholah and Oholibah, representing Israel and Judah, who from the beginning of their national existence in Egypt had been defiled with the idolatries and evils of the nations around them (Ezek. 23). In similar fashion, the predominance of lust and sensual pleasure, the willingness to barter righteousness for commercial advantages, the love of luxury irrespective of its moral cost, are the characteristics of Babylon. This is basically an idolatry of money and wealth. (See Tenny, p. 84.)

Babylon is also called "the great city" (Rev. 17:18). And the city is further described as the ruler over the last kings of the earth, "the great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth" (Rev. 17:18). The beast of Revalation 17 is identical with the first beast of chapter 13, the head and personification of godless authority, supported by a diabolical supernaturalism. The kingdom of the Antichrist will be the eighth kingdom, but it is actually one of the previous seven who is restored to power (Rev. 17:11). The eight kingdoms are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, Revised Rome, and Revived Grecia. The Antichrist's kingdom will be the Revived Grecia kingdom. He will be supported by a confederacy of ten kings who will rule with him for a very brief time, "for one hour", at the conclusion of the end times (Rev. 17:12). Internal discord will turn the beast and these ten confederate kings against the city, and they will burn it, God having put into their hearts to fulfill His will.

"¹⁵ And he [the angel] said to me,
'The waters that you saw, where the harlot is seated,
are people and multitudes and nations and tongues.
¹⁶ And the ten horns that you saw,
they and the beast will hate the harlot;
they will make her desolate and naked,
and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire.
¹⁷ for God has put it into their hearts
to carry out his purpose by being of one mind
and giving over their royal power to the beast,
until words of God shall be fulfilled.
¹⁸ And the woman that you saw is the great city
which has dominion over the kings of the earth."
(Rev. 17:15-18).

"¹¹ And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her,
since no one buys their cargo any more,
¹² cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls,
fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet,
all kinds scented wood, all articles of ivory,
all articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble,
¹³ cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense,
wine, oil, fine flour and wheat,
cattle and sheep, horses and chariots,
and slaves, that is, human souls.
¹⁴ 'The fruit for which thy soul longed has gone from thee,
and all thy dainties and thy splendor are lost to thee,
never to be found again!'
¹⁵ The merchants of these wares,
who gained wealth from her, will stand far off,
in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
¹⁶ 'Alas, alas, for the great city,
that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet,
bedecked with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!
¹⁷ In one hour all this wealth has been laid waste.'
And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors
and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off
¹⁸ and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning.
'What city was like the great city?'
¹⁹ And they threw dust on their heads,
as they wept and mourned, crying out,
'Alas, alas, for the great city
where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth!
In one hour is she has been laid waste.'" (Rev. 18:12-19).

²¹ Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great mountain
and threw it into the sea, saying,
'So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,
and shall be found no more;
²² and the sound of harpers and minstrels,
of flute players and trumpeters,
shall be heard in thee no more;
and a craftsman of any craft shall be found in thee no more;
and the sound of the millstone shall be heard in thee no more;
²³ and the light of a lamp shall shine in thee no more;
and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall be heard in thee no more;
for thy merchants were the great men of the earth,
and all nations were deceived by thy sorcery.
²⁴ And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,
and of all who have been slain on earth.'"
(Rev. 18:21-24)

Appendix: The Beasts of Revelation.

In two passages (Rev. 13:1-18; 17:8-17), two beasts are said to arise in the end times: one, out of the sea; the other, out of the earth. The antichrist is the "beast out of the sea". Concerning "the beast out of the sea", the following facts are revealed:

1. He rose out of the sea. According to Rev. 17:15, the sea represents the nations of the world out of which this final ruler will arise. The interpretation of "the sea" is given to John by the angel.

   "And he [the angel] said to me,
   'The waters that you saw, where the harlot is seated,
   are people and multitudes and nations and tongues.'" (Rev. 17:15)

2. He had seven heads and ten horns (Rev. 13:1). The seven heads are seven mountains or hills which symbolize seven kings dominated by the Harlot Babylon. The angel spoke to John the Apostle:

   "⁷ But the angel said to me, 'Why marvel?
   I will tell you the mystery of the woman,
   and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
   ⁸ The beast that you saw was, and is not,
   and is to ascend from the bottomless pit and go to perdition;
   and the dwellers on earth whose name have not been written
   in the book of life from the foundations of the world,
   will marvel to behold the beast,
   because it was and is not and is to come.
   ⁹ This calls for a mind with wisdom:
   the seven heads are seven hills on which the woman is seated;
   ¹⁰ they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen,
   one is, the other has not yet come,
   and when he comes he must remain for a little while.
   ¹¹ As for the beast that was and is not,
   it is the eighth but it belongs to the seven,
   and it goes to perdition." (Rev. 17:7-11).

   The seven heads are seven kings, or kingdoms, one of which suffered a mortal wound, but is healed again. One king or kingdom, thus, ceases to be for a time, but rises again into reigning power. Five of the kings have fallen, the sixth is reigning, and the seventh has not yet come at the time that John is writing this revelation. When the seventh king comes, he will continue "a little while" (Rev. 17:10). Then the beast will follow the reign of these seven; he is the eighth in succession, but actually he is one of the seven who comes to power again after a deadly wound has healed (Rev. 17:11). There are eight kings or kingdoms that have persecuted and will persecute Israel in "the times of the Gentiles" and they are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece (the fifth had fallen before John wrote), Rome (the sixth was in existence in John's day), Revised Rome (the seventh is made up of the ten kingdoms yet to come inside the old Roman Empire territory), and Revived Grecia (the eighth is yet to come). The fifth was the old Grecian Empire, which was wounded unto death. In its revival again as an empire by the Antichrist (Revived Grecia), it will be the head wounded unto death that will be healed; it is not the human Antichrist that is wounded unto death and will be healed (Dan. 7:6; 8:4-14, 20-25; Rev. 13:1-3, 11-14; 17:11). These seven heads are the seven kings, or kingdoms. And the eignth king (Revived Grecia) is the fifth (Greece) revived by the Antichrist.

   "¹² And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings
   who have not yet received royal power,
   but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour,
   together with the beast;
   ¹³ These are one mind and give over their power
   and authority to the beast;
   ¹⁴ they will make war on the Lamb,
   and the Lamb will conquer them,
   for he is Lord of lords and King of kings,
   and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.'"
   (Rev. 17:12-14)

   The ten horns (Rev. 17:12) are ten kings who will receive power and authority together with the beast out of the sea (cf. Rev. 13:1-10; and Rev. 17:8, 11). These ten horns on the non-descript beast (Dan. 7:8-24) symbolize 10 kings who will head 10 separate governments from 10 separate capitals inside the old Roman Empire territory in the days of the end (Dan. 2:31-44; 7:23-25, Rev. 12:3; 13:1-18; 17:8-17). Some teachers call these 10 kingdoms the Revived Roman Empire, but actually there will be no such thing as a "revived" Roman Empire. This would require the Roman territory be formed into only one empire again and to be ruled by one man from Rome instead of 10 kingdoms being formed. But the Bible does not teach this. The Bible shows, as stated above, there will be 10 kings (Dan. 2:44; 7:7-8, 23-24; Rev. 17:8-17). It is better to call these 10 kingdoms the "Revised Roman Empire", not the "Revived Roman Empire", for the old Roman Empire will be definitely revised from one vast empire into 10 kingdoms formed inside the old Roman territory. There will be ten kingdoms instead of the one empire as is generally taught. The popular theory of today that the Common Market Nations are the fulfillment of Dan. 7:7-8, 23-24; Rev. 13:1-5; 17:1-5; 17:8-17, is false. There is not to be a United States of Europe but rather 10 united kingdoms in Europe, Asia, and Africa from the whole territory of the old Roman Empire. These ten kings or kingdoms will rule together for one hour just before they make war on the Lamb (Rev. 17:14) -- evidently the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:17-21). The beast along with the false prophet is finally captured and thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with brimstone. All this takes place at the end of the reign of the beast who rules for the final three and a half years of this present age.

   The Harlot Babylon (Rev. 17:5) is the great city which will have dominion over the kings of the earth (Rev. 17:18), as suggested figuratively by the woman sitting upon seven hills or mountains (Rev. 17:3). The ten kings, together with the beast, will war against this great city which they will destroy and burn with fire (Rev. 17:16). This destruction of Babylon will occur near the close of the tribulation period when the seventh and last bowl of the wrath of God is poured out upon earth (Rev. 16:17-20).

3. Upon his head were names of blasphemy. The seven kingdoms are blasphemous against God. The final ruler, the beast who is one of the seven, for instance, openly blasphemes against God, against His dwelling, and against those who dwell in heaven (Rev. 13:5-6). He will claim to be God.
4. He was like a leopard, a bear, and a lion (Rev. 13:2). Some teachers take these descriptions as allusion to those given by Daniel in reference to ancient world empires. There the allusions suggest that the final world dominion of Antichrist will resemble in substance one of the former world empires: the "lepard" (Dan. 7:6, 12, 17) symbolize Greece (cf. Dan. 7:3-6, 17). The "bear" (Dan. 7:5, 12, 17) symbolize Media-Persia, and the "lion" (Dan. 7:4, 12, 17) symbolize Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom (Dan. 2:37-38; Jer. 15:4; 24:9; 25:11-12; 29:18).
5. His power, his throne, and his authority were given to him by "the dragon", which is identified later as Satan (Rev. 12:9), who bestows on the beast his own destructive power.
6. One head was wounded and healed (Rev. 13:3; 17:11). The seven heads are seven kings, or kingdoms, one of which suffered a mortal wound, but is healed again. One king or kingdom, thus, ceases to be for a time, but rises again into reigning power.
7. The beast continues for forty-two months (Rev. 13:5), the period of the time of the end, that is, of the great tribulation.
8. He wars with the saints and overcomes them (Rev. 13:7a).
9. He is given power over all nations (Rev. 13:7b).
10. He ascends out of the bottomless pit (Rev.17:8). As a human person, the beast comes up out of the sea, that is, out of the nations of the world (Rev. 17:15). As energized by Satan, from whom also he receives his power, the beast comes from the bottomless pit.
11. His number is 666 (Rev. 13:18), perhaps the symbol of man's greatest strength, but also symbolic that he is only a man, and not a god.
12. He kills the two witnesses in Jerusalem who, accompanied by supernatural power, evangelize in the end times (Rev. 11:7).
13. He is destroyed by the Lamb, goes into perdition, and is finally cast into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:20).

The second beast is out of the earth ("the beast which rose out of the earth", Rev. 13:11) is described in Rev. 13:11-17 as follows:

1. He exercises all the authoriy of the first beast in its presence.
2. He causes the people of the earth to worship the first beast.
3. He works miracles.
4. He deceives the people.
5. He causes the image of the first beast to be erected.
6. He kills all who refuse to worship the image.
7. He brands all who worship the first beast with the mark of the beast.
8. He denies civil liberties to those who refuse to worship the first beast.

1. The first beast of Rev. 13 is considered to be the civil or political leader of the last world empire, while the second beast or false prophet is considered to be the last ecclesiastical leader of the apostate church and the Antichrist (The Scofield Bible, Arno Gaebelein, H. A. Ironside, F. W. Grant, William Lincoln, and Walter Scott); and
2. The first beast of Rev. 13 is considered to be the civil or political leader known as the Antichrist of the end time, and the second beast or false prophet is his assistant (William R. Newell, William Pettingill, I. M. Haldeman, Joseph Seiss, William G. Moorhead, Ford C. Ottman, J. Dwight Pentecost, Donald Grey Barnhouse, and Hal Lindsey).

Bibliography

[1] Dyer, Charles H., Rise of Babylon
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Garland, Tony. "Revelation Commentary."
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Guthrie, Donald. New Testament Theology
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Hitchcock, Mark. The Second Coming of Babylon
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Kepler, Thomas S. Dreams of the Future:
Daniel and Revelation
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edited by Willam Barclay and Frederick F. Bruce
(London: Lutterworth Press, 1963.)

LaHaye, Tim and Woods, Andy. "Babylon" in
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Ludwigson, R. "Babylon" in
A Survey of Bible Prophecy
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Smith, Wilbur M. "Babylon" in
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Walvoord, John F. "Revelation" in
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