Who is Babylon: The Harlot of Revelation?
by Tony Edwards
Introduction
For many years the book of Revelation has given rise to much interest. From the young to the old, the imagery found throughout this amazing book has led to much discussion. One such discussion has to do with the identity of the great city called Babylon.
The book of Revelation mentions a great city by the name of Babylon. Anyone familiar with history understands this is not talking about the actual, geographical city Babylon, whose king at one time was Nebuchadnezzar. No, that city fell to Cyrus the Great, King of Persia around 536 B.C. With this knowledge we must come to the conclusion that John, the writer of Revelation, used the name Babylon symbolically to refer to some other city.
Someone may be tempted to ask, “What is the significance of even knowing who Babylon represents?” That is a good question. The fact of the matter is this, knowing who Babylon represents will ultimately shape ones view of the events written in the book of Revelation.
There are several views as to who Mystery Babylon represents: 1) Jerusalem, 2) Rome, 3) The Pope/Catholic Church, or 4) Some present day world power. Out of all the identities about who this great city could be, I once held the possession that it represented Rome. For truly Rome did persecute the church. Rome was a great city. And besides these, I believed the book of Revelation was written around the end of the first century, near the reign of Domitian, emperor of Rome. Off the top of my head, these “Supposed Evidences” seemed to be good grounds for Babylon representing Rome. But is this really the case? Let’s look at some of those different views.
Different Views
There are many different views when it comes to identifying who this Mystery Babylon represents. There are those who take a broad approach. Weeber suggests that Babylon refers, not just to one city or empire but to “The whole ungodly world power.”[1] That is, Babylon represents any anti-Christian groups “Past, present, and future.”[2]
Then there are those who are more specific. Some suggest that Babylon is not a symbol at all but that it refers to the literal city of Jeremiah 50-51 that must be destroyed in the future.[3] Others take a more symbolic approach. Jack Van Impe claims the United States of America is Babylon. He asserts that “America’s destruction may come as quick as lighting” and that America “Could indeed become the battered and beaten Babylon of… Jeremiah 50:9.”[4] This view is not very plausible. It ignores the import of the time statements in the book of Revelation. John clearly said that the signs of Revelation would take place “shortly” and he warned that they were “near.” (1:1, 3)
Furthermore, what comfort would it be to the souls who asked God, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth,” if when God told them it would be a “little while” (6:10-11), He really meant over 2000 years later? The answer is clear. It would not be any comfort to them. God told them they would be vindicated in a “little while.” This phrase, “little while”, comes from the Greek word “mikros” and it is where we get our English word “micro”. Micro means a very small amount. God was telling them, rest for just a small amount of time and I will come to avenge your blood.
Another view suggests that Mystery Babylon refers to the Roman Catholic Church. John T. Hinds, when noticing Paul’s comments about the “Man of Sin” who exalts himself above all that is called God (2 Thess. 2:4), says that this fits the description of “The Pope claiming to be the authoritative representative of Christ on earth.”[5] Hinds, therefore concludes that “Mystery Babylon” symbolically refers to the “Papal hierarchy” which “Through a perversion of the church, took away the true worship of God.”[6] This view is without merit. “It is futile to interpret Babylon as the Roman Catholic church, for no single fulfillment in history can be cited.”[7] I must concur with the Catholic Church here which said, “We are told that the heads “are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come.” If five of these kings had fallen in John’s day and one of them was still in existence, then the Whore must have existed in John’s day. Yet Christian Rome and Vatican City did not.”[8]
Another more popular view is that pagan Rome was Mystery Babylon. This view, though it lacks consistent Biblical support, does have more weight than the previous claims. Many people assume that Babylon is Rome because John saw Babylon sitting on the Beast which represents Rome. Gordon Zerbe noted, “To confirm that Rome is Babylon, John explains that the seven heads of the beast upon which the prostitute sits are also seven mountians (17:9), referring to the actual topography of Rome.”[9] Merrill C. Tenney stated that Rome was “The only politico-religious power of the day that could correspond to Babylon, the harlot.”[10] But these arguments, along with others, are not enough in light of the tremendous amount of Biblical evidence against Rome being Babylon. Revelation is about a city that had become so corrupt that God could not stand the sight of it any longer. Why would God be so concerned about Romes smoke “rising forever and ever?” (19:3) Why would God make the marriage of the Lamb contingent upon and successive to Rome being destroyed? (19:7) He would not have. This city in Revelation became wicked. Rome was never faithful to God, Jerusalem was. “Rome was never a “faithful city” to “turn harlot.”[11]
One more view, that I am in favor of, says Jerusalem of old is Mystery Babylon. From this point forward, I will offer the reason as to why this view is a more consistent and Scriptural approach. I will look at four main points of contrast between Jerusalem and Babylon: 1) They both would be punished in a short time, 2) They were guilty of the same thing—Killing the Prophets, 3) They were both called the “great city”, and 4) The marriage of the Lamb followed the destruction of both.
Jerusalem and Babylon: Punished in a Short Time
As previously stated, the events that John saw were to take place in a short (micro) amount of time. God thought it was so important to make this point that He not only begins and ends the book with the phrase “Things which must shortly take place” (1:1; 22:6) but He qualified what He meant by “shortly” when He said those things were “near.” (1:3) Thayer says the word “near” (at hand) concerns “Things imminent and soon to come to pass.”[12]
Not only was the fate of Mystery Babylon near but Jesus also predicted Jerusalem’s fate as being near. In Luke 21:20, Jesus warned that Jerusalem would be “Surrounded by armies.” He proceeds by saying these would be the days of vengeance when Jerusalem would be trampled by the Gentiles (21:22-24). Here again, so that there would be no misunderstanding as to the time frame of when these events would take place, Jesus states, “Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. It is logical and consistent to believe the reason the things promised to happen in Revelation to Mystery Babylon, would shortly take place is because it would happen in those people’s, living at that time in Jerusalem, generation—their life time.
Jerusalem and Babylon: Guilty of the Same Thing—Killing the Prophets
It does not take but a casual reading of the book of Revelation to realize that this symbolic Babylon was guilty of killing the prophets of God. One of the key verses to understanding Revelation is 6:10. This verse records the helpless plea of those who had become victims of this vicious city—Babylon. Their cry was, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
Notice, these souls were focused on WHEN God would AVENGE their souls. God’s answer to this question was, “A Little While Longer” (6:11). You see, this mysterious city called Babylon was guilty of killing God’s prophets and saints. As a matter of fact, when Revelation 18 finally records the destruction of this city, verse 24 of the same chapter says, “And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” This great city Babylon had murdered so many of God’s prophets and saints that she was “Drunk with their blood” (17:6).
These were the souls who were crying to God. Consequently, God, from chapters six through nineteen, shows them the fate of their adversaries. That fate would be destruction. In his vision, John saw this great city’s destruction and after the destruction the multitude of heaven cried, “He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” (Rev. 19:3)
Now, ask yourself a question. What is the only city that existed during this time that was guilty of this very thing? The answer is Jerusalem. Listen to the words of Jesus. In Matthew 23, our Lord was having a conversation with the Jewish leaders. He told these leaders they were sons of those “Who murdered the prophets” (23:31). He continues to tell them they would “Fill up the measure of their father’s guilt” (23:32). This basically means, just as their fathers killed the prophets of God, they to eventually will be guilty of the same thing. Just to show them the surety of His prediction, Jesus says,
“Indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.” (23:34-35)
Notice, Jesus told them THEY would do this. He also tells them because of their murders, the BLOOD OF ALL THE RIGHTEOUS SHED ON THE EARTH would come upon THEM. But what righteous was Jesus talking about? Notice again, in verse 35 Jesus says ALL THE BLOOD SHED ON THE EARTH. It is amazing that when the Babylon of Revelation was destroyed, inside that great city was found “THE BLOOD OF ALL WHO WERE SLAIN ON THE EARTH” (18:24). Coincidence? As Roberson stated, “That Babylon is a mystical city and as such is Jerusalem is confirmed Here.”[13]
Not only that, just like Babylon was accused of killing the prophets, listen to Jesus’ description of Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her!” (23:37)
In almost exact terms Jerusalem was guilty of the same thing as Mystery Babylon.
Here is another striking, identifying mark of Jerusalem and Babylon. When Jesus was speaking of the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem, He stated that before that destruction comes the gospel had to be preached in all the world. Now notice Revelation 14:6-8,
“Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth–to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people– saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” And another angel followed, saying, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”
Look at the succession of events. The everlasting gospel would be presented to every nation on earth, judgment had come, and Babylon is fallen. In similar fashion, Matthew 24:14 suggests the gospel will be preached to all nation, God’s judgment on Jerusalem would then come, and this would signify the end of that city. Is this to a coincidence?
No, these are not coincidences. The reason these two cities, Jerusalem and Babylon, are so similar is because they are of the same identity. No other city was guilty of persecuting and killing the prophets and saints of God like the Jews of Jerusalem. “The greatest enemy of the church was apostate Israel, which used the power of the pagan Roman Empire to try to stamp out Christianity, just as it had used Rome in the crucifixion of the Lord Himself.”[14]
Even the apostle Paul tells us where the buck of their persecution came from. In 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 we find these words,
“For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.”
In Acts 4-5 their own countrymen, not Rome, beat the apostles. His own countrymen, not the Catholic Church, killed Stephen. The church in Acts 8 was persecuted and scattered by its own countrymen, not the USA. In Acts 9, Paul, a Pharisee and loyal Jew to the Old Law, persecuted the church. Even in Acts 12:1-3, when Herod, a Roman, was persecuting the church, he did so because “He saw that it pleased the Jews” (12:3). Paul’s many persecutions, and near deaths came from his own countrymen. If we would like to give Rome credit for anything, let’s give it credit for saving Paul on one occasion from his own countrymen (Acts 21:27-40). It is logical and consistent to believe that Jerusalem and Babylon were guilty of the same thing because they were the same city.
Jerusalem and Babylon: Referred to as “The Great City” in Revelation
Revelation refers to Jerusalem and Babylon as “The Great City.” In Revelation 14:8 Babylon is call “The Great City” and in Revelation 21:10 the New Jerusalem is referred to as “The Great City.” What’s the difference? Revelation 21:10 does not say ANOTHER great city. No, it specifically states, “THE” great city.
You see, Babylon represented earthly Jerusalem, which was set for destruction. This is evident because Babylon, the only one called the Great City before Revelation 21, is said to be the where “Our Lord was crucified” (11:8). Jesus was not crucified in Rome or anywhere else. Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem. Notice the Lord’s statement,
“Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him: “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; “and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” (Mark 10:32-34)”
So, if Babylon refers to Jerusalem, then why? What we don’t want to forget is that God’s removal of earthly Jerusalem would bring in the new, spiritual or heavenly Jerusalem. Before her destruction, Jerusalem was great in her own eyes, just like King Nebuchadnezzar was while he reigned over Babylon (Habakkuk 2:4-17; Daniel 4:18-25). After the destruction of earthly Jerusalem, God put in its place heavenly Jerusalem, which was great in God’s eyes. And all of this should not be a mystery. For the prophet Isaiah spoke of it long ago: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.” (Isaiah 65:17-18)
This new heavens and new earth that Isaiah speaks of is a description of what the Christian or Church age would be. Jerusalem and her people would no longer be seen as a physical people and location but rather would be a spiritual people with a spiritual location (the heart, Luke 17:20-21). Commenting on the new heavens and new earth in Isaiah’s prophecy, Wayne Jackson, a very knowledgeable, prolific, and respected author, wrote,
“This is a symbolic description of the Christian age. As man lives upon the earth, and partakes of the blessings of the heavens, so these expressions become figures signifying his environment. Hence, the “new heavens and a new earth” is merely descriptive of the new realm that will replace the Mosaic period. The “former things,” i.e., the elements of the Mosaic system, will pass away (17). Paul sets forth a similar truth in the New Testament. “Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). The new creation is described as a rejoicing in Jerusalem—an atmosphere of joy (18). This is, of course, a spiritual Jerusalem, not the material city.”[15]
Notice that Wayne adamantly suggests that Isaiah’s prophecy is about the “New Jerusalem,” “The Church.”[16]
John saw Isaiah’s prophecy. The only difference is when Isaiah looked into the future to see the New Jerusalem it was still a ways off, but when John looked into the future to see the New Jerusalem it was near. (Rev. 1:1, 3; 22:7, 10)
The New Jerusalem is the church—the Kingdom. The Kingdom had its initial beginning on the day of Pentecost (Colossians 1:13), and culminated with the removal of the Temple and earthly Jerusalem—the old order of things (Luke 21:31; Hebrews 12:27-28). “We are in the New Jerusalem now as the Bible categorically tells us “You have come to Mount Zion and to the City of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem.”[17] OLD, EARTHLY, and EVIL Jerusalem, pictured as Babylon, had to be removed so that NEW, HEAVENLY, and HOLY Jerusalem, pictured as the Bride of Christ, could be realized. God replaced a great city with a GREATER CITY. It is logical and consistent to see Mystery Babylon, that Great City, as giving way to the New Jerusalem, the New Great City.
Jerusalem and Babylon: The marriage of the Lamb followed the destruction of both
In Matthew 24 Jesus discusses the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. Leading up to this point, Jesus gave a series of parables relating to this destruction. A parable of great significance is found in Matthew 22:1-14. This parable is known as the “Parable of the Marriage Feast.” In this parable Jesus speaks about a king who arranged a marriage for his son. The king sent an invitation out to those who were invited but they refused. Not only did they refuse but they mistreated the messengers and killed them. After the message got back to the king, he became furious and “He sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready.”
This parable is about the coming Kingdom—Jesus’ bride. The Jews were the first to receive the invitation to the marriage, but they rejected it and persecuted and killed God’s messengers. Because of the rejection, persecution, and killing of God’s servants by the Jews, God planned to destroy their city—Jerusalem. After the destruction of the city, Jesus pronounced, “THE WEDDING IS READY (Matt. 22:8)!
Can it be another coincidence that Mystery Babylon was destroyed in Revelation 18 and after her destruction, Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
Why does Jesus’ marriage take place after the destruction of Jerusalem and after the destruction of Babylon? If Jerusalem and Babylon refer to two different cities, then it follows that Jesus was either scheduled for two different marriages at two different times or His marriage which was to take place after Jerusalem was destroyed was canceled because of some unknown reason and was rescheduled to take place after the mystery Babylon of Revelation was destroyed.
Well, neither of these can be the case. Jesus has one bride and He was scheduled to marry her when earthly Jerusalem was destroyed and the Temple removed. Jesus could not have a fulfilled relationship with the church until God’s relationship with the temple was completely broken. Therefore, up until the temple was removed, Jesus relationship to the church was like an engagement, much like God’s relationship with Israel in the wilderness (Jeremiah 2:2). Paul told the church at Corinth, “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:2)
Question, was Jesus married to the church when Paul made this statement? No, she still had to be presented to Him. If it is said that Jesus was married to the church when Paul made this statement, then it must be admitted that the marriage in Revelation 21 is another marriage and therefore Jesus has or will have two wives. In Revelation 21:2, John saw, “The holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Now, either this is the marriage of Jesus to the church or it must be Jesus’ second marriage to another bride.
After the engagement that began on the first Pentecost following Jesus’ resurrection, the marriage would finally come when Old Jerusalem, and everything that went with it, including the Law, was destroyed. “We have become dead to the Law so that we may be married to Christ.” (Romans 7:4) God had to completely put away, the once “Apple of His Eye” (Deut. 32:10) who now was as worst as Babylon of old. In doing so, God would replace her with a New Bride, a New Jerusalem. How beautiful!
In conclusion
It takes a whole lot of maneuvering to separate Jerusalem and Babylon. Yes, Jerusalem, a once great and earthly wife had become corrupt. So much so that she was labeled by the names Sodom, Egypt (Rev. 11:8), and Babylon. She needed to be replaced because of her unfaithfulness and so she was. God planned a marriage for His son Jesus with a great, heavenly, and NEW wife—the church, the Kingdom. The church is not the bride of Christ any longer—she is His wife. That’s something to be thankful for.
Works Cited
[1] Weeber,George G.. The Consummation of History: A Study of the Book of Revelation. Carol Dykstra. George G. Weeber, 1978. Pg 218, 247
[2] Ibid
[3] Dyer, Charles H. . “The Identity of Babylon in Revelation 17-18.” 144, no. 576 (1987): Pg 443-449.
[4] Impe,Jack Van. The Great Escape: Preparing for the Rapture, the Next Event on God’s Prophetic Clock. Nashville, TN: Word Publishing, 1998. Pg 207
[5] Hinds,John T.. A Commentary on The Book of Revelation. Third ed. Nashville, TN: Gosepl Advocate Company, 1951. Pg 212
[6] Ibid
[7] Roberson,Charles Heber. Studies in the Revelation. Fort Worth, TX: The Manney Company, 1957. Pg 137
[8] Answers, Catholic. “The Whore of Babylon.” Aug. 10, 2004.http://www.catholic.com/library/Whore_of_Babylon.asp (accessed July 17, 2010)
[9] Zerbe, Gordon. “Relevation’s Expose of Two Cities: Babylon and New Jerusalem.” Responding to Violence 32, no. 1 (2003): Pg 51.
[10] Tenney,Merrill C. . Interpreting Revelation. Second ed. Grand Rapids, Michagan: Wm. B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1983. Pg 18
[11] Wallace, Jr,Foy E.. The Book of Revelation. Fifth ed. Fort Worth, TX: Foy E. Wallace Jr. Publications, 1966. Pg 310
[12] Thayer,Joseph H.. Thayer’s Greek English Lexicon of the New Testament. Fourth ed. Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson Publishers, 2000. Pg 164
[13] Roberson,Charles Heber. Studies in the Revelation. Fort Worth, TX: The Manney Company, 1957. Pg 143
[14] Chilton,David. The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of teh Book of Revelation. Tyler, TX: Dominion Press, 1987. Pg 40
[15] Jackson, Wayne. Isaiah: God’s Prophet of Doom and Deliverance (Abilene, TX: Quality Publications, 1991, pg. 131-132
[16] Jackson does not believe Isaiah’s “new heaven and a new earth” is the same as John’s “new heaven and a new earth” in Revelation. (Jackson, Wayne. Select Studies from the Book of Revelation. Stockton, CA: Courier Publications, 1995, pg. 95-101)
[17] Chilton,David. The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of teh Book of Revelation. Tyler, TX: Dominion Press, 1987. Pg 545-546
