Does anyone have an idea who Babylon of Revelaion 18 is? Would it be America, the literal Babylon rebuilt, or european common market OR the UN? Or other. I've read so many different ideas and read the bible accounts of God's final judgement on Babylon and still don't know.

I do not wish to appear flippant but do we really need to know right now for our Father knows and He is in control. Sometimes we can waste so much energy looking into things instead of trusting for at the right time He will reveal all to us.
Bless you,
Jim.

It seems pretty clear from my studies that this refers to the church of Rome. Notice in Rev 18:16 the colors of that great city are listed as "purple and scarlet"; if you've ever seen any of the services from the Vatican, notice those colors are prominent in the robes worn by cardinals, archbishops, etc. Also Rev 18 refers to "great riches." Read Avro Manhattan's book The Vatican Billions for information on that. Rev 18:24 tells us that "in her was found the blood of saints." The Roman Catholic Church burned at the stake millions of Protestants during the Middle Ages for refusing to accept that the Eucharist was the true body of Christ. The Scriptures say to "Come out of her, my people." If you go back to Rev, Chapter 17, there are additional identifying marks of "her." Rev 17:9 tells us about the seven heads; they are said to be "seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." The city of Rome sits on seven hills. Rev 17:15 tells us the "waters ...where the whore sitteth are peoples, multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Certainly the church of Rome has spread everywhere in the world, but it began in the center of civilization, where the Roman and Greek Empires ruled many people. Rev 17:18 says "And that woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." Read European history, and you'll discover that the kings of Europe did indeed bow to the Pope; even today, the whole world "wonders after the beast" (Rev 13) since even the Protestants and other religions of the world pay homage to the man who heads the church of Rome. There are many wonderful Christians in the Roman Catholic faith, but the system in Rome is corrupt, and God's word warns us about that. To continue your study, go through Daniel 7:19-28. God bless you as you study; he is revealing wonderful truths to those
living in the last days before Jesus's return.

[This message was edited by Karin on June 13, 2003 at 08:28 AM.]

[This message was edited by Karin on June 13, 2003 at 11:45 AM.]

In Revelation, Babylon always represents a place of idolatory, sin and judgement- presenting an opposite to Zion, the place of redemption, adoration of Christ and holiness. I would suggest extreme caution in trying to find an exact, human manifestation of the Babylon of Revelation. Much of the book is symbolic and is intended to give us some sort of understanding of things which as humans we will never be able to fully comprehend, and I believe the most important conclusion to draw from such passages is that God is fully and sovereignly in control.
I hope that helps
your sister
Katya

I respect your view, Katya, but please think on this. "Revelation" means "revealing." It is not God's intention to hide from us what we need to know, and the last generation is to have more insight into the Scriptures than any that have preceded us. If God warns people to "Come out of her {Babylon}, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." If God want His people to come out of this religious system, doesn't He have to make it clear what that system is? Doesn't the Bible say in Thess. that the Lord can't come "until the man of sin is revealed"? It is not my place to dictate my beliefs, but simply to point to the Word and let praying believers be led of the Spirit to recognize error. The word Babylon originates from Babel, as in the Tower of Babel. There God confused the language of the people, and that's why "babble" and "Babylon" stand for confusion. Consider the confused doctrines of the Roman church. It teaches that people should pray to Mary as an intercessor between God and man; the Bible, however, makes it clear that Christ is the only mediator. The church tells priests they cannot marry, but God says "It is not good for man to be alone," and he made women to be with men. Their only purpose in making the decree of celibacy for priests (Read Vicars of Christ for specifics.) was to guarantee that the property inherited by priests would not go to wives or children, but to the church. Likewise, the doctrine of purgatory, which does not appear at all in the Bible, was made as a way to get money from Catholics who wanted to pay for masses to get their loved ones out of "purgatory." The church says that priests can forgive sin. This is blasphemy, according to the Bible. Jesus was charged with blasphemy when He said He could forgive sin. Only God, the Word says, can forgive sins. There are many of these false doctrines that have long deceived devoted Catholics. Isn't the Lord kind to tell them of their error?

Jim
Thanks for your reply. Yes I do think it's nessessary to give time to understanding this book of the bible and learn what the visions mean. Revelation 1:3: "Blessed is he that reads and they that hear the words of this prophesy and keep these things which are written therein; for the time is at hand." We are told many times in the bible to be ready for Christ's return and warn those who are not ready. I think it is in Matthew where Jesus told the deciples of signs and wonders and events that would happen in the latter days just before He would return and said that when you see these things begin to come to pass they would all happen quickly and to look up for your redemption draws near. Consider that Isreal came back in existence in 48 I think, signs in the earth and in the heavens, many more earthquakes in various places, the exploits of men in space and our knowledge of the heavens may be part of the " signs and wonders" in the heavens. There are many more signs that these are the latter days. I agree that God is in control.

Karin
Thank you for replying. I read Daniel 7 and also Jeremiah 50-51. I'm not sure it is Rome but learned that the "nation of the chaldeans" mentioned in Jer. 50 have their roots being closely connected with the early Catholic church. I'm thinking maybe it might be The European Union which I think includes Rome.

[This message was edited by Pax on June 17, 2003 at 06:29 PM.]

Katya
I appreciate your comments. The angel speaking to John in Rev. gave him the meanings of his visions many times and showed him what they represent, Plus it has to balance out with the other prophesies in the old and new testaments.