In the seventeenth chapter of Revelation John is shocked to his core at the sight of a woman riding a dragon or “beast”. She is named, “Mystery Babylon, Mother of Harlots”, and the horror of her appearance easily matches her title. The beast has seven heads and ten horns. As I’ve noted in previous parts of this series, the beast’s seven heads represent kingdoms or empires in chronological order, and as a rule in Scripture they’re epitomised by specific kings who defined those kingdoms or are icons of them.
In John’s time it was shameful to be considered a whore, but this woman is not just any whore: she’s the “mother” of them all. What can this extreme and powerful apparition mean? Bearing in mind that she’s birthed all other “prostitutes” and that she’s been present with every empire represented by the beast past and future, she’s clearly not human. Instead, she’s the personification of a profound spiritual truth.
WARNING! This is a very long post! Scroll down to subheadings if you wish, but you may miss valuable information. Forgive me for gaps or ugly ads inserted by WordPress. I have placed my subheadings on the same lines as script, in an effort to minimise this. This article is my attempt to identify “Mystery Babylon”: I don’t claim to be one hundred percent correct. I haven’t described the Harlot here in detail: the reader who isn’t familiar with Revelation chapters 17 and 18 would do well to read them to make more sense of this article.
DIFFERENT EXPLANATIONS. The subject of “Mystery Babylon” is huge and nebulous, and it’s not easy to understand. There have been many differing views as to who or what she represents. Some have defined her as the world’s trade and finance system – even claiming that the destruction of the twin towers on 9/11 was the destruction of Mystery Babylon. Some have tried to match her to the Catholic Church. Others insist that she is worldliness or a Godless culture, or a “world religion” in the making. They can perhaps all be considered or forgiven because the description of Mystery Babylon is so complex that many features of human existence can be seen in her. Indeed, deciphering the “mystery” is quite a task, and I don’t claim to have done that fully. Perhaps the prophecy will only be properly understood when it’s completely fulfilled.
A BURNING QUESTION. For me one of the greatest facets of this mystery is that the beast in his final form, along with ten subordinate leaders, turn on this phenomenon of the ages and destroy her by “fire”, in fulfillment of the will of God (Revelation 17:16-17). Why would they do that? Why would one enemy of God destroy another? What will the Beast hate about her, and what is it about the character of the Beast which helps us to identify the Harlot?
THE NAME. The name “Babel” comes from the Hebrew word “balal”, which is first used in the Hebrew Bible as a place name, called in English, “Babylon” (Genesis 11:9). The Genesis story of a tower being built “to the heavens” takes place in Babel. According to Douglas Petrovich, a wonderful Bible-believing archaeologist, there were several cities in Mesopotamia known as Babel.
The word “babel” is of Akkadian origin and means “gateway to a god” (or gods). Ziggurats – a type of pyramid-built in ancient Mesopotamia and which remain in ruins to this day – had steps on the outside leading to a shrine at the top. The name or title, therefore, speaks of religious expression and the religious significance of the structure. However, the religion it speaks of is the antithesis of the worship the Biblical God required. Religion is therefore central to the identity of the Harlot of Revelation. She is clearly linked to worship and belief outside the worship of the Biblical God.
WILL BABYLON BE A LITERAL CITY AGAIN? Two chapters of Revelation appear to portray two very different aspects of the Harlot. Chapter 17 discusses her adulterous nature, but chapter 18 seems to describe her as a city, complete with tradesmen, musicians and builders. Some commentators have claimed that the Babylon of Revelation chapter 18 will be a literal city built on its original location and then destroyed at the end of the Tribulation. However, the Biblical clues that Mystery Babylon is not a literal city even in chapter 18 are numerous.
REASONS WHY MYSTERY BABYLON CANNOT BE A REBUILT CITY. 1/ “By your magic spell all the nations were led astray” (verse 23). The truth is that the nations are already “astray” and have been for thousands of years. There’s no significant rebuilding of Babylon in sight, and no need for a new literal city to lead the nations away from God.
2/ The Harlot rides all seven heads of the beast. In other words, she’s been there throughout history. She’s always been present to corrupt the world and isn’t just waiting to show up at the end.
3/ “In her was found the blood of prophets and of the saints, and of all who have been killed on the earth” (verse 24). We can hardly say that the blood of prophets and saints, and all people who have been killed on earth will be found in a city that hasn’t even been built yet, except perhaps in a metaphorical sense.
4/ “The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever” (19:3). A literal city on earth will not be burning “for ever and ever”, and God plans to cleanse the earth after the Tribulation and remake it after the Millennium.
5/ Her sins are “remembered” by God at her judgment (18:5). More on this in a minute.
6/ The merchants who witness her destruction will wail and cry because “no-one buys their goods anymore” (verse 11). Surely, the destruction of one literal city will not end all trade on the earth unless it’s the last city on earth, in which case there will be no more traders to wail and mourn over her.
BABYLON THE DYSPHEMISM. Revelation tells us that “The woman… is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth” (17:18). In John’s time Rome ruled over the known world, not Babylon. However, Rome was one of the incarnations of that ancient city and empire, and so was identified by God as “Babylon”. The spirit of ancient Babel had passed onto the Roman empire, in God’s eyes.
Sometimes names – names of people, cities or nations – are used in Scripture to define the character of another city, nation or person which has become like the original. It’s usually a slur, critical inference, negative metaphor or insult. This kind of association is sometimes called a “dysphemism”: it’s the opposite of a “euphemism”.
For example, chapter 11 of Revelation speaks of Jerusalem in derogatory terms, naming it after cities it had become corrupted to be like in the eyes of God:
“…the great city, which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified” (Revelation 11:8).
Secondly, when final judgments are meted out upon the earth, we’re told that God will think of Babylon in HIs memory:
“God remembered Babylon the Great…” (16: 17-21). He gives her “the fury of his wrath”.
He would not have to remember a literal city if it were right there in front of him in the present: at least some of its guilt must be in the past. Again, while discussing wealth earned by the merchants of the earth from the woman, and its destruction, God “remembered her crimes” (Revelation 18:5).
JESUS HELPED US IDENTIFY THE BABYLON OF REVELATION 18. There’s a precedent for retrospective judgment in Scripture. One day Jesus was denouncing cities he had visited which would not repent and would not recognize the importance of his coming, even though he had done great miraculous signs in them. He compared them to cities which had declined or fallen long ago, saying that both – past and present cities – were to face a future judgment:
“Woe to you Korazin! Woe to you Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths…I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:20-24).
Additionally, when Babylon is judged we’re told that, “The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever” (Revelation 19:3). This could not be true of a literal, physical city in the Middle East.
THE END – TIMES MANIFESTATION OF BABYLON. The judgment of the city and/or empire, and therefore of the Harlot will be partially retrospective (Revelation 16:19). However, since the final “beast” of Revelation will hate the woman and seek to destroy her (17: 15-18) there must be an end – times manifestation of the woman. There must be a place, an organization, or an influence defined by God as an adulterous prostitute, and which reminds him of the old Babylon. The end – times Beast must have something to destroy. What exactly is that influence, entity, organization, place or system? What will (or does) the last-days manifestation of Babylon look like?
MYSTERY BABYLON AS AN ADULTEROUS, IDOLATROUS WORLD. Mystery Babylon represents two predominant characteristics of human life: 1/ it’s religion without the one true God – the creator and sustainer of all things, who cannot be controlled or represented by anything in nature and 2/ an obsession with worldly wealth and pleasure to the point of idolatry. It’s what people without God in their hearts value and live for. What you love and spend all your time and energy and money on, if it’s not God, is your idol, your god. It’s life without the life – giver; life without conscience or control; life without the Lord of life.
THE BIRTH OF A REBEL. Mystery Babylon is called in Revelation the “Mother of Prostitutes”. The first organized rebellion against God and the first determined religious expression which ignored God is seen in ancient Babel. The last organized rebellion against God will be seen in those end times described in Revelation and other Scriptures.
“Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth” (Genesis 11:4).
Notice that they wanted to make a name for themselves, not for God. They were inventing their own ways of worship, and instead of populating the earth as God had commanded, were intent on creating the first centralized world government. Satan’s desire has always been to rule over the earth. He could do this most effectively with centralized world government which honored his ways and not the ways of God. This will be a predominant feature of the last – days world as seen in Revelation.
We can see the push for world governance and centralization now, particularly in Europe, where the zeitgeist of Rome lives on. In the United States Trump has halted the movement for now. Once he is gone, and perhaps his successor, globalists will accelerate the movement towards the last world empire.
SPIRITUAL PROSTITUTION AND ADULTERY. Mystery Babylon is said in Revelation to be a “prostitute” and the ‘Mother of Prostitutes”, as well as an adulteress. In the Bible the terms “prostitute” and “adulterer” are not only used for a female of ill repute and an unfaithful wife, they are also used as a metaphor for people who indulge in the worship and reverence of other gods rather than the real God. He regards the worship of other gods as unfaithfulness, adultery and harlotry. This explains the description of Mystery Babylon given in chapter 17 of Revelations. Remember that the first of the ten commandments quoted in the Old Testament reads, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3). The second warns against making or worshiping idols, and God said:
“…for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God…” (verse 4).
Israel was at times accused by God of having been unfaithful, because the people were seduced to follow other gods. But it was not only the people of God who would be committing prostitution if they regarded other gods than the Creator: it was, and is, a sin unbelievers can commit also. This is a spiritual form of prostitution:
“Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead you to do the same” (Exodus 34: 15-16).
Since Mystery Babylon is the “mother” of harlots, it seems that she is the first expression of all kinds of spiritual prostitution and adultery. Does her prostitution also speak of physical immorality? That’s probably a part of it, but I don’t think it’s God’s main focus in Revelation.
ADULTERY AND A TALE OF TWO WORLDS. Jesus criticized people at the time of his earthly ministry because they demanded miraculous signs from him before they would take any notice of him. His response:
“A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign!” (Matthew 12:39).
This was no organization or city Jesus was criticizing: it was an attitude. God warns us of this attitude many times in Scripture, including the book of Revelation. God lovingly warns and pleads those who claim to follow Him to:
“Come out of her my people, so that you will not share in her sins…” (Revelation 18:4).
THE WORLD. Sometimes the Bible speaks of “the world”, meaning not the physical earth that God created, but the rebellious ways of life created by man. James, in remarkably similar language to that which John used speaking of Babylon in Revelation chapters 17 and 18, wrote:
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God” (James 4:4-5).
James went on to warn about worldly wealth and business being pursued without regard for God (4:13-5:6).
Paul, also counselling separation from the Godless thinking of humanity, wrote:
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers, for what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?…What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said, I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from them and be separate, says the Lord…” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).
BABYLON AND ON. Mystery Babylon is seen to “ride” upon a seven-headed beast in Revelation chapter 17. Her spiritual adultery and prostitution has been the distinguishing and dominating characteristic of all world empires since the beginning of human civilization:
“The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth” (Rev. 17:18).
THE DESTRUCTION OF THE HARLOT Babylon’s destruction is said to take place “in one hour” (Rev, 18:10, 17 and 19). Proponents of the rebuilt city theory see this as evidence that a literal city of Babylon will be destroyed suddenly, possibly with nuclear weapons.
However, the use of the word “hour” in the Bible is sometimes used as a metaphor to mean a general time, not a literal hour of time. For example, the Tribulation, although known to be a period of at least three and a half years, is referred to as “the hour of trial that will come upon the earth” (Rev. 3:10). The time of judgment is referred to as “the hour of his judgment” (Rev. 14:7). The beast will have authority on the earth for “forty-two months” (Rev. 13:5) and yet ten kings are seen to have authority along with him for “one hour” (17:12).
BURNED BY FIRE? Revelation speaks of Babylon being consumed by fire (Rev. 18:9). I find it interesting that this seems to fit with a prophecy in Ezekiel in which, while Israel is being attacked by Gog and other neighboring nations, God says:
“I will send fire on Magog and on those who live safely in the coastlands” (Ezekiel 39:6).
Is this a literal fire, or is it a metaphor for some other major problem? The beast and his ten kings who will hate the prostitute:
“…will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire” (Rev. 17:16).
This must be a noxious collection of metaphors, because these world despots aren’t likely to leave a city literally “naked”, and they aren’t going to eat it. Therefore, the word “fire” may well also be imagery for the Harlot’s destruction.
WHY WOULD THE 8TH BEAST WANT TO DESTROY THE PROSTITUTE? What will be different about the final beast, the final kingdom and its leader, that would make them hate the woman and want to destroy her? This is a fascinating question and its answer would provide some clarity for the Harlot’s identity. It’s necessary to remember that the beast is unknowingly employed by God to fulfill his will: the destruction of the prostitute (Rev. 17).
THE END OF FALSE RELIGION AND FALSE PHILOSOPHY. The books of Daniel tells us that the antichrist will exalt himself above every “god” (Daniel 11:36 and 2 Thess 2:4). Daniel, Jesus and Paul tell us that he will desecrate the Jewish most holy place on the temple mount in Jerusalem. Revelation tells us that he will demand worship around the world. Paul tells us that he will claim to be God (2 Thess. 2:4). My own understanding is that there will not be a literal re-built third temple on the temple mount before the return of Christ as many believe. For my reasoning on this see recent posts on Israel.
ONE – THE LOWEST COMMON DENOMINATOR. God in Revelation tells us that the final Beast – himself an enemy of God – will destroy the Harlot who represents false religion, but will himself ultimately be destroyed by the coming of Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Bible characters I mentioned above – Jesus, Paul and Daniel – all tell us that Antichrist and the one who will give him power – Satan – will speak against the Biblical God and blaspheme him. He will exalt himself over all other gods and isms. . He will persecute and kill Jews and Christians. He will seek and almost attain world domination. He will invade Jerusalem believing it to be his and he will occupy the Biblical temple mount. It may or may not be coincidence that these are all intentions at the core of radical and committed Islam. Will the final empire be an Islamic caliphate? Is Europe facilitating this event in our time? Islam recognises only one god, and insists that their god has no son. They believe that their god should replace all others, by persuasion or by the sword if necessary. Their eschatology is the inverse or negative image of Biblical eschatology, placing their own messiah at the centre of end – times events.
THE ALTERNATIVE. The alternative, if the above suggestion is invalid, is that the world will temporarily see the open worship of Satan. This seems to be the message of several Revelation passages. However, Satan and his ministers often come in disguise, so that a different name is used.
FINALLY. Finally, I want to be sure to leave you all with hope and pessimism. The Whore and her nemesis – Antichrist – are both going to be destroyed in short order. Their intentions will never be realized, because God reigns supreme over all of creation. Our God intends to reign over the earth – that’s what Revelation is all about. Those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as the one and only son of God are “in Christ”. They have passed from being under the wrath of God to being one of His children. The future for those who love God and HIs son is bright and eternal. Glory to His name!
Fuel for Faith, Food for Thought 