Am not really sure about the identity of this , some people say its Jerusalem, others say its Rome.
What does the Bible say.
What do you think? Any clues. Is it past, or is it future.
I dont really know what to believe. Certainly its a wealthy city that falls. There are many wealthy cities nowadays, but which one has all the influence of the entire world?
Or is it the UN or some other global organisation.
Hello again,
Just like with all Biblical subjects, we must look to the word of God for the answers. I have posted on this topic many times in refutation of those who claim that Babylon the Great as being Jerusalem. Therefore, let's look at the clues that God gives us in His word:
1). The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.” - Rev.17:18
So, the woman who rides the beast, is representing that great city that rules over the kings of the earth. At the time that John was receiving this information from the angel, Rome was that city that was ruling over the kings of the earth, not Jerusalem. When has Jerusalem ever ruled over the kings of the earth? The answer would be, never.
2). This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits - Rev.17:19
Rome was literally built on and is famous for her seven hills. They even use the seven hills as a lure for tourism in their ads. Though many attempt to have Jerusalem sitting on seven hills/mountains, she does not. They attempt to force Jerusalem to be sitting on seven hills in support of their belief. The reference to the woman/city sitting on seven hills, is referring to her religious headquarters.
In Rev.17:1, the woman is also said to be sitting on "many waters," which is referring to the influence of the woman's Babylonian based religious system, which is why she is called "Mystery, Babylon the Great." Regarding the "many waters" we are told in Rev.17:15 that the waters represent "peoples and multitudes and nations and languages," which again would refer to the woman's religious world-wide influence over all people. Within Roman Catholicism can be found many of the rites and rituals which stem from Babylon. This is evident with their worship of Mary, which stems from Babylon's "Queen of heaven" worship" which was transposed upon her. Then you also have "mother and son worship, which stems from Semiramis and Tamuz, Isis and Horus, etc., and was transposed upon Mary and Jesus. Even the Mitre hat that the pope and other bishops wear, closely resembles the fish hat that the Philistine's priests of Dagon wore.
3). The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls. - Rev.17:4
There are those who have attempted to apply the purple and scarlet to the colors worn by the priest's of Israel, which is just another forced attempt while ignoring the rest of the clues. We have already seen that Jerusalem does not fit any of the previous clues and therefore purple and scarlet cannot be pointing to Israel's priests.
This is just one more clue to who the woman is, for purple and scarlet are the exact colors worn by the bishops and cardinals within Roman Catholicism:
Regarding her being adorned with gold and precious stones, this speaks of her luxury. Most of the utensils, candle sticks, plates, etc., are either made of pure gold or overlaid with it. But, even though these clues identify Rome as that great city, there is one more very conclusive reason as to why Babylon the Great, that city that sits on seven hills, cannot be referring to Jerusalem. In Rev.18:21-23 Babylon the Great is destroyed, so much so, that no one will ever be able to inhabit her again, as can be concluded from the information below:
* With such violence the great city of Babylon will be cast down, never to be seen again.
* And the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters, will never ring out in you again.
* Nor will any craftsmen of any trade be found in you again, nor the sound of a millstone be heard in you again.
* The light of a lamp will never shine in you again,
* and the voices of a bride and bridegroom will never call out in you again.
It is apparent from the information above, that whatever is going to destroy that great city is also going to keep people from inhabiting it ever again. Her destruction takes place during the last 3 1/2 years of the great tribulation period, which is prior to the millennial kingdom. Below is the reason why Jerusalem cannot be Babylon the Great:
"When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—and to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. They marched across the breadth of the earth
and surrounded the camp of God’s people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them." - Rev.20:7-9
As the scripture states, the event above takes place after Satan is released, which is at the end of the thousand years. It reveals that the people figuratively called Gog and Magog will
surround the camp of God's people, the city that He loves, which could only be referring to Jerusalem. This demonstrates that Jerusalem will be inhabited during the millennial period up to the very end. Where in opposition, Babylon the great will be destroyed prior to the millennial kingdom, ergo, Babylon the Great cannot possibly be referring to Jerusalem.
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