The historic city of Babylon was originally built by Nimrod after the flood. It was located on the Euphrates River, about 55 miles south of Baghdad, where modern Iraq is located. The name Babylon comes from the Tower of Babel, which was built there.
Babylon became a major city of world importance around 1728 BC during the reign of Hammurabi. The zenith of Babylon's glory reached under Nebuchadnezzar II (604-562 BC). The city declined during the reign of Belshazzar and fell to ruin when Xerxes, the Persian king, destroyed it in 478 BC.
Thus, Jeremiah's prediction of the destruction of Babylon was completed and, as the prophecy said, it was never inhabited again. Saddam Hussein began a project to rebuild Babylon in the late 1980s, but efforts were halted by the Gulf War.
But if Babylon is never rebuilt, why are two whole chapters of the Book of Revelation devoted to the destruction of Babylon? And why is the destruction of Babylon clearly described as taking place during the time of Armageddon?
The Babylon described in Revelation is called "Mysterious Babylon". The prophecy of Mysterious Babylon is found in Revelation 17: 3-5.
“And he carried me away in spirit into the wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a crimson colored beast full of the names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
“And the woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, with a golden cup in her hand, full of the abominations and impurity of her fornication:
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And on her forehead was written the name: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, MOTHER OF CHARGES AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
Who is Mysterious Babylon?
A secret is something secret or hidden - a thing that some understand and others do not. In Revelation 17, there are several clues given to the identity of Mysterious Babylon. Here we will discuss four of them.
Key # 1. Mysterious Babylon - city
Announcement in the aforementioned prophecy that the woman symbolizes Mysterious Babylon. Chapter 18 verse says that the woman is a city.
"And the woman you saw is a great city that reigns over the kings of the earth."
Hint # 2. Mystery Babylon runs an extensive international system
In verse 1 we are told that the woman is sitting in many waters. Verse 15 explains the meaning of the waters.
"And he said to me: the waters that you saw, where the whore sits, are peoples and peoples, peoples and tongues."
Not only is this woman a city, but the city appears to be the headquarters of a vast international system.
Hint # 3. The city lies on 7 hills
In verse 3 we are told that the woman is riding the beast with 7 heads. Verse 9 shows the meaning of the heads.
“And here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are the seven mountains on which the woman sits.
Remember, we have already learned that a woman is a city. This passage tells us that the city lies on seven hills. There is a city on earth that is known as the City of Seven Hills. This is the city of Rome.
But is Rome the headquarters of an international power that governs "peoples and peoples, peoples and languages?"
The Vatican claims to be ruling over a billion Roman Catholics around the world. Remember, this prophecy was written long before the Catholic Church existed, long before Rome became its center.
Hint # 4. She's dressed in purple and red
Revelation 17: 4 “And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand, full of the filth and uncleanness of her fornication.”
The Roman Catholic Church has two governing bodies: the College of Cardinals and the Bishops' College of Archbishops. These two bodies are somewhat similar to the Senate and House of Representatives in the United States.
The article was published in Criterion, Roman Catholic publication, July 1, 1988. The article is titled "More Than You Want to Know About Cardinals." In particular, it says: “Cardinals wear red, while non-cardinal bishops and archbishops wear purple.
So let's take a look. Secret Babylon is a city that lies on seven hills. Rome is known throughout the world as the "City of Seven Hills".
Secret Babylon must "rise" above peoples, nations, peoples and languages. " Rome is the center of the Roman Catholic Church, claiming a billion members worldwide.
Mysterious Babylon is described as dressed in purple and red. The official colors of the two ruling bodies of the Roman Church are purple and red.
There is another factor to be understood. In Revelation 17, God decided to use a whore woman to symbolize the Roman Catholic Church. What for?
It's very simple. In Scripture, God has always used a woman to symbolize the church. He used the virgin to represent His true church (II Corinthians 11: 2), and He used the harlot to represent the false church - as in Revelation 17-19.
There can be only one conclusion: the Vatican is the Mysterious Babylon of Revelation. And it was this false religious system that deceived the people of the world to be destroyed in the days of Armageddon.