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Reputable scholars have debated the identity of Babylon the Great in Revelation 17—18. Some suggest that Babylon the Great is a symbolic reference to the powerful empires of ancient Rome. This perspective is commonly held by proponents of the eschatological viewpoint known as preterism (and its various iterations). Others argue that Babylon the Great is a metaphorical representation of wicked nations in general. Theologians have also posited that Babylon the Great is indeed a restored and reconstructed Babylon. The futuristic interpretation of Revelation views Babylon the Great as a malevolent global system, centered in Babylon (potentially symbolizing Rome) and under the control of the Antichrist, in the days leading up to Jesus’ second coming. This article will adhere to the futuristic interpretation.
The initial reference to Babylon in the Bible portrays it as a site of defiance against God (Genesis 11). The ancient Babylonian empire held significant influence during the later periods of the Old Testament. Babylon served as the instrument of God’s judgment against Israel, initiating their exile starting in 605 BC and demolishing the temple in 586 BC. Babylon was arguably the first empire with worldwide impact. Even following its collapse around 539 BC, Babylon retained its reputation as a hub of malevolence (see Zechariah 5:5-11).
One of the challenges in pinpointing Babylon the Great in Revelation 17—18 is the element of “mystery” mentioned in Revelation 17:5. The term “mystery,” or mysterion in Greek, denotes a truth previously undisclosed but soon to be unveiled. Paul uses this term in Ephesians 3:3 when discussing the relationship between Gentiles and Jews in the church. In Revelation 17, Babylon the Great is characterized as a mystery, which naturally complicates its identification.
The angel speaking to John identifies Babylon the Great as “the great city that reigns over the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18).
Es over the kings of the earth” «And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.», (Revelation 17:18). The angel also provides some detail of the events leading up to the fall of Babylon the Great (Revelation 17:1-5). At the conclusion of this vision, John stands in great wonder, perplexed as to what the vision means «And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. », (Revelation 17:6). Graciously, the angel provides an interpretation of the vision and the events it relates (Revelation 17:7-18).
The vision describes a woman, or harlot, sitting upon a scarlet beast covered in blasphemous names. The woman is immoral and corrupt, leading others down the same path of corruption. This woman is dressed in expensive, fine apparel, and the beast she rides has seven heads and ten horns. On the woman’s forehead is her identity, “BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” «and upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. », (Revelation 17:5).
From John’s vision, we draw several conclusions about Babylon the Great:
• Babylon in the end times will have influence over all “peoples, multitudes, nations and languages” «And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. », (Revelation 17:15).
• Babylon the Great will promote religious heresy, as indicated by its association with blasphemy: “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” (Revelation 17:3) and its depiction as a prostitute (see Psalm 106:39; Leviticus 17:7; Judges 2:17).
• Babylon will kill the true followers of God: the woman is “drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus” (Revelation 17:6; cf: 18:24).
• Babylon in the end times will once again be a place of luxury, wealth, and opulence (Revelation 18:7, 11-17).
• Babylon the Great will be a center of worldwide merchandising: “And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.” (Revelation 18:19, 23) “and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” (Revelation 18:19, 23).
• Babylon will actively lead people astray into corruption ((Revelation 18:23; Revelation 19:2).
• Babylon the Great will be linked to a coalition of ten kings, along with the beast (Revelation 17:12; cf: 13:4).
• In the end times, Babylon will prosper for a while, but eventually, the beast and the ten kings will determine that such an economic, religious, and political structure is no longer necessary. They will then destroy it: “They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire” «And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. », (Revelation 17:16).
• The downfall of Babylon the Great is the outcome of God’s judgment as He uses the ten kings to fulfill His purpose «For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. », (Revelation 17:17).
Ultimately, the kingdoms on which Babylon the Great relied will turn against it, leading to its destruction. The beast and the kings allied with him will battle against Jesus Christ. Naturally, they will be defeated, as Jesus is “Lord of lords and King of kings” «These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. », (Revelation 17:14). In Revelation 18:2, an angel descends to earth to announce Jesus’ triumph over Babylon the Great. All of heaven celebrates
In the end times, the world’s rebellion against God will rise to a fever pitch. The Antichrist’s system will be characterized by rampant materialism, love of money, outrageous idolatry, religious sacrilege, and violence against Christians. But his time will be short. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus wins. Babylon the Great is destroyed, and the Antichrist is “thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur” “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.”, (Revelation 19:20). Jesus alone is the almighty Lord of lords and King of kings.
