Dear readers, I would like your imput on this question:
Who does the Bible mean when it refers to Babylon in the NT, especially in regards to its mention in Revelation?
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Exploring writings that have impacted my faith, confronting the sacred cows of traditional unbiblical thinking, and pursuing fellowship in spirit and truth.
15 comments:
Revelation 17 refers to the system of idolatry with particular reference to Roman Catholicism.
Revelation 18 deals with the political and economic system of the Beast that is centred in Jerusalem in the last days.
Thus, Rome and Jerusalem are the primary centres of Babylonism.
See my Bible Prophecy blog for more information on this and similar subjects.
Every Blessing in Christ
Matthew
I think Babylon refers to a false, humanstic, system of religion characterized by, but in no way limited to, Roman Catholicism.
I agree with Daniel, even though he looks very scary.
Jim, welcome back!! I was so surprised to see a new post - no, two! As to Calvin's hobble - I have had similar thoughts.
Rose~ I use the term "theological snobbery" to describe those who wear their labels like badges of honor.
Thanks for the answers Matthew, Daniel, and Rose.
Surely someone can provide more light on this subject? If the sin of Babylon will receive a special judgement by God, it must be something we need wisdom to discern and avoid.
There is a group called Antipas Ministries who teach that Babylon is the USA. Hence, they relocated to Canada and want people to send them money to fund their farming community.
Matthew, I can tell you that Canada is not much better than the US when it comes to morals.
Babylon is definitely not a nation - unless you count the Vatican - but rather a religious movement that attempts to corrupt the truth of the gospel and the subvert the real manifestion of the Church.
God bless,
Jim
Do you not think the judgments occur to a literal city or cities?
They sound very physical.
What ever happened to the literal, grammatical hermeneutic?
DF has a good question. Perhaps it is a
false, humanstic, system of religion characterized by, but in no way limited to, Roman Catholicism. (as Daniel says)
that is organized and takes visible form in a particular city. This is kind of what I have always thought - that the RC's would seek to become more relevant, shed some of the outward evidence of their historic exclusivity, and would place themselves at the top of the new, one world religion, headquartered in "Babylon". The reason I think of the RCs is for many reasons, but a prominent one to me is the power and wealth they have. What other religious instituation has such a long history, has ties with Babylonian imagery etc, and has the means - power and wealth - to promote a kinder, gentler religion?
Then again, I am no prophecy scholar ... or any other type of scholar, for that matter. :~)
Matthew, Rome is definitely the center of religious apostasy. Perhaps she will receive a singled out judgement due to the deceptive nature of her sin.
The literal grammatical hermeneutic always applies, it just means you need to read with discernment the greater rules for interpretation.
RC has definitely been a world wide influence ever since the first centuries after Christ. It would make sense for the center to receive a direct judgement in this way.
However as Daniel and Rose pointed out, it is not limited to the RC, but also includes her daughters and their harlotries. Together they make up a system of philosophy that is in opposition to the true kingdom of heaven, both in practice and manifestation.
The Roman Catholic Church will be destroyed some time during the Tribulation (Rev 17:16).
The Babylon system will then re-locate to Jerusalem (assuming it has not already done so). There the Jewish Antichrist or False Prophet will arise.
Every Blessing in Christ
Matthew
Matthew, I think you make an interesting point. Satan's goal ever since the fall has been to be worshipped.
He wants to be like the most High. In doing this, he has devised a false religion to counterfeit the true. He will also have his own false prophet and center of worship.
As history attests, the RC has been agressively pursuing Jerusalem as their HQ for many centuries.
I think the culmination of this "ant-christ" agenda will be to set himself up in the temple and require worship.
So far nobody has tried to argue that 'Bablylon means Babylon.'
A lot of Premillennialists these days hold that Babylon will be a re-built version of the original.
This view was first suggested in the 1830s by Benjamin Wills Newton, a Calvinist Post-Tribulationalist, who was later condemned by John Nelson Darby for heresy over the person of Christ.
It is ironic that many of those who hold Darby's view of the rapture have come to accept the view of Babylon that Darby firmly rejected.
God Bless
Matthew
Yeah, and that's why the US toppled Saddam right...because they were rebuilding the Babylonian empire.
I think christians are somewhat reluctant to consider this topic, lest they be confronted with the stark reality that the apostasy is much greater than they imagined.
But we cannot bury our heads in the sand forever, this picture is a clear warning to be ready for the Lord's return, not being immersed in the rush of this humanistic juggernaught.
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