The Word This Week
Revelation 18:1...
‘Babylon’ has tentacles which reach far and wide in the world during the Great Tribulation.
Here we see God’s perspective of the entanglements between the Religion of Satan and the Government of Satan.
And it all proceeds from ‘Babylon.’
The question is: Where is this ‘Babylon’ located, and why is it referred to as ‘Babylon?’
Another question is: How are we to distinguish spiritual Babylon from commercial Babylon? Can we?
We read here they are one and the same. Some also see here an allegorical description of New York City, since NYC is presently the commercial capital of the world. After all, isn’t that what this passage seems to allude to? If this is the case, this would be the only reference to the U.S. in end-times prophecy.
Or could it be referring in a coded way to Rome – the ruling world power in John’s Day? Could it be John was speaking of Rome as ‘Babylon’ in order to avoid offending the Roman officials he is presently imprisoned by? (As Peter seemingly also did in his epistle.)
But what if the description here is exactly and literally as described? Is that a possibility? Could ‘Babylon’ actually be Babylon?
The Bible certainly seems to support a literal rendering of this worldly capitol when everything the Bible has to say about end-times events is considered. But how can this be – given what we know about the literal city of Babylon in our day – and knowing the Rapture of the Church is imminent?
It seems every Biblical generation has a challenge to their faith when it comes to a literal interpretation of God’s Word. Can we believe this is literally a restored and renewed Babylon which has become the seat of one-world religion and one-world government – or must we allegorize it away as ‘code’ for some other location – thinking what God’s Word literally says is impossible and another explanation is necessary?
Pastor Bill
‘Babylon’ has tentacles which reach far and wide in the world during the Great Tribulation.
Here we see God’s perspective of the entanglements between the Religion of Satan and the Government of Satan.
And it all proceeds from ‘Babylon.’
The question is: Where is this ‘Babylon’ located, and why is it referred to as ‘Babylon?’
Another question is: How are we to distinguish spiritual Babylon from commercial Babylon? Can we?
We read here they are one and the same. Some also see here an allegorical description of New York City, since NYC is presently the commercial capital of the world. After all, isn’t that what this passage seems to allude to? If this is the case, this would be the only reference to the U.S. in end-times prophecy.
Or could it be referring in a coded way to Rome – the ruling world power in John’s Day? Could it be John was speaking of Rome as ‘Babylon’ in order to avoid offending the Roman officials he is presently imprisoned by? (As Peter seemingly also did in his epistle.)
But what if the description here is exactly and literally as described? Is that a possibility? Could ‘Babylon’ actually be Babylon?
The Bible certainly seems to support a literal rendering of this worldly capitol when everything the Bible has to say about end-times events is considered. But how can this be – given what we know about the literal city of Babylon in our day – and knowing the Rapture of the Church is imminent?
It seems every Biblical generation has a challenge to their faith when it comes to a literal interpretation of God’s Word. Can we believe this is literally a restored and renewed Babylon which has become the seat of one-world religion and one-world government – or must we allegorize it away as ‘code’ for some other location – thinking what God’s Word literally says is impossible and another explanation is necessary?
Pastor Bill