The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Revelation Panel: Location of Babylon – Part 2

Tribulation Salvation and Babylon

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Over the next few weeks we will continue to share with you the opinions of 13 Bible prophecy experts concerning various questions related to the book of Revelation. The remaining members of our panel of Bible prophecy experts will continue to address:

#8. Could the city called Babylon the Great in Revelation 17 and 18 possibly be a city inside the United States?

Nathan Jones, Lamb & Lion Ministries
Well, it’s not called “Mystery Babylon” for nothing! It’s a mystery. So, we can only guess. But, there are some clues in the Bible that give us kind of an indication what this mystery is not.

Revelation 17 and 18 explains Babylon as an economic powerhouse, but then also a great source of immorality. The people are sinful and they live for pleasure, and that’s clearly a picture of the United States today. But, the Antichrist’s government is a global government, so it will incorporate the United States. It will rise from the European Union and the whole world will become part of it.

Then there is the Harlot aspect, this prostitute whom the Bible talks about, who rides the back of that world government. Well, the world government cannot be the Harlot and be the Beast of the Antichrist kingdom it is riding on at the same time. So, we must be reading about both a political Babylon and a separate religious Babylon.

The United States will not be the Harlot system the Bible talks about either, for when it talks about women, especially adulterous women, the Bible is referencing religious systems. What it’s talking about is not a nation, but a religious system that will exist during the first half of the Tribulation which is made up of apostate Christianity, but will have its basis in humanism. It will soon after be destroyed, and then the Antichrist for the second half of the Tribulation will institute his religion which is self-worship and the worship of his master who is Satan.

Terry James, Rapture Ready
I really personally don’t think so. For one thing concerning America, if we look at history, I think that we can pretty much see the way things are going by today’s history. America is no longer remaining the apex nation. The flower is quickly fading, so to speak. We can’t say that the United States is going to be the premier nation during the Tribulation, especially during chapter 18 of Revelation. We see chapter 17 concerning Mystery Babylon which is the harlot system or an apostate Church system, but I don’t see anywhere a mystery Babylon with regard to that city that is doomed to be destroyed in a single hour from Revelation 18. Therefore, I’m more or less of the conviction that the Beast’s headquarters is going to be the rebuilt Babylon.

Tom McCall, Tom McCall Ministries
I think Revelation 17 and 18 both speak about Babylon, but I believe they are different. I believe Revelation 17 is the professing church that remains after the Rapture of the true Church. It will become manifest as the Great Harlot that never did believe in Christ. It just pretended and was very hypocritical of the whole thing. It’ll become the world religion after the Rapture and will attract the whole world, as I think most of the false religions of the world like the Muslims and the Hindus and all these various religions of the world will coalesce around the Mother Church that survives after the Rapture. But, it will be destroyed by the Antichrist who gets tired of it. He uses the false Church to gain power, but once he’s gained it after 3 1/2 years he says, “I’m through with you. I don’t need you anymore.” He devours it the Scriptures say.

Then there is the Babylon of Revelation 18 which seems to be the actual city of Babylon. This is the old city of Babylon where it all began, where the Tower of Babel was, and where pagan religion had its origins.

Mark Hitchcock, Faith Bible Church
A lot of people think Babylon is the United States. A lot of people think Babylon could be the United States, or many people will say that it is New York City, because clearly whatever it is it is a city as Revelation 17 and 18 says, “Babylon is that great city which rules over the kings of the earth.” So, clearly Babylon is a city.

Now, some people think it’s Rome, some rebuilt Babylon, and some New York City in the United States where the United Nations is headquartered. For me, making it the United States, when you really go through Revelation 17 and 18 and look at what those passages say concerning how this Babylon kills the prophets, to me it’s a stretch to take the specific statements there and have them apply to the United States. I take the view that it’s a literal, rebuilt Babylon in the future. I reject the idea that Babylon has anything to do with New York City or the United States.

David Reagan, Lamb & Lion Ministries
I personally agree with the experts when they say there is no possibility that the Antichrist’s headquarters could be located in the United States. I happen to agree with Ed Hindson’s view that the headquarters will be located in Rome. For more detailed information about why I believe that, go to my article entitled Mystery Babylon.

In the next part of this series on reading and understanding Revelation, the members of our panel of Bible prophecy experts will answer the nineth question, “Is Jesus returning to set up an actual thousand year long kingdom?”

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Dr. Nathan E. Jones

As the Internet Evangelist at Lamb & Lion Ministries, Nathan reaches out to the over 4.5 billion people accessible over the Internet with the Good News of Jesus Christ. He also co-hosts the ministry's television program Christ in Prophecy and podcast The Truth Will Set You Free.

5 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • Everyone always speak about America as a nation that will be some third world type country withing a short period of time due to economic collapse.

    Baloney! America is still the ONLY superpower and is still THE best nation in the world.

    Since I see the Gog/Magog war just around the corner I don't see America totally collapsing economically within such a short time frame.

    I think a more likely possibility is the RAPTURE is what will devistate America which will be followed by the final nail in America's coffin, a massive Russian nuclear first strike prior to their invation of Israel.

    Because of this I don't see America as Babylon.

  • Also Billy there are millions of Christians now in China and Indonesia, so there goes America's 'work' source,which will also impact economically. Crazy,huh? The Lord definitely has a it ALL under his domain.

  • I believe that the pre-Daniels 70th week Rapture of the Church is going to cripple America in all aspects. I believe that the city of Babylon will be located in Iraq. Mystery Babylon The Great The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth could be all the false religions from Nimrod to Islam of today. I believe the Antichrist will be a Muslim Gentile, but his religion the first half will be for show. Rev. 17:16 say's that the Antichrist(beast) along with the ten nation confederation(ten horns)kills this religious system and causes people to worship him. Why would the Antichrist be in Rome when Israel is his objective? God Bless

  • I'm blessed by this forum and by Lamb and Lion Ministries. I've studied prophecy for a good season, and the folks here are really grounded and a deep blessing to the church. God bless you all. Dave Lesniak, Cedar Lake, Indiana

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