End Time City of Babylon

This will be the beginning of a series of chapters on End Time Babylon. I have written a little on this in the past (See here) and have wanted to write on it for a long time. That short posting was written over five years ago. 

Coming to a right understanding of Revelation chapters seventeen and eighteen, dealing with end time Babylon, is very important. Many Christians today, and in the past, have concluded that the ancient city of Babylon and the empire of Babylon have already been destroyed and that all prophecy relating to that city has already been fulfilled, being fulfilled when the Medo-Persians conquered the city and brought an end to that empire. However, as we will see, that was not the complete fulfillment of the prophecy. The final fulfillment yet awaits us. 

The first thing to understand about end time Babylon is to see how "Mystery Babylon" of Revelation chapter seventeen is not exactly the same as Babylon of chapter eighteen.

Two Cities

In the book of Revelation we see a "tale of two cities," to borrow a title from one of the books by Charles Dickens. To elucidate this further, I will cite from that famous work by nineteenth century Lutheran pastor and author of many good books, J.A. Seiss. I have already done this in my post titled "The Two Great Women Of The Apocalypse" (See here). In that posting I cited the following from Seiss and his famous book "The Apocalypse" and his commentary on Revelation chapter twelve concerning the sun-clad woman.

"The first thing which strikes me in the study of this subject, is one which I have nowhere seen duly noticed, namely: the evident correlation and contrast between the Woman here pictured and another Woman described in the twelfth chapter. There, “a great sign was seen in the heaven, a Woman;" here, it is remarked, “he bore me away in spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a Woman.” Both these Women are mothers; the first “brought forth a son, a male [neuter, embracing either sex], who is to rule all the nations; the second “is the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.” Both are splendidly dressed; the first is “clothed with the sun.” Her raiment is light from heaven. The second is “clothed in purple, and scarlet, decked with gold, and precious stone, and pearls.” All her ornaments are from below, made up of things out of the earth and the sea. Both are very influential in their position; the first has “the moon,” the empress of night, the powers of darkness, “under her feet;” the second “hath rule, or kingdom, upon the kings of the earth.” Both are sufferers; against the first is the Dragon, who stands watching to devour her child, and persecutes and pursues her, and drives her into the wilderness, and sends out a river to overwhelm her, and is at war with all her seed that he can find; against the second are the ten kings, who ultimately hate her, and make her desolate and naked, and eat her flesh, and burn her with fire, whilst God in His strength judgeth her, and visits her with plague, death, and utter destruction. Both are very conspicuous, and fill a large space in the history of the world, and in all the administrations of divine providence and judgment. That they are counterparts of each other there can hardly be a reasonable doubt. The one is a pure woman, the other is a harlot. The first is hated by the powers on earth, the second is loved, flattered, and caressed by them. Where the one has sway, things are heavenly; where the other lives, it is “wilderness.” The one produces masculine nobility, which is ultimately caught away to God and to His throne; the other produces effeminate impurity, which calls down the fierceness of the divine wrath. The one is sustained and helped by celestial wings; the other is supported and carried by the Dragon power, — the Beast with the seven heads and ten horns. The one has a crown of twelve stars, wearing the patriarchs and apostles as her royal diadem; the other has upon her forehead the name of the greatest destroyer and oppressor of the holy people, and is drunken with “the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all that have been slain upon the earth.” The one finally comes out in a heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, made up of imperishable jewels, and arrayed in all the glory of God and the Lamb; the other finally comes out in a city of this world’s superlative admiration, which suddenly goes down forever under the intense wrath of Heaven, and becomes the habitation of demons, and a hold of every unclean spirit." 

These two Women, thus related, and set over one against the other as opposites and rivals, must necessarily be interpreted in the same way. As Antichrist corresponds to Christ as a rival and antagonist of Christ, so Great Babylon corresponds to the Woman that bears the Man-child, as her rival and antagonist. 

By recalling, therefore, who and what is meant by the first Woman, we will be in position to understand who and what is meant by the second. Beyond question, the sun-clad Woman is God’s great symbol of the visible Church, — the Lamb’s Wife, — the bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh, fashioned out of His rifted side as the Second Adam, who fell into the deep sleep of death for that purpose. As Methodius taught, “The woman seen in heaven, clothed with the sun, and adorned with a crown of twelve stars, is, in the highest and strictest sense, our Mother. The prophets, considering what is spoken of her, call her Jerusalem, at other times The Bride, the Mount Sion, the Temple and Tabernacle of God.” She is not the church of any one period or dispensation, but the entire Universal Church of all time, as Victorinus, the earliest commentator on this Book, held and affirmed, saying: “The Woman clothed with the sun, having the moon under her feet, is the Church of the Patriarchs, and of the Prophets, and of the holy Apostles” that is, the Church from the days of Adam and Eve on to the last victory over the worship, name, and mark, of the final Antichrist. What then can this rival Woman be but the organized Antichurch, the pseudochurch, the Bride made out of Satan, the universal body and congregation of false-believers and false-worshippers? As Christ has had a visible Church in all time, embodying the wisdom and spirit of heaven, and maintaining the confession of His truth and worship, so has the Devil had a corresponding following in all time, embodying the sensual and devilish wisdom and spirit, and maintaining the profession and teaching of Satan’s lies. And as the first Woman denotes the one, so the second Woman denotes the other. The proofs of this will appear as we consider the particulars of the case."

The mystery form of Babylon of Revelation chapter seventeen describes the people of the world who are "of the world," and who are in league with Satan and the worldly system over which he reigns. (John 17:14, John 15:18-19, 1 John 2:15-16) It describes their false religion. On the other hand, Babylon of Revelation chapter eighteen is a literal city, one yet to be built, and which will be destroyed by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ the second time. Let me now cite from Seiss and the chapter where he begins his commentary on chapter eighteen, from "The Apocalypse" (here). Seiss said (emphasis mine).

"But Great Babylon in final revelation is also a local city. As a system, its essential principle is alienation of soul from God, and so whatever is developed from the carnal wisdom, either against or in the place of the true worship. But as the sun-clad Woman develops into a heavenly city, the new Jerusalem embodying all the ultimate glories pertaining to the spiritual wisdom and the true devotion, so the Great Harlot also develops into an earthly city, embodying all the completed temporal results of the sensual wisdom and the ultimate bloom of human apostasy. Hence her final overthrow sums up in the fall and destruction of a great, rich, and powerful city. Hence, also, the angel says: “The Woman whom thou sawest is the great city which hath rule upon the kings of the earth.” It is the same Woman which, as a system of false worship, rode all the governments and powers of earth, but which makes its final presentation in the form of a literal city."

There is no way that one can read chapter eighteen of Revelation and say it is all symbolic and not literal. If that is so, then no one can know for sure what it symbolizes in the details. To show this, let us cite from that chapter and see how this great city is described.

"9 "The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, 10 standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.' 11 And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: 12 merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; 13 and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men. 14 The fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things which are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all. 15 The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.' Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, 'What is like this great city?' 19 They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, 'Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.' 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you holy apostles and prophets, for God has avenged you on her!" 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. 22 The sound of harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. No craftsman of any craft shall be found in you anymore, and the sound of a millstone shall not be heard in you anymore. 23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived." (9-23 nkjv)

If this is a non literal description, then let those who believe so tell us what is the signification of the symbols. Are the merchants literal or figurative? Are the goods and merchandise that are sold literal or figurative? Are the musicians, craftsmen, or manufacturers literal or figurative? Is the city literal or figurative? The list of items bought and sold, if they are not literal, what man can tell us what each of the pieces of merchandise represent?

Clearly this end time great city (Greek 'megalopolis') is literal, and becomes the "world trade center" of the end time one world government over which Antichrist will rule.

At this time in history the "world trade center" is in New York city and is a single building in that city. For this and other reasons some bible students think that New York city is the end time Babylon of Revelation chapter eighteen.

When I do a search in Google with the words "future world trade center middle east" I get this AI Overview:

"When discussing the "future world trade center in the Middle East," the primary reference is the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), which is actively expanding and solidifying its position as a leading global hub for business events, exhibitions, and conferences, further establishing Dubai as a major center for international trade in the region; currently undergoing a significant expansion project to enhance its capacity for large-scale events." 

Though there are many world trade centers, there is a desire to have only one. Prophecy, as we will see, also affirms that there will be indeed a one world center of trade and commerce.

"World Trade Centers Association" (See here) says this:

"NEW YORK, NY ( November 12, 2024) — World Trade Centers Association® (WTCA®), an international trade organization connecting more than 300 World Trade Center® (WTC®) locations in nearly 100 countries, held its 2024 WTCA Member Forum from October 27-29 in New York City."

When I search Google with the words "need for a single international trade center" Google AI says:

"A single international trade center is needed to facilitate smoother global trade by providing a centralized platform for businesses to access information, connect with potential partners, negotiate deals, and resolve disputes, ultimately streamlining processes, reducing costs, and promoting greater efficiency across international markets; it can also foster collaboration between countries and promote fair trade practices by creating a neutral ground for interactions." 

Of course, when you have a very large international city built for purpose of commerce, and where the world's great and rich men gather, they will also want a place where they can also enjoy entertainment while they are there on business. The greatest commercial cities of the past have also been a place for "the pleasures of sin." But, more on that as we proceed in our study.

The bible prophesies that there will be a final world empire composed of ten kings (a confederacy) who will give their sovereignties to the Antichrist. When this "new world order," this one world government, is finally realized, then we will see several capitals. There will be a political center, the place where the Antichrist will rule politically. There will also be a religious center, the place where the Antichrist will receive worship. Finally there will be a world trading center, the place where Antichrist will govern world trade, even down to the individual, so that no single person in the world will be able "to buy or sell" without receiving his mark in their hand or forehead. (Rev. 13: 17)

When I did a Google search with the words "middle east as center of trade routes" I get this from AI:

"The Middle East has historically served as a central hub for global trade routes, acting as a geographical crossroads connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa, with its coastal access to the Mediterranean, Red Sea, and Persian Gulf facilitating the movement of goods between these continents, making it a vital center for commerce throughout history; prominent examples include the Silk Road and the Spice Routes which traversed through the region." 

Saddam Hussein when he was in power in Iraq, the ancient land of Babylon, began to rebuild the ruins of the old city of Babylon. But, he never finished it, and it never became a world trading center. But, all the signs point to this area becoming the center of world trade. Yes, we do have, as part of the United Nations, what is called the "World Trade Organization" and their web page (See here) says this:

"About WTO: The World Trade Organization (WTO) deals with the global rules of trade between nations. Its main function is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly, predictably and freely as possible."

But, the WTO has little power to enforce its rules. But, that will not always be the case. 

Whoever controls world trade and the coming world currency will have all the power. Commerce is the head and politics is the tail. 

My thesis for this series or essay is that the Babylon city of Revelation chapter 18 will yet be built by the combined efforts of the united nations of the world and it will be a truly literal mega city. One of my interests lies in keeping up with the world's mega building projects. Big cities are being built all around the world and end time Babylon will be the most wonderful city the world has ever known.