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Mystery Babylon
Another important prophetical subject of end-time prophecy, has to do with what God’s Word calls, Mystery Babylon. There are a number of different interpretations amongst Christians concerning who or what this might be. Our goal in this lesson is to simply show you 14 characteristics that God’s Word brings to our attention concerning this. Because of the great details we are about to see, it is obvious to us then, God wants us to be well informed of what He has called Mystery Babylon.
Revelation 17
(v. 1a), Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot
(v. 5), And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
To begin with, it would be safe to say that God’s Word is warning us that Mystery Babylon has to do with false religious practices and idolatry that are leading people away from the one true God. As we continue to see more of her characteristics, we understand that this is referring to a spiritual fornication.
God used similar language describing the spiritual condition of Israel and Judah;
(Jeremiah 3:6-9), The Lord said also to me in the days of Josiah the king: “Have you seen what backsliding Israel has done? She has gone up on every high mountain and under every green tree, and there played the harlot. And I said, after she had done all these things, ‘Return to Me.’ But she did not return. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. Then I saw that for all the causes for which backsliding Israel had committed adultery, I had put her away and given her a certificate of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but went and played the harlot also. So it came to pass, through her casual harlotry, that she defiled the land and committed adultery with stones and trees.
The “harlotry” of Revelation 17 has to do with idolatry and a false religious system which Mystery Babylon is.
(v. 1b), the great harlot who sits on many waters,
(v. 15), Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
Mystery Babylon is a worldwide false religious system. She has her presence everywhere across this globe and is noted to be one of the largest religious systems known to all.
(v. 2a), with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication
Mystery Babylon is a false religious system that has been deeply influential in politics and also has caused governments to accept her false religious practices.
(Note: the Vatican City State, along with its Roman Catholic Church, is the only religious entity represented among the political 193 United Nations members States)
(v. 2b), and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Mystery Babylon’s false religious practices cloud the minds of people from the truth of God’s Word. Like a man who is drunk, many people have taken in her religious practices not realizing how evil and wrong and deadly they are and how much God is against these kinds of religious practices.
(v. 3a), So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman
(v. 5), MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER
Mystery Babylon is likened unto a woman, a female and a mother. It portrays herself as the “Holy Mother Church”. These characteristics imply that her false religious practices go way back to the beginning when people’s hearts were being led astray from the one true God.
(v. 3b), And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
The beast here represents both the antichrist and his political system in the last days (vs. 8-14). The strength of Mystery Babylon is not of God but rather, of politics and of the devil.
(v. 4a), The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet
This might refer to the “official” colors of this false religious system.
(v. 4b), and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls
This is a notable wealthy religious organization.
(v. 4c), having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
This false religious system is noted for emphasizing a golden cup having contents in it that God describes as an abomination in His sight and the filthiness of her spiritual fornication and idolatry.
(v. 5a), And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT
She is first called “Mystery” implying that she cloaks herself in a cloud of mystery. The true meaning of her ways and practices along with her true identity are hidden from the common reasoning of the people.
Her name “Babylon” identifies her with the false religious practices and mysteries of ancient Babylon of the Old Testament.
(v. 6), I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus
This is a religious system that has put to death untold numbers of true Christians.
(v. 18), And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.
This false religious system is strongly noted as a great city
That has power over the Kings of the earth
(v. 9), Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
Mystery Babylon is a politically powerful, religious city that is located on seven mountains.
It is our understanding that the city of Rome, along with its religious system, fits every one of these characteristics. No other religious system has enforced inquisitions throughout its history that has put to death thousands upon thousands that have refused to accept their false religious practices. Estimates of the number killed by the Spanish Inquisition alone, which Sixtus IV authorized in a papal bull in 1478, are staggering. Rome is indeed full of the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
With all that said, it is our belief that Mystery Babylon will also consist of all the various denomination’s that are coming together in an historical mass ecumenical movement. Many are coming together for the sake of unification at the expense of the Word of God. The doctrines and truths of the Bible are avoided and even forsaken. For those that will keep God’s Word first and foremost, they, as in the past, will pay a price for that. But in the end, they are ultimately the winners. Those who will join in with Mystery Babylon, will suffer eternal loss;
(v. 16), And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.