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We just finished talking about the beast with seven heads in Revelation 13 and 17. We also explained that the second beast in Revelation 13 was the final stage of the last empire.
But there was something else about the vision we didn’t go into great detail about. Riding upon the beast in Revelation 17 was a woman with the name Mystery Babylon. It’s time we looked into this.
Revelation 17:1-6
1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
There are a lot of questions this passage brings up. The identity of Mystery Babylon has been debated and speculated about for a long time, and it has received a great deal of attention. But I’m not interested in giving you speculation and doubtful disputations about her. I want you to know what the Bible says and not go beyond that.
So let’s ask a few important questions:
- What is Mystery Babylon?
- Who is Mystery Babylon?
- Why is she important?
- What happens to her?
- When does it take place?
- What is the result?
I’m going to answer some of these questions now, but a few I will leave for a future study, since I don’t want to confuse the timeline of prophecy for you.
What Is Mystery Babylon?
The story of Mystery Babylon doesn’t start in Revelation. It starts in Genesis.
Genesis 11:4-6
4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
From the time of Noah, the first city built was called Babel. From this city eventually came Babylon.
The intention of the people—and the reason they built this city and tower—was to unite humanity and rebel against God’s authority. They never wanted to be scattered by God again. Instead, they wanted to remove His authority from their lives. Every world empire has shared the same goal. So, in a very real way, each world empire has had this spirit behind it.
The fact that Revelation gives us an image of one beast that consists of all world empires being ridden by someone called Mystery Babylon is not a coincidence. Mystery Babylon is more than just a city. It is a spirit of rebellion that has existed throughout history, pushing mankind to unite against God.
She is called the mother of harlots and abominations, which begs the question: who is the father?
James 1:14-15
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Revelation 17:2
Revelation 17:2
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
All of humanity has committed “fornication” with Mystery Babylon. In many places throughout the Bible, God compares rebellion against Him to adultery. The spirit of rebellion is spiritual adultery.
So Mystery Babylon is, first and foremost, rebellion in the heart of mankind against God, which has driven us throughout our entire history.
Revelation 17:4
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
James said that when our own lusts have conceived, they bring forth sin. That is exactly what a heart in rebellion against God does—it seeks its own pleasure. It produces sexual immorality, greed, a thirst for power, and every desire of man. These are the harlots and abominations—her children. The heart of man will not stop to obtain these things, even at the cost of others.
The result is kings and nations oppressing people; financial systems designed to direct the flow of wealth to the top while leaving the bottom poor; surplus food, drink, and goods among some, and starvation for others. This has been the result of the spirit of Babylon—the spirit of rebellion.
Revelation 17:6-7
6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
While John knew she was responsible for the murder of Christians and for every evil desire of man, he still couldn’t help but admire her. The lure of our own desires can overwhelm all sense of reason. But her end is death.
Revelation 18:2-4
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. 3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
We are warned to come out of Babylon. This is not a warning to come out of a specific city—otherwise it would be named clearly. Instead, it is called Mystery because it is not merely a location. It is a spiritual rebellion. We are warned to come out of rebellion and into obedience.
Who Is Mystery Babylon?
While the woman named Mystery Babylon represents spiritual rebellion, she also represents a real, physical city.
Revelation 17:18
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Revelation 18:2
2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Revelation 18:10
10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.
Revelation 18:16-18
16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! 17 For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, 18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Clearly, Mystery Babylon isn’t just a spiritual condition. She is also a place of habitation, called a city, and is literally set on fire. But what city is it?
We are given quite a few clues.
Revelation 17:18
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Revelation 18:7
7 How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
Revelation 18:11-13
11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, 13 And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.
Revelation 18:16
16 And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!
We know that it is a city of great influence over the entire earth. It is a center for trade and commerce. It is also a city involved in slavery and the buying and selling of human lives. It is ornate and puts its wealth on display, and it believes itself to be invincible.
These are some of the characteristics of the great city. But the Bible gives us more clues to help pinpoint her actual geographical location as well. It should be noted, however, that not all geographical aspects associated with her should be taken literally. Scripture must always be allowed to interpret Scripture.
For example, it says she sits on many waters, but we are told those waters are symbolic of many peoples and nations. This means she influences the world. I explained some of this in the last study, so I’m going to be careful here to include only verses that speak to literal geography.
Revelation 18:18
18 And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!
Revelation 18:19
19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.
Revelation 18:21
21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.
This city has coastlines and is a port city—specifically seaside rather than being within a delta or along a river—because it falls directly into the sea. There is also a clear line of sight for people to view the city from far out at sea, meaning it would not be obstructed by surrounding land features.
Mystery Babylon Has Existed Throughout History
The fact that Mystery Babylon is riding the beast, as if she is controlling the seven heads, gives us another clue to her identity.
Revelation 17:9-10
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. 10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
Remember, we have identified mountains as being symbolic of nations. We also identified the seven nations involved in the four world empires in the last study. This means this city must have existed throughout every world empire.
Revelation 17:18
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
There is a common theory that this verse identifies Mystery Babylon as Rome. Since Rome was known as the city founded on seven hills, it has also been linked to verse 9. But again, the meaning of the seven mountains is not physical; the interpretation is given by the text itself which we covered last before. At the time of John, Rome would still have fit the description very well, though.
Yet the city of Rome is no longer the glorious city it once was. That casts doubt on the identity of Mystery Babylon being Rome. In fact, there is doubt surrounding every potential city ever proposed. So with all of these clues, why is the identity of Mystery Babylon still a mystery?
Mystery Babylon Is a Mystery
If we were meant to know its name, John would have said it clearly. If we were meant to know its exact location, he would have told us plainly. It is still a mystery because it is Mystery Babylon—not Known Babylon.
Some believe Revelation was written in code to protect Christians. If Rome had realized it was speaking about them, there would have been serious consequences. But that explanation doesn’t fully hold up.
Rome was already persecuting Christians. John himself was exiled by Rome when he wrote Revelation. And if first-century Christians would have immediately recognized Rome in the text, so would have the Romans. Mystery Babylon was not written as a human code. It was a prophetic mystery, not meant to be revealed until its appointed time.
That time will be in the days of the final ten kings who give their power to the Antichrist. I’ll explain that in a future study.
It cannot yet be fully known because Mystery Babylon is a spiritual system of rebellion expressed through world government. It is embodied in economically dominant world trade cities, which change as global power rises and falls.
It was the literal city of Babylon in the time of Daniel. It was Tyre in the era of Medo-Persia. It was Alexandria during Greece’s time. It was Rome in John’s time. Each of these cities was a major trade center of its age.
In the final days of the ten kings, it will be whatever city serves as the world’s primary trade capital at that time. We are given physical descriptions, but we cannot narrow it down to a single city until its appointed time arrives.
When that time does come, it will be identified by the characteristics already described. It will be the final city to embody this spirit of rebellion, and it will be destroyed. The ten kings will be the ones who cause it to burn. But until then, its identity cannot be known without speculation.
So we know what Mystery Babylon is. We know what cities it has been—but not yet what city it will be. The questions that remain are why it matters, what happens to it, and what the result will be.
I’ll answer those questions later in this study, when they become relevant to the prophetic timeline. Mystery Babylon’s story isn’t over yet, but there are a few things that need to be explained first.
Before studying Mystery Babylon, we studied the ten kings. These ten kings arise before the Antichrist and set the stage for his rise. He will be active prior to the final seven-year tribulation period, building his power and kingdom. But something is going to happen that restarts the prophetic clock.
In the next study, I’ll explain why the clock begins counting down again—the final week of Daniel’s seventy-week prophecy.
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