Babylon figures very prominently at the time of the end, and must be

given a place in our survey.  In Revelation 17:5 we read `Mystery, Babylon

the Great'.  This indicates a secret symbol of something deeper than a mere

city.  If, however, we are in ignorance or confusion as to the basis of this

symbol, we shall not be ready to follow the inspired interpretation, and for

the sake of clearness we must set before the reader the Scriptural history

and prophecy concerning Babylon, before we go further into the intricate

details of chapter 17.

Babylon, as the seat of government from which commenced `the times of

the Gentiles', is that great city which existed in the reign of

Nebuchadnezzar; but Babylon, the mother of harlots, is that older city

founded by Nimrod the rebel.  Idolatry when traced to its source dips finally

underground, and is found originating in the secret rites and teachings of

ancient Babel, and idolatry with its associated obscenities is the dark and

persecuting background of the whole book of the Revelation.  The ancient

mystery cults were all derived from Babel.  Bunsen says that the religious

system of Egypt itself, ancient as it is, was derived from Asia and `the

primitive empire in Babel'.  It is not our purpose to attempt to set forth

the ramifications of the Babylonian system, the reader will find it most

fully set forth in Hislop's Two Babylons.  There is practically no religious

system on earth today that does not use the symbols, names, and ritual of

this leavening cult of lies.  What Jerusalem is yet to be in the hands of our

God for blessing, Babylon has been and yet will be, in the hands of Satan,

for a curse.

There are many expositors who believe and teach that the Babylon of the

Revelation is the Roman Catholic Church.  This we must set aside as not

fulfilling the Scriptures.  Isaiah wrote prophetically of Babylon.  Did he

speak of Rome or literal Babylon?  Let him speak for himself:

`And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees'

excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah' (Isa.

The whole of Isaiah 13 should be read, and its many parallels with

Revelation noted.  Its time period is spoken of as `the day of the Lord'

(verse 9).  Its signs are the darkening of the sun, moon and stars (verse

10).  Its object is the punishing of the wicked and the proud (verse 11).

Its accompaniments are the shaking of the heavens and the removing of the

earth (verse 13).  These four points of resemblance are enough to connect the

Babylon of Isaiah's burden with that of John in the Revelation.

When we read on into Isaiah 14 and hear the proverb taken up against

the `King of Babylon', we again realize that prophecy is pointing onward to

the great apostate head of world rule who is to seek universal worship for

himself, saying `I will be like the Most High' (Isa. 14:4-23 and Rev. 13).

Jeremiah prophesies concerning Babylon, and he too is careful to locate

Babylon geographically:

`The word that the Lord spake against Babylon and against the land of

the Chaldeans' (Jer. 50:1).

One incident that dates the overthrow of Babylon is the return of both

Israel and Judah: