I believe that the USA will become the Babylon of Rev. 17 & 18, however I do not believe it is that Babylon at the moment, nor do I believe that Rome or a future apostate church is the whore mentioned in Rev. 17. I have many reasons for feeling this and I will try to list them all. It is a mistake to take present day America and see it as being the same as end-times America.
The term "Babylon" has long been used as a "type" for tyranny. In the years before and after Christ, many nations were known by their capitol city. Babylon was the city of residence for the king of Chaldea. Rome was the city of residence for the Caesars of Italy. Israel was known best by Jerusalem, its capitol.
America is known by it’s financial center for world-wide trade and the port through which most immigrants entered which is Ellis Island off the shores of New York City. While our leaders reside in Washington, D.C., the economic center of this nation is undoubtedly NYC. This nation was founded by God and used to fulfill His purposes. Daniel 2:21 "He removeth kings, and setteth up kings", (KJV) and Daniel 4:17 "This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men". (KJV)
God is sovereign in the nations that he sets up and the nations he tears down. God set up the United States of America for a purpose. We didn't become the most powerful nation on earth because of anything we did. It is because God has chosen this nation for his own purpose and he will either exalt her or abase her at his will, not ours.
When we as a nation, through the efforts of our elected leaders, turn our backs against God and actually come to the point where we attack Israel (it could happen) or debase ourselves with national sin, then our destiny will play out as is written in Rev. 18.
What is a term used to describe Babylon by God in His word? God calls Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, His servant in Jer. 27:6. America has been God’s servant for a couple of centuries but what became of Babylon of old? They were removed by God from their greatness after they had fulfilled the purpose ordained by God. The fate of America will be the same.
I believe that there are near and far prophecies in most of the old testament books like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Jeremiah. Some foretold of the destruction of the Babylon of that day and some like Jer. 51 foretell of a future destruction of a type of Babylon. In Rev. 17 & 18, John tells us about two faces of something identified as Mystery Babylon. I, for one do not believe that John or God plays word games when trying to get His message across. If God meant Rome, then He wouldn’t have said in Rev. 17:9...
"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. (NIV)
In reality, how much wisdom would it take to come up with Rome? but things are not that simply stated so it must be talking of something other than Rome. Another point is, if God was talking about Rome than why would He confuse the issue by calling it Babylon. People try to decipher all kinds of hidden meanings and messages in the Book of Revelations but it is much easily understood by looking outside the box. These chapters are either talking about the obvious, in which they would have said so; or John is trying to describe something in his own words by using analogies of things he is familiar with, to help get his message across. He doesn’t come right out and say Rome because he isn’t talking about Rome. He is telling of some future political system that the closest thing he can come to describe it is Rome. He also doesn’t come right out and say Babylon, instead he calls it Mystery Babylon, something like Babylon but not quite, because it’s the best example he can come up with.
Now when I read this description of the woman on the beast in Rev. 17:4 - “The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries“. (NIV) The first thing I think of is the Statue of Liberty draped in the flag of our nation and how we are known as a country of riches. Verse 6 tells us that...
...the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. (NIV)
Now many people look at that and then automatically think of the horrible things the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) did historically, but Revelations is a prophetic book and I believe this is describing what this type of Babylon will do, not what has already been done. I believe this is describing the same group of people spoken of in Rev. 6:9, 7:14, 12:11 &17, 13:7-10, and 14:12. Most have no difficulty recognizing these people as being spoken of futuristically but then stumble to call them historical in their efforts to sway people towards their particular prophetic theories and to demonize the pope and RCC.
The term "Babylon" has long been used as a "type" for tyranny. In the years before and after Christ, many nations were known by their capitol city. Babylon was the city of residence for the king of Chaldea. Rome was the city of residence for the Caesars of Italy. Israel was known best by Jerusalem, its capitol.
America is known by it’s financial center for world-wide trade and the port through which most immigrants entered which is Ellis Island off the shores of New York City. While our leaders reside in Washington, D.C., the economic center of this nation is undoubtedly NYC. This nation was founded by God and used to fulfill His purposes. Daniel 2:21 "He removeth kings, and setteth up kings", (KJV) and Daniel 4:17 "This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men". (KJV)
God is sovereign in the nations that he sets up and the nations he tears down. God set up the United States of America for a purpose. We didn't become the most powerful nation on earth because of anything we did. It is because God has chosen this nation for his own purpose and he will either exalt her or abase her at his will, not ours.
When we as a nation, through the efforts of our elected leaders, turn our backs against God and actually come to the point where we attack Israel (it could happen) or debase ourselves with national sin, then our destiny will play out as is written in Rev. 18.
What is a term used to describe Babylon by God in His word? God calls Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, His servant in Jer. 27:6. America has been God’s servant for a couple of centuries but what became of Babylon of old? They were removed by God from their greatness after they had fulfilled the purpose ordained by God. The fate of America will be the same.
I believe that there are near and far prophecies in most of the old testament books like Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Jeremiah. Some foretold of the destruction of the Babylon of that day and some like Jer. 51 foretell of a future destruction of a type of Babylon. In Rev. 17 & 18, John tells us about two faces of something identified as Mystery Babylon. I, for one do not believe that John or God plays word games when trying to get His message across. If God meant Rome, then He wouldn’t have said in Rev. 17:9...
"This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. (NIV)
In reality, how much wisdom would it take to come up with Rome? but things are not that simply stated so it must be talking of something other than Rome. Another point is, if God was talking about Rome than why would He confuse the issue by calling it Babylon. People try to decipher all kinds of hidden meanings and messages in the Book of Revelations but it is much easily understood by looking outside the box. These chapters are either talking about the obvious, in which they would have said so; or John is trying to describe something in his own words by using analogies of things he is familiar with, to help get his message across. He doesn’t come right out and say Rome because he isn’t talking about Rome. He is telling of some future political system that the closest thing he can come to describe it is Rome. He also doesn’t come right out and say Babylon, instead he calls it Mystery Babylon, something like Babylon but not quite, because it’s the best example he can come up with.
Now when I read this description of the woman on the beast in Rev. 17:4 - “The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries“. (NIV) The first thing I think of is the Statue of Liberty draped in the flag of our nation and how we are known as a country of riches. Verse 6 tells us that...
...the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. (NIV)
Now many people look at that and then automatically think of the horrible things the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) did historically, but Revelations is a prophetic book and I believe this is describing what this type of Babylon will do, not what has already been done. I believe this is describing the same group of people spoken of in Rev. 6:9, 7:14, 12:11 &17, 13:7-10, and 14:12. Most have no difficulty recognizing these people as being spoken of futuristically but then stumble to call them historical in their efforts to sway people towards their particular prophetic theories and to demonize the pope and RCC.