Tim Warner takes time to supply the historical and scripture background to for Revelation 17-18.
Over the next two lessons he explains why he believes Rome is Mystery Babylon, not Jerusalem or Mecca. It all makes perfect sense if we allow ourselves realise that not all OT scripture is applicable to the end times even though it has some end times application. In Jeremiah although it covers the destruction of Babylon in his day it does not have a direct application to the future as the scripture states specifically that it was Babylon of the Chaldeans and that Babylon would be completely destroyed just like Sodom and Gomorrah. However John does use the imagery from Jeremiah to help us understand what will happen to Rome in the Middle of the Great Tribulation.
Revelation 17-18 is a detailed expansion on the statement in Revelation 14:8 – “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! She has made all nations drink from the wine of her fornication.”
This statement was made to coincide with the mid-point of Daniel’s 70th week, when Antichrist arises to power and is worshipped.
- Just before this repentance is still allowed during the 1st 3.5 years (Rev 14:6-7).
- Next “Fallen, fallen, IS Babylon the Great” (Rev. 14:8)
- Next, the 3.5 years of worship of the Beast occurs (Rev. 14:9-11).
- This timing confirmed later in Rev. 17.
Description of “Mystery Babylon” uses many symbols from Old Testament prophecy. Understanding those prophecies in their historical setting and fulfillment is necessary to understand these symbols.
The “great prostitute” fornicated with the kings of all nations (Rev. 14:8).
“Fornication” & “prostitution” are consistent metaphors in Scripture for worship of idols & gods other than the one true God and His Son.
Fornication and prostitution of God’s covenant people under the Old Covenant, whom God temporarily divorced. The result was the total destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, then 70 years of exile (Ezek. 16:1-63: Ezek. 20:27-44; Ezek. 23:1-49). Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon seduced Jerusalem, but God destroyed her by Cyrus the Medo-Persian (Jeremiah 51:1-9).
Living as a Christian in this World 