Introduction
There are various predictions when Babylon the Great is destroyed during the 70th week aka the Tribulation.
Looking at the biblical passages that cover Babylon we see the following:
Revelation 17-18 is a detailed expansion of the statement in :-
Revelation 14:8 – “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the Great! She has made all nations drink from the wine of her fornication.”
Revelation 14:8 was written to coincide with the mid-point of Daniel’s 70th week, just before the Antichrist arises to power and is worshiped. This can be ascertained by looking at the sequence of events in Revelation 14:6-13 spoken by the 3 messengers (angels). In the whole of Revelation 14 there are 7 messengers in all and they do not seem part of the 7 seals, trumpets or bowls sequences.
John has written one of his interlude or parenthetical chapters of text to fill in some detail and help the reader understand the whole picture.
The 3 of the 7 Messengers (angels) and their Messages
We know that these angels messages are in sequence because in Revelation 14:8 “And another, a second messenger followed”. So we know that Revelation 14:6 must be the first messenger. This section therefore can be seen to give a high level overview of the whole of the tribulation period which is helpful in identifying timing and sequence of events. A number of events are covered a multiple times in Revelation giving clearer picture overall. An example is the Day of the Lord which is covered 4 times.
1. In Revelation 14:6-7 just before Babylon statement, repentance is still allowed during the 1st 3.5 years which we know based on other passages in Revelation.
2. In Revelation 14:8 “Fallen, fallen, IS Babylon the Great”
3. Then in Revelation 14:9-11 is the 3.5 years of worship of the Beast occurs.
Who is Babylon the Great?
The Revelation 17-18 description of “Babylon” uses many symbols from Old Testament prophecy. Understanding those prophecies in their historical setting and how they were fulfilled is necessary to understand these symbols and identify who is Babylon.
Revelation 17:5 And on her forehead a name had been written: “Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Land.”
1. The “great prostitute” fornicated with the kings of all nations (Revelation 14:8)
2. “Fornication” & “prostitution” are consistent metaphors in Scripture for worship of idols & gods other than the one true God and His Son.
The result in the Old Testament due to Jerusalem’s fornication and prostitution was the total destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 587 BC by Babylon. Ezekiel 16:1-63: Ezekiel 20:27-44; Ezekiel 23:1-49 (The Two Sisters).
Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon seduced Jerusalem, but God destroyed Babylon by Cyrus the Medo-Persian (Jeremiah 51:1-9). This resulted in what is called Israel’s first exile which was 70 years.
So using the symbolism of fornication and idolatry and that John used the name Babylon would point anyone who knows the scriptures to the story of the Babylonian exile period as God was very clear about what Jerusalem had done. They would understand that John is talking about the another destruction of Jerusalem.
We know that Rome was completely destroyed Jerusalem in AD70. God made this happen due to Jerusalem’s continued fornication and idolatry with the pagan gods and not looking to Him for their salvation. As we know they killed Jesus which was not a good move.
This then led to Israel’s second exile from Jerusalem. The current 2nd exile has not finished as the temple has not yet been built and sacrifices being offered as per Mosaic Law. This will only happen when the Tribulation (70th week) starts. So although much of Israel is back in the land the exile has not completely ended.
So in the 70th week God is going to destroy Rome called “Babylon the Great” in the book of Revelation. It is carried out by God through the 10 Kings and they then will abdicate their authority to the Antichrist (Daniel 7:7-8,11,23; Revelation 17:12-18). These 10 Kings are Presidents and Prime Ministers from current nations that were part of the Roman Empire from biblical times as detailed in Daniel.
Summary
1. Babylon is Rome because just like Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon was destroyed by God after he destroyed Jerusalem in about 587 BC. God will destroy Rome who destroyed Jerusalem in AD 70.
2. Babylon is destroyed by 10 Kings just before the Antichrist (Beast) takes power which is half-way through the 70th week (3.5 years into the Tribulation).
3. These 10 Kings are Presidents and Prime Ministers from current nations that were part of the Roman Empire from biblical times.
Living as a Christian in this World 