Throughout this age, all interested in end time prophecies have pondered the mystery of “Babylon the great“. Many ancient bible prophecies elaborate on this ancient mystery; but it is written in Babylon the great (2)somewhat complex symbolism. I believe this is because the Lord wanted this prophecy to remain a mystery until the very time of the end of this age. I have observed that as we get closer to the end of days, all of these mysteries are unlocking before our very eyes.

In this message I will attempt to reveal the true meanings of this great prophecy as best I can as the Lord directs me.

Babylon the Great is NOT Ancient Babylon

Ancient Babylon was a great and influential empire that reigned over the earth in its time. It was full of culture and was the marvel of its time.  But like many kingdoms before and after her, she worshipped several false gods.

She was conquered in one night by the Media-Persian Empire when its king defiled the golden vessels of the Hebrew temple that it had taken when they invaded Israel. But ancient Babylon is not Babylon the great as we will uncover.

Why is Babylon the great not ancient Babylon

Revelation Chapters 17 and 18 reveals that “Babylon the great” will be destroyed by fire in just one hour and she will never be inhabited again. Although the Babylonian Empire was invaded and replaced by the Medes and Persians, it was never totally destroyed and uninhabitable. Today, she is modern day Iraq.

Babylon the Great is referred to by several names:

– That great city

Note:  The bible sometimes refers to a nation as a city.  It is clear from studying the passages in Rev. 17 & 18 that the term “great city” is actually referring to a “great Nation“.

– Daughter of Babylon (another indication that she is NOT ancient Babylon)

– Mystery Babylon (Ancient Babylon is obviously no longer a mystery)

– She is symbolically described as a “Woman riding a beast“.

Many believe that Babylon the Great is a religious system, while others believe that it refers to ancient Babylon and has nothing to do with modern times.

I propose that both assumptions are wrong, and in this message I will attempt to succinctly explain what Mystery Babylon refers to.

The Babylon of Revelation Chapters 17 & 18 are one in the same

Let me unlock a very important mystery for you, and that is that Babylon the Great of Revelation chapters 17 & 18 are one in the same.  This can be clearly discerned when the woman riding the beast is described as Babylon the Great in Revelation 17:5 and also as Babylon the Great in Revelation 18:2.  There are many other passages that confirm this.

Why Babylon the Great is NOT a religious system

1) First, a religion cannot be destroyed in one hour by fire as described in Revelation 18:8, and many other passages.

2) Revelation 17:18 reveals that the woman riding the beast (Babylon the Great) is that “great city” which reigns over the kings (nations) of the earth.  There has never been a religion that has reigned over all the kings of the earth!

But Doesn’t the Bible Reveal a Coming One World religion?

Yes, the scriptures do reveal that there will be a one world religion at the time of the end – but that has nothing to do with Babylon the Great.

That coming global religion will be a religion that the final global government (the beast kingdom under antichrist) establishes and enforces after it destroys Babylon the Great (Read Revelation Chapters 13:8, 12, 14, 15-18; and Rev. 17:16).

So while most clergy, evangelists, scholars and so called prophecy experts argue that mystery Babylon refers to a global religious system at the time of the end, they fail to understand that duality comes to play here in that Babylon is a duality, by virtue of her connection to the spirit of Satan – which controls all the kingdom of this age!  Indeed, the spirit of Babylon is one of desiring the luxuries, wealth, pleasures and the seductions of this world.  It is one of Satan’s biggest weapons in this age.

This spirit of Babylon possesses Babylon the Great, ancient Babylon, and all those who lust for her spiritual delusions and delicacies (also referred to as spiritual fornication and sorcery).  All who possess the spirit of Babylon at the time of the end (Apocalypse) are at great risk of taking the mark of the beast – the 666 – but this is a subject for another time 😉

That said, Revelation chapters 17 and 18 are not referring to the spirit of Babylon; they are referring to Babylon the Great – that great nation that reigns at the time of the end, just before she is replaced (destroyed) by the end time beast kingdom under the control of the antichrist and his false prophet who represent satan’s final kingdom on earth – which will be destroyed and replaced by the kingdom of Almighty God.  VERY important point to remember.

She is referred to as: “Babylon the Great” because she portrays some of the characteristics of ancient Babylon; primarily her arrogance, cultural influence and great wealth. She is a picture of ancient Babylon in modern times.  But again she is NOT that coming satanic global religion which will be promulgated by the antichrist and false prophet referred to in revelation chapter 13.

So far we know that Babylon the great is a great nation that reigns over all the earth at the time of the end. She will seduce the world with her culture, military and economic prowess. She will be an extremely wealthy nation (Rev. 17:1-2, 4, 5, 16, 18).  The world will be greatly influenced and seduced by this great nation

Allow me now to go a bit further for you. Let’s start by reading the following passage:

Revelation 18:15-19:

“The merchants of these things, who became rich by her, will stand at a distance for fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, 16 and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city that was clothed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls! 17 For in one hour such great riches came to nothing.’ Every shipmaster, all who travel by ship, sailors, and as many as trade on the sea, stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘What is like this great city?’ 19 “They threw dust on their heads and cried out, weeping and wailing, and saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city, in which all who had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.” (Emphasis mine)

As we continue, let’s ask some key questions that further unveil her mystery:

1) Rev 18:3b reads “….and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”
– Which nation is the greatest importer of goods and the wealthiest on earth today?

2) Rev. 18:3a reads: “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her…”
– Which nation is the most influential on earth today?

3) Rev. 17:18 reads: And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”
– Which nation is the most influential on earth today?

4) In Rev. 18:19 we read: “…Alas, alas, that great city, in which all that had ships on the sea became rich by her wealth! For in one hour she is made desolate.’
– Which nation is the greatest importer of all types of goods in the world today, which has made many nations and merchants rich, throughout the earth?

5) In Rev. 18:7 she boasts: “I sit as a queen, and am no widow, and will not see sorrow.”
– Which nation has leaders who have arrogantly proclaimed their nation as “the greatest nation on earth?”

6) In Jeremiah 50:23 we read: “How the hammer of the whole earth has been cut apart and broken!”
– Which nation has the greatest military and can be referred to as the “Hammer of the Earth“?

NOTE: Upon reading the above, doesn’t it bother you at least a bit that the clergy and church leaders of these days never discuss or explain these passages.  I do not understand why they are either so blind to such obvious truths or intentionally distort the message (under Satan’s influence) or sweep it under their dirty carpet.  Perhaps they feel it is too heavy a truth for their congregation to take in.  But more likely they are afraid it would offend their congregation and will result in empty seats.

Today, more than ever, we are all vulnerable to the “distractions” of life (another weapon of the enemy) that sway our focus and interest on the pleasures of this world; and nothing associated with preparing to meet our maker!

If you believe we live at the time of the end (as I do), all you have to do is use a bit of logic and you will discern one of the last great mysteries for this age – the identity of that great city.  Then the mystery of Babylon the Great will be revealed to you!

Why Should You Care?

When this great nation is destroyed the entire world will immediately spiral into a global economic depression and environmental collapse, which I believe will lead to the end time global dictatorship (the beast kingdom) prophesied by the ancients; and the apocalypse foretold from time immemorial will commence in that day.  And if you are reading this article…you probably are living in Babylon the Great!

I know that this message is very heavy, and that many if not most folks do not want to hear it. Obviously God thinks it is important for us to hear it; this is why He placed it in the last book of the Holy Bible ; the last message for the last generation.  We are VERY likely to be that last generation that will experience the apocalypse.  This is why the end time prophecies are now so much easier to understand.

All of the key pieces to the “revelation” puzzle are in place; we hold the final pieces in our hand!

This article is an excerpt from Robert Rite’s book: “Babylon the Great is Fallen; is Fallen”