The Church of Jesus Christ

Prophecy is something that exists, rather subsists, in Doctrine which can be debated and discussed, stretched and hammered out without causing a separation among brethren (for the most part). One of the areas that I would like to discuss is the issue of who or what exactly is Babylon. I no longer buy into the anti-Catholic commentary so often provided by ‘prophecy students’ such as John Hagee and the folks at the New Apostolic Reformation.

I am not a full preterist, believing that we are in the days of the seventh seal – seeing the sixth seal as the crucification of Christ. I do wish to devote a great deal of time of study to the Last Days, as it has been looked for ever since the Apostles. For the most part, it is little more than a guessing game as to when and in many cases, how; however, there are problems with having too much error in one’s view.

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written:

MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. (Revelation 17:1-6 NKJV)

It is difficult at best to determine who exactly labeled the Roman Catholic Church as ‘Babylon the Great’, but the continued inclusion of this ignorant epithet has blinded many to just who or what Babylon the Great really is.  The topic of this post will not be who or what Babylon is, but in trying to determine the proof that Rome is not.

I have no great love from Rome (although a respect of her traditions), finding much fault with her doctrines, so please do not get me wrong. I am not defending her, just attempting to set a record straight.

One of the first things that I hear often in this type of discussion is that Rome is the mother church from which all other so-called churches and denominations sprang. Of course this generally comes from non-creedal people. The problem with that is that historically, what we know as the Roman Catholic did not exist first, but was herself a daughter. (I am not here to argue the See of Peter, but allow me this instance, some peace on the matter). At the closing of the 3rd Century, Rome was strictly modalist, as highlighted by the split between the Bishop Zephyrinus and the schismatic, Hippolytus. The doctrine of Hippolytus was defended by Tertullian of the East (Carthage, Alexandria) which in turn gave rise to Cyprian and finally, several generations later, to Alexandria and Athanasius. The short history includes the first Council of Nicea  and the authority to set the Easter date given not to Rome but to Alexandria. (As a matter of historical record, Alexandria was the first Church to have the title ‘Pope’ applied to it’s Bishop – Heraclas). It was Alexandria that led the charge to Nicea and beyond. It was not until the late fourth century that Rome assumed a great amount of power and prestige, something that Cyprian saw coming and tried to prevent.

If the Orthodox Church in Alexandria came first (which today are the Copts), and applying the same illogical understanding of  ‘Mother of Abominations’ as we have to Rome, then Alexandria must then be ‘Babylon the Great’.

Let’s briefly examine some biblical marks for Babylon and see if Rome measures up:

• Babylon would be an great nation during the Last Days (Rev 17,18).
• Babylon would have a huge seaport city within its borders (Rev 18:17).
• The Great City Babylon is the home of a world government attempt (Rev 17:18).
• The Great City Babylon would be the economic nerve center of the world (Rev 18:3).
• Babylon would be the center of a false religious movement that is especially punished by God(Jeremiah 51:44).

Does the land locked Vatican really hold this much power as is generally ascribed to it? It has been splintered by the Reformation, dealt serious blows by the scandals of the priesthood, and is at war within itself. Let’s leave the conspiracy theories where they belong – locked away in the recesses of our mind. Rome simply does not have the power that Babylon must have during the Last Days.

If you examine Jeremiah 50-51, comparing it to Revelation 17 and 18, one will note that the young nation (Jeremiah 50.12) is a powerful force to be reckoned it – and Rome is anything but young.

• Babylon would be the youngest and greatest of the end time nations (Jeremiah 50:12).
• Babylon would the queen among the nations (Isaiah 47:5,7; Rev 18:7).
• Babylon would be the most powerful nation in the world (Isaiah 47, Jeremiah 50, 51, Rev 18).
• Babylon would be the hammer of the whole earth (Jeremiah 50:23; Rev 18:23).
• Babylon is called a lady, and has the symbol of the Lady (Isaiah 47:7-9).
• Babylon would be the praise of the whole earth (Jeremiah 51:41).

Who can rightly ascribe these notions to Rome? It is also remembered that Babylon is a nation and a nation has people. The Bible too speaks of the people of Babylon as if they too will sit in judgment from God.

• The people of Babylon would not know their true identity (Jeremiah 50:6).
• The people of Babylon would think they are God’s elect and eternal (Isaiah 47:7-8, Rev 18:7).
• The people of Babylon would enjoy the highest standard of living in the world (Rev 18:7).
• The people of Babylon would grow mad upon their idols (Jeremiah 50:2, 38).
• The people of Babylon would go into deep sins of all kinds (Rev 18:5).
• The nation Babylon dwells carelessly before the Lord (Isaiah 47:8).
• Babylon becomes proud, haughty, and does not consider her end (Isaiah 47:7-8).
• Babylon deals in the occult, in sorceries and drugs (Isaiah 47:9, 12; Rev 18:23)

Again, can you ascribe all of these to Catholics?

Babylon is the anti-Church. It was the first great attempt to build a state religion (Genesis 10) and it was defeated – it was outside of God’s order. It did, however, remain throughout biblical times. There is no doubt that during the time of the Apostles, Rome was considered Babylon – as it stood against the Church. There is an allusion to this in 1st Peter 5.13 (although it debatable), but we must remember that Revelation was given to John  to at the close of the 1st century, long after the rest of the Apostles had departed. Although (the city/empire of) Rome was Babylon, it no longer is. There were always lesser Babylons, but there must needs be one Babylon the Great.

The Roman Church does not begin to scratch the service of what Babylon the Great is supposed to be, and unless a traumatic change of events occurs, it never will.

Tags: babylon, babylon the great, catholic, Christianity, end times, eschatology, God, last days, religion, Roman Catholic Church, rome