What the Bible says about Babylon as a Literal City
(From Forerunner Commentary)

Revelation 14:8 Biblically, Babylon can be a city or a nation. Though it is sometimes figuratively portrayed as a woman, it is not a church. In prophecy, especially in the New Testament, it symbolizes the worldly system opposed to God. One must discern from the context in which "Babylon" appears which interpretation is intended, but experience shows that Babylon overwhelmingly signifies a nation. Even when it suggests a city, we have to remember that God often uses a city to represent the entire nation. John W. Ritenbaugh The Beast and Babylon (Part Two) Related Topics: Babylon | Babylon as a Literal City | Babylon as a Literal Nation | Babylon as a Spiritual Entity | Babylon as a Woman | Babylon as a World Power | Babylonian Mystery Religion | Babylonish System

Revelation 18:1-3 Was Babylon ever really a city? Yes, it was. Was Babylon ever really a nation? Yes, it was. Revelation is an end-time book, and just as Babylon of old was literally both a city and a nation, the Babylon at the end-time also is a city and a nation. John W. Ritenbaugh Where Is the Beast? (Part Five) Related Topics: Babylon | Babylon as a Literal City | Babylon as a Literal Nation | Babylon as a World Power | Babylon the Great | Babylon, End-Time | Babylonish System

Revelation 18:1-3 Revelation 18 is not describing a church, but a city/nation involved in massive, worldwide merchandising, shipping, and manufacturing. It is a prophetic picture of globalism. What church has sufficient economic power that, when it ceases to exist, worldwide trade quickly comes to a grinding halt, throwing hardheaded businessmen into a panic? Except possibly as an investor, the Catholic Church has never been involved in manufacturing. Revelation 18 provides no information whatsoever tying the Woman riding the Beast to religion. John W. Ritenbaugh The Beast and Babylon (Part Five): The Great Harlot Related Topics: Babylon | Babylon as a Literal City | Babylon as a Literal Nation | Babylon as a World Power | Babylon the Great | Babylonish System | Beast of Revelation | Beast, Relationship with Woman | Globalism | Woman as Symbol of Babylon | Woman of Revelation 17-18 | Woman Riding the Beast

Revelation 18:4 Babylon, as an enemy of God, is used in several ways in the Bible. One is a literal city. A second is a worldwide system of government, trade, entertainment, and so on. A third symbolizes a spiritual entity. All three have to be considered together to understand Babylon. In Revelation 18:4, it is a city representing the worldwide way of life at the end time. John W. Ritenbaugh The World, the Church, and Laodiceanism Related Topics: Babylon | Babylon as a Literal City | Babylon as a Spiritual Entity | Babylon as a World Power | Babylon the Great | Babylon, Allurement of | Babylon, Coming out of | Babylon, End-Time | Babylonians | Babylonish System | World's Dangers | World's Evil Characteristics | World's Influence | World's Systems | Worldliness

Revelation 18:10 Revelation 17 and 18 are not describing a church, but a city/nation that is involved in massive worldwide merchandising and manufacturing. We are looking at a prophetic picture of globalism (the term we use today), which cannot describe a church organization. The Catholic church has never been involved in manufacturing. It has invested, to be sure, but to actually be the manufacturer, that is another thing altogether. Nor has it been the actual seller of manufactured goods. Revelation 17 provides no information whatsoever directly tying the woman riding the Beast to religion. John W. Ritenbaugh Where Is the Beast? (Part Five) Related Topics: Babylon | Babylon as a Literal City | Babylon as a Woman | Babylon as a World Power | Babylon as Israel | Babylon the Great | Globalism | Israel as Babylon | Israel as Great Whore | Roman Catholic Church | Woman Riding the Beast

 

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