Lately it seems all the "America is Babylon" crowd has been running wild. They are claiming America is Mystery Babylon, New York is Babylon etc. etc. and so on. This really started weighing on my heart as I know it's not correct but I didn't have a clear enough understanding. Once again, it seemed I didn't fully understood what I thought I knew. Over the last several days my focus has been in understanding what's the real deal with Mystery Babylon (Rev 17) and Babylon (Rev 18). As I dug into it over these couple of days I found out some amazing things that I would like to share with you. I know we've discussed parts of this in other threads but I feel compelled to cover this topic.

To begin, this particular study will cover Mystery Babylon (Rev 17) and some background information. I will take on Babylon (Rev 18) in a followup study.

I've come to understand this significant fact about Babylon as a whole....it is the root of all religious evil. Also, Mystery Babylon (Rev 17) represents "religious" Babylon and Babylon (Rev 18) represents "commercial Babylon. The significance here is they are two aspects of Babylon sharing the same origin.....Nimrod and ancient Babylon.

What's neat about Rev 17 is after John explains what he saw (v 1-6), he records how the angel interprets it's meaning (v 7-18). With that in mind let's take a look at the interpretation:

Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. (KJV)

We see in v3 the harlot is sitting on a scarlet colored beast (the description of the beast matches that of the beast of Rev 13 - the antichrist) also considering v1 that she is sitting on many waters. By looking at this we see that whatever the harlot represents she is a part of the antichrists rule and domain but above him and she has an influence over all the peoples of the world.

Now in Rev 17:18 we have another clue:

Rev 17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Some think this means that she represents the capital of the antichrist's kingdom....however this can't be since it's the antichrist who rules the kings of the earth. If the capital is not the case what is then? What is the one system to which all kings have bowed down to? The system is a religious one rooted in the Babylonian idolatrous religion.

But why describe a religious system as a city? Why not? Is not the Church described as a church in Rev 21:2? The bride of Christ, the church is described as "the Holy City, the new Jerusalem...as a bride....for her husband". This presents a wonderful picture of true Christianity. Therefor the Harlot, Mystery Babylon, described as a prostitute represents the idolatrous religion of the end times.

Now let's move on:

Rev 17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. Rev 17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space. (KJV)

This one seems tricky but let's look at some other translations aside from the KJV:

Now that's interesting isn't it....v10 tells about v9. It's not that the harlot is sitting on seven literal hills but rather the mountains represent world kingdoms (sort of along the lines of Dan 8 - possibly Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Persia and Greece. The first kingdom of Babel/Sumeria is apparently part of the prostitute since it "lives on" in the form of the religious influence it had). The sixth kingdom was the one in power at the time of John, Rome. The other is not yet come that must continue a little while represents the 10 horns, or 10 kings of the first half of the Tribulation prior to the antichrist assuming complete control (looking at v12 you can see the antichrist installs them to power for a little while - the first half of the Tribulation). v11 then goes on to point out that the antichrist is the 8th kingdom but of the 7 (meaning a culmination of all the evil characteristics of them all).

So we now have the harlot representing a world religious system that is exherts control over the world. v6 points out it's persecution of believers. And due to the fact that she is riding the antichrist (the beast) she is an intricate part of the antichrists plan and domination of the world.

BUT....looking at Rev 17:16 we see that even though the prostitute exhibited influence over the kings and the antichrist that the kings get tired of it and destroy her. This fit's perfectly with the concept of the abomination of desolation and the antichrist claiming to be God. During the first 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation the antichrist uses the world religious system to bring the world under his control.

Finally, what is this world religious system and is it in existence today? Well, in my opinion, yes.....and no. The foundation of it is, but it's not in it's final state yet. It won't be until the true Church is Raptured that this system will fully form.

All of the world's polytheistic and non-Christian religions (Buddhism, Hindus, Taoists, Muslims etc) trace their roots back to the idolatrous religious practices of Babel, Nimrod. I'll spare you the history lesson, but its out there. Furthermore, the influences of the pagan Babylonian based religions had a SIGNIFICANT influence over the Roman church once Constantine was "converted".

Due to the history of the Roman church, it's actions, and the current actions I would say that the RCC is the baseline for this end times one-world religion. Last year the Pope sponsored the Asissi Decalogue (he also did this several years ago). The intent is to get all of the varying religions to come together. Muslims, Hindus, the Dahli Lama and many other reps to include members of the liberal branches of the protestant denominations attended. Citing unity and togetherness the Pope is looking for an amalgamated religion based on tolerance etc.

With the Rapture of the Church, taking true believers out of all the varying orthodox, catholic and protestant denominations there will be no one to resist this joining of world religions from occurring.

So in sum, Mystery Babylon of Rev 17 is not the US, its not the capital of the antichrist's kingdom....IT IS the one world religion led by the false prophet during the Tribulation. It's roots trace back to ancient Babylon and up through the RCC (again history backs this up), and this one world religion will be destroyed in the middle of the Tribulation.