Reference: Babylon, Mystical
Fausets
(Re 16:19,17-18; 19:2-3). Not 1Pe 5:13, where "Babylon" can only mean the literal Babylon: "the (church) at Babylon .... saluteth you." A friendly salutation is hardly the place wherein to find mystical phraseology. The whole epistle, moreover, is remarkably plain, and contains none of the imagery of prophecy. Moreover the literal Babylon was the center from which the Asiatic "dispersion" (dispersed Jews), whom Peter addresses, was derived. Babylon contained many Jews in the apostolic age ("one of the greatest knots of Jews in the world:" Lightfoot, quoted in Smith's Dictionary), and doubtless "the apostle of the circumcision," Peter, who had among his hearers on Pentecost (Acts 2) "the dwellers of Mesopotamia," would visit the Jews there. "Bosor," which Peter uses for Pethor (Nu 22:5; 1Pe 5:14), is the Aramaic pronunciation moreover; Josephus contra Apion, 1:7, Ant. 15:3, section 1, also favors the Aramaic Babylon.
The "woman arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication, and upon her forehead having a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (Re 17:4-5), is avowedly mystical. The later Jews regarded Rome in the same light as their fathers regarded Babylon (Jer 51:7, compare Re 14:8.) John had seen the woman "clothed with the sun, and the moon (the earth's satellite) under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars "; i.e. God's pure church of the Old Testament and of the New Testament clothed with the Sun of righteousness, and having the twelve patriarchs and the twelve apostles as her coronet (Revelation 12).
Then she was "persecuted" by" the dragon, Satan," but nourished by divine Providence for "three and a half times" "in the wilderness" of the Gentile world. But now he prophetically sees her sadly and awfully changed. So he "wondered great admiration." The spiritual Jerusalem has become mystical Babylon; the church has become the harlot! The same truth under the same imagery appears in Isa 1:21, "How is the faithful city become an harlot!" That the world should be beastly (Daniel 7) is natural, but that she whose calling was to be the faithful bride should become the Babylonian whore is monstrous (Jer 2:12-13,20). Not that the elect apostatize; but Christendom, as a whole, and as the visible "woman," has apostatized from its first faith and love. The elect invisible church, the true "woman" and "bride," remains hidden in the visible that has become the harlot, and shall only be manifested when Christ our Life is manifested (Col 3:1).
External prevalence over the world, and internal corruption by the world, (the spirit of the world ruling the church) is symbolized by the world-city's name Babylon; the contrast to "Jerusalem above, the mother of all" believers (Ga 4:26), the "holy Jerusalem, that great city," which shall hereafter on the "new earth" "descend out of heaven from God, having the glory of God" (Re 21:10). The Roman Catholic Church is the prominent type of Babylon, resting on the world power, and arrayed like it in its "scarlet" gauds, and ruling it by its claim of supremacy, while the beast or secular power on which it rests is "full of names of blasphemy," which after the harlot's overthrow shall be more glaringly displayed. It and the Greek apostasy are whorish in principle, by external and internal idolatry and systematized worldliness.
The evangelical Protestant church is pure in theory, and eschews image and host-mass worship; but in so far as it yields to "covetousness which is idolatry," and conforms to the world, it partakes of the harlot and ceases to be the bride. Compare Achan's "Babylonian garment," Jos 7:21; Hebrew: "a robe of Shinar." While the Syrians were noted for dyeing, and the Phrygians for patchwork, the Babylonians inwove their garments (Tertullian De Habitu Mul., i.), i.e. tapestry work with colored figures inwoven or wrought with the needle: Pliny H.N., 8:48. Septuagint has psilee poikilee, "a smooth, pictured coat." Such garments passed through Jericho in the trade between the Phoenicians and Babylon (Eze 27:24.) In the case of both the Catholic churches and the Protestant churches God's retributive law holds good.
When the church forsakes her true Husband for the love of the world (contrast Ps 45:10-11), the world, the instrument of her sin, becomes the instrument of her punishment. Already this is taking place in Spain, Italy, Austria, and France (Re 17:16). Our turn shall come next; as in the case of Israel first, then Judah (Ezekiel 23), then the restored Jews at the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome, for whom Jerusalem gave up the true "King of the Jews" (Joh 11:48,50; 19:15). Then "iniquity" shall be no longer as now in "mystery," but openly developed in the last awful Antichrist who shall combine the world against Christ in a system of superstitious credulity and infidelity together (2 Thessalonians 2; Re 16:13-16; 17:17; 19:19). The final judgment on Babylon the whore (Revelation 17), after the elect shall have been translated out of it and transfigured, seems to be just before the judgment on Antichrist.
Babylon, the spiritual whore, is succeeded "the false prophet," who ministers to Antichrist and perishes with him (Re 19:20). Rome's forced outward unity, of which its one official language, Latin, is the symbol while inwardly there is spiritual confusion, answers to Babel, the scene of the forced attempt at concentration of power and peoples, issuing in utter confusion of tongues; so too, in a wider sense; does all Christendom in its apostasy from apostolic unworldly purity, faith, and love.
The harlot retains human shape as woman, does not become a beast; i.e., has "the form of godliness while denying the power." (Manliness is godliness, because man was made in the image of God.) The worldliness of the church is therefore the most worldly of all worldliness, and shall be terribly judged by God. But the whore or Babylon is not to be confounded with the beast. She, however degraded, has borne the divine image; the beast never has. She must fall before the beast develops all his hostility to God.
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So he sent messengers unto Balaam son of Boor, to Pethor which was by the river of the land of the sons of his people to call him, - saying Lo! a people, hath come forth out of Egypt Lo! he hath covered the eye of the land, Yea he, is tarrying over against me.
So he sent messengers unto Balaam son of Boor, to Pethor which was by the river of the land of the sons of his people to call him, - saying Lo! a people, hath come forth out of Egypt Lo! he hath covered the eye of the land, Yea he, is tarrying over against me.
When I saw among the spoil a certain goodly mantle of Babylonia and two hundred shekels of silver and a certain wedge of gold - fifty shekels the weight thereof, then I coveted them, then I took them, - and, there they are, hid in the earth, in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
When I saw among the spoil a certain goodly mantle of Babylonia and two hundred shekels of silver and a certain wedge of gold - fifty shekels the weight thereof, then I coveted them, then I took them, - and, there they are, hid in the earth, in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Hearken, O daughter, and observe, Incline also thine ear, Forget, then, thine own people, And the house of thy father;
Hearken, O daughter, and observe, Incline also thine ear, Forget, then, thine own people, And the house of thy father; When the king shall desire thy beauty, Surely, he, is thy lord, then bow down to him.
When the king shall desire thy beauty, Surely, he, is thy lord, then bow down to him.
How hath she become unchaste! - The city that was Faithful, - Full of justice, Righteousness lodged in her, But, now, murderers!
How hath she become unchaste! - The city that was Faithful, - Full of justice, Righteousness lodged in her, But, now, murderers!
Be amazed, O ye heavens, at this, - And shudder, be dried up utterly, Urgeth Yahweh.
Be amazed, O ye heavens, at this, - And shudder, be dried up utterly, Urgeth Yahweh. For two wicked things, have my people committed, - Me, have they forsaken a fountain of living water, To hew out for themselves cisterns broken cisterns, that cannot hold water.
For two wicked things, have my people committed, - Me, have they forsaken a fountain of living water, To hew out for themselves cisterns broken cisterns, that cannot hold water.
For, in age-past time, I brake thy yoke, I tare off thy fetters, And thou saidst, I will not transgress, - Nevertheless, on every high hill, and under every green tree, wast thou lying down as an unchaste woman.
For, in age-past time, I brake thy yoke, I tare off thy fetters, And thou saidst, I will not transgress, - Nevertheless, on every high hill, and under every green tree, wast thou lying down as an unchaste woman.
A cup of gold, was Babylon in the hand of Yahweh, Making drunk all the earth, - Of her wine, have the nations drunk, For this cause have the nations been acting as men who are mad.
A cup of gold, was Babylon in the hand of Yahweh, Making drunk all the earth, - Of her wine, have the nations drunk, For this cause have the nations been acting as men who are mad.
Those were thy merchants for gorgeous garments, for wrappings of blue and embroidery, and for treasure-chests of variegated cloth, - for cords, twisted and strong, in thy market:
Those were thy merchants for gorgeous garments, for wrappings of blue and embroidery, and for treasure-chests of variegated cloth, - for cords, twisted and strong, in thy market:
If we let him alone thus, all, will believe on him, and the Romans will come, and take away, both our place and nation.
If we let him alone thus, all, will believe on him, and the Romans will come, and take away, both our place and nation.
nor do ye take into account, that it is profitable for you that, one man, should die for the people, and not, the whole nation, perish.
nor do ye take into account, that it is profitable for you that, one man, should die for the people, and not, the whole nation, perish.
They, therefore, cried aloud - Away! away! Crucify him! Pilate saith unto them - Your king, shall I crucify? The High-priests answered - We have no king but Caesar!
They, therefore, cried aloud - Away! away! Crucify him! Pilate saith unto them - Your king, shall I crucify? The High-priests answered - We have no king but Caesar!
But, the Jerusalem above, is free, - the which is our mother;
But, the Jerusalem above, is free, - the which is our mother;
If, therefore, ye have been raised together with the Christ, the things on high, be seeking, where, the Christ, is - on the right hand of God, sitting;
If, therefore, ye have been raised together with the Christ, the things on high, be seeking, where, the Christ, is - on the right hand of God, sitting;
She who, in Babylon, is co-elect, and Mark my son, salute you:
She who, in Babylon, is co-elect, and Mark my son, salute you:
And, another, a second messengerfollowed, saying - Fallen! fallen! is Babylon the great, who, of the wine of the wrath of her lewdness, hath caused all the nations to drink.
And, another, a second messengerfollowed, saying - Fallen! fallen! is Babylon the great, who, of the wine of the wrath of her lewdness, hath caused all the nations to drink.
And I saw, out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false-prophet, three impure spirits, as frogs;
And I saw, out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false-prophet, three impure spirits, as frogs; for they are spirits of demons, doing signs, which are to go forth unto the kings of the whole habitable earth, to gather them together unto the battle of the great day of God the Almighty. -
for they are spirits of demons, doing signs, which are to go forth unto the kings of the whole habitable earth, to gather them together unto the battle of the great day of God the Almighty. - Lo! I come as a thief! Happy, he that is watching, and keeping his garments, lest, naked, he be walking, and they see his shame. -
Lo! I come as a thief! Happy, he that is watching, and keeping his garments, lest, naked, he be walking, and they see his shame. - And he gathered them together unto the place that is called, in Hebrew, Har Magedon.
And he gathered them together unto the place that is called, in Hebrew, Har Magedon. And, the seventh, poured out his bowl upon the air. - And there came forth a loud voice out of the sanctuary, from the throne, saying - Accomplished!
And, the seventh, poured out his bowl upon the air. - And there came forth a loud voice out of the sanctuary, from the throne, saying - Accomplished! And there came to be lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and, a great earthquake, took place, - such as had never taken place since men came to be on the earth, - such a mighty earthquake, so great;
And there came to be lightnings, and voices, and thunders; and, a great earthquake, took place, - such as had never taken place since men came to be on the earth, - such a mighty earthquake, so great; and the great city became divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell; and, Babylon the Great, was brought into remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the wrath of his anger;
and the great city became divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell; and, Babylon the Great, was brought into remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the wrath of his anger;
And, the woman, was arrayed with purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, - having a cup of gold in her hand, full of abominations and the impurities of her lewdness;
And, the woman, was arrayed with purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, - having a cup of gold in her hand, full of abominations and the impurities of her lewdness; and, upon her forehead, a name written, a secret: Babylon the great, the Mother of the Harlots and of the Abominations of the earth.
and, upon her forehead, a name written, a secret: Babylon the great, the Mother of the Harlots and of the Abominations of the earth.
And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the wild-beast, these, shall hate the harlot, and, desolate, shall make her, and naked, and, her flesh, shall they eat, and, herself, shall they burn up with fire.
And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the wild-beast, these, shall hate the harlot, and, desolate, shall make her, and naked, and, her flesh, shall they eat, and, herself, shall they burn up with fire. For, God, hath put into their hearts, to do his mind, and to do one mind, - and to give their sovereignty unto the wild-beast, until the words of God shall be completed.
For, God, hath put into their hearts, to do his mind, and to do one mind, - and to give their sovereignty unto the wild-beast, until the words of God shall be completed.
Because, true and righteous, are his judgments; because he hath judged the great harlot, who, indeed, corrupted the earth with her lewdness, - and hath avenged the blood of his servants, at her hand.
Because, true and righteous, are his judgments; because he hath judged the great harlot, who, indeed, corrupted the earth with her lewdness, - and hath avenged the blood of his servants, at her hand. And, a second time, have they said - Hallelujah! And, her smoke, ascendeth unto ages of ages.
And, a second time, have they said - Hallelujah! And, her smoke, ascendeth unto ages of ages.
And I saw the wild-beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together - to make war with him who was sitting upon the horse, and with his army.
And I saw the wild-beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together - to make war with him who was sitting upon the horse, and with his army. And the wild-beast, was taken, and, with him, the false prophet who wrought the signs before him, whereby he deceived them who received the mark of the wild-beast and them who were doing homage unto his image, - alive, were they two cast into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone.
And the wild-beast, was taken, and, with him, the false prophet who wrought the signs before him, whereby he deceived them who received the mark of the wild-beast and them who were doing homage unto his image, - alive, were they two cast into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone.
And he carried me away, in spirit, unto a mountain great and high, and pointed out to me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God;
And he carried me away, in spirit, unto a mountain great and high, and pointed out to me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God;