In my last article, I briefly touched on the topic of the last days. Identifying this period of time is obviously vital to the interpretation of prophecy. And while I could have added much more to such a topic, I believe the points raised in that article established my view effectively (this is also a blog, not a book, so why write more than people will read?). I always welcome questions in case further elaboration is needed, so feel free to ask me anything.
Identifying the timing of the last days, while vital, is not the only vital aspect of the interpretation of prophecy. The details themselves must be interpreted in light of the timing of these days. For instance, I, a Full Preterist, cannot claim that the last days were occurring during the reign of the fourth beast, the Roman empire, and still maintain a yet future parousia. This kind of nonsense is reserved for the cowardly Partial Preterists. It would also be inconsistent of me to claim that the last days had begun in the first century, yet they have lasted for two thousand years, and that the tribulation will occur in my lifetime. It doesn't work like that.
The same goes for identifying a prophetic character, such as Mystery Babylon. Who is this harlot, this great city guilty of the shedding of righteous blood? It has come to my attention that few people really pay attention to the harlot character of the book of Revelation. In fact, her importance has gone so unnoticed that she has become identified as a number of things and places, none of which actually have much, if any, Biblical support. The fact that this harlot has taken a back seat in one's understanding of Revelation is part of the reason why Futurist eschatologies exist, in my opinion. This is why I feel it is important to discuss this matter, for without proper identification of the harlot, eschatology can be difficult to understand.
To quickly note, you may find that I am a tad evasive, or vague, at times. The reason for this is that I want you to make the effort to study the text. It will be the fourth article in this series which provides the proper identification of the harlot, so I must remain vague during the course of our observations as not to give away answers too quickly. This will allow for you to read the passages I give you for reference, and will answer your questions without relying on me to give the answers too soon.
The Great Harlot...America?
One such interpretation is that the harlot is nothing more than the conglomerate of pagan religions. This is by far the most outrageous of interpretations. Some believers even identify the harlot as the United States of America, turning that which is was not even in existence in the first century into one of the most vital eschatological characters. While this view is fairly popular, identifying the harlot as the Roman Catholic Church is far more popular (as will be discussed in the next article), but also mistaken. Since the interpretation of the harlot, Mystery Babylon, as a conglomerate of pagan religions is not worth one's time, in my opinion, I believe focusing on the refutation of the relevance of the United States is a good start.
The first thing any Bible student should do when considering America's role in Bible prophecy is to find out if America is even mentioned. Now, it is clear to most, if not all, that America is never mentioned by name. To a lot of Futurists, however, this does not invoke them to reconsider their view. One such man, who will go unnamed, once discussed this matter with me. He understood the harlot to have a covenant relationship with God, claiming she will break that covenant in the last days and find destruction because of it. His understanding was that America was founded as a Christian nation (which is debatable), thus, America was in a covenant relationship with God. However, through America's constant sinning we have broken that covenant. Of course, upon showing him the many holes in his view, he retaliated harshly. Yet, if he had taken the time to actually read the verses I posted, he may have inched closer to understanding my position, because he was certainly noticing characteristics of the harlot that I believe many overlook.
All of scripture points to a first century fulfillment of eschatology. With this in mind, can anyone then verify America's place in prophecy, let alone any point in the Bible? Of course not. America did not exist for many, many centuries, and to place America in the context of first century scripture is the result of bias and eisegesis. This means the harlot must be a first century character, which excludes America entirely.
Naturally, this is not good enough for the Premillennialists. Considering Premillennialists cannot identify the last days properly, it takes a little more than revealing their chronological misconceptions to show them their errors. By comparing the characteristics of Mystery Babylon with America, however, we can more accurately target, and refute, the errors in maintaining America as Mystery Babylon. I'll begin with a single verse:
8And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:8)
Mystery Babylon is identified spiritually as Sodom and Egypt. What relevance could Sodom and Egypt possibly have to America? Sodom was full of sin, as is any nation or city. On this basis alone, can a reasonable argument be made when identifying America as the harlot? Not entirely. How about a specific means of sin? We know Sodom was guilty of homosexuality, yet we run into the same predicament of maintaining too broad a scope. It can be accurately connected that America is full of homosexuals, which may lead one to make the connection to Mystery Babylon. I've even found myself likening my work place to Sodom at one time, so I understand the connection (though my connection was made humorously).
However, America must be identified as Sodom through the scriptures, not through one's opinion. Thus, given the fact that America is never referenced in the entire Bible, neither by name or implication, we can rest assured that no such comparison to Sodom can be made of America. Remember to let scripture interpret scripture. The Bible defines its own terms. Therefore, for your study, read Deuteronomy 32, Isaiah 10, Jeremiah 23, and Ezekiel 16. Is America ever the nation likened to Sodom? If so, America may be a candidate. What does the text say?
How about Egypt? What could Egypt possibly have to do with America that would make so strong an argument as to give America any eschatological relevance? What do we know about Egypt from the Old Testament that might have spiritual relevance to Mystery Babylon? Bondage, perhaps? It was in Egypt that the children of Israel found themselves in captivity. Now, from a spiritual perspective, what offered only bondage to believers? It was the old law, of course:
7But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the old of the letter. (Romans 7:7)
14For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. (Romans 7:14)
Paul likens the old law to being held in death, and sold under sin. This is exactly how Egypt relates to Mystery Babylon. Now, was America ever held under the law? If so, America may very well be a candidate for Mystery Babylon (assuming one can exegetically prove that the last days are yet future, or present today). However, as we all know, the new covenant has been in effect for a very, very long time, and the old law has been abrogated! On top of that, the Mosaic law was given to the Israelites only. Therefore, America has never been, nor will ever be, subject to that old law. As such, America cannot possibly be Mystery Babylon.
Another aspect of Mystery Babylon, as taken from Revelation 11:8, is that it is the place where the Lord was crucified. My challenge to you is to search for any minute reference to America as the place of the Lord's crucifixion. You will find that no such reference is ever made, neither literally nor metaphorically, which means, according to the three points addressed so far, America has no such support when identified as Mystery Babylon. Paul has a little something to say in regards to this:
14For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: 15Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: 16Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost. (1 Thessalonians 2:14-16)
This very passage alone identifies exactly who the harlot is, with a number of characteristics identified on top of that. What we can deduce is that America is not guilty of slaying the Lord Jesus Christ, which means identifying America as Mystery Babylon can only be done through eisegesis and bias. Just who does Paul blame for the Lord's death? It's really as simple as that.
Moving further into Revelation reveals more of these characteristics. At this point, America is not a likely candidate. However, it would suit us well to truly make sure by testing America's relevance a little more. For this, Revelation 17 is a good place to go:
1And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: 2With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. 3So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. (Revelation 17:1-5)
In just these five verses we are given a number of characteristics of this woman in the vision. I believe these are the most important to observe at this time: 1) She sits upon a scarlet beast (17:3); 2) She wears purple, scarlet, gold, and precious stones (17:4); 3) Holds a golden cup full of her sins (17:4); 4) On her forehead is a title (17:5).
Does America sit upon the scarlet beast, Rome? No. Premillennialists rebuttal with the “revived Roman empire” theory, but this is nonsense. In a vain effort to give prophecy some future relevance, they must revive the Roman empire. Why the Roman empire? Because in Daniel 7 we read that it is during the reign of the Roman empire that these things would be fulfilled! Thus, they separate Daniel 9:27 from 9:26 with a gap of nearly two thousand years (and counting), and claim that the Roman empire will be revived in the future. It is amazing how much the scriptures don't talk about this make-believe garbage.
If one is going to argue America as clothed with purple, scarlet, gold, and precious stones, they must be able to apply the symbolism to America without distorting the meaning. These colors are used for a reason. Letting the Bible interpret itself, we can find the meaning of these colors:
2And thou shalt make holy apparel for Aaron thy brother, for honour and glory. 3And speak thou to all those who are wise in understanding, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom and perception; and they shall make the holy apparel of Aaron for the sanctuary, in which apparel he shall minister to me as priest. 4And these are the garments which they shall make: the breast-plate, and the shoulder-piece, and the full-length robe, and the tunic with a fringe, and the tire, and the girdle; and they shall make holy garments for Aaron and his sons to minister to me as priests. 5And they shall take the gold, and the blue, and the purple, and the scarlet, and the fine linen. 6And they shall make the shoulder-piece of fine linen spun, the woven work of the embroiderer. 7It shall have to shoulder-pieces joined together, fastened on the two sides. 8And the woven work of the shoulder-pieces which is upon it shall be of one piece according to the work, of pure gold and blue and purple, and spun scarlet and fine twined linen. (Exodus 28:2-8)
These colors are quite important, for they do not represent merely royalty as some would suggest, but they are the colors which make up holy garments for a priesthood in service of God. Also consider what is written a few verses later:
15And thou shalt make the oracle of judgment, the work of the embroiderer: in keeping with the ephod, thou shalt make it of gold, and blue and purple, and spun scarlet, and fine linen spun. 16Thou shalt make it square: it shall be double; of a span the length of it, and of a pan the breadth. 17And thou shalt interweave with it a texture of four rows of stone; there shall be a row of stones, a sardius, a topaz, an emerald, the first row. 18And the second row, a carbuncle, a sapphire, and a jasper. 19And the third row, a ligure, an agate, an amethyst: 20and the fourth row, a chrysolite, and a beryl, and an onyx stone, set round with gold, bound together with gold: let them be according to their row. (Exodus 28:15-20)
How, in any way, can this represent America when it is entirely representative of Israel's priesthood? We can't entertain this in any way possible lest we be guilty of forcing scripture to fit a view that simply does not maintain consistency. If Futurists let scripture interpret scripture, no such confusion would be made. Simply put, America cannot possibly be Mystery Babylon.
The harlot is also depicted as holding a golden cup full of her sins. This kind of imagery can be found as relative to Babylon. Similar to Mystery Babylon, literal Babylon was about to come under judgment:
1Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I stir up against Babylon, and against the Chaldeans dwelling therein, a deadly burning wind. 2And I will send forth against Babylon spoilers, and they shall spoil her, and shall ravage her land. Woe to Babylon round about her in the day of her affliction. 3Let the archer bend his bow, and him that has armour put it on: and spare ye not her young men, but destroy ye all her host. 4And slain men shall fall in the land of the Chaldeans, and men pierced through shall fall without it. 5For Israel and Juda have not been forsaken of their God, of the Lord Almighty; whereas their land was filled with iniquity against the holy things of Israel. 6Flee ye out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every one his soul: and be not overthrown in her iniquity; for it is time of her retribution from the Lord; he is rendering to her a recompence. 7Babylon has been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, causing all the earth to be drunken: the nations have drunk of her wine; therefore they were shaken. (Jeremiah 28:1-7; Jeremiah 51 in KJV)
There is some fairly familiar imagery in this passage. In verse 7, we read of Babylon as a golden cup, causing the earth to be drunken of her wine. Similarly, Mystery Babylon is exactly the same, having a golden cup filled with sin, also guilty of leaving the nations drunk. It is my understanding that the harlot's imagery is derived from Babylon in this very sense. Mystery Babylon has filled up her golden cup with many sins, guilty of shedding righteous blood for many, many centuries (Revelation 11:7-8).
In what way can this be applied to America? Given all of the points made so far, especially the necessity of first century relevance, how can America be identified as the harlot, Mystery Babylon? It is impossible. Premillennialists must lie to make it so.
Lastly, consider the title on the whore's forehead (Revelation 17:5). I often refer people to Ezekiel 16 to find out who the Bible defines as a whore, and why they are a whore in the first place. Ezekiel 16:2 tells us the target audience. The nation being regarded in Ezekiel 16 was once beautiful, and treated as such, given many precious stones and jewelry (consider the previous identifier). However, she trusted in her beauty instead of God, and went a-whoring (Ezekiel 16:15f). If John is going to refer to Mystery Babylon as a whore, then we must be able to interpret this imagery through that which John is pulling the imagery from in the first place. Does Ezekiel 16 read of America, or another nation? Many nations can be found to fit certain aspects of Mystery Babylon's identity, including America, but the Bible does not regard America as a whore.
America, though full of sins, is certainly not going to fall into the first century placement of the last days. This means America cannot be identified as Mystery Babylon, disproving some Futurists' understanding. As they desperately search for a nation, city, or religious system to fit into the Bible, we can take comfort in knowing that Mystery Babylon is no longer a mystery, which, if you haven't already figured it out, will be revealed in a later article.
Until then, stay blessed by the best.
Jason Watt
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