Historical and Eschatological Babylon

Historical and Eschatological Babylon Compared

There are many interesting paralells between ancient, historical Babylon described in Jeremiah 50-51 and future, eschatological Babylon depicted in Revelation 17-18. In Jeremiah's day the prophet lamented the fact that Jerusalem was vanquished by the conquering Babylonians. In stark contrast, the book of revelation reaches an exultant pinnacle when Babylon is vanquished by the conquering Christ. Heaven rebounds with the cheers: "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God!" (Rev. 19:1) and "Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!" (Rev. 19:3). New Jerusalem is victorious and Babylon defeated, no more to rise again.
Commentators have some difference of opinion when it comes to the identity of Babylon described in Rev. 18-19, but there are some things that are quite clear.

Turning aside from true worship so as to worship according to natural inclinations or demonic influence is spiritual harlotry. It is forsaking of Biblical worship (on God's own terms) and substituting the worship of false gods or even the "worship" of the true God in a false way-- which is not actually "worship" (Jeremiah 2:20, 3:1, 6, 8; Ezekiel 16:15-16, 28, 31, 35, 41; 23:19; Isaiah 1:21). Man is ever trying to make God in his own image. God created man in His own image, and man has been returning the favor ever since.

It is unlikely that the capital of the ancient Roman Empire is the Babylon of Revelation. Cities or empires don't commit spiritual harlotry in the Biblical sense of the word. The fulfillment could be future Rome, or even the Vatican, but it is unwise to be dogmatic at this point. As the end of the age draws closer it may become apparent to those who are godly. Interestingly, there is a steady line of Catholic writers who have linked the papal Rome with eschatological Babylon.

	Jeremiah 50-51 (and Isaiah 47)		Revelation 17-18
1.	Flee from the midst of Babylon, and each of you save his life! Do not be destroyed in her punishment! (Jer. 51:6)	1.	Come out of her, my people, that you may not participate in her sins and that you may not receive of her plagues. (Rev. 18:4)
2.	Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the LORD, intoxicating all the earth. The nations have drunk her wine; therefore the nations are going mad. (Jer. 51:7)	2.	And the woman . . . having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality. (Rev. 17:4) . . . and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality. (Rev. 17:2)
3.	Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken; Wail over her! (Jer. 51:8)	3.	Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come! (Rev. 18:10)
4.	O you who dwell by many waters . . . (Jer. 51:13)	4.	. . . the great harlot who sits on many waters. . . (Rev. 17:1)
5.	For her judgment has reached to heaven and is lifted to the very skies. (Jer. 51:9, margin)	5.	. . . for her sins have piled up as high as heaven. (Rev. 18:5)
6.	Repay her according to her work; according to all that she has done, so do to her; (Jer. 50:29)	6.	Pay her back even as she has paid. . . (Rev. 18:6)
7.	Yet you said, “I shall be a queen forever” (Isaiah 47:7)	7.	. . . for she says in her heart, “I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning . . . (Rev. 18:7)
8.	The LORD has aroused the spirit of the kings of the Medes, because His purpose is against Babylon to destroy it . . . (Jer. 51:11)	8.	And the ten horns . . . will hate the harlot and will make her desolate . . . and will burn her with fire . . . (Rev. 18:16)
9.	. . . abundant in treasures . . . (Jer. 51:13)	9.	And the woman was . . . adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls . . . (Rev. 17:4)