Welcome to Prophecy Q & A with Jimmy DeYoung!
There is only one time that I know of in the Scriptures where the words, “Mystery, Babylon” are used. Revelation 17:5 states, “Upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth.” In my study of the Scriptures, I’m not sure that the word “mystery” is part of that title. It’s not truly a mystery as to how are we going to find out what this is talking about, but as it relates to a biblical mystery, it is something that has not been revealed until the end times.
The word “Babylon” is used one time in chapter 17. In chapter 18, the word “Babylon” is used three times. In chapter 17, it is referring to a false religiosity. We who know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior are the Bride of Christ. We are to be married to Jesus Christ at the Rapture of the church (Revelation 19:7-9). When you look at the opposite of the pure virtuous woman who will be the bride of Christ, you look at a prostitute or a whore as the King James translates it. In fact, chapter 17 has the word “woman” six times. The unvirtuous, non-virgin woman, the whore, is referred to nine times in chapter 17. It refers to a false church that is going to come to power.
The city of Rome is also identified in 17:9 which says, “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” It refers back to verse 3 where John the Revelator is talking about being carried away in the spirit into the wilderness. It says, “and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” This is apocalyptic literature being used, the woman being the false church. The beast refers to the antichrist. This woman, the false church, will be riding with the antichrist in charge. The seven heads and ten horns are identified in the text. Verse nine says that the seven heads are the seven mountains on which the woman sitteth. When John wrote this in 95 A.D., it was referring to the city of Rome, and this was where the false church was located. A mother/son cult, verse 5, “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.” It was 4,500 years ago when Nimrod married a lady; they had a son. The mother and son became co-equal recipients of a mother/son cult worship.
The false religion started at Babylon and will continue on. This false religiosity will end up operating out of Rome during the first three and a half years of the Tribulation period controlled by the Antichrist. Verse three says that it had ten horns, and verse 12 identifies her. The ten horns are ten kings which have received no kingdom as of yet but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These ten horns are referring to the Revived Roman Empire (Daniel) which the Antichrist will come after and come to power.
Ultimately, they will destroy the false church in verse 16 “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.” And verse 17 “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” It is a key principle in understanding how things unfold in the end times. The Lord puts in the hearts of evil world leaders to accomplish His will. He established human government (Genesis 9:6) and has used it throughout history and will use it again in the end times. It says that the Lord puts the will for all human kind into the hearts of these world leaders.
Revelation 18:1-2 says, “And after these things (not simultaneously with) I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power, and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” In chapter 18 you see the word “Babylon” used three times, the word “city” used six times which is referring to the actual city of Babylon. “Great” is used eight times which is referring to the great city of Babylon which will be the economic, political, governmental headquarters for the Antichrist in the last three and a half years of the Tribulation period. It will not be London for the financial headquarters/power. It is going to be the literal city of Babylon. Babylon the city has never been destroyed. Babylon the empire was destroyed (Daniel 5). The Apostle Peter (I Peter 5;13) actually started a church in the literal city of Babylon 500 years after the fall of the Babylonian Empire.
Revelation 16:17-21 talks about the destruction of this city, the seventh Vial Judgment. In Revelation 18:10, 17, 19, it says that Babylon will be destroyed in one hour. There are 21 judgments that become progressively worse during the Tribulation period. This is the last of them. Revelation 16:19 says, “and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.” Revelation 16:18 says, “and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake and so great,” destroying the literal city of Babylon.
The United States is helping to refurbish the city of Babylon. It will become one of the greatest tourist attractions of all time and will be the headquarters for the Antichrist in the last half of the Tribulation period (Revelation 18).
We don’t determine what Bible prophecy is relating to us by current events. We determine what Bible prophecy is telling us through a very intensive, inductive study of the Word of God. The Word of God has every answer. Let the Word of God drive your understanding of Bible prophecy.
Jimmy DeYoung was a prophecy teacher and journalist who travelled the country and the world educating the Body of Christ of the future events foretold in God’s prophetic Word. His goal was to equip Christians with the knowledge and understanding of what God’s Word says will happen someday soon, so that they can make better decisions today. Dr. DeYoung went home to be with his Savior on August 15, 2021.
