Which City/Nation is Mystery Babylon?

[joi]

Have you ever wondered which nation is the Mystery Babylon in the Bible?

I used to argue that Babylon (in Iraq) was what was meant, but now I am not so sure. What are your thoughts?

I would be interested in hearing opinions on whether the USA is the Mystery Babylon mentioned in the Bible.

If yes, why? If no, why not?

Revelation 17

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.

17-For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

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

Revelation 18

2 -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.

8 -Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.

10-Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

11-And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:

Jeremiah 51

13-O thou that dwellest upon many waters, abundant in treasures, thine end is come, and the measure of thy covetousness.

[OneLight]

I have heard some say it will be Rome and others say New York City. I heard a teaching that Babylon will be rebuilt and become a great trade city again. Personally, I lean toward NYC. Why I lean toward NYC is because it is a great trade city of the world, maybe the greatest, but have to honestly admit that I have no idea where the city is.

[mizzdy]

Babylon wasn't just a city but an idea, a way of life, commerce, religion, etc. I lean towards America, NYC, Washington or just the whole coming socialized govt? Whoever she is she will be taken down and destroyed and we see all kinds of govts trying hard not to fail and fall.

[Littlelambseativy]

I guess as much as NYC has all the qualifications the only one that has the UN and NYSX and the other markets and that trades in all the commodities the only one I know will have something to do with the OWR is Rome. I guess that is why it is called "MYSTERY Babylon". I can't think of a city that deals as much with trade or commerce of all sorts other cities over the millennia have but none to this degree to include all the nations in the UN.

[other one]

I'd lean between the Vatican or "The City of London" which is not London proper but a square mile within the overall city of London. It has it's own government and laws and is where most of the banking systems are located. Much of the wealth and global money decidions are actually made within this one square mile of England.. The Lord Mayer of the City of London is pretty much the very top dog of everything. When the Queen comes to pay a visit she has to be met by the Lord Mayer, and actually bow to him and ask permission to enter The City. It is not part of England, but is a privately owned corporation and controlls most of the financial translctions of the world.

[other one]

I need to post a youtube video for you all to see concerning this thread, but i really haven't done that before so i'll post it in the video thread and maybe link it to this one.

[exrockstar]

Babylon wasn't just a city but an idea, a way of life, commerce, religion, etc. I lean towards America, NYC, Washington or just the whole coming socialized govt? Whoever she is she will be taken down and destroyed and we see all kinds of govts trying hard not to fail and fall.

Agree on America.

[just_fish]

I need to post a youtube video for you all to see concerning this thread, but i really haven't done that before so i'll post it in the video thread and maybe link it to this one.

WOW! That I didn't know. Kinda scary.

Well I heard all kinds of opinions from Egypt, USA, the "world" system in general, to an apostate Jerusalem.

I feel it refers to Baghdad.

But I must say the apostate Jerusalem is an interesting theory...................

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Job 5:17

[JohnD]

Mystery Babylon is a city that sits on seven hills. People believe hands down this refers to Rome. BUT... link 1

Note Jerusalem is one among them. link 2

Isaiah 1:21-30 (KJV)

21 How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers.

22 Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water:

23 Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.

24 Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease me of mine adversaries, and avenge me of mine enemies:

25 And I will turn my hand upon thee, and purely purge away thy dross, and take away all thy tin:

26 And I will restore thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning: afterward thou shalt be called, The city of righteousness, the faithful city.

27 Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness.

28 And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners shall be together, and they that forsake the LORD shall be consumed.

29 For they shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the gardens that ye have chosen.

30 For ye shall be as an oak whose leaf fadeth, and as a garden that hath no water.

Revelation 11:8 (KJV)

8 And 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.

For the antichrist (false messiah) to win over the Jewish people he will have to be Jewish. For him to be able to get the third temple built he will have to convince the world (beginning with Islam) that his brand of Judaism is the correct religion.

[joi]

other one, I did not know that about London.

just fish, I have also wondered if it is Jerusalem.

There is the possibility that oil will be found in a big way in Israel, bringing her great wealth and which could cause her enemies to attack.

Israel is in the process of drilling for oil [http://www.rense.com/general64/sbsi.htm], and they already have available natural gas.

I have not followed the success of the drilling, so I am not up to date on that subject. ok,

just did a search and found an old discussion here; http://www.israeloilforum.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6&PN=9

Historically everything Israel does is prosperous. When they were moved out of Gaza they left behind many

businesses, such as successful greenhouses full plants, and what did the Muslims do? They

destroyed every one of them, then they had no way to make a living, but this is off topic.

I am not dogmatic that Jerusalem is Babylon, but since much of end times deal with Jerusalem, it is one city to consider.

Last night I was reading Lamentations 1:1 which says;

How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary! [for a more correct rendering of this verse see: http://biblelexicon.org/lamentations/1-1.htm ]

After reading this I remembered Rev. 18:7

How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.

Earlier in verse 2 we read; 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.

Still it does not say which city is being addressed, so I decided to see if there was any other reference to 'widow' and found one that would fit in with our subject. It is Isaiah 47:8 specifically, but because of the relevance of the preceding verses I am posting them as well.

Isaiah 47

1Come down, and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon, sit on the ground: there is no throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called tender and delicate.

2Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers.

3Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.

4As for our redeemer, the LORD of hosts is his name, the Holy One of Israel.

5Sit thou silent, and get thee into darkness, O daughter of the Chaldeans: for thou shalt no more be called, The lady of kingdoms.

6I was wroth with my people, I have polluted mine inheritance, and given them into thine hand: thou didst shew them no mercy; upon the ancient hast thou very heavily laid thy yoke.

7And thou saidst, I shall be a lady for ever: so that thou didst not lay these things to thy heart, neither didst remember the latter end of it.

8Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:

9But these two things shall come to thee in a moment in one day, the loss of children, and widowhood: they shall come upon thee in their perfection for the multitude of thy sorceries, and for the great abundance of thine enchantments.

Rest of chapter: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2047&version=KJV