*Revelation chapters 17-18 / *Rev. chs. 17-18 -
(*Babylon)
Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" (Revelation chapters 17-18) represents all of fallen mankind's corrupt political (Revelation 17:18), economic (Revelation 18:11), and religious (Revelation 18:24) systems throughout the earth (Revelation 18:3) and throughout history (Revelation 17:9-10). The ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire will destroy with fire what Revelation's "Babylon" represents (Revelation 17:16-17) when they destroy the cities of the nations (Revelation 16:19), probably with nukes (and probably with Fission-Fusion-Fission, "FFF", or "666", nukes, "F" representing the number 6 in English gematria), at the time of the future, seventh vial (Revelation 16:17,19), which will be the final event (Revelation 16:17) of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:2 to 20:6, Matthew 24:29-31). The ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire could destroy the cities of the nations under the direction of Lucifer/Satan (Isaiah 14:17,12), who could want to leave only a literal "scorched earth" for Jesus to return to.
Near the very end of the future Tribulation, Lucifer (employing the ancient lies of Gnosticism) could say to the Antichrist and his ten kings something like: "Our great battle against the evil, tyrant god YHWH is about to begin [Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:19], a battle which we will win, and so we will be able to escape YHWH's prison house, this material universe, and return to the wholly-spiritual Pleroma [i.e. Heaven]. So let us now destroy this prison cell, this foul planet, and let us, as it were, burn up all of the gewgaws which we have hung upon our cell walls. Let us burn up all of our great cities, all of our magnificent systems. Let us break all of our chains of attachment to this vile, physical realm, that we might more freely ascend back to our rightful place in the Pleroma [cf. Isaiah 14:13-14]".
Of course this will be a lie. For at His Second Coming, Jesus Christ (who is YHWH: John 10:30, Zechariah 14:3-4) will completely defeat all of the armies of the world, arrayed against YHWH (Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:19-21). And Jesus will have Lucifer bound in the Bottomless Pit for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-6, Isaiah 14:15), a time period commonly called the Millennium. During that time, Jesus will restore ruined parts of the earth and make them like the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 36:35, Isaiah 51:3). And after the Millennium and subsequent events (Revelation 20:7-15), God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth (Revelation 21:1), as in a new atmosphere (first heaven) and surface for the earth. And then God will descend from the third heaven in the literal city of New Jerusalem to live with Christians on the New Earth (Revelation 21:2-4).
(See also paragraphs 4-5 of Revelation 21:9 below)
~
(Re: Is Babylon only the RCC?)
No, for while the corrupt aspects of the RCC (as of all other churches) are included in what Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" in Revelation chapters 17-18 represents, it represents much more than just the corrupt aspects of the RCC. For the RCC just by itself does not reign over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:18). Nor is the RCC the only institution which buys merchandise (Revelation 18:11). Nor has the RCC killed all of the Christian martyrs who have ever been killed (Revelation 18:24). Nor has the RCC just by itself corrupted the entire world (Revelation 18:3). Nor has the RCC been continuously supported by the empires of fallen mankind throughout history (Revelation 17:9-10). Instead, Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" represents all of fallen mankind's corrupt political (Revelation 17:18), economic (Revelation 18:11), and religious (Revelation 18:24) systems throughout the earth (Revelation 18:3) and throughout history (Revelation 17:9-10).
(See also Revelation 13:11 above. And see the "Not RCC" section of Revelation 13:4 above)
~
(Re: Is Jerusalem the *great city?)
In Revelation 11:8 and Revelation 16:19a, the great city is Jerusalem, where Jesus Christ was crucified. But in Revelation 21:10 the great city is New Jerusalem, which is now in heaven. And in Revelation 14:8, Revelation 17:18, and Revelation 18:10-21, the great city is the symbolic (and worldwide) harlot/city of Babylon. When it is destroyed, it will be found no more at all (Revelation 18:21), forever (Revelation 19:3), unlike Jerusalem, which was found again after its only-temporary destruction in 70 AD.
~
(Re: Is Jerusalem the harlot, per the Old Testament?)
See Ezekiel 16(space) above
~
(Re: Are the daughters of Babylon the towns of Judaea, just as the daughters of Jerusalem were the towns of Judah?)
In Revelation 17:5 the original Greek word (ge: G1093) translated as "earth" can refer to the planet earth (e.g. Revelation 14:7, Revelation 21:1). And "daughters of Jerusalem" (e.g. Song of Solomon 2:7, Isaiah 3:16, Luke 23:28) refers to literal, female inhabitants of Jerusalem.
~
(Re: Is the "earth" only the land of Israel?) / (*Ge )
The original Greek word (ge: G1093) translated as "earth" often refers to the planet earth, in both the Gospels and Revelation (Matthew 5:18, Matthew 6:10,19, Matthew 9:6, Matthew 10:34, Matthew 11:25, Matthew 12:40,42, Matthew 16:19, Matthew 17:25, Matthew 18:18-19, Matthew 23:9, Matthew 24:30,35, Matthew 28:18, Mark 2:10, Mark 4:28,31, Mark 13:27,31, Luke 2:14, Luke 5:24, Luke 6:49, Luke 10:21, Luke 11:2,31, Luke 12:49,51,56, Luke 16:17, Luke 18:8, Luke 21:25,33,35, John 3:31, John 12:32, John 17:4, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 5:3,6,10,13, Revelation 6:4,10,15, Revelation 7:1-3, Revelation 8:13, Revelation 9:3-4, Revelation 10:6, Revelation 11:4,6,10,18, Revelation 12:12, Revelation 13:3 (world), Revelation 13:8,12,14, Revelation 14:3,6,7, Revelation 14:15-16, Revelation 16:1,2,18, Revelation 17:2,5,8,18, Revelation 18:3,9,11,23-24, Revelation 19:2,19, Revelation 20:8).
--
*Revelation 17:1 / *Rev. 17:1 -
Here the "many waters" represent "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" (Revelation 17:15) on which the woman sits.
--
*Revelation 17:3 / *Rev. 17:3 -
(Re: The heads and horns)
See Revelation 13:1-2 above.
~
(*Wilderness)
In Revelation 17:3, it may be only the apostle John (cf. Revelation 1:1,3) who is in the wilderness, while the woman and the beast are right next to it floating on the sea. For the beast rises out of the sea (Revelation 13:1), and the woman sits on many waters (Revelation 17:1), on the back of the beast (Revelation 17:3). The wilderness where John is in Revelation 17:3 can represent safe wilderness places where some in the Church, represented by the different woman in Revelation 12, will flee during the future Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 12:6,14, Revelation 13:4-18).
(See also Isaiah 26:19 and Revelation 12(space) above)
--
*Revelation 17:4 / *Rev. 17:4 -
The purple and scarlet do not represent (as is sometimes claimed) only the RCC in its corrupt aspects, or only Jerusalem in its corrupt aspects, but represent all of the corrupt wealth and power on the earth. For scarlet was expensive clothing worn by the well-to-do (2 Samuel 1:24, Lamentations 4:5), and purple was royal clothing (Mark 15:17-18, Judges 8:26), and clothing worn by the rich (Luke 16:19).
--
*Revelation 17:6 / *Rev. 17:6 -
Here the word "admiration" is used not in the modern sense of admiration, but in its archaic sense of "wonder". For the original Greek noun (thauma: G2295) translated as "admiration" means "wonder" (Strong's Greek Dictionary). Compare the related Greek verb (thaumazo: G2296), which had just previously been translated in Revelation 17:6 as "wondered", and which indeed means "to wonder" (Strong's Greek Dictionary).
--
*Revelation 17:9-10 / *Rev. 17:9 -
(Re: The *Mountains / *Hills / *Kings)
In Revelation 17:9 the seven mountains (or hills) which support Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" can be the seven hills of Rome. For at the time of the apostle John, who wrote down the book of Revelation in the first century AD (Revelation 1:1b), the Roman empire was the chief support for what Revelation's "Babylon" represents: all of fallen mankind's corrupt political (Revelation 17:18), economic (Revelation 18:11), and religious (Revelation 18:24) systems throughout the earth (Revelation 18:3) and throughout history (Revelation 17:9-10). At the same time, in Revelation 17:9 the seven mountains can also represent seven empires (Revelation 17:10). For an empire can be referred to symbolically as a mountain (Jeremiah 51:24-25, Daniel 2:35,44) and what Revelation's "Babylon" represents has been supported by seven empires.
(See Revelation 13:1-2 above)
Also, in Revelation 17:10 the seven "kings" can refer to seven empires, just as the four "kings" in Daniel 7:17 refer to four "kingdoms"/empires, Daniel 7:23 referring to the fourth (the Roman empire).
--
*Revelation 17:10 / *Rev. 17:10 -
When this says that there "are" seven kings, it can mean that there are seven kings represented by the seven heads of Revelation 17:9,3. It cannot mean that all seven coexist as empires. For Revelation 17:10 says that five had already fallen as empires by the time of the apostle John in the first century AD (cf. Revelation 1:1b), and only one existed as an empire at his time (Revelation 17:10), and a future (at that time), seventh empire had not yet come (Revelation 17:10).
(See also Revelation 13:1-2 above)
--
*Revelation 17:12 / *Rev. 17:12 -
Here the ten kings cannot be (as is sometimes claimed) the first ten Roman emperors, because all ten "have received no kingdom as yet" (Revelation 17:12), and all ten will "receive power as kings one hour with the beast" (Revelation 17:12). That is, all ten will receive power at the same time, and only when the (still future) Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") will receive power for a literal 42 months (Revelation 13:4-18).
(See also the "kings" section of Revelation 13:1-2 above)
~
(Re: How does anyone receive power and a kingdom for one hour?)
In Revelation 17:12 the original Greek word (hora: G5610) translated as "hour" can refer to any period of "time". For example, the last "hora" (Greek) or "time" of 1 John 2:18 has been going on for the last 2,000 years. In the case of Revelation 17:12, it is referring to the time of the literal 42-month worldwide reign of the future Antichrist, the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast" (Revelation 13:4-18).
--
*Revelation 17:13 / *Rev. 17:13 -
This does not require that its ten kings (which could be individual people) will bring the future Antichrist to power, instead of the other way around. For Revelation 17:12 shows that they will receive power as kings only when the Antichrist does. On the other hand, in Daniel 7:24, its ten kings arise before the Antichrist does. And so they can be ten major nations which currently exist, just as in Daniel 7:17 the four kings are four empires (cf. Daniel 7:23) which existed in the past.
(See also Daniel 7(space) above)
--
*Revelation 17:14 / *Rev. 17:14 -
(With)
See 1 Thessalonians 3:13 above
~
(Re: Does it show a coming of Jesus before the Second Coming?)
No, Revelation 17:14 refers to what will happen only at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:19-21), which will happen only immediately after the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
~
(Re: Do Revelation chapters 17, 19, and 20 each show the Second Coming?)
No, Revelation chapters 17, 19, and 20 refer to three different, sequential times. For the destruction of the symbolic Babylon in Revelation 17:16 by the ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire will occur at the future, seventh vial, immediately before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2-21). Then Revelation 19:7 to 20:3 will happen at His Second Coming. Then Revelation 20:7-10 will happen some 1,000 years after His Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:10).
Regarding Revelation 17:14, it is just a part of the description of the career of the ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire (Revelation 17:12-17). In Revelation 17:14a the extremely-short summary of what will happen to them at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming is not meant to be taken, like the highly detailed Revelation 19:7 to 20:3 is meant to be taken, as when the Second Coming will occur in relation to the chronological sequence of Revelation chapters 6 to 22.
(See the "Chronological" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) above)
(Also, see the "Judgment of the unsaved" section of Revelation 19:7 below)
--
*Revelation 17:18 / *Rev. 17:18 -
The original Greek word (ge: G1093) translated as "earth" can refer to the planet (e.g. Revelation 14:7, Revelation 21:1).
~
(Re: Great city = Jerusalem?)
See the "great city" section of Revelation chapters 17-18 above.
--
*Revelation 18:2 / *Rev. 18:2 -
This does not mean that Revelation's figurative "Babylon" has fallen twice, in the sense of at two different times. For "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen" is simply a rhetorical way of emphasizing Babylon's current fallen state.
(See Revelation 14:8 above)
--
*Revelation 18:3 / *Rev. 18:3 -
This refers to the symbolic harlot "Babylon" having corrupted all "nations" (Greek: ethnos, G1484). Also, in Revelation 18:3 the original Greek word (ge: G1093) translated as "earth" can refer to the planet (e.g. Revelation 14:7, Revelation 21:1).
--
*Revelation 18:4 / *Rev. 18:4 -
This does not contradict that what Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" represents will not be destroyed until the future, seventh vial (Revelation 16:17,19) of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
Also, God's people in Revelation 18:4 include both the Jews and Gentiles in the Church who will still be alive on the earth at that time. For both are God's people (Romans 11:1, Romans 15:10, Hebrews 8:10; 1 Peter 2:9-12).
~
(Re: How do you come out of Babylon according to your global definition of Babylon?)
You would have to flee from all cities, all areas with civilization. That is, flee into the wilderness (Revelation 12:6,14).
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 and Revelation 12(space) above)
~
(Re: But how are you supposed to survive in the wilderness?)
By preparing beforehand a fully-stocked hideout there.
(See paragraphs 3-4 of Matthew 24:16 above)
--
*Revelation 18:9 / *Rev. 18:9 -
The lamenting kings of the earth could be other kings besides the ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire who will hate Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" and burn it with fire (Revelation 17:12,16). Or, even the ten kings could start missing its pleasures as soon as they are done burning it.
--
*Revelation 18:12 / *Rev. 18:12 -
The original Greek words (thuinos: G2367; and xulon: G3586) translated as "thyine wood" can refer to a wood from a certain type of cypress tree which was burned in the fires of sacrifices (thuinos is derived from thuo: G2380, which can mean to sacrifice), because of the pleasant smell of the wood's smoke. The fragrant wood itself was also used to fashion expensive furniture (See Easton's).
--
*Revelation 18:13 / *Rev. 18:13 -
The original Greek word (psuche: G5590) translated as "souls" can refer to "lives" (Revelation 12:11).
The Greek word (thumiama: G2368) translated as "odours" can refer to "incense" (Revelation 8:4).
--
*Revelation 18:20 / *Rev. 18:20 -
This refers to a future judgment, by God Himself, against Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" (Revelation 18:10), in vengeance against the world's mistreatment of God's apostles and prophets (Revelation 18:20).
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 above)
--
*Revelation 19 / *Rev. 19 -
By the time of Revelation 19, the future, seventh-and-last, Babylon-destroying vial of God's wrath will have been poured out (Revelation 19:2-3) by an angel (Revelation 16:17,19) as the final event of the future Tribulation (Revelation 16:17) of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
Revelation 19:11-21 refers to the separate wrath at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming, which will occur immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31).
--
*Revelation 19:1 / *Rev. 19:1 -
The people in the Church who will be dwelling in heaven at the end-of-the-tribulation time of Revelation 19:1 will be those obedient Christians who have died (cf. Philippians 1:21,23; 2 Corinthians 5:8, Revelation 6:9-11), and those who are part of the 144,000 (Revelation 14:1,4-5, Textus Receptus; Revelation 12:5b).
(See also Revelation 7:4 above)
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*Revelation 19:6 / *Rev. 19:6 -
Here the "great multitude" could consist only of angels (compare what Revelation 5:11 says). For the multitude in Revelation 19:6 could be distinguishing itself from the Church, the "wife" in Revelation 19:7-8.
-
Next entry / Prior / Table of Contents
Nov 10, 2018
(*Babylon)
Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" (Revelation chapters 17-18) represents all of fallen mankind's corrupt political (Revelation 17:18), economic (Revelation 18:11), and religious (Revelation 18:24) systems throughout the earth (Revelation 18:3) and throughout history (Revelation 17:9-10). The ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire will destroy with fire what Revelation's "Babylon" represents (Revelation 17:16-17) when they destroy the cities of the nations (Revelation 16:19), probably with nukes (and probably with Fission-Fusion-Fission, "FFF", or "666", nukes, "F" representing the number 6 in English gematria), at the time of the future, seventh vial (Revelation 16:17,19), which will be the final event (Revelation 16:17) of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, right before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:2 to 20:6, Matthew 24:29-31). The ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire could destroy the cities of the nations under the direction of Lucifer/Satan (Isaiah 14:17,12), who could want to leave only a literal "scorched earth" for Jesus to return to.
Near the very end of the future Tribulation, Lucifer (employing the ancient lies of Gnosticism) could say to the Antichrist and his ten kings something like: "Our great battle against the evil, tyrant god YHWH is about to begin [Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:19], a battle which we will win, and so we will be able to escape YHWH's prison house, this material universe, and return to the wholly-spiritual Pleroma [i.e. Heaven]. So let us now destroy this prison cell, this foul planet, and let us, as it were, burn up all of the gewgaws which we have hung upon our cell walls. Let us burn up all of our great cities, all of our magnificent systems. Let us break all of our chains of attachment to this vile, physical realm, that we might more freely ascend back to our rightful place in the Pleroma [cf. Isaiah 14:13-14]".
Of course this will be a lie. For at His Second Coming, Jesus Christ (who is YHWH: John 10:30, Zechariah 14:3-4) will completely defeat all of the armies of the world, arrayed against YHWH (Revelation 16:14, Revelation 19:19-21). And Jesus will have Lucifer bound in the Bottomless Pit for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-6, Isaiah 14:15), a time period commonly called the Millennium. During that time, Jesus will restore ruined parts of the earth and make them like the Garden of Eden (Ezekiel 36:35, Isaiah 51:3). And after the Millennium and subsequent events (Revelation 20:7-15), God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth (Revelation 21:1), as in a new atmosphere (first heaven) and surface for the earth. And then God will descend from the third heaven in the literal city of New Jerusalem to live with Christians on the New Earth (Revelation 21:2-4).
(See also paragraphs 4-5 of Revelation 21:9 below)
~
(Re: Is Babylon only the RCC?)
No, for while the corrupt aspects of the RCC (as of all other churches) are included in what Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" in Revelation chapters 17-18 represents, it represents much more than just the corrupt aspects of the RCC. For the RCC just by itself does not reign over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:18). Nor is the RCC the only institution which buys merchandise (Revelation 18:11). Nor has the RCC killed all of the Christian martyrs who have ever been killed (Revelation 18:24). Nor has the RCC just by itself corrupted the entire world (Revelation 18:3). Nor has the RCC been continuously supported by the empires of fallen mankind throughout history (Revelation 17:9-10). Instead, Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" represents all of fallen mankind's corrupt political (Revelation 17:18), economic (Revelation 18:11), and religious (Revelation 18:24) systems throughout the earth (Revelation 18:3) and throughout history (Revelation 17:9-10).
(See also Revelation 13:11 above. And see the "Not RCC" section of Revelation 13:4 above)
~
(Re: Is Jerusalem the *great city?)
In Revelation 11:8 and Revelation 16:19a, the great city is Jerusalem, where Jesus Christ was crucified. But in Revelation 21:10 the great city is New Jerusalem, which is now in heaven. And in Revelation 14:8, Revelation 17:18, and Revelation 18:10-21, the great city is the symbolic (and worldwide) harlot/city of Babylon. When it is destroyed, it will be found no more at all (Revelation 18:21), forever (Revelation 19:3), unlike Jerusalem, which was found again after its only-temporary destruction in 70 AD.
~
(Re: Is Jerusalem the harlot, per the Old Testament?)
See Ezekiel 16(space) above
~
(Re: Are the daughters of Babylon the towns of Judaea, just as the daughters of Jerusalem were the towns of Judah?)
In Revelation 17:5 the original Greek word (ge: G1093) translated as "earth" can refer to the planet earth (e.g. Revelation 14:7, Revelation 21:1). And "daughters of Jerusalem" (e.g. Song of Solomon 2:7, Isaiah 3:16, Luke 23:28) refers to literal, female inhabitants of Jerusalem.
~
(Re: Is the "earth" only the land of Israel?) / (*Ge )
The original Greek word (ge: G1093) translated as "earth" often refers to the planet earth, in both the Gospels and Revelation (Matthew 5:18, Matthew 6:10,19, Matthew 9:6, Matthew 10:34, Matthew 11:25, Matthew 12:40,42, Matthew 16:19, Matthew 17:25, Matthew 18:18-19, Matthew 23:9, Matthew 24:30,35, Matthew 28:18, Mark 2:10, Mark 4:28,31, Mark 13:27,31, Luke 2:14, Luke 5:24, Luke 6:49, Luke 10:21, Luke 11:2,31, Luke 12:49,51,56, Luke 16:17, Luke 18:8, Luke 21:25,33,35, John 3:31, John 12:32, John 17:4, Revelation 1:7, Revelation 5:3,6,10,13, Revelation 6:4,10,15, Revelation 7:1-3, Revelation 8:13, Revelation 9:3-4, Revelation 10:6, Revelation 11:4,6,10,18, Revelation 12:12, Revelation 13:3 (world), Revelation 13:8,12,14, Revelation 14:3,6,7, Revelation 14:15-16, Revelation 16:1,2,18, Revelation 17:2,5,8,18, Revelation 18:3,9,11,23-24, Revelation 19:2,19, Revelation 20:8).
--
*Revelation 17:1 / *Rev. 17:1 -
Here the "many waters" represent "peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" (Revelation 17:15) on which the woman sits.
--
*Revelation 17:3 / *Rev. 17:3 -
(Re: The heads and horns)
See Revelation 13:1-2 above.
~
(*Wilderness)
In Revelation 17:3, it may be only the apostle John (cf. Revelation 1:1,3) who is in the wilderness, while the woman and the beast are right next to it floating on the sea. For the beast rises out of the sea (Revelation 13:1), and the woman sits on many waters (Revelation 17:1), on the back of the beast (Revelation 17:3). The wilderness where John is in Revelation 17:3 can represent safe wilderness places where some in the Church, represented by the different woman in Revelation 12, will flee during the future Antichrist's literal 3.5-year worldwide reign (Revelation 12:6,14, Revelation 13:4-18).
(See also Isaiah 26:19 and Revelation 12(space) above)
--
*Revelation 17:4 / *Rev. 17:4 -
The purple and scarlet do not represent (as is sometimes claimed) only the RCC in its corrupt aspects, or only Jerusalem in its corrupt aspects, but represent all of the corrupt wealth and power on the earth. For scarlet was expensive clothing worn by the well-to-do (2 Samuel 1:24, Lamentations 4:5), and purple was royal clothing (Mark 15:17-18, Judges 8:26), and clothing worn by the rich (Luke 16:19).
--
*Revelation 17:6 / *Rev. 17:6 -
Here the word "admiration" is used not in the modern sense of admiration, but in its archaic sense of "wonder". For the original Greek noun (thauma: G2295) translated as "admiration" means "wonder" (Strong's Greek Dictionary). Compare the related Greek verb (thaumazo: G2296), which had just previously been translated in Revelation 17:6 as "wondered", and which indeed means "to wonder" (Strong's Greek Dictionary).
--
*Revelation 17:9-10 / *Rev. 17:9 -
(Re: The *Mountains / *Hills / *Kings)
In Revelation 17:9 the seven mountains (or hills) which support Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" can be the seven hills of Rome. For at the time of the apostle John, who wrote down the book of Revelation in the first century AD (Revelation 1:1b), the Roman empire was the chief support for what Revelation's "Babylon" represents: all of fallen mankind's corrupt political (Revelation 17:18), economic (Revelation 18:11), and religious (Revelation 18:24) systems throughout the earth (Revelation 18:3) and throughout history (Revelation 17:9-10). At the same time, in Revelation 17:9 the seven mountains can also represent seven empires (Revelation 17:10). For an empire can be referred to symbolically as a mountain (Jeremiah 51:24-25, Daniel 2:35,44) and what Revelation's "Babylon" represents has been supported by seven empires.
(See Revelation 13:1-2 above)
Also, in Revelation 17:10 the seven "kings" can refer to seven empires, just as the four "kings" in Daniel 7:17 refer to four "kingdoms"/empires, Daniel 7:23 referring to the fourth (the Roman empire).
--
*Revelation 17:10 / *Rev. 17:10 -
When this says that there "are" seven kings, it can mean that there are seven kings represented by the seven heads of Revelation 17:9,3. It cannot mean that all seven coexist as empires. For Revelation 17:10 says that five had already fallen as empires by the time of the apostle John in the first century AD (cf. Revelation 1:1b), and only one existed as an empire at his time (Revelation 17:10), and a future (at that time), seventh empire had not yet come (Revelation 17:10).
(See also Revelation 13:1-2 above)
--
*Revelation 17:12 / *Rev. 17:12 -
Here the ten kings cannot be (as is sometimes claimed) the first ten Roman emperors, because all ten "have received no kingdom as yet" (Revelation 17:12), and all ten will "receive power as kings one hour with the beast" (Revelation 17:12). That is, all ten will receive power at the same time, and only when the (still future) Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") will receive power for a literal 42 months (Revelation 13:4-18).
(See also the "kings" section of Revelation 13:1-2 above)
~
(Re: How does anyone receive power and a kingdom for one hour?)
In Revelation 17:12 the original Greek word (hora: G5610) translated as "hour" can refer to any period of "time". For example, the last "hora" (Greek) or "time" of 1 John 2:18 has been going on for the last 2,000 years. In the case of Revelation 17:12, it is referring to the time of the literal 42-month worldwide reign of the future Antichrist, the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast" (Revelation 13:4-18).
--
*Revelation 17:13 / *Rev. 17:13 -
This does not require that its ten kings (which could be individual people) will bring the future Antichrist to power, instead of the other way around. For Revelation 17:12 shows that they will receive power as kings only when the Antichrist does. On the other hand, in Daniel 7:24, its ten kings arise before the Antichrist does. And so they can be ten major nations which currently exist, just as in Daniel 7:17 the four kings are four empires (cf. Daniel 7:23) which existed in the past.
(See also Daniel 7(space) above)
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*Revelation 17:14 / *Rev. 17:14 -
(With)
See 1 Thessalonians 3:13 above
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(Re: Does it show a coming of Jesus before the Second Coming?)
No, Revelation 17:14 refers to what will happen only at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 19:19-21), which will happen only immediately after the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:29-31, Revelation 19:7 to 20:6; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8).
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(Re: Do Revelation chapters 17, 19, and 20 each show the Second Coming?)
No, Revelation chapters 17, 19, and 20 refer to three different, sequential times. For the destruction of the symbolic Babylon in Revelation 17:16 by the ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire will occur at the future, seventh vial, immediately before Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming (Revelation 16:17,19, Revelation 19:2-21). Then Revelation 19:7 to 20:3 will happen at His Second Coming. Then Revelation 20:7-10 will happen some 1,000 years after His Second Coming (Revelation 19:7 to 20:10).
Regarding Revelation 17:14, it is just a part of the description of the career of the ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire (Revelation 17:12-17). In Revelation 17:14a the extremely-short summary of what will happen to them at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming is not meant to be taken, like the highly detailed Revelation 19:7 to 20:3 is meant to be taken, as when the Second Coming will occur in relation to the chronological sequence of Revelation chapters 6 to 22.
(See the "Chronological" section of Revelation chapters 6 to 22 (Overview) above)
(Also, see the "Judgment of the unsaved" section of Revelation 19:7 below)
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*Revelation 17:18 / *Rev. 17:18 -
The original Greek word (ge: G1093) translated as "earth" can refer to the planet (e.g. Revelation 14:7, Revelation 21:1).
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(Re: Great city = Jerusalem?)
See the "great city" section of Revelation chapters 17-18 above.
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*Revelation 18:2 / *Rev. 18:2 -
This does not mean that Revelation's figurative "Babylon" has fallen twice, in the sense of at two different times. For "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen" is simply a rhetorical way of emphasizing Babylon's current fallen state.
(See Revelation 14:8 above)
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*Revelation 18:3 / *Rev. 18:3 -
This refers to the symbolic harlot "Babylon" having corrupted all "nations" (Greek: ethnos, G1484). Also, in Revelation 18:3 the original Greek word (ge: G1093) translated as "earth" can refer to the planet (e.g. Revelation 14:7, Revelation 21:1).
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*Revelation 18:4 / *Rev. 18:4 -
This does not contradict that what Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" represents will not be destroyed until the future, seventh vial (Revelation 16:17,19) of the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
Also, God's people in Revelation 18:4 include both the Jews and Gentiles in the Church who will still be alive on the earth at that time. For both are God's people (Romans 11:1, Romans 15:10, Hebrews 8:10; 1 Peter 2:9-12).
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(Re: How do you come out of Babylon according to your global definition of Babylon?)
You would have to flee from all cities, all areas with civilization. That is, flee into the wilderness (Revelation 12:6,14).
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 and Revelation 12(space) above)
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(Re: But how are you supposed to survive in the wilderness?)
By preparing beforehand a fully-stocked hideout there.
(See paragraphs 3-4 of Matthew 24:16 above)
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*Revelation 18:9 / *Rev. 18:9 -
The lamenting kings of the earth could be other kings besides the ten kings of the future Antichrist's empire who will hate Revelation's symbolic "Babylon" and burn it with fire (Revelation 17:12,16). Or, even the ten kings could start missing its pleasures as soon as they are done burning it.
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*Revelation 18:12 / *Rev. 18:12 -
The original Greek words (thuinos: G2367; and xulon: G3586) translated as "thyine wood" can refer to a wood from a certain type of cypress tree which was burned in the fires of sacrifices (thuinos is derived from thuo: G2380, which can mean to sacrifice), because of the pleasant smell of the wood's smoke. The fragrant wood itself was also used to fashion expensive furniture (See Easton's).
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*Revelation 18:13 / *Rev. 18:13 -
The original Greek word (psuche: G5590) translated as "souls" can refer to "lives" (Revelation 12:11).
The Greek word (thumiama: G2368) translated as "odours" can refer to "incense" (Revelation 8:4).
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*Revelation 18:20 / *Rev. 18:20 -
This refers to a future judgment, by God Himself, against Revelation's symbolic (and worldwide) "Babylon" (Revelation 18:10), in vengeance against the world's mistreatment of God's apostles and prophets (Revelation 18:20).
(See Revelation chapters 17-18 above)
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*Revelation 19 / *Rev. 19 -
By the time of Revelation 19, the future, seventh-and-last, Babylon-destroying vial of God's wrath will have been poured out (Revelation 19:2-3) by an angel (Revelation 16:17,19) as the final event of the future Tribulation (Revelation 16:17) of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.
Revelation 19:11-21 refers to the separate wrath at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming, which will occur immediately after the Tribulation (Matthew 24:29-31).
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*Revelation 19:1 / *Rev. 19:1 -
The people in the Church who will be dwelling in heaven at the end-of-the-tribulation time of Revelation 19:1 will be those obedient Christians who have died (cf. Philippians 1:21,23; 2 Corinthians 5:8, Revelation 6:9-11), and those who are part of the 144,000 (Revelation 14:1,4-5, Textus Receptus; Revelation 12:5b).
(See also Revelation 7:4 above)
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*Revelation 19:6 / *Rev. 19:6 -
Here the "great multitude" could consist only of angels (compare what Revelation 5:11 says). For the multitude in Revelation 19:6 could be distinguishing itself from the Church, the "wife" in Revelation 19:7-8.
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Nov 10, 2018
