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Bible Question: I
have been hearing that the United States is called the Great Babylon
in Revelation. Is this true?
Bible Answer: There
is no verse in the Bible that says the United States is Babylon the
Great nor is there any hint that this is true.
Religious System. God calls Babylon
the Great the mother of harlots.
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. . . and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON
THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF
THE EARTH." And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of
the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When
I saw her, I wondered greatly. (NASB) Rev. 17:5-6 |
The
word “harlot” has mainly two meanings in the Bible. The
first meaning is a sexual prostitute. The other meaning is the one
that is used here - a spiritual prostitute. A spiritual prostitute
is any person who worships something other than the true God. In the
Old Testament, this term was even used of cities and nations.
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How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full
of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers.
(NASB) Isa. 1:21 |
Here in Revelation the phrase “mother of harlots” refers
to the fact that Babylon is the origin or the mother of all false
religions and cults. This is the tower of Babel and where the rise
of the mystery religions began. This means that “Babylon the
Great, the mother of harlots,” will be a false religious system
that dominates the world.
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And he cried out with a mighty voice, saying, "Fallen,
fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place
of demons and a prison of every unclean spirit, and a prison
of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have
drunk of the wine of the passion of her immorality, and the
kings of the earth have committed acts of immorality with her,
and the merchants of the earth have become rich by the wealth
of her sensuality." (NASB) Rev. 18:2-3 |
The
Antichrist . This
world religion is supported by the final world empire - the revived
Roman Empire.
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And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell
you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her,
which has the seven heads and the ten horns. (NASB) Rev. 17:7 |
This revived Roman empire is empowered by Satan and led by the antichrist,
who is the eighth horn or king in the next passage.
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The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and
is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. The ten horns
which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom,
but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour.
(NASB) Rev. 17:11-12 |
Is it possible that the United States is Babylon the Great? The answer
is no, but it is possible that the United States could be part of
the Revived Roman Empire. It is possible” since so many of the
citizens of the United States are descendants from the old Roman Empire.
The revived Roman Empire will be the resurrection of the former Empire
during the final seven years of the world.
The book of Daniel paints a picture
of world history that tells us that the old Roman Empire returns to
power in the end times. The people living in the United States primarily
came from Europe. The Roman Empire eventually occupied all of Europe
before it decayed from within. Later Europeans migrated from Europe
to the Americas and established the United States. Since so many of
the people in the United States come from the old Roman Empire, it
is possible that God could consider the United States to be a part
of the old Roman Empire.
Conclusion:The
next major event in prophecy is peace in Israel. These are wonderful
times as we watch the signs of His coming. It is a joy to anticipate
His coming.
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. . . so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins
of many, shall appear a second time for salvation without reference
to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. (NASB) Heb. 9:28
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but
for all to come to repentance. (NASB) 2 Peter 3:9 |
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