Revelation 17:5, Who is Babylon? Part I of IV

//Is it possible to solve the great mystery of Revelation’s Babylon? Around the turn of the first century, Christians began to equate Babylon in Revelation (and other contemporary apocalyptic writings) with Rome, by associating Babylon with the Beast. But a few centuries later, with Constantine’s help, Rome redeemed itself, and Christians began thinking of Babylon as merely all apostates, even competing Christian sects. It helped Rome’s reputation, of course, that Christianity had established a solid foundation in Rome. Then a thousand years later, with the Reformation, many Christians reversed course and again decided Babylon must be Rome, perhaps because this aided in denouncing the Catholic church. But all this begs the question. Who did John of Patmos mean by Babylon in the first place?

Over and over, it’s called a city. It’s still quite common today for Bible scholars to link Babylon with the Beast, and thus with Rome. There’s little question that, at least in certain passages, the Beast can be identified as Rome. And it’s also true that Babylon and the Beast are forever entwined, because Babylon rides upon the Beast. This doesn’t quite mean Babylon is the Beast … in fact, it probably means just the opposite … but they are clearly allies.

Let’s list some of the qualities of Babylon and see if you reach the same conclusion that most scholars reach.

[8] Heaven rejoices over her downfall.