EB: 1 Correctly & Courageously Interpreting Revelation 17-18

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Chapter 1 Correctly & Courageously Interpreting

Revelation 17-18

A) Introduction to Endtime Babylon

B) The difficulty and responsibility of interpreting Revelation 17-18

C) The emotionally challenging topic of Revelation 17-18

Primary Points

Babylon itself is a massive topic in Scripture, being mentioned 361 times, from Genesis to Revelation. However, the mention of Babylon 6 times in the book of Revelation tells us that there will also be what can be called Endtime Babylon. Over 10% of the verses in Revelation are devoted to Endtime Babylon.
Endtime Babylon is portrayed as being more important and powerful than the Antichrist at this stage of Endtime events.
The purpose of this book is to understand the identification and destruction of Endtime Babylon as described in Revelation 17-18.
Revelation 17:16 prompts at least three questions: 1) Who or what is the Prostitute?; 2) What does it mean that it will be burned down with fire such that no one will ever live there again?; and 3) When does this event occur in the sequence of Endtime events? Answering these questions is a primary purpose of this book, Endtime Babylon.
The Church will be on Earth when this prophecy is fulfilled. This is why it is vitally important for the Church to understand it.
The command in Revelation 18:4 brings up more important questions: 1) Who is this command for?; 2) What does it mean?; and 3) When is it supposed to be obeyed? In order not to sin against God, or put our loved ones in unnecessary danger, we must do our best to answer these questions as well.
Revelation 17-18 is perhaps the most difficult passage in all of Scripture to correctly understand.
The first thing we are told about Endtime Babylon is that its name and meaning are a mystery. This warns us that accurately interpreting the prophecy will be complex. Accordingly, the Angel immediately says, I will explain to you the mystery of the woman (17:7). This is the only appearance of an Angel in Revelation to help interpret a prophecy. In addition, the Angel says that even the explanation of the prophecy will require a mind with wisdom (17:9).
Therefore, God is honest about the fact that interpreting Revelation 17-18 is a deep and difficult mystery. But because it is a biblical revelation, God is also being clear that He wants and expects us to correctly interpret this passage of Scripture.
Revelation 17-18 is describing the very violent, sudden, and painful destruction of something we hope and pray will not include us or our loved ones.
What is written in Endtime Babylon may be the most challenging and overwhelming thing you have ever read. Especially if you are a Christian living in America. Do not allow a bias against suffering hinder you in understanding this biblical prophecy.

A) Introduction to Endtime Babylon

[Please stop & read Revelation chapters 17-18]

A.1) The importance of Endtime Babylon in Scripture

Babylon itself is a massive topic in Scripture, being mentioned 361 times, from Genesis to Revelation. ^{^[1]} Only the city of Jerusalem is mentioned more often in the Bible. Except Israel, Babylon takes up far larger portions of biblical prophecy than any other nation. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Micah, and Zechariah all prophesy about Babylon. ^{^[2]} Of course, some of these prophesies were at least partially fulfilled by ancient Babylon which existed as early as 2200 B.C. ^{^[3]}

However, the mention of Babylon 6 times in the book of Revelation (14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2, 10, 21) tells us that there will also be what can be called Endtime Babylon. Its 6 references by name in Revelation demonstrate its importance in the Endtimes. Over 10% of the verses in Revelation are devoted to Endtime Babylon (44 out of 404 verses).

It was demonstrated in the previous book, The Beginning of Birth Pains (BBP), that the Antichrist is the central figure of the Endtimes before Christ’s Return. Accordingly, the book of Revelation refers to the future Antichrist as the beast almost 40 times! The majority of those passages describe the great power and authority the Antichrist will have (cf. Rev 6:1-11; 11:7; 12:10-17; 13:1-18; 16:12-16).

But when we come to Revelation 17-18 we encounter a very different picture. Endtime Babylon is portrayed as being more important and powerful than the Antichrist at this stage of Endtime events. For example, the woman Endtime Babylon is pictured as sitting on top of and riding on top of the beast Antichrist (Rev 17:3, 7). It will be argued in chapter 3 that this portrays the power of Endtime Babylon will be suppressing the Antichrist’s desire to be fully worshipped in the Endtimes.

Likewise, in Revelation 17-18 there are only 8 mentions of the beast Antichrist, but there are at least 20 references to Endtime Babylon with its various names as a woman, prostitute, Babylon, and city. This does not include the over 50 references to Endtime Babylon as her, she, or you in this passage.

Again, here the woman is portrayed as more powerful and more important than the Antichrist at the beginning of the Endtimes. At least before the Antichrist destroys her (cf. 17:16). One commentator writes regarding Endtime Babylon in Revelation 17-18:

The beast [Antichrist] literally holds the central position in Bible prophecy. But John gives far more attention to her [Endtime Babylon] than to the beast [Antichrist] she rides. Therefore, the fact that she [Endtime Babylon] rides the beast, a beast of such importance, demands our special attention. It could not be clearer that the secret of this woman’s identity and the role she will play is a major key to understanding biblical prophecies concerning the reign of Antichrist and events leading up to Christ’s second coming. ^{^[4]}

Obviously Endtime Babylon’s existence and destruction are one of the most important events in the Endtimes. The following chapters in this book, Endtime Babylon, will be an in depth Bible study of Revelation 17-18.

A.2) The primary purpose of this book is to understand Revelation 17:16 and 18:4

More specifically, it could be said that all of this book, Endtime Babylon, is ultimately devoted to accurately understanding what God meant in just two verses of prophetic Scripture: Revelation 17:16 and 18:4. The NASB translation of 17:16 is:

And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. (NASB)

A suggested translation of Revelation 17:16 would be:

The ten horns that you saw, and the beast will hate the Prostitute, and these will permanently remove all people from her and strip her naked and they will devour her body and will burn her down with fire. (Rev 17:16)

As explained thoroughly in the previous book, the ten horns refer to the 10-nation Endtime Coalition and the beast refers to the Antichrist (cf. BBP chs. 4-9). The Prostitute (harlot NASB) refers to Babylon the Great The Mother of Prostitutes (Rev 17:5 NIV). As noted above, this entity will be referred to as Endtime Babylon.

Permanently remove all people translates the Greek word ērēmōmenēn which means: “to make uninhabitable, depopulate.” ^{^[5]} It is used in the ancient Greek translation of the OT (LXX) in Isaiah 6:11 where we read: Until their towns are empty [erēmōthosi], their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland (NLT). The word can mean to simply destroy (cf. Matt 12:25; Rev 18:17). But at Revelation 17:16 (and probably 18:19) it means to “depopulate.”

Revelation 18:22-23 makes it clear the permanent and complete removal of all people is the meaning. There we read of Endtime Babylon:

The music of harpists and musicians, pipers, and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No worker of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again. The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The voice of bridegroom and bride will never be heard in you again. (Rev 18:21-23 NIV)

This is describing the complete annihilation of any people living in Endtime Babylon. Therefore, the translation of ērēmōmenēn in 17:16 as merely ruin (NIV) is inadequate. The common translation make desolate (NASB, ESV, KJV) is accurate as desolate means: “devoid of inhabitants.” ^{^[6]} But as usual, these versions use a word that is more obscure for modern English. The NLT unfortunately does not clearly reflect the idea of “depopulation” at all. ^{^[7]} For all these reasons, the suggested translation of ērēmōmenēn in 17:16 is permanently remove all people. ^{^[8]}

Devour her body translates the Greek phrase phagontai autēs sarkas. Sarkas literally means “flesh” but often refers to the human “physical body.” ^{^[9]} Phagontai normally means “eat” but can mean “to do away with completely, consume, devour.” ^{^[10]} However, this cannot be the meaning here. As noted below, Endtime Babylon does not completely disappear after being destroyed.

Burn her down with fire translates katakausousin. It means, “burn down, burn up, consume.” ^{^[11]} It is a compound word combining kaiō (“burn”) and kata which intensifies the verb. Admittedly, it usually refers to something being completely consumed by fire like wheat chaff (Matt 3:12). But again, this cannot be the meaning here in the sense that Endtime Babylon will be immediately and completely consumed by fire.

For example, the people there will also die rather slowly of famine (18:8). In addition, the smoke from Endtime Babylon will ascend forever and ever! (Rev 19:3 NLT). Something less than the complete annihilation of the place of Endtime Babylon is intended.

Therefore, burn up (NASB, ESV) and burn her remains with fire (NLT) seem too strong. The NIV (KJV) merely has burn and seems too weak to reflect kata here. Therefore, burn down seems the best translation, perhaps especially referring to Endtime Babylon’s buildings. ^{^[12]}

Accordingly, Endtime Babylon’s people will all be killed such that no one ever lives there again (cf. 17:16; 18:21-23). But the place of Endtime Babylon will somehow exist for all eternity (cf. 19:3). Thus, the suggested translation of Revelation 17:16 would be:

Throughout Endtime Babylon this predicted event will be referred to as Antichrist’s Attack. If God is predicting the Antichrist will completely destroy a people and place like this, then we had better do our best to understand who or what this prophecy is referring to. Accordingly, this one verse prompts at least three questions: 1) Who or what is the Prostitute?; 2) How will it be burned down with fire such that no one will ever live there again?; and 3) When does this event occur in the sequence of Endtime events? Answering these questions is a primary purpose of this book, Endtime Babylon.

First, WHEN Antichrist’s Attack and the destruction of Endtime Babylon occurs in the sequence of Endtime events will be discussed in chapter 3. It will be demonstrated that the Antichrist and 10-nation Endtime Coalition will destroy Endtime Babylon relatively early in Endtime events because it will be hindering their desire to rule the world. More specifically, it will be argued that the Antichrist’s Attack will occur with the opening of the 2nd Seal of catastrophic war (cf. Rev 6:3-4) sometime rather soon after the Antichrist’s Resurrection portrayed in the 1st Seal (cf. Rev 6:1-2). Therefore, the Church will be on Earth when Antichrist’s Attack on Endtime Babylon occurs. This is why it is vitally important for the Church to understand this prophecy.

Secondly, WHO or WHAT is Endtime Babylon will be the topic of Part II (chs. 4-8). At least 12 biblical attributes of Endtime Babylon will be derived from Scriptures describing it. In the process, it will become evident that the United States of America is the only entity for the foreseeable future that matches all 12 of these biblical attributes. Nothing else even comes close. This will be further demonstrated by the obvious weaknesses of other interpretations commonly offered. Those will be discussed in chapter 8.

What seems to be largely ignored in modern Christianity is that there is a people and place that exists today that matches the predictions in Revelation 17-18 in an obvious, unique, and unprecedented way. That people and place is the economic super-power and spiritual prostitute of America, with its economic and cultural capital of New York City. By far the most reasonable explanation for WHAT and WHO Revelation 17-18 is describing is America.

Third, HOW will Endtime Babylon (America) be burned down with fire such that no one will live there again? This will be the topic of Part III (chs. 9-11). Here it will be argued that the Antichrist and 10-nation Coalition will use nuclear weapons to destroy Endtime Babylon (America). This is supported by the fact that three times the prophecy states its destruction will occur in one hour (18:10, 17, 19).

And this prophecy is not done in revealing very challenging events. If the Antichrist and Coalition are going to destroy Endtime Babylon (America) while the Church is still on Earth, then we would expect the extraordinary command in this prophecy recorded in 18:4:

Then I heard another voice from Heaven say: “Move out from Babylon the Great My people; so that you will not be connected to her sins and so that you will not experience her being struck hard with a sudden and severe disaster.” (Rev 18:4)

It is rather obvious this prophecy is predicting the destruction of a place where God’s people (My people) will be living. This brings up some very difficult questions that will be discussed in Part IV of Endtime Babylon (chs. 12-15). Is America sinful enough for God to destroy it (chs. 12-13)? Would God destroy America even if many of His people were living there (chs. 14-15)? It will be argued that the answer to both questions is “Yes.”

In Part V of Endtime Babylon (chs. 16-18), the remarkable and challenging command in Revelation 18:4 will be discussed. There, the above suggested translation will be supported. It will also be demonstrated that God is commanding His people to physically and literally move out of Endtime Babylon (America) because its destruction will certainly be physical and literal. Obviously, then, God expects His people to sufficiently understand the sequence of Endtime events in order to know when this command is to be obeyed.

Therefore, Revelation 18:4 brings up more important questions: 1) Who is this command for?; 2) What does it mean?; and 3) When is it supposed to be obeyed? In order not to sin against God, or put our loved ones in unnecessary danger, we must do our best to answer these questions. This too will be a foremost purpose of Endtime Babylon.

It is admitted that the above interpretations of Revelation 17-18 are shocking and may be difficult to believe. But whatever this prophecy is predicting, it is clear that the world will be shocked when the prophecy is fulfilled. Therefore, a shocking interpretation fits the prophecy well. Accordingly, it was stated in the very first chapter of the Endtimes Essentials series:

“The Prophet Daniel saw visions of some of the things Jesus talked about. Daniel said, “I watched, this horn [the Antichrist who] will cause astounding devastation” (Dan 7:25 NIV). Let us remember, Daniel was a very courageous man. Even so, what was Daniel’s response to these visions of what the Antichrist will do? After seeing them the Prophet said, “I, Daniel, was deeply troubled by my thoughts, and my face turned pale … I fainted and was sick for many days” (Dan 7:28; 8:27).

Therefore, if your view of what Scripture teaches about the Endtimes does not shock and deeply sadden you, because of what YOU and the Christians you love may experience, then may I humbly suggest that you need to re-evaluate your view. (Christ’s Endtimes Teaching ch. 1, sec. B.1)

Thus, the subtitle of the book Endtime Babylon is: Correctly and Courageously Interpreting Revelation 17-18. What will be required for this great task will be discussed further.

B) The difficulty & responsibility of interpreting Revelation 17-18

It has been claimed throughout the Endtimes Essentials series that prophetic Scripture is by far the most difficult part of the Bible to accurately interpret. Accordingly, Revelation 17-18 is perhaps the most difficult passage in all of Scripture to correctly understand. The difficulty is reflected in just the name of the subject of this passage as described in 17:5:

The name written on her forehead was a mystery: ^{^[13]}

BABYLON THE GREAT

THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES

AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

The primary title given this Endtimes entity in Revelation is Babylon the Great (cf. Rev 14:8; 16:19; 17:5; 18:2). As noted above, it will be referred to as Endtime Babylon throughout the Endtimes Essentials. This will distinguish it from ancient Babylon referenced over 300 times in the OT.

The first thing we are told about Endtime Babylon is that its name and meaning are a mystery. This warns us that accurately interpreting this prophecy will be complex. Accordingly, the Angel immediately says, I will explain to you the mystery of the woman (17:7). This is the only appearance of an Angel in Revelation to help interpret a prophecy. In addition, the Angel says that even the explanation of the prophecy will require a mind with wisdom (17:9). All of this suggests the unique difficulty of accurately interpreting Revelation 17-18.

The Greek word for mystery (mysterion) refers to several different things. First, it means something that is secret or hidden to humans until a divine revelation of explanation is provided. ^{^[14]} Such is certainly the case for the identity and destruction of Endtime Babylon.

The vision John saw also had the effect of what Webster’s defines as “mysterious”: “Exciting wonder, curiosity, or surprise while baffling efforts to comprehend or identify.” Whatever Endtime Babylon is, it was overwhelming for John to see it. He says, When I saw her, I was greatly astonished (Rev 17:6 NIV). The Greek literally means to be “amazed with great amazement.” Several commentators note that his amazement included confusion. Beale calls it “an astonished perplexity.” ^{^[15]} This should not surprise us. This woman is called Babylon six times in Revelation and “Babylon” means confusion. ^{^[16]}

Both the secular and biblical meaning of a “mystery” include the ideas of secrecy and obscurity. However, the NT’s use of the word adds an important meaning. As Dr. Vine put it: “In the ordinary sense a mystery implies knowledge withheld. But its biblical meaning is truth revealed.” ^{^[17]} Likewise, Osborne explains that a NT “mystery” “always refers to the divine truths that had been hidden but are now being revealed in these end times” ^{^[18]} (cf. Matt 13:11; Eph 3:1-6; Col 1:25-27).

Therefore, God is honest about the fact that interpreting Revelation 17-18 is a deep and difficult mystery. But because it is a biblical revelation, God is also being clear that He wants and expects us to correctly interpret this passage of Scripture. He even sent an Angel to John to help us.

It is unfortunate that so many Christians excuse themselves from accurately interpreting prophetic Scripture and applying it to current events. It is commonly believed in American Christianity that God does not expect us to do this. In fact, such people often hide behind some kind of false humility that accuses others of arrogance for attempting to do so. But surely, God is more pleased with being a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and obeys His command to correctly explain the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15). Even the truth in Revelation 17-18.

As discussed thoroughly in the previous book, 2 Timothy 2:15 is a biblical command to work hard to correctly explain the prophetic parts of God’s word in order to receive his approval (BBP ch. 1, sec. B). ^{^[19]} Likewise, in Christ’s Endtimes Sermon He repeatedly commanded us to monitor current events for signs of His Return.

Why would God command us to correctly explain the prophetic Scriptures if He did not expect us to be able to do this? Why would Jesus repeatedly command us to “Watch!” current events for signs of His Return (Mark 13:33, 34, 37), if we were not able to effectively do so? God gave these commands because we are able to obey them. God is not in the habit of revealing things in Scripture that His people cannot understand or obey.

We know this to be especially true of the prophecy in Revelation 17-18. Again, at some point in time, God will want His people living in Endtime Babylon to correctly understand and obey this command:

“Move out from Babylon the Great My people; so that you will not be connected to her sins and so that you will not experience her being struck hard with a sudden and severe disaster” (Rev 18:4)

Be assured Christian that this is speaking of a physical departure from Endtime Babylon because the prophecy is clearly predicting a very physical destruction. You can also be certain that God expects you to understand this command in Scripture. What God said of all of His commands, He would say is true of the command in Revelation 18:4:

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” … No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. (Deut 30:11-14 NIV)

Indeed, the prophecy of Revelation 17-18 and the command in 18:4 is not being concealed in heaven, but has been brought down to Earth, and put in Scripture so it can be in your heart so you may obey it.

C) The emotionally challenging topic of Revelation 17-18: Endtime Babylon & its destruction

We have noted that interpreting Revelation 17-18 is difficult because of its complexity. But this is not the only difficulty. There is a great emotional challenge to correctly interpreting Revelation 17-18. This prophecy is describing the violent destruction of a very important part of this world.

Again, it is admitted that interpreting Revelation 17-18 as referring to America is a shocking conclusion. Therefore, there is the very real possibility that this view will not be rejected in a person’s mind primarily because of logical or biblical arguments, but emotional resistance. Therefore, a reminder about this is warranted.

As noted, the purpose of the following chapters can be summarized as an effort to understand this one verse of Scripture more fully:

The passage goes on to state three times that its annihilation will occur even in one hour. Elsewhere, it will be argued that this will be a literal one hour. ^{^[20]} In addition, as noted above, whatever destroys Endtime Babylon results in it never being inhabited again (cf. 18:21-23).

Therefore, we are faced with another great difficulty in fully understanding Revelation 17-18. It is describing the very violent, sudden, and painful destruction of a people and place we hope and pray will not include us or our loved ones.

This is surely a reason why many popular interpretations of this passage exempt any Christians from suffering Endtime Babylon’s destruction. An emotional bias may also be why seeing America being predicted in Revelation 17-18 has been largely neglected by American Christians.

However, as noted elsewhere: If you want to honor God and understand what He intended to say in His prophetic Scriptures you must do the hard work of penetrating their complexity and overcoming your fear. The difficulty of grasping what the Bible truly teaches on the Endtimes is not just because it is complex. Another reason for the widespread error, neglect, and confusion on this topic is that what God says about the Endtimes is painful. If you reject something in this book, it may not be because the arguments have too little convincing logic. It may be because the conclusions cause too many negative feelings.

Therefore, you need to make a decision before reading Endtime Babylon. Do you desire God’s truth about the Endtimes no matter what it may mean for you and your loved ones? We cannot underestimate the great bias that especially American Christians have against suffering, and how much this bias may affect how we interpret Scripture. Fear will keep you from properly understanding God on this topic. You will never understand the Endtimes if you are afraid to do so.

And the same is certainly true for understanding the identity of Endtime Babylon and the nature of its destruction. What is written in the following chapters may be the most challenging and overwhelming thing you have ever read. Especially if you are a Christian living in America. But God wants to give His people grace and peace about whatever Revelation 17-18 is warning us of, so that those to whom the prophecy is addressed, will glorify Him.

We have noted above that the destruction of Endtime Babylon is predicted to occur in one hour. Accordingly, it was written elsewhere:

There is a reason that Revelation 17-18 refers to this literal one hour four times. That one hour will be one of the most significant hours in all of human history. As argued in [this] book Endtime Babylon, it will result in the total annihilation of the nation that will be the world’s economic super-power when the Endtimes begin. This will enable the Antichrist to be worshipped in the world as Scripture predicts. Therefore, that one hour will radically and permanently change the life of every person living in what can be called the Remaining World, which will be Antichrist’s world.

In all the thousands of years of human history, is it hard to believe that so much of God’s Endtime plan could be accomplished in one hour. But we are reminded that Christ hung on a cross, paying for all of our sins, for just 6 hours. ^{^[21]} God can do big things in a very short period of time. (BBP, ch. 4, sec. B)

Understanding what and who Endtime Babylon will be, how and when it will be destroyed, and how this one hour might relate to us, is the all-important topic of this book. May the author of Revelation 17-18 grant you the grace to interpret and apply it correctly and courageously.

The Strongest NIV Exhaustive Concordance (Zondervan, 1999), 100-102.

↑
Wiersbe writes: “Jeremiah devoted 121 verses to the future of nine different nations. He devoted 11 of those verses to 8 of those nations. He devoted the remaining 110 of those verses just to the fall of Babylon. It is an important subject indeed!” ↑
“The earliest known mention of Babylon as a small town appears on a clay tablet from the reign of Shar-Kali-Sharri (2217–2193 BC) of the Akkadian Empire” (Paul Beaulieu, A History of Babylon, 2200 BC – AD 75 [Wiley, 2007)], 50). ↑
The reference for this quote is unknown. ↑
BDAG. ↑
Webster’s. ↑
The NLT apparently chooses to tie ērēmōmenēn (“depopulate”) and gymnēn (naked) together to simply say, strip naked. But gymnēn itself can mean “stripped naked” (BDAG). Therefore the NLT completely ignores the Greek describing the Antichrist’s attack on Endtime Babylon to permanently remove all people. ↑
Thomas’ suggestion that the “depopulation” refers to “plundering [the] wealth” of Endtime Babylon is not very well supported by BDAG. It can list one instance in ancient Greek with this meaning (the apocryphal Sirach, 21:4), but still defines its use as “make uninhabitable, lay waste, depopulate.” ↑
BDAG #2. ↑
BDAG #2. ↑
BDAG. ↑
All four ands between the various punishments of Endtime Babylon are in the original Greek and emphasize its cumulative and complete destruction. ↑
Some have suggested that “mystery” is part of the name of the Prostitute, further suggesting an allegorical interpretation that has no literal meaning. For example, Mounce writes that the use of “mystery” here is “indicating that the name is to be understood in a mystical rather than literal sense” (311; cf. MacArthur, 165). But Osborne notes:

There is some debate as to whether mystērion is part of her name [“Mystery, Babylon the Great”, see KJV, NIV 1984], or is in apposition with “name” [“on her forehead was written a mysterious name,” see NLT, NIV 2011, NASB, Walvoord, Ladd, Thomas, Beale]. In keeping with the use of “mystery” in 1:20 and 10:7, the latter is more likely (612). ↑
BDAG defines mysterion (“mystery”) as:

The secret thoughts, plans, and dispensations of God … which are hidden from human reason, as well as from all other comprehension below the divine level, and await either fulfillment or revelation to those for whom they are intended … that which transcends normal understanding.

Mystery is used several times to describe the meaning of the vision in Daniel 2 (cf. vs. 18, 19, 27, 30, 47; 4:9). ↑
Beale, 861.

↑
Regarding Babylon’s relationship to confusion, the New Bible Dictionary states:

The name Babel is explained by popular etymology based on a similar Hebrew root bālal, as ‘confusion’ or ‘mixing’. Babel thus became a synonym for the confusion caused by the language differences which was part of the divine punishment. (109)

This is supported by Genesis 11:7 where God says, Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other (NIV). ↑
Vine’s, 424. ↑
Osborne, at Rev 17:5. ↑
Do you still think God has put the correct interpretation and application of prophetic beyond our reach and that He does not expect this of us? Even the Apostle Paul expected understanding of a biblical topic more complex than prophecy. He wrote the Colossians:

My goal is that they may … have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:2-3 NIV)

The NLT puts it this way:

I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.

Do you see the expectation? Complete confidence in our understanding. Of what? Something as deep and mysterious as the mystery of God, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. That mystery of God, namely, Christ is described earlier in the epistle in 1:15-19, 25-27. Read that passage and ask yourself if these attributes of Christ are more difficult to have complete confidence in our understanding of them than, for example, the prophecy in Revelation 17-18? God expects us to understand this prophecy more than many think, and how it relates to the world today. ↑
For more on the one hour in Rev 17-18 see BBP ch. 17, sec. A.1. ↑
Cf. Mark 15 where we read It was nine in the morning when they crucified him and at three in the afternoon… Jesus breathed his last; vs. 25, 34, 37). ↑

Chapter 1

Correctly & Courageously Interpreting

Revelation 17-18

Contents

Primary Points