Topics Research¶

Question¶

What is Babylon in Revelation 14:8? Is it Rome, a past empire, a future rebuilt city, or a religious system? Why does the harlotry vocabulary (porneia, porne) require a prior covenant relationship with God — making Babylon a corrupted form of the true faith rather than mere paganism? What does the zanah/porneia word chain from the OT prophets (Ezek 16, 23, Hosea 2) reveal about Babylon's character? What does the mother-daughter structure (Rev 17:5, 'MOTHER OF HARLOTS') reveal about Babylon's reproductive capacity? How does the balal etymology (Gen 11:9, 'confusion') establish mixture/confusion as Babylon's essential character? Address the preterist reading (Babylon = 1st-century Rome) and the futurist reading (Babylon = literal rebuilt city) — show why the harlot-bride bracket structure (Rev 17:1 and 21:9 using the same deictic formula) requires a symbolic religious-system reading.

BABYLON — CITY OF / FIGURATIVE¶

Gen 10:10
Gen 11:1-9
Dan 4:30
2 Ki 25:13
1 Pet 5:13
Rev 14:8
Rev 16:19
Rev 17:1-18
Rev 18:1-24
Psa 137:8-9
Isa 13:1-22
Isa 14:4-26
Isa 47:1-15
Jer 50:1-46
Jer 51:1-64

CITY OF: Built by Nimrod GEN 10:10; In the land of Shinar GEN 10:10; 11:2; Tower of GEN 11:1-9; Capital of the kingdom of Babylon DAN 4:30; Peter writes from 1PE 5:13; Prophecies concerning PSA 137:8,9; ISA 13; 14:4-26; 47; JER 50; 51. FIGURATIVE REV 14:8; 16:19; 17; 18. EMPIRE OF: Founded by Nimrod GEN 10:10; Called LAND OF SHINAR, SHESHACH JER 25:26; 51:41, MERATHAIM JER 50:21. Prophetic denunciations against PSA 137:8,9; ISA 13; 14:21; 43:14-17; 47; JER 50; 51.

BABEL — GENERAL¶

Gen 11:1-9

A city in the plain of Shinar. Tower built, and tongues confused at GEN 11:1-9. See BABYLON.

WHOREDOM — FIGURATIVE¶

Lev 19:29
Deut 31:16
Judg 2:17
2 Ki 9:22
Ezek 16:1-63
Ezek 23:1-49
Rev 17:1-18

Licentious rites of, in idolatrous worship LEV 19:29; DEU 31:16; JDG 2:17; 2KI 9:22. See IDOLATRY. FIGURATIVE EZK 16; 23; REV 17.

HARLOT (PROSTITUTE) — GENERAL¶

Prov 2:16
Prov 7:11-27
Prov 9:13-18
Isa 23:15-16
Hos 2:13
Josh 2:3-6
Heb 11:31

Shamelessness of PRO 2:16; 7:11-27; 9:13-18. Machinations of PRO 7:10; 9:14-17; ISA 23:15,16; HOS 2:13. To be shunned PRO 5:3-20; 7:25-27. Hire of, not to be received at the temple DEU 23:18. Rahab JOS 2:3-6; 6:17,23,25; HEB 11:31.

HARLOTRY — GENERAL¶

Lev 19:29
Deut 23:17
Lev 21:9

Forbidden LEV 19:29; DEU 23:17. Punishment of LEV 21:9.

FORNICATION — GENERAL¶

See ADULTERY. See LASCIVIOUSNESS.

ADULTERY — FIGURATIVE¶

Jer 3:2
Ezek 16:15-16
Hos 1:1-11

FIGURATIVE JER 3:2; EZK 16:15,16; HOS 1. See WHOREDOM. See IDOLATRY.

ABOMINATION — THINGS THAT ARE TO GOD¶

Deut 7:25
Deut 27:15
Deut 32:16
Deut 25:13-16
Deut 18:10-11
Deut 23:18
Prov 6:16-19
Prov 11:1

Things that are, to God: Idolatry DEU 7:25; 27:15; 32:16. Unjust weights and measures DEU 25:13-16; PRO 11:1. Sorcery and necromancy DEU 18:10,11. The hire of a whore DEU 23:18.

IDOLATRY — WICKED PRACTICES / WARNINGS¶

Exod 32:6
Num 25:1-3
1 Ki 14:24
Ezek 16:17
Ezek 23:1-44
Hos 4:12-14
Rev 2:14
Rev 2:20-22
Rev 9:20-21
Rev 14:8
Rev 17:1-6

WICKED PRACTICES OF: Licentiousness of EXO 32:6,25; NUM 25:1-3; 1KI 14:24; EZK 16:17; 23:1-44; HOS 4:12-14; REV 2:14,20-22; 9:20,21; 14:8; 17:1-6. WARNINGS AGAINST: JER 3:1-11; EZK 16; 23; HOS 1:2; 2:2-5.

BRIDE — FIGURATIVE¶

Psa 45:10-17
Ezek 16:8-14
Rev 19:7-8
Rev 21:2
Rev 21:9
Rev 22:17

FIGURATIVE PSA 45:10-17; EZK 16:8-14; REV 19:7,8; 21:2,9; 22:17.

WINE — FIGURATIVE¶

Psa 60:3
Psa 75:8
Jer 51:7
Rev 14:8
Rev 16:19

FIGURATIVE: Of the divine judgments PSA 60:3; 75:8; JER 51:7. Of abominations REV 14:8; 16:19.

LANGUAGE — CONFUSION OF¶

Gen 11:1
Gen 11:6
Gen 11:1-9
Gen 10:5
Gen 10:20
Gen 10:31

Unity of GEN 11:1,6. Confusion of GEN 11:1-9; 10:5,20,31.

UNFAITHFULNESS — GENERAL¶

Isa 5:1-7
Hos 10:1-2
Matt 21:33-43

General scriptures concerning ISA 5:1-7; HOS 10:1,2; MAT 21:33-43.