Just like most other portions of the book of Revelation, chapters 17 and 18 are problematic for those who want to believe the book is merely symbolic, and therefore may be interpreted many different ways—especially their own unique way. I agree with Finis Dake (of Dake’s Annotated Bible) that the material must be taken literally unless it becomes obvious that some portion is symbolic. And even then let the book of Revelation itself, or some other Bible book, explain the symbolism.

Primarily, the book of Daniel lays the foundation for understanding the book of Revelation, and Revelation expands upon Daniel’s prophetic visions of the end-times and makes those visions make more sense in our day.      Both chapter 17 and 18 use the term Babylon and present both similarities and differences between the two Babylons. First of all, both Babylons are called a city. Although I do not know all of the implications of that fact, I can say that the very term city reveals that each entity is a well-organized system.

The first is a well-organized religious system that has dominated mankind since the fall of Adam—chapter 17. The seven-headed beast the woman rides is made up of various nations of people existing from early on since the fall—See Revelation 17:15. That seven-headed beast is seven heathen world powers that have ruled most of the world’s population at various times throughout fallen man’s history—Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and the end-time form of that old Roman Empire—the two feet and ten toes. Thus, the seven heads cannot be seven literal hills of the literal city of Rome. Remember, five had fallen, one was and the other had not yet come in John’s day—Revelation 17:10. Therefore, the seven-hills-of-Rome interpretation of 17:9 is most ridiculous.     

Chapter 18 describes a literal city named Babylon. Although there is now no existing city by that name, I take what the angel told John literally, rather than believe Babylon is some code word. What code? That is where imagination runs wild. And, there are some wild interpretations out there. All of which leaves the church confused, rather than enlightened. Remember, the name of that book is Revelation—an unveiling—not confusion. Understanding is what we need, and understanding comes through honest study, not speculation—2 Timothy 2:15.     Contrasts: The whore makes herself rich, whereas the literal city of Babylon makes merchants and kings rich. Moreover, the ten kings under the Antichrist will themselves destroy that whore—the religious system—yet they will actually lament the destruction of the literal city of Babylon. Dr Finis Dake’s Bible notes provide other significant comparisons and contrasts of the two Babylons. And, as Dake points out, nowadays with modern equipment cities can rise overnight.      The land of Shinar—where Babylon came into existence—was the location of the first organized human rebellion against God—the beginning of the religious system called Mystery Babylon in Revelation 17:5. More on Babylon next time. 

(Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)

 Revelation chapter ten is part of another insert between trumpet six and seven. The angel had a little OPEN SCROLL in his hand (had to be the one Jesus opened, one seal at a time), and John was told to eat it—revelation knowledge—which John wrote about in Revelation. At that same time, seven thunders uttered some final words about God’s judgment for the last days. John was just about to write those words he heard, but the angel told him not to reveal them. So some things will remain secret until God chooses to make them known. But, enough has been revealed that humanity has no excuse for not obeying what God has chosen to make known. Let us be smart enough to obey!   

  Revelation 11:1-14 completes that insert. It tells us about God’s two witnesses who will protect Israel from Antichrist-takeover during that last three and one half years of the Tribulation. They are identified as the two olive trees and the two lamp stands that stand before God (yet they will reside in Jerusalem and Judea during that entire time). That same description is found in Zechariah 4:11-14—an obvious prophecy of the two men of Revelation 11:1-14. Both of those men will be killed and then resurrected, so it should be obvious that they have not died and been resurrected before. Therefore, the two men will have to be Enoch and Elijah. Both were transported up to heaven, where they have been preserved for their roles during the last half of the Tribulation.      Those two men will have the necessary powers to do their job, for if anybody comes after them, fire issuing out of their mouths will literally burn up the attackers. And the fire itself will be literal, not mere angry words (as some want to believe). Moreover, they will have power to control the weather patterns to bring rain or drought. They will even be able to turn water into blood, and strike the planet with whatever plagues they wish whenever they wish to (Revelation 11:6). Turning water to blood and striking the earth with plagues causes many to believe that Moses will one of the two—Moses and Elijah. But Moses died already. He will not be raised from the dead to die again in Revelation. Enoch and Elijah were the ONLY two men who were taken up to heaven without dying, so they have to be the two olive trees and the two witnesses of Revelation 11:1-14. The fallen angelic spirit which ascends from the abyss, who will under the devil control the Antichrist, will eventually overcome those two witnesses and will kill them. The world will rejoice over their death, and their dead bodies will lie in the open for three and one-half days. Then, they will be resurrected; whereupon those rejoicers will stop rejoicing, and start trembling. Just then there will occur another great earthquake in Jerusalem, which will kill 7,000 people and destroy a tenth of the city. The survivors will be afraid and give glory to God (Whom they will obviously realize is the Judge behind all of those judgments). One more woe to go—of the seven trumpet judgments, that is.     Revelation 11:15-19—The seventh trumpeter will announce that the time has come for God to take over all of the kingdoms of the world that have throughout fallen man’s history sought to control God’s creation, and have constantly been used by the devil to harass God’s people—both Jews and Christians.      A few times Revelation takes the reader right up to the end of this age (the battle of Armageddon, etc.), then inserts explanatory material, and then gives the Armageddon account from a different perspective—Lots of things happen at that last-days event.
(Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)

 Now back to the disturbing details of Daniel and Revelation. We have to be living in the last days of this evil age, for the evidence keeps piling up. For one thing, Israel is a nation again. One recent buzz is the Jews planning to rebuild the temple. That is a big no-no in the eyes of more and more people today who do not know the Lord God, Who will judge this world for its deceiving and being deceived. Lies permeate the world system. Why? Because the devil is the god (little god) of this age. He controls people by deception. And most of what is broadcast by the liberal news propagandists today is a lie. That within itself makes it obvious why God must, and will, judge this lying world.

     Case in point: Climate change. That is a mixture of facts and lies. Fact: Our climate is obviously changing. Too much evidence to deny. The lies, however, are twofold: First is the falsehood that we human beings are the primary cause of global warming. Those who are honest about it know from historical facts that climate change is just a part of nature. Records reveal past fluctuations of global temperature, even before SUVs came along. That fact has been swept under the rug. However, the biggest lie, and what this is really all about, is that taxpayers can throw HUNDREDS OF TRILLIONS of dollars at the climate problem and save our planet. From the human standpoint, this is all about political control of people’s money and freedoms. From the standpoint of the devil, it is about using human selfishness and utter stupidity to destroy the human race. We are told in John 8:44 that Satan is out to steal, kill, and destroy. He has NO other agenda. From God’s standpoint, He will prove that our rebellion against Him and His Word will come to an end through His judgments, as prophesied in Daniel, Revelation, etc. 
     Regarding the news about record heat waves around the world I have something to say: “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” Revelation 16:8-9 says the sun will scorch men with extreme heat. So what is happening now is just the beginning of that judgment. If you think things are bad right now, those who are not caught up from the earth before the Tribulation begins will face some hardships unknown in past or present history. Those judgment-sufferings will not be imaginary (mere figures of speech as some theologians teach), but will be painful to the point that people who are under the leadership of the Antichrist will literally gnaw their tongues for pain. So says Revelation 16:10-11.
     Although these articles will address some of the sordid details of those Tribulation sufferings, my primary purpose is not to cater to people’s lust to dwell on such things, but to present biblical truth, in order to warn everybody that there will be a reckoning day for all rebels—both angels and human beings. And the best part of this good news is that True Christians alive now will escape those Tribulation judgments through the rapture of the church prior to the Tribulation. First Thessalonians 5:9 says Christians were not appointed to wrath, but to obtain salvation. First Thessalonians 1:10 tells us that God delivered us from the wrath to come—both Tribulation wrath and hell wrath. Of course, many will get saved during the Tribulation; then be killed for their faith.  
(Ron Craig is pastor, teacher and author of Christian books; and these articles. You may view all the books by logging onto www.livingwayfellowshiponline.org. While logged on the website you can even listen to audio Bible-lesson podcasts. You may also send your questions or comments to ronwritercraig@gmail.com)