The identity of Babylon (Revelation 17-18)

Bryan Denlinger of King James Video Ministries is releasing a series of videos on why America is not Babylon in Revelation 17-18.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrKfqWY_V98

To that I say AMEN!

However, after saying that Babylon is not America, he turns around and says it is "Roman Catholicism".

That wouldn't bother me, but then Mr. Denlinger said that if you don't believe Babylon is Roman Catholicism then you are a "wicked pagan papist".

Here is a brilliant insight into what Babylon is in Revelation 17-18, it is BABYLON. B-A-B-Y-L-O-N.

I know that is deep and very profound, but just think about it.

What does the Bible say the city is? Babylon.

Does the Bible say the city is Rome or Roman Catholicism? No.

Does the Old Testament prophesy of Babylon and the King of Babylon oppressing Israel in the last days OR Roman Catholicism oppressing Israel? The answer to that one is easy (Isa. 14:4, Jer. 32:36-42, etc.).

We should look at what the Bible says without allegorizing it, the word of God should be taken literally.

[Note: I realize the Bible uses figures of speech. But that does not mean it should not be taken literally. When we say "it is raining cats and dogs outside", that phrase uses a figure of speech but it does LITERALLY mean that it is raining. Using a figure of speech or a metaphor does not mean that the passage is not literal.] 

Revelation 17:
[1] And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
[2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
[3] So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
[4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
[5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
[6] And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
[7] And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
[8] The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
[9] And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
[10] And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
[11] And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
[12] And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
[13] These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
[14] These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
[15] And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
[16] And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
[17] For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
[18] And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

The passage gives us several figures and the angel identifies the figures for us (verse 7, "I will tell thee the mystery").

The beast = The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition

Seven heads = The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

Ten horns = And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

The waters = The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

So after explaining the figures of the passage, the angel concludes by telling us what the women is..."the woman which thou sawest is THAT GREAT CITY" What city would that be referring to? "BABYLON THE GREAT" of verse 5. The woman description is what is figurative, not the name of the city.

Some people will say that Babylon is Rome because Rome is on seven hills and the Bible says that "the seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth". However, there are several problems with this. #1 A hill is different from a "mountain". #2 I have heard of other cities that claim to be on seven hills. The context clearly shows that the "mountains" are kingdoms, a word the Bible uses many times to refer to a kingdom. Look at the context, "The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings...And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet...the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth". The Bible calls kingdoms "mountains" many times, it even calls Babylon a mountain (Jer. 51:24-25). Other kingdoms/cities are also called mountains (Dan. 2:35, 9:16, etc.). [Note: People who do not believe that Babylon is literally Babylon have a hard time deciding if Babylon is Rome or just Roman Catholicism that comes from Rome.]

You'll note in the video that Mr. Denlinger said "America can't be Babylon because Babylon is a city and not a country" but then he turned around and said "Babylon is Roman Catholicism"....but Babylon is a city, not a religion.

I am not a Catholic, I don't know any Catholics personally, and so I am not trying to "cover up" the sins of Catholicism. I am just taking the Bible literally. Babylon is Babylon.

--Eli "Hoss" Caldwell