Interestingly, jesus used some of the characteristics of each city to spiritually evaluate its congregation and to prophesy the history of. The book of revelation is addressed to believers, his servants, of the churches in seven cities of the roman province of asia. The united states will support the papacy by leading a drive to force the people of the world to worship the beast power papacy and receive his mark or else face death. Revelation is one of the most popular books to discuss among christians. The second beast earth beast of revelation is a kingdom that rises out of the earth, which is an obvious opposite to the sea and denotes that it rose not among other nations in war and strife, but in a place of wilderness on its own. The apocalypse, or revelation to john, the last book of the bible, is one of the most difficult to understand because it abounds in unfamiliar and extravagant symbolism, which at best appears unusual to the modern reader. This commentaryillustration publication is the book for anyone who has studied the apocalypse book of revelation and are convinced of 3 things. Revelation was first written for christians living in seven cities in asia minor, in what today is the country of turkey. He was a jewish christian prophet, probably belonging to a group of such prophets, and was accepted by the. The seven kings of revelation 17 ligonier ministries.
Now many people look at this verse and proclaim babylon is a city, its new york, and they totally disregard all the other characteristics of babylon, which show that the whore of babylon cannot just be a literal city like new york. The city is located on the coastline, which would enable merchants to see its smoke if something were to happen to the city revelation 18. The scriptural clue to identifying the great city is contained in revelation ch 11. Later europeans migrated from europe to the americas and established the united states.
This book is filled with mysteries about things to come. Let me begin by listing for you the major predictive passages in the bible. As explained in our article mark of the beast, the beast in the book of revelation is a continuation of the fourth great historical empire the roman empire prophesied in daniel 7. Peace shall be taken off the united states and men shall start to fight and kill one another. The natural city of babylon that was in what now is irag is the first one. The book of revelation what john saw john was given visions of things to come covered in chapters 4 thru 22 of the book of revelation. These titles come from the greek word apokalupsis meaning disclosure or revelation used in the first verse of the first chapter.
The short letters in revelation chapters two and three are addressed to these specific seven churches. Why is there no mention of us in the book of revelation or. Arguably, it is the most important economic and financial center in the world. John the divine the writer might be predicting the fall of america because of its gross immorality. Robert mounce notes uses of the description in virgil, martial, and cicero see his the book of revelation, rev. The usa in bible prophecy bible study guides amazing facts. The book of revelation shares features of all the following genres except 616 most greek manuscripts of revelation contain the number 666 for the number of the beast. The apostle john, in the book of revelation adds another detail for us to help in the.
If you want a brief summary of the points in his book, see his 60 reasons. Much has been written on the question who was the author of this book. The new jerusalem was an important theme in the puritan colonization of new england in the 17th century. There is only one end time power that fits this description, and that is the united states of america. This is the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he sawthat is, the word of god and the testimony of jesus christ. The book of revelation promises a blessing to those who read and understand these prophetic truths. For her physical appearance, the great prostitute is described as having emblazoned across her forehead a tattoo that says. After this passage in the book of revelation, john records the many disasters. As i discuss them, the discussion for each letter consists of four parts. Apr 24, 2020 today, we begin an eight 8 part series on the book of revelation. Mar 07, 2012 the book of revelation is the strangest book in the bible and the most controversial.
The key to understanding the book of revelation is to interpret it as literally as possibleit says what it means and means what it says. The book of revelation is similar to other literature of the time thats called apocalyptic, which typically includes visions, global clashes, endoftheworld warnings, and many, many symbols. It is often shortened to revelation or the apocalypse. In the latter day saint movement, the new jerusalem is viewed as a physical kingdom that will be built in north america, centered on.
The opulence and the prominence of the city along with the mention of the seven hills on which it rests, its persecution of christians, and the use of euphemisms such as babylon are generally presented as evidence that rome is the. The main point of the book of revelation is that christ wins in the end. In the book of revelation, john says that one of the seven churches, located at pergamos, is in a city where satans seat is see revelation 2. Since so many of the people in the united states come from the old roman empire, it is possible that god could consider the united states to be a part of the old roman empire. The second beast earth beast of revelation is a kingdom that rises out of the earth, which is an obvious opposite to the sea and denotes that it rose up peacefully, in a place of wilderness and not through war and strife. Apocalypticism was not a new phenomenon among christians. Salt lake city the book of revelation has remained the most mysterious book in the bible for the last two thousand years. This song says, not merely of ancient jerusalem but also of us.
Is the united states talked about in the book of revelation. The greek name of the bible book of revelation, apoka. List of biblical place names in north america wikipedia. Us army has a high success rate in airborne missions. Notice in the above prophecy that a woman is used to symbolize mystery babylon. Since the antichrist is satan incarnate, pergamos may be where this man of sin first emerges or establishes his power base. Mystery babylon the great, a city that gets destroyed in the book of revelation, is not a european empire headed by the antichrist for decades most christians have shared this view, but its not biblical. The church whose false prophetess was leading people. According to the bible, the antichrist does not hail from the city of mystery babylon the great. The puritans saw themselves as the builders of the new jerusalem on earth. If you read chapter 18 of revelation, its clear that mystery babylon the great is an actual city its a city that does big business including ocean shipping, and is guilty of sexual immorality, and false religions the label whore of babylon likely applies to numerous false gods religions not just one false god.
In these chapters god tells us what eternity with him will be like. The name revelation comes from the first word of the book in koine greek. It is, of course, the cryptic symbolism of revelation that makes it challenging to understand. But, if we take all the indentification marks together, including this city one, then we can see who it is. The following is an edited transcript of the audio. The book of revelation was likely written between a. Is the united states called the great babylon in revelation.
Another reason why the usa or any other city in the world cannot be. The church that would face severe persecution revelation 2. For a majority of exegetes, babylon represents the city of rome. I suppose the question means, specifically mentioned or in one of the symbols its really there, not when the whole world is talked about is the united states included. Yet it is a tough nut to crack, not only because of its intrinsic difficulty but because of the myriad interpretations that have grown up around the book. The last book of the bible is titled the revelation of jesus christ. However, a large portion of the book of revelation addresses the events that will unfold in the fulfillment of the babylonian prophecy. John the divine is an example of apocalyptic writing a form that delivers a message using symbols, images and numbers. I do not believe that the city of babylon in the book of revelation should be seen as representing some single city or nation i.
Then i looked, and there before me was the lamb, standing on mount zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his fathers name written on their foreheads. Of a truth most of the descriptions given there can be reasonably applied to the united states that has in many ways turned its back on god to follow after wickedness. Identifying the great city of revelation chapters 11 and 16. What reader of the apostle johns revelation has not been stirred by the comments of the lord concerning seven branches of the church in the ancient province. These in depth versebyverse studies harmonize the holy bible from genesis to revelation. God would not have given it to us if its meaning were entirely a mystery. The book of revelation often called the revelation to john, apocalypse of john, the revelation from jesus christ from its opening words, the apocalypse, the revelation, or simply revelation is the final book of the new testament, and consequently is also the final book of the christian bible. The message of revelation is as relevant today as ever before, as our world seems to be descending into chaos. Babylon the great, described in the book of revelation, is the worlds collective body of false religions, which god rejects. Revelation always implies the unveiling of something previously hidden, in. If us is not mentioned anywhere then does that mean that usa will not make it to the 7 years of tribulation. The church that needed to repent of sin revelation 2. May 20, 2009 the main point of the book of revelation is that christ wins in the end. The book of revelation this reading plan will introduce.
The revelation of jesus christ was given to john by god to show his servants what must soon take place. Sep 26, 2000 a notable exception to the usa s import laws is the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands, which is allowed to use the made in usa label on their products and export them to the usa. When people read the book of revelation they encounter this vast array of symbols. In the book of revelation in the new testament, the city is also called the heavenly. In the book of ezekiel in the hebrew bible, new jerusalem is ezekiels prophetic vision of a city. The heavens and earth would be remade, and a new jerusalem would descend from heaven as the capital city of the new earth. In an important sense, the interpretation of this chapter controls the interpretation of the whole book of revelation. How can the bible not mention the mighty usa in the book of revelation or the book of daniel.
Instead of stories and moral teaching, it offers only visions dreams and nightmares. The roman empire eventually occupied all of europe before it decayed from within. The great prostitute of revelation 17 revelation lamb and. Revelation 1 niv prologue the revelation from jesus. The bible scenario is the united states in the bible.
I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. North america has numerous places named after biblical towns and places. I propose that the city is actually jerusalem, not rome. The red horse in the book of revelation chapter 6, and its rider is getting ready to take his sword and slam america. A chinese man decodes the 2,000year mystery of the book. In the face of apparently insuperable evil, either from within or from without, all christians are called to trust in jesus promise, behold, i am with you always, until the end of the age mt 28. The revelation research foundation has completed work on a 3d version of ezekiels temple, utilizing the drawings of mr. Is america mystery babylon in the book of revelation. These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands.
United states prophecy prophecy about the united states of. A bowl judgment angel approaches the apostle john and says, come, i will show you the great prostitute. Each letter, as proclaimed by jesus and recorded by john the apostle, declares the triumphs and failings of the recipient churches and warns each congregation to repent. Babylon in the book of revelation is the full development of the state of things under the thyatiran condition of the church chapter 2.
Christian wilson, the problem of the domitianic date of revelation, nts 39 1993, 599. The book was penned by a christian named john, who had visions on the island of patmos near the end of the first century a. During roman persecution john exiled to the isle of patmos for his faith, was sent an angel with gods commission to record the word of god, and the testimony of jesus christ, and of all things he saw. The text of the letter from the book of revelation 2. Dec 09, 2010 a number of times i have been asked why america does not appear in the book of revelation. In revelation 17, there are several clues given to the identity of mystery babylon.
The book of revelation addresses seven letters to seven churches in asia minor modernday turkey revelation 23. Symbolic language, however, is one of the chief characteristics of apocalyptic literature, of which this book is an outstanding example. After today which will include our introduction and revelation chapter 1 we will look at the seven 7 cities and seven 7 churches in revelation 23. The book of revelation provides some of the keenest insights in scripture concerning the big picture of work. Finally, the third part of the series on the reign of the saints focuses on the last judgment for gods people, in revelation 21. Verse 18 of the chapter tells us that the woman is a city. The opulence and the prominence of the city along with the mention of the seven hills on which it rests, its persecution of christians, and the use of euphemisms such as babylon are generally presented as evidence that rome is the wicked city. Its important for us to know about the events that will. The revelation of jesus christ is a book of prophecy on the end times and comprises the final book of the new testament and of the bible. Is america the great babylon that is mentioned in the book of.
How accurate are the descriptions of these seven cities mentioned in the book of revelation according to archaeology and history. If we are prepared to ignore the plain message of the text and entertain our own fancies as to the identity of babylon then we will only get what we deserve. Many have wondered if the third temple will ever be built. From as early as justin martyr in the second century a. The city is a major global, economic and financial center. For instance, notice this comment from the expositors bible commentary, vol.
I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. The puritans were inspired by the passages in revelation about the new jerusalem, which they interpreted as being a symbol for the new world. Those churches were in ephesus, smyrna, pergamum, thyatira, sardis, philadephia, and laodicea. The author names himself as john, but modern scholars consider it unlikely that the author of revelation also wrote the gospel of john. Yes, america is the present day babylon standing on illuminati and satanism. There doesnt appear to be any nation coming to the jews rescue. Come explore the works of temple scholar frank shallieu.
Revelation 1 new international version niv prologue. This kingdom was prophesied to receive a deadly wound before rising again prior to the end of this age revelation. With these three verses from the book of revelation, it is very clear that one of the signs of gods people is commandmentkeeping. For the record, babylon is mentioned by name only six times in the book of revelation. Mystery, babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth. The book is also written to all believers everywhere. However, there are some biblical and political possibilities. Everyone has an opinion on when the famous events of the book of revelation will take place. This name indicates the meaning of revelation it uncovers matters that had been hidden and discloses events that would happen long after it was written.
Book of revelation read, study bible verses online. Babylon cannot be the usa or any other country for that matterbecause the text tells us that babylon is a city rev. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant john, 2 who testifies to everything he saw. It will begin again after the 1,000 years, when the wicked surround the holy city with hopes of capturing. The book of revelation and work bible commentary theology. This book is gods open letter to us and contains critical information about our future. Revelation tells us the city is on seven mountains revelation 17. The great city of revelation is it rome or jerusalem. Four times the author identifies himself as john 1.
In the book of revelation, the apocalyptic hopes of the early christian community find their clearest and most complete expression. What do you think of the book of revelations in the holy bible. And that to have your name written in the lambs book of life, so that you dont get any mark of belonging to any beastly power, is absolutely essential. Parts of the old testament, particularly in the book of daniel, are also written in the apocalyptic genre. The book of daniel is unsealing middle east and prophecy. Now, a chinese man with the knowledge of both eastern religions and. To the church in ephesus to the angel of the church in ephesus write. Revelation 22, new revised standard version nrsv the.
The book next contains seven short letters of exhortation to the christian churches in the seven leading cities of asia minor ephesus 2. The united nations is currently headquartered in the city. The church that had abandoned its first love for christ revelation 2. John saw that the last judgment for gods people would be a great blessing. This summary of the book of revelation provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of revelation. Tabor is a professor in the department of religious studies at the university of north carolina at charlotte.
Today, it is generally believed that the harlot city referred to in the book of revelation is rome. To enter into an extended investigation of this would greatly exceed the limits which i have, and would not comport with my design in these notes. The book of revelation had its origin in a time of crisis, but it remains valid and meaningful for christians of all time. The book of revelation also called the revelation of john or the revelation of st. The advice in these letters is prophetic, forewarning presentday christian communities of the snares that. An alarming number of bible scholars have now accepted the view that the united states of america is the woman portrayed riding the beast in the book of revelation. The book of revelation, a prophecy of warning and hope. And i heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal o. Revelation 14 niv bible then i looked, and there before. Much of what is said is rebuke and admonishment, so if the angels are heavenly beings, they may serve in some way as representatives of the sinful people in their churches. Lenski the interpretation of saint johns revelation, page 432 stated, babylon, the antichristian world city or empire, which is named babylon the great after the old testament. It is the revelation of jesus christ to show his servants revelation 1.
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