08/30/2026
End Times Babylon
There has been much written about, much speculation about, and much supporting about various candidates for the identity of end times Babylon. While this missive will not attempt to identify a specific Babylon, it will shed light upon the mystery of Babylon.
A list of candidates includes Rome, New York, the European Union, Babylon in Iraq, and others. One Bible scholar brings their favourite Bible verses to support one choice while another scholar brings out their favourite Bible verses to support a different choice. The last Bible scholar heard seems right, until the next scholar seems right.
One scenario has Ancient Babylon revived as an all-encompassing religious, economic, political power located in modern physical Babylon. There are projects reviving a temple, gates, and other structures happening today; however, the conflict involving the Strait of Hormuz limits the value of the newly built seaport several miles away from Babylon.
The Bible may display a sense of humour here and there, but it does not contradict itself. If it seems to do so, that just means be like the Bereans and search the Bible more carefully. Suppose each of the above is correct all at once. In that case, there would be a physical Babylon in Iraq, an economic Babylon in New York, a government Babylon in Europe in the form of the revived Roman Empire in combination with Islam, and a religious Babylon involving the largest denomination in the world, the Roman Catholic Church, or the second largest denomination in the world, Islam, or a mix of the two.
Seen this way the prophecies become much clearer.
1. Religious Babylon: Revelation 17:1-17 is clear that there is a religious Babylon. There are enough clues to speculate that this is the Roman Catholic Church, Vatican City, in the city of Rome. This religious Babylon needs to be a worldwide church with enough power to at least partially rule the revived Roman Empire. There is a connection to Babylon as the Pope received the Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans His Beatitude Emmanuel III Delly, and members of the Synod of the Chaldean Catholic Church. That it exists in the tribulation coupled with the Biblical description proves that by now it has lost its Christian roots. Dave Hunt goes into great detail about the Church in his book: The Woman that Rides the Beast. (ISBN-10 : 1565071999 ISBN-13 : 978-1565071995) “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” –Revelation 17:5. Islam is another possibility as Babylon is located in Muslim territory and is taking over Europe.
2. Economic Babylon: Revelation 18:9-24 is clear that there is an economic Babylon, most likely the USA and New York City. It is certain that Islam considers this to be true as the destruction of the Twin Towers prove. “And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more:” –Revelation 18:11.
3. Political Babylon: Daniel 2:38-42 and Revelation 17:9-13 both speak of a ten nation confederacy (as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay” and “ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings”). Daniel is clear that this is the Roman Empire that split into two parts (two legs) ending with a mix of Eastern Rome and other nations albeit not in a homogeneous mix which is iron mixed with miry clay. The ten toes are a dual fulfillment prophecy as there is a latter day revived Roman Empire with a mixture of nations and cultures including Islam. Remember that Islam never assimilates; it just grows with the goal of taking over. The ten horns in Revelation are the revived Roman Empire known as the EU. The EU is currently 27 nations, but it is important to note that the union consists of a series of treaties and not every member signed every treaty; thus, the EU is difficult to define. Which nations make up the nations in Daniel and Revelation are not clear, but examining maps of the Roman Empire before it split into East and West provides good clues.
4. Physical Babylon: This is the city of Babylon, Iraq that existed in Daniel’s time and has been partially rebuilt today. It has been the site of International Day of Babylonian Civilization 10 April 2025. Speculation has the UN relocating to the city which would fit with the view that history is reverting back to its former state of affairs when Babylon ruled the known world.
None of the above is meant to define Babylon in a specific sense, but it is meant to provide a reasonable scenario where rather than one Babylon encompassing the entire fulfillment of prophecy involving Babylon, four types of Babylon provides a simpler and easier explanation. Remember that Babylon and Israel have had a long relationship going all the way back to Abram and his family leaving Ur, Babylon to settle the Promised Land now known as Israel. It makes sense that the end times have Israel and Babylon, in its various forms, contesting with each other once more.
God’s got it. Be in the Rapture.
