Program 272: Jerusalem is Babylon the Great!

Revelation identifies Jerusalem as both Babylon the Great and the Harlot, among other shocking names.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of WLC Radio Ministry, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44] 

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: My entire life I was raised to believe that the book of Revelation was written specifically for the final generation. And, as I believed I was part of that final generation, I was always very interested in studying the prophecies given there. I even tried reading the Left Behind series—which just scared me more than I was before.

If the Bible came with a warning label, then Revelation, I figured, was it!

But, as we’ve more recently come to learn, Revelation was actually given to warn first century believers of the impending destruction of Jerusalem. Sure, there are a few chapters at the end that are still future. They talk about Yahushua’s return and the setting up of Yahuwah’s kingdom, but the entire book is not, in fact, a listing of all the events that are going to happen just prior to Christ’s return.

Hi, I’m Miles Robey and you’re listening to World’s Last Chance Radio where we cover a variety of topics related to Scripture, prophecy, practical piety, Biblical beliefs, and living in constant readiness for the Savior’s unexpected return, whenever that might be.

If Revelation isn’t, as most believers have assumed, a giant warning label for the final generation, if its primary message was to warn about the destruction of Jerusalem, then where do we find Jerusalem referred to in the book? I mean, I know it’s full of symbols, but some of those symbols would have to refer to Jerusalem. Right? So which symbols identify this as being all about Jerusalem?

That’s what we’re going to be looking at today. Later, Jane Lamb has a promise for anyone needing a friend. Do you feel alone? Do you need a friend who’s loyal, one who’s always “got your back”? Then today’s promise is for you.

I’m going to turn the time over now to Dave Wright. Dave? Welcome.

Dave Wright: Thank you! It’s a pleasure, as always, to join you in digging deep into Yah’s word.

You asked some really good questions. And you’re right: if Revelation is primarily about the destruction of Jerusalem, then how is Jerusalem symbolized? Because if it wasn’t written as a warning for the last generation, then our interpretation of many of those symbols has been incorrect.

Miles: Yeah, that’s what I was afraid of. We need to know the truth.

Dave: You were talking about warning labels. Sometimes, in an attempt to protect themselves from frivolous lawsuits, manufacturers will apply warning labels to their products. And when you read the warning labels some companies put on their products, you’ve got to wonder just how intelligent the human race really is if these are necessary.

Miles: Such as?

Dave: For example, a label on a chainsaw read: “Do Not Hold the Wrong End.” Another warning label on a pushchair—or stroller, as North Americans call it—said, “Remove Child Before Folding.”

In fact, on our iron in tiny letters it says: “Do Not Iron Clothes While Wearing Them.”

Miles laughs: My daughter recently had her birthday. We were kind of busy, so we just bought a birthday cake at a bakery. On the bottom of the box was printed the warning: “Do Not Turn Upside Down.”

Dave: On a package of cashews, I once saw a warning label that said, “May Contain Nuts.”

Miles: That’s nuts!

Dave laughs: Well, warning labels only work if you take them seriously and if you understand what they’re saying. The problem is, we haven’t understood that Revelation was warning about an event that occurred almost 2,000 years ago. So, we’ve been coming up with interpretations of symbols that just aren’t right. Jerusalem is referred to—repeatedly—in Revelation, and in the most horrifying terms.

We just haven’t recognized it because we thought these symbols were referring to the Roman Catholic Church, or some future, evil entity. Today, I want to share some insights I learned from reading a study done by Jacob Toman. He wrote an article called “Jerusalem’s Many Names in Revelation.” It’s a fascinating study and you can find it on our website. After studying into it myself, I believe he’s been blessed with some real truths that answer some of the questions we’ve had since learning that Revelation was given to warn of the fall of Jerusalem rather than the end of the world.

Let’s start by turning to Revelation. Some important points are made in John’s opening statements that I want us to look at. We’re going to be kind of skipping through here. Some verses contain details that, while important, just aren’t as important to today’s discussion.

Miles: Where do you want me to start?

Dave: Start with verse 1. I’ll just insert some thoughts as we go along.

Miles: All right. It says:

The revelation from Yahushua Christ, which [Yahuwah] gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of [Yah] and the testimony of Yahushua Christ. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. [Revelation 1:1-3]

Dave: Notice how, in just three verses, John emphasizes and re-emphasizes that the events being prophesied “must soon take place,” verse 1. He underscores that his audience is to sit up and pay attention because, verse 3, “the time is near.” This is an urgent message.

Miles: Some believers say that this emphasis on the nearness of the events prophesied—and yet here we are, lo, these two thousand years later—is because the early believers thought Yahushua would return in their day.

Dave: Some of the very early Christians did believe that, but by this time, Paul had set them straight. They weren’t under that mistaken assumption anymore.

And this was written around 68 CE, so just a couple of years before Jerusalem was actually destroyed. I know some scholars place this book being written later, but the textual evidence doesn’t support that.

Miles: And you take into account how long it would take to spread the news from Patmos, where John was in exile, across the Levant to Jerusalem—it really wasn’t very long.

Dave: No.

Okay. Keep going.

Miles: “John, to the seven churches in the province of Asia—”

Dave: This is John’s intended audience. This is who he’s writing to, not some generation that hadn’t even been born yet!

Okay. The next few verses are just part of his formal greetings. Next, in verse 9 to 10, we learn John was exiled on Patmos when he suddenly heard a voice. What did the voice tell him?

Miles: Uhhh … “Write on a scroll what you see and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea.”

Dave: Again, very literal. These were literal churches in Asian Minor, or modern-day Turkey. These were messages of encouragement and instruction, as well as warnings of what was to come when the “old order”—the system of blood sacrifices—was forever done away with when the temple was destroyed.

Miles: What about Jerusalem? Where is that mentioned?

Dave: Well, remember that this was written during a time when being a Christian wasn’t safe. So, yes. Jerusalem is referred to, but it’s symbolized. John needed to write that way so that if his epistle fell into the wrong hands, believers would still be safe.

Miles: That makes sense.

Dave: Under the guise of symbols, Jerusalem (as the headquarters for the “old order”) features prominently. Sometimes, references to Jerusalem are simply inferred, but this is still an accurate way of knowing that Jerusalem is the geographical locale under discussion.

Miles: Can you give us an example?

Dave: Sure. Turn to Revelation 11. Here, Jerusalem isn’t mentioned by name, but we can still know that it’s being talked about based on other details in this passage.

Read verses 1 and 2.

Miles:

Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.

Dave: The temple of Yah was, obviously, in Jerusalem. So, in order to measure it, and the altar, the worshipers, you’d have to be in Jerusalem. And, obviously, “holy city” is also a reference to Jerusalem.

Miles: Yeah. The book of Daniel refers to Jerusalem that way, too.

Dave: Right. So, any time you’re read a reference to the temple of Yah, any of its services, or even any of its furniture—such as the altar—you’ve got a reference to Jerusalem itself, because the physical location of the temple was in Jerusalem.

Now, I want you to notice, in verse 2, we’ve got a very specific time period given. The prophecy says that the holy city will be trod underfoot for forty-two months. That’s three-and-a-half years. This is a similar time period to when the First Jewish Revolt started, reaching to the destruction of Jerusalem.

In April of 66 CE, the Roman governor confiscated … stole … 17 talents from the Temple treasury. This sparked a revolt that would last roughly three-and-a-half years until the fall of Jerusalem in 70 CE when the Temple was destroyed.

Miles: Interesting.

Dave: We find another reference to Jerusalem, again through inference, in verse 8. Would you read that, please?

Miles: “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”

Dave: Where was Christ crucified?

Miles: Jerusalem.

Dave: Exactly. In verse 2, Jerusalem is called the “holy city,” but by verse 8, we’re told that the holy city has become corrupted. Now, spiritually, it’s called Sodom and Egypt. Sodom, for its licentiousness, and Egypt for its false worship. The worship of the Jews had become hopelessly corrupt.

Miles: Well, yeah! Christ’s death had nullified the system of blood sacrifices and yet the Jews had kept it going for decades afterward!

Dave: Right.

This passage is talking about the two witnesses; what happens to them. But there’s only one city ever referred to, and that’s in verses 1 to 2 and 8. The next time a city is referred to is in verse 13 and you’ll see that it’s still talking about Jerusalem. That’s the only city mentioned here.

Read verse 13 for us.

Miles: “In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

Dave: There are no identifying characteristics here: no mention of the temple, no reference to the place of Yahushua’s crucifixion. It’s just referring to “the city.” But because the only city that’s been mentioned in this entire passage is Jerusalem, we can safely conclude that Jerusalem is “the city” being referenced here. It wouldn’t make sense otherwise.

Miles: Did Jerusalem have an earthquake between 66 and 70 CE?

Dave: I was wondering that, too. I looked it up online, but there’s really no strong historical evidence that a significant quake took place during that time period. I believe, in this verse, we’re dealing with another symbol.

Miles: Of what?

Dave: The immense change that took place during this time period. It was the end of one epoch and the beginning of another.

In the Old Testament, earthquakes often depict geopolitical shifts that occur as a consequence of Yahuwah’s judgment for sin and idolatry.

Miles: That fits here! Jerusalem was under divine retribution for her sins.

Dave: And the result was a massive geopolitical shift. They lost their revolt against Rome, their people were scattered abroad and, eventually, several hundred years later, the changes that started here at the fall of Jerusalem culminated in living conditions so dire, that they gave up their ancient method of time-keeping, established by Yahuwah, and adapted to the Julian calendar with its continuous weekly cycle. Israel as a unique and distinct nation was utterly obliterated.

Miles: Wow. And you link it all back to the destruction of Jerusalem?

Dave: Absolutely. Without a centralized headquarters, without the ability to both determine and communicate when a new month had begun, the diaspora was unable to keep using the luni-solar calendar of Creation.

And the Jews admit this! In The Jewish Encyclopedia, under the entry for “Calendar,” it says, quote: “Under the reign of Constantius”—that was one of Constantine’s sons. He ruled from 337 to 362 CE—“Under the reign of Constantius … the persecutions of the Jews reached such a height that … the computation of the calendar [was] forbidden under pain of severe punishment.”

Miles: Wow.

Dave: This was a direct result of the Temple being destroyed and the Jews scattered.

Let me look up another quote really quick. This is by Heinrich Graetz. Graetz was himself Jewish.

Here. This is from Vol. 2 of his series, History of the Jews.

Miles:

The miserable condition of Judea was the occasion of an act of self-renunciation on the part of the Patriarch Hillel, which has not yet been thoroughly appreciated. The custom had prevailed up till now of keeping secret the computation of the new moon and the leap year, and of making known the times of the festivals to the communities in the neighboring lands by announcing them by messengers. During the persecutions under Constantius this method had proved itself to be impracticable and useless. Whenever the Synhedrion was prevented from fixing the date of the leap year, the Jewish communities in distant countries were left in utter doubt concerning the most important religious decisions. In order to put a stop to all difficulty and uncertainty, Hillel II introduced a final and fixed calendar … With his own hand the Patriarch destroyed the last bond which united the communities dispersed throughout the Roman and Persian empires with the Patriarchate.

Dave: This is why, Christians today, assume Saturday is the biblical Sabbath: because the Jews worship then. It’s why they celebrate Sunday as the day of Christ’s resurrection. And it all stems back to the destruction of the Temple at the fall of Jerusalem, and the diaspora that followed. You can see how this was an event that needed to be warned about.

Miles: Absolutely! Wow.

Dave: The next time Jerusalem is referenced is over in Revelation 14. Would you please turn there and read verse 8.

Miles: “And another angel followed, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’”

Are you saying that Jerusalem is Babylon the Great??

Dave: I believe the evidence supports this, yes.

Miles: From the “holy city” to “Babylon the Great.” That’s quite the fall. You’re going to have to provide some compelling evidence to convince me on this one.

Dave: Fair enough.

So, we’ve really only got two options:

Either “Babylon that great city” is a reference to an entirely new location that hasn’t yet been identified or mentioned, or this city is the same city that was identified earlier in the text.

When we go back, when we trace back up the passage, looking for a reference to a city—any city, the last reference is found in Revelation 11 verse 13. And we already know from Revelation 11 verse 8 that the city being discussed there is Jerusalem, “where also our Lord was crucified.”

Miles: So there really is no other option but for Babylon, “that great city,” to be Jerusalem.

Dave: No. Because if it were referring to another location, we’d be able to establish that in the text. And we can’t.

The thing we must always bear in mind is that prophecy is given to be understood. When you interpret it, you must always be consistent. When something is identified, when a symbol is explained, you have to apply that explanation consistently.

So, with this being understood, drop down now, and read verse 20 of Revelation 14.

Miles: “And the winepress was trampled outside the city, and blood came out of the winepress, up to the horses’ bridles, for one thousand six hundred furlongs.”

Dave: I know this is contrary to everything we’ve ever been told or believed, but Jerusalem is the only logical candidate for this city to be. No other city is mentioned, either directly or by way of reference.

Again, prophecy is given to be understood. It’s not meant to be some big mystery. Especially Revelation that we’re repeatedly told was describing things “which must shortly take place … for the time is near.”

Miles: That’s true. That’s a good point.

So, what about this distance given here? Verse 20 says the blood reached one thousand, six hundred furlongs. How long is that?

Dave: Sixteen hundred furlongs is about 180 miles, or 300 kilometers. The significant fact is that the winepress is specifically stated to be outside the city.

When the winepress is trampled, blood comes out. This is a symbol of the wide-spread destruction that overflowed Jerusalem’s borders during the First Jewish Revolt. You measure out that distance and it covers an area just slightly bigger than the geographical area of first-century Israel. So, again, this points to the devastation and bloodshed of that war.

Miles: That’s amazing. And what a graphic description of a conflict, in a geographically small area, that cost the lives of over a million people, with even more exiled or sold into slavery.

I’d like to explore the other descriptions of Babylon the Great. Maybe you can explain how these detailed descriptions fit Jerusalem?

Dave: All right. Jerusalem is spoken of in Revelation 14 but there’s no mention of any city in chapters 15 or 16. The next time a city is mentioned is in chapter 17. Why don’t you turn there? Read verses 3 to 5, if you would, please.

Miles:

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. The name written on her forehead was a mystery:

babylon the greatthe mother of prostitutesand of the abominations of the earth.

You’re telling me that this refers to Jerusalem??

Dave: Well, as we saw from the context before, Babylon the Great refers to Jerusalem. There’s no other city mentioned. Ergo, we must still be talking about the same place as before.

I know that this is opposite everything we were raised to believe, but let’s unpack this. And, as we go along, I’m sure you’ll see the logic in this.

Verse three presents a harlot and a beast. They’re two distinct entities but they have a relationship. They are connected. For a while, their goals overlap. They share an agenda and reap the fruits of their relationship. For a while.

Now read verse 18. The angel is going to explain to John what these symbols mean.

Miles: “The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”

Dave: It’s always nice when Scripture so clearly defines symbols for us! And here, we’re told that the woman herself is a city.

Now, it’s been easy to assume that Rome, first pagan and later papal, is that city. But as we’ve seen from taking each passage in context, the only city that’s ever talked about is Jerusalem itself.

So now let’s do a quick review of the verses that have brought us to this understanding.

• In Revelation 11:1 to 2, we see that Jerusalem the “holy city.”
• In verse 8 of that same chapter, Jerusalem is referred to symbolically as Sodom and Egypt, but we know it’s actually talking about Jerusalem because he adds the detail that it’s the city “where our Lord was crucified.”
• In verse 13, we’re told about a great earthquake. Again, this is a symbol of a significant geopolitical shift.
• Then, in Revelation 14 verse 8, and chapter 17 verses 5 and 18 we see a new name being applied to the once “holy city” and that name is Babylon.

Miles: I can see the woman being a city. The angel flat-out tells John that the woman is “that great city.” But I’m not seeing how Jerusalem ever ruled over the kings of the earth. Can you say more on that point?

Dave: Well, again, we’re left with only two options: Either the verse is referring to a completely new and different location—one that’s never referred to anywhere else or interpreted—or we’re left with the option of the Harlot being Jerusalem. Those are our only two options.

So, let’s look at the details Revelation gives us about the Harlot and see if they make sense when applied to Jerusalem.

What detail does Revelation 17 verse 3 give us about the woman?

Miles: Uhhh … that she’s sitting on the beast? She’s riding it?

Dave: Correct. In other words, the city isn’t an independent power. Was pagan Rome independent?

Miles: Absolutely.

Dave: What about papal Rome?

Miles: Yes. That’s why they view themselves as the original church. Their theology is corrupted but, for a long time, they were the only game in town.

Dave: Right. Both pagan and papal Rome were independent powers. But the Harlot isn’t. She has to be supported by the beast.

Miles: Okay, but how was Jerusalem supported by Rome?

Dave: The power structure of Jerusalem was dependent on Rome. This might surprise some people as the populace was always looking for ways to revolt, but the priestly powers were dependent on Rome.

When Yahushua was before Pilate and Pilate asked the Jews, “Shall I crucify your king?” What did the chief priests say in response? Do you remember?

Miles: “We have no king but Caesar!” [See John 19:15.]

Dave: The chief priests knew their power was dependent on Rome being lenient. Turn to John 11 and read verses 45 to 48. This is after the resurrection of Lazarus when the chief priests and rulers were afraid that Christ’s influence would diminish their’s in the eyes of the people.

Go ahead.

Miles:

Then many of the Jews who had come to Mary, and had seen the things Yahushua did, believed in him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things Yahushua did. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, “What shall we do? For this man works many signs. If we let him alone like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.”

Dave: It’s interesting that the only time the word “Jerusalem” is used in Revelation is when it is always preceded by the adjective “new.” You could say that Revelation is a tale of two cities: you’ve got the earthly Jerusalem, which is the adulterous wife, and you’ve got the heavenly Jerusalem: the chaste and faithful bride.

Miles: One reason I always thought the Harlot was Rome was because of the description given in verse 4. Listen to this. It says: “The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.” She’s very wealthy. We know Rome has always been. What about Jerusalem?

Dave: Great question. I’ve got a quote here from Kenneth L. Gentry, taken from his well-written article, “Babylon is Jerusalem.” Would you read that for us, please?

Miles: It says:

Even pagan writers speak highly of Jerusalem as a significant contemporary city. Tacitus calls it [quote] “a famous city.” [Unquote.] Pliny the Elder comments that it is [quote] “by far the most famous city of the ancient Orient.” [Unquote.] Appian, a Roman lawyer and writer (ca. AD 160) called it [quote] “the great city Jerusalem” … The Sibylline Oracles, Josephus, and the Talmud concur in calling Jerusalem “a great city” … Thus, the first interpretive clue to Babylon’s identity points to Jerusalem.

Huh. That’s interesting. I didn’t know she was ever called “great.”

Okay. But what about verse 6? It says: “I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Yahushua.” That surely fits Rome!

Dave: Just because it fits Rome, doesn’t mean that the other contextual clues point to Rome.

Here. I’ve printed off quite a list of verses where Jerusalem—the power base centered at the temple—is the driving power behind the persecution of Yahuwah’s people.

What’s the first verse there?

Miles: Acts 4 verses 1 to 3. It says:

The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Yahushua the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.

Dave: What’s next?

Miles: Acts 5, verses 18 to 33?

Dave: Too long. Skip it and go on. But it’s another instance. What’s next?

Miles: Acts 6 verse 12: “So they stirred up the people and the elders and the teachers of the law. They seized Stephen and brought him before the Sanhedrin.”

Dave: And we know that Stephen, the first Christian martyr, was murdered by … whom? The Romans?

Miles: No. The Jews.

Dave: That’s right.

What’s next?

Miles: Acts 9 verses 1 to 4. It says:

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Dave: This is next level persecution. See, after Stephen’s death, the believers scattered. They left Jerusalem, but as they spread out, they took the gospel message with them.

Not content to let them just live their lives in peace, Saul hunted them down. He had the full backing of the High Priest in this bloody endeavor.

We don’t know how many believers lost their lives, but plenty did. In fact, when Saul was at last converted and Yahushua sent Ananias to him, Ananias at first didn’t want to go! He explains why in verses 13 and 14.

Miles: “’Lord,’ Ananias answered, ‘I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.’”

Dave: See, word had got around and the believers were justifiably afraid of Saul.

Any more?

Miles: Acts 9:22 and 23: “Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him.”

Dave: So just because the Jews in Jerusalem had lost their chief persecutor and executioner, they weren’t ready to co-exist peaceably. They plotted to murder the recently converted Saul.

Go on.

Miles: Acts 11:19. It says: “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews.”

Dave: This is wide-spread persecution! Jerusalem was tracking down believers even in other countries!

Miles: They were relentless! Listen to this. It’s Acts 12, verses 1 to 3.

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

Dave: This next verse, Acts 13 verses 45 to 50, tells about persecution against believers—again, initiated by the Jews—clear over in Antioch of Pisidia! This is in modern day Turkey.

Miles: So, a long way from Jerusalem.

Dave: And yet, they were still persecuting believers.

What does it say?

Miles:

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of [Yahuwah] should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us:

‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region.

Dave: Any more?

Miles: Acts 14 verses 1 to 5.

At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewish synagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Greeks believed. But the Jews who refused to believe stirred up the other Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brothers. So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders. The people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles. There was a plot afoot among both Gentiles and Jews, together with their leaders, to mistreat them and stone them. 

Dave: Iconium is called Konya today. It’s in south-central Turkey. Again, the Jews just wouldn’t let it rest. Wherever the gospel spread, the Jews raised up persecution against it.

Miles: They literally chased after the believers to hunt them down and kill them! Listen to this: Acts 14 verse 19. It says: “Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead.”

Dave: Believers today have no clue how intense the persecution was! Turn to Hebrews 10 and listen how the author of Hebrews describes in detail what the believers suffered. Read verses 32 to 35.

Miles:

Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

Dave: The leading persecutor in “those earlier days” wasn’t Rome. It was Jerusalem. Only in eternity will we know the number of martyrs who died for their faith due to the persecution led out by Jerusalem.

There are other passages, but I want to get on to other things and you get the point. Jerusalem is responsible for the blood of many martyrs. In fact, in the early days, it was a worse persecutor than pagan Rome which, for the most part, tended to be quite lenient and accepting of others’ beliefs.

Let’s turn our attention now to the Beast on which the woman sits. Read Revelation 17 verse 7, please.

Miles:

Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.”

Dave: This is a rather strange description. The beast is a monster! It’s got seven heads and 10 horns. But no worries. The angel’s going to explain what these symbols represent. Read verse 9.

Miles: “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits.”

Dave: This verse is one reason why many people have assumed the beast symbolized Rome. Since ancient times, it has been known as the “city of seven hills.” It’s a nickname. Kind of like Paris, which is known for being “the city of love,” or the “city of light.”

Miles: Mumbai: The city of dreams.

Dave: Cairo: Paris of the Nile. Lima, Peru: City of the Kings.

Miles: And don’t forget Las Vegas, Nevada in the US: Sin City. Such a descriptive name, don’t you think?

Dave laughs: I see that’s your favorite!

But you get my point. Cities can have nicknames and “City of the seven hills” was a nickname for Rome. But the thing is, biblical Jerusalem was also surrounded by seven hills.

Miles: Really?! Now, see, I didn’t know that. Do you know their names?

Dave: I wrote them down. You’ll recognize some of them. The three peaks of a ridge stretching to the east are: Mount Scopus, Mount of Olives, and Mount of Corruption. The other four are: Mount Ophel, Mount Moriah or the Old Mount Zion (which, today, is called the Temple Mount), the new Mount Zion where tradition states the upper room was located, and the peak just north of the temple on which the Roman Antonia Fortress was built.

Miles: Wow! That’s fascinating. I had no idea Jerusalem was surrounded by seven hills. I knew Rome was, but not Jerusalem.

Dave: So even this detail supports Jerusalem being symbolized as Babylon the Great.

Miles: I see that.

What about where the whore and the beast turn on each other? That’s in … let’s see … verses 15 and 16. It says: “Then the angel said to me, ‘The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.’” Unquote.

How does this fit with Jerusalem?

Dave: What a lot of people don’t realize is that, prior to the First Jewish Revolt, Jerusalem had a unique—some might even call it “special”—relationship with Rome.

Miles: How so?

Dave: As long as they paid homage and taxes to the emperor, they were left free to continue the rites of their own religion which, of course, was centered in Jerusalem. This was very lenient on the part of Rome. We don’t realize this because of how harsh the persecution later became after Rome got frustrated with the Jews’ constant rebellions despite the leniency shown them.

Turning and “rending” her, as some versions translate it, or bring her to ruin, “make her desolate,” was what happened at the destruction of Jerusalem. Israel was so utterly destroyed and its people scattered, that it wasn’t even considered a nation anymore.

Miles: I notice it said that the harlot was burned with fire.

Dave: Yes. General Titus had actually given orders that the Temple was to be preserved. It was not to be destroyed. But someone, some Roman soldier, set it on fire anyway. Records state that Titus tried to have the fire put out. He ordered the soldiers to fight the fire, but they were so angered at the obstinacy of the Jewish rebels that they refused his direct orders. So, yes. The harlot was indeed burned with fire.

Miles: When you realize that the office of high priest had degenerated to the point where that sacred office could actually be purchased, referring to Jerusalem as a “harlot” is very fitting.

Dave: Not to mention all the lives they were responsible for taking. Christ’s words in Matthew 23 were very appropriate, very true. Why don’t you read them for us? Matthew 23 and verses 37 and 38.

Miles: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.”

Dave: Yahushua knew Jerusalem’s day of judgment was coming because, just a few verses later in Matthew 24 he gave the disciples that detailed warning of what to look for leading up to that event.

Miles: Oh, that’s right. The disciples asked him when the temple would be destroyed and what would be the sign of the end of the world.

Dave: And he told them. He gave them a lot of signs for the destruction of Jerusalem, but when he shifted to talking about the end of the world, all he could say was that believers are to watch because we can’t know when he’s going to return. There won’t be any signs to point to.

But, to summarize: Jerusalem is referred to as the “great city” and Babylon. These symbols, or nicknames, if you will, also appear in the last few chapters of Revelation. We can know that the passages are describing the fall and destruction of Jerusalem because all these nicknames overlap in description with what you could call the city of origin: the city “where also our Lord was crucified. That’s Jerusalem.

We don’t have time to read them all, but if anyone wants to grab a pen and paper, Jerusalem is called the “great city” in Revelation 18, verses 10, 16, 19 and 21. That’s Revelation 18, verses 10, 16 19, and 21. In that same chapter, it’s referred to as Babylon in verses 2, 10, and 21.

So again, there’s overlap. And that lets us know that Jerusalem, that great city where also our Lord was crucified, is Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots.

Miles: Wow. Who knew?

Up next is Jane Lamb with today’s daily promise.

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You are listening to World's Last Chance Radio.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Daily Promise:

Hello! This is Jane Lamb with your daily promise from Yah’s word.

Alfred Matter and Tom Philips were hot. The two men had been tramping around under the blazing African sun for hours, looking for a suitable place to build a new mission station. They were hungry, tired, and over-heated. Cresting the brow of a low hill, they saw a large lake spreading out before them. The water looked so cool and inviting. Tall reeds grew along the shoreline, but a small beach seemed the ideal place to go for a quick swim to cool off.

Alfred, from Switzerland, had been in Tanganyika, in what is modern-day Tanzania, a few years longer than Tom, who was from America. Quickly stripping off his clothes, Tom plunged into the water while Alfred gingerly waded in. After the heat of the sun, the coolness of the water was shocking.

Tom playfully challenged Alfred to a race. Curling his biceps up in a body builder’s classic pose, Tom jokingly added, “No one can beat America!”

“Ha!” Alfred teased back. “I’ll leave you so far behind, you’ll think you’re standing still.”

As Alfred continued to slowly acclimate to the cold temperature, Tom decided to swim along the bank to limber up for the race. As he was doing this, Alfred noticed the reeds along the bank were moving … and the moving wasn’t the wind. Rather, the reeds swayed toward the open lake. Suddenly, a “log” rose to the surface of the water. Two eyes gleamed hungry at the oblivious Tom. A crocodile!

Alfred’s mind raced as he tried to think what to do. He tried splashing in the shallow water to distract the monster, but the beast had its eyes on Tom and no amount of wild splashing drew its attention away. In a panic and afraid for his friend, Alfred shot a silent prayer heavenward. He knew that if he told Tom of the danger, sheer terror would make it difficult to swim so instead of warning Tom, he started taunting him.

“You call that swimming?” He mocked. “Man, my grandmother could beat you wearing a dress. You’re crawling like a snail! Let’s see you really swim. Make for that big rock over there. As soon as you get there, climb out quickly and I’ll time you. Get ready. Get set. GO!”

Tom threw himself into strong even strokes, but the taunts continued.

“Is that the best you can do, America? Kick harder! If you can’t go faster, I’ve got you beat before you’ve even started.”

Tom was angry. What had started as just some fun ribbing had turned nasty. Who’d have ever thought Alfred could be so obnoxious?

Meanwhile, Alfred could see the crocodile gaining on his friend. He prayed harder than ever as he yelled, “Go for it! You’re almost there. Let’s see you swing out of the water. Show me what an American is really made of!” Just as Tom grabbed onto the rocks, Alfred yelled, “Go! Go! Go! There’s a crocodile after you!”

With a horrified look behind him, Tom stumbled up the rock just as the huge jaws of the crocodile snapped shut on empty air. Tom collapsed in shock and horror. Alfred raced along the shore to where his friend lay.

“Oh, wow! That’s the closest shave with death I’ve ever seen. You got out just in the nick of time.”

Tom turned incredulous eyes to Alfred. “Do you mean to tell me,” he panted. “That you knew that croc was after me and you didn’t warn me? Some friend you are!”

Alfred squatted down by his friend. “Look what happened when you learned a crocodile had been chasing you. You collapsed. I didn’t want to risk that happening in the water so I yelled everything I could think of to make you angry enough to swim as fast as you could.” Cocking his head, he joked, “And it worked! I’m never challenging you to race. You’d definitely win.”

Tom just shook his head as a reluctant laugh escaped. Alfred had been a true friend; he just hadn’t realized it.

Proverbs 18:24 says: “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” That friend, of course, is Yahuwah Himself. His love and watchful care over us is constant. Isaiah 49 verses 14 to 16 says:

Zion said, “Yahuwah has forsaken me,
And my Lord has forgotten me.”

“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
And not have compassion on the son of her womb?
Surely they may forget,
Yet I will not forget you.
See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.

We have been given great and precious promises. Go and start claiming!

* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: As someone who once believed that the book of Revelation was written to warn the “last generation” of signs to watch for in order to be ready for Christ’s return, I have a question for you. We now know, of course, that Revelation was written for the first century Jews to warn them of the destruction of Jerusalem.

Dave: Well, there are parts of Revelation that are yet future.

Miles: Sure! Sure. But it’s not the … the crystal ball showing a detailed vision of the future that I used to think it was. The primary focus is on an event that occurred almost two thousand years ago!

So, I guess my question is, aside from the last couple of chapters that do speak of the future, why should Christians today spend time in the book of Revelation? Aside from academic curiosity, why does the correct identification of Jerusalem even matter? I’m not trying to be disrespectful or anything. I guess I’m just wondering, because this prophecy was fulfilled so long ago, what difference does it make to believers today?

Dave: That’s a great question and I’m glad you asked. First of all is that when we know what the book of Revelation is really talking about, when Jerusalem has been properly identified, we’re not going to be deceived by the fantastical confabulations we fell for in the past when we believed these prophecies had a future fulfillment.

I mean, we know from the repeated warnings of Christ himself that his coming will be so sudden that even believers will be taken by surprise, but how many people are going to be caught unprepared spiritually because they’ve put off getting ready spiritually? They haven’t seen the “signs of the times” they’ve been told to watch for, so they thought they had more time to play around with sin. They’ve delayed that all-important spiritual preparation. And so, when Christ appears, they’re not ready!

Miles: Yeah, that’s pretty horrifying.

Dave: It is. When we interpret Revelation correctly—that its primary focus is on the destruction of Jerusalem—we can start to see that it has a lot of spiritual applications for believers today. No, except for the last couple of chapters, it’s not a book about the future. But make no mistake: the destruction of Jerusalem has had a lasting impact on Christianity and even the world. The ripple effects reach down to our time.

Miles: That’s true. I remember how shocked I was to learn that the version of Judaism that survived was Pharisaic Judaism. The very brand of Judaism that Christ continually denounced is the same brand of Judaism that many sincere Christians are turning to today, assuming they’ll find light there. But modern Judaism, being the offspring of the Pharisees, is a sepulcher full of dead men’s bones. And that’s not my analogy. That’s what Yahushua said in Matthew 23!

Dave: You’re right. I believe the real value of this book is that it encourages us to see Yahuwah as the God of Time. He’s in control. The God of history is the God of the future, and the same one we worship today. Yahuwah has been working steadily and faithfully throughout all of history to bring about His plans. Looking at the prophecies of Revelation, correctly identifying Jerusalem, and then seeing how these prophecies were fulfilled at its destruction, gives us confidence in Yahuwah.

Our faith isn’t blind! Our beliefs aren’t grounded upon empty traditions, or superstitions. The foundation for our belief isn’t feel-good philosophies. Rather, our faith is grounded upon the reality of Yahuwah’s work throughout history. This is work we can see documented in both Scripture and extra-biblical sources. We can see the hand of Yahuwah at work throughout history! And that strengthens us to remain faithful, knowing that He is still in control.

And so then, whether Yahushua returns in our lifetime or not, it’s immaterial. We can know that Yahuwah’s purposes, His grand, intricate, elegantly interwoven, vast, and incomprehensible plans, will be fulfilled. Christ will return. Yahuwah’s kingdom will be set up on earth, and an eternity of joy waits for those who believe in Him.

To close, would you please turn to Isaiah 64 and read verse 4 for us? Isaiah 64 verse 4.

Miles:

For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God besides You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.

I want to thank you for joining us today. Previously aired programs are also available on our website so if you’d like to share today’s program, you can find it there. Look for Program 272, called “Jerusalem is Babylon the Great!” Again, that’s Program 272, “Jerusalem is Babylon the Great!” on WorldsLastChance.com.

We hope you can join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage. 

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.