Q&A 8 - IDENTITY OF BABYLON

Q - I see Babylon in Revelation 18:2 as being the USA, and it looks like the unclean birds comes after the verse 2 destruction of Babylon. How do you see Babylon here as being Jerusalem?

A - The word "fallen" in Revelation 18:2 doesn't necessarily mean destroyed. It can be referring to a spiritual condition, such as "fallen" from grace or in the grips of apostasy. In verse 4 we find that God's people are being told to come out of Babylon to avoid the consequences of her judgment, so it becomes evident that Babylon has not yet been destroyed in verse 2. In other contexts "fallen" means destroyed, but here it must (per sequential necessity) be a spiritual rather than a physical condition. Revelation 18:2 says that Babylon the great 1) is fallen, 2) is fallen. Verse 10 says Babylon is a city. However it appears in verse 2 that there are two entities, a double portion - two separate cities under judgment, and verse 6 says to fill her cup double, again showing a two fold judgment. I believe these two cities are New York City and Jerusalem. However, New York being the bedrock of our country could indicate that our country will go down with her. By the same token, Scriptures clearly show a judgment to come on Jerusalem. Whereas the USA IS worthy of judgment now, I don't see that being so with Jerusalem, and believe something must further defile her to bring such harsh judgment as we find in Jeremiah, Lamentations, & Ezekiel. This would be accomplished by the relocation of the Vatican in Jerusalem, per previous Q&A.