2735.- Babylon by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Feb 17, 1909

2735.— Babylon.

By Editor

Why in the Revelation is Babylon described as a city and this is regarded as symbolic language, referring to false religions in the world, but when the New Jerusalem is described it is understood to be literal? F. L. T.

Babylon and Jerusalem are not described together in the Revelation. You do not find them mentioned in the same prophecy. The New Jerusalem comes right in connection with the new heavens and the new earth which God promises, the restoration of the glorious creation of God. Babylon comes in connection with symbolic prophecies in which there can be no question regarding symbolism; the symbols of wild beasts. Sometimes she is represented as a woman, sometimes as a city. The city carries us back to Babylon of old, the very center for centuries of apostasy, of the religion antagonistic to the true. Cities are often represented by women in the Old Testament. The two objects, city and woman, used as symbols were very natural to the people of the Bible, as they are at the present time. Sometimes in the Old Testament where Jerusalem is spoken of, it includes not only the city, but her children, and sometimes where Babylon is spoken of, it includes not only Babylon, but all those who are wedded to Babylon. But you will clearly see after this suggestion that the context and setting of the use of these terms must be considered in the Revelation. Babylon is used in connection with highly figurative and symbolic language; Jerusalem in connection with that which is prophetic yet literal.