• “mind-blowing high-tech mega city”
• “more robots than inhabitants”
• “Crossroads of the World”
• 17X size of London. 22X size of New York.
• 26,500-square km (10,230-square mile).
• $500 Billion in investment.

The largest size city in the world (based on planned square miles or km).

Five-Fold Reference to Seven (7) Heads:

1. … “And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.” (Rev. 12:3). (Emphasis added).
2. … “And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” (Rev. 13:1). (Emphasis added).
3. … “So he carried me away in the spirt into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.” (Rev. 17:3). (Emphasis added).
4. … “And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth here, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.” (Rev. 17:7). (Emphasis added).
5. … “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” (Rev. 17:9). (Emphasis added).

Commentary: Verse 17:9 clears up the symbolism of the “seven heads.” Crowns = Mountains. They are the seven (7) mountains where Babylon resides, sits or rests upon. These could be individual mountains, mountain ranges or mountains within a mountain range. In any case, these are mountains and not hills. Physical Babylon city rests nestled with seven (7) physical, geographic mountains. There are many verses in chapter 18 (15, 17, 19 and 21) which indicate that Babylon city is also within easy eyesight of sea(s) or ocean(s). As indicated, physical Babylon city rests within 7 (seven) mountains in close proximity to sea routes.

Seven-fold References to the great city of Babylon:

1. … “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” (Rev. 14:8). (Emphasis added).
2. … “And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” (Rev. 17:18). (Emphasis added).
3. … “Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgement come.” (Rev. 18:10). (Emphasis added).
4. … “And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls.” (Rev. 18:16). (Emphasis added).
5. … “And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!” (Rev. 18:18). (Emphasis added).
6. … “And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she made desolate.” (Rev. 18:19). (Emphasis added).
7. … “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” (Rev. 18:21). (Emphasis added).

Commentary: “great city” is a descriptive reference for the physical city of Babylon. This is not a descriptive reference to Mystery Religion Babylon. Babylon City is described as “great” (not in a positive sense, but in a negative sense) because of what the city does throughout the earth during the Tribulation. It serves as a home-base for the Mystery Religion of Babylon. It possibly serves as the capital for the Babylon kingdom. The throne (or one of the thrones) of the beast is believed to be in this city. The city is decked out in massive, earthly wealth and material splendor. The glory of Jesus Christ or God is not found anywhere in Babylon City.  Worship of Jesus Christ and God is not found anywhere in the city. The city is home to all sorts of foul, evil/unclean spirits and likewise men. As far as the values of evil men, the great city of Babylon has it all. Everything evil can be found in Babylon City, the “great city.” Nonetheless, Babylon City is crushed within one hour during the Day of the Lord’s return. A massive, worldwide eqrthquake splits this city into three parts. The destruction so great and consuming, that smoke of her burning can be seen many miles away at sea. Businessmen and merchants don’t want to go anywhere near the “geat city” because they are afraid that they might receive the same fate due to association. They lament, because their best customer just got hammered and their gravy train has ended. Thus, their profits and gain have so ended. So much for the “great city.” It was quickly thrown away and destroyed just like a giant mill-stone thrown into the sea. Never to be found again.

Six-fold Descriptive Names of Babylon City:

1. queen. (Rev. 18:7)
2. mighty city. (Rev. 18:10)
3. no widow. (Rev. 18:7)
4. great city. (7X).  (Rev. 14:8, 17:18, 18:10, 18:16, 18:18, 18:19, 18:21)
5. woman. (6X). (17:3, 17:4, 17:6, 17:7, 17:9, 17:18)
6. whore. (4X). (Rev. 17:1, 17:15, 17:16, 19:2)

Commentary: Descriptive references (not name or title conventions). Four of the evil references are related to a female (queen, no widow, woman, whore). The remaining references are to an evil city. We know these references are evil because there are six (6) of them and they describe the evil, physical city of Babylon City and those who dwell within it.

X = reference(s) to descriptive name.

7X = (great city). Denotes God’s divinely determined completeness to his plan or purpose.

6X + 1X = 7X (woman + queen). Denotes God’s divinely determined completeness to his plan or purpose.

6X + 1X = 7X (woman + no widow). Denotes God’s divinely determined completeness to his plan or purpose.

6X + 1X = 7X (woman + great city). Denotes God’s divinely determined completeness to his plan or purpose.

4X + 1X + 1X + 1X = 7X (whore + queen + no widow + great city). Denotes God’s divinely determined completeness to his plan or purpose.

6X + 4X = (woman + whore). Denotes imperfection, monstrous, not normal, evil (plus) universalness. Numbers within numbers, meaning within meanings, truth within truth. Six (6) evil references or verses describing the evil Babylon City. Seven, six and four repetitions of the evil descriptive elements have divine meaning. Even the combinations of the evil descriptive elements and the number of their repetitions contain divine meaning and truth.

Seven-fold Dooms on Babylon City:

1. All plagues come in one day, one hour, death, mourning, famine, burning with fire. (Rev. 18:8, 10)
2. The great city is divided into three parts by the great earthquake on the Day of the Lord. (Rev. 16:19)
3. No music will be heard. (Rev. 18:22)
4. No craftsman (industry) will be found. (Rev. 18:22)
5. No millstone (delicious dining, restaurants) will be found. (Rev. 18:22)
6. No light (artificial or natural) will shine. (Rev. 18:23)
7. Voice of the bridegroom and bride (marriages) will not be heard. (Rev. 18:23)

Commentary: These verses describe what happens to the capital city of an evil empire, when God brings his celestial hammer of wrath. The city gets hammered and pounded into oblivion. (Rev. 18:21) … “And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all.” The basic things of city living disappear within an hour. An earthquake splits the city into three parts. The burning and smoke from the city can be seen for many miles offshore by sailors, and captains of vessels who transported wealth to Babylon’s docks. (Rev. 17:17). Also, kings of the world and merchants plying their merchandise with Babylon can see the smoke from her destruction and are severely pained because they know their best customer has been destroyed along with their livelihood. They are also afraid for themselves and keep their distance, in case they might receive the same wrath as Babylon. (Rev. 17:11, 17:15, 17-19).

Seven-fold Luxuries of Babylon City:

1. Luxury metals and stones (fine gold, silver, precious stones, pearls). (Rev. 18:12)
2. Luxury clothing (fine linens, silks, color dyes). (Rev. 18:12)
3. Luxury building materials (precious woods, ivory, brass, iron, marble). (Rev. 18:12)
4. Luxury produce (exquisite herbs, fragrances, ointments, wine, oil, flour, wheat). (Rev. 18:13)
5. Luxury meat products / animals (beasts, sheep, horses). (Rev. 18:13 )
6. Luxury cars and transportation (chariots). (Rev. 18:13)
7. Human slave trade and sex-trafficking (slaves and souls of men). (Rev. 18:13)

Commentary: This looks like today’s shopping list of the rich and famous, and of the political and financial elite of the world. I believe this covers everything materialistic that is generally valued around the world today (and in the future). There is nothing mundane, routine or common among these ‘delicacies’. Babylon is built on luxurious living and is the center of worldwide trade of these items and merchandise. These things are literally brought into Babylon by the ship loads (Rev. 18:17-19), “For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off.” (Empahsis added). These items are considered luxurious because they are extremely expensive! (Rev. 18:19, “the great city was made rich by all the ships of the sea by reason of her costliness.”) (emphasis added). The people in Bablyon are extremely materialistic and glorify themselves through their wealth, but are spiritually evil and bankrupt. Demand for luxury items is so great that merchants of the earth have become wealthy themselves by providing these luxuries (Rev. 18:3, “and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.”) (Emphasis added). Both supply (merchants) and demand (people in Babylon) worship the created things and not God, the Creator. The worship of and reliance on luxury items plays right into the hands of the mystery religion of Babylon (Mystery Babylon). Keep in mind that all these players (merchants and Babylon citizens), all have the mark of the beast and his system. They are allowed to sell and buy through the complicity and authority of the antichrist’s economic machinations via having the mark. Hypothetically speaking, I wouldn’t be surprised if the wealthy in Babylon view the antichrist’s “mark” as a luxury brand symbol or something equivalent. Sad, very sad (understatement).

Interestingly, there is a parallel condemnation of wealth and materialism regarding the church of Laodicea (Rev. 3:14-22). During the time when John received the Revelation of Jesus Christ, Laodicea was a leading banking center, and known for manufacturing garments made from a soft, black wool. Additionally, Laodicea was also home to a famous medical school that specialized in the treatment of eye diseases. The city had a lot going for it economically. The Laodicea church also benefited financially from the surrounding strong economy. The city was so strong financially, that in AD 60 when it was destroyed by an earthquake, Laodicea paid for its own reconstruction instead of asking Rome for rebuilding funds. As a result of the Laodecian church’s self-sufficiency and affluence, they received a strong rebuke from Jesus. The church considered itself wealthy and self-sufficient, instead, Jesus viewed this church very differently. He saw this church as “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked”, using metaphors from the local economy that surrounded the church. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” (Rev. 3:17) (emphasis added). While the church thought it had everthing, it had nothing. They confused material prosperity and comfort with spiritual health and security. The Bible teaches that the rich (and very rich, by today’s standards) are often tempted to rely upon themselves, while the poor often turn to the Lord for help. Jesus challenges his people to trust in him rather than in material possessions, and to use things to meet the needs of others (Deut. 8:10-14; Prov. 30:8-9; Matt. 6:19-24; Luke 12:13-21; 1 Tim. 6:6-10, 17-19). Physical wealth and comfort can foster spiritual complacency and self-reliance. Affluence tempts us to forget God. The message to the church of Laodicea illustrates the power of forgetting God, do to materialistic affluence.

From an economic point of view, the parallel between Babylon and Laodicea is staggering. The rebuke that Jesus gave the church of Laodicea is generally considered to be one of the stronger (est) rebukes given to the five churches who were in need of correction. Keep in mind that Jesus’ rebuke was to those members in his own house (church). Babylon has the same evil symptons, but on steroids! Citizens of Babylon and worshippers of Mystery Babylon are swimming in luxury, wealth, materialism and self-suffiency. Greed is rampant.  They are not members of Jesus’ church and they do not acknowledge or worship the Creator who made the material wealth they worship and enjoy. Revelation 18:7 indicates, “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously. ” (Emphasis added). God is not remotely on their spending or spiritual radar. They are utterly deceived by their materialism and love of luxury and ‘delicious living’. Since Jesus strongly rebuked the Loadicean church members, how much more so will God pour out His wrath on Babylon, who openly rejects him for the love of wealth? The Loadicean church received rebuke from Jesus, Babylon will receive total destruction by God. This should be a message to today’s churches who preach the prosperity gospel. God is not against a person being properous, however, he is against the amount of prosperity that fosters complacency and self-sufficiency, or to the point of fostering wealth worship (greed) at the expense of foregtting one’s relationship with God and Jesus Christ.

References to Deception (False Prophet & Babylon City):

1. …” for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.” (Rev. 18:23). (Emphasis added).
2. … “And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimeston.” (Rev. 19:20). (Emphasis added).
3. … “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimestone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” (Rev. 20:10). (Emphasis added).

Commentary: The first deception referenced is that from Babylon City (the great city). The second and third deception referenced are those of the False Prophet.