Revelation 18's Babylon is not the ancient city of Babylon — it is the whole worldwide system of economy, politics, and religion.
Les Feldick teaches that the Babylon of Revelation is the entire world system, not a single rebuilt city. Because the Old Testament says ancient Babylon will never be rebuilt, it remains only a habitation of wild beasts and birds of prey. The end-time Babylon is the one-world concept in which all the cities of the earth are so tightly knit that, in one hour, they all fall into nothingness by the spoken word of God.
Revelation 18:2 — Directly identifies the subject of the chapter as 'Babylon the great' and describes her fallen condition.
Revelation 18:4 — Records the call for God's people to come out of Babylon so they do not share her sins and plagues.
Isaiah 13:20 — The Old Testament basis for the claim that ancient Babylon will never be inhabited again.
In Revelation 18, John sees the destruction of an entity called 'Babylon the great.' The passage declares, 'Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird' (Revelation 18:2). The chapter shows the kings of the earth committing fornication with her and the merchants of the earth growing rich through her delicacies (Revelation 18:3), and it records a voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues' (Revelation 18:4). Those who profited from her mourn when her judgment comes, crying, 'Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come' (Revelation 18:10), and the merchants weep 'for no man buyeth their merchandise any more' (Revelation 18:11). The Old Testament also states of ancient Babylon, 'It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation' (Isaiah 13:20). Revelation 17:5 likewise connects the name 'MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT' to a religious system that commits abominations.
Les Feldick teaches that the Babylon of Revelation is not the ancient city of Babylon. He points out that the Old Testament says the ancient city will never be rebuilt, and so it remains nothing but a habitation of wild animals and birds of prey (Clips 1, 4). Instead, the Babylon of Revelation is the whole worldwide system — the entire one-world concept of economy, politics, and religion that is coming together today (Clips 1, 5). He describes how cities like Tokyo, Berlin, London, Rome, and New York have become like one tightly knit group, made increasingly believable by the internet, computers, and the financial world (Clips 1, 6). When this Babylon falls, Les says, it will not be one city — all the cities of the world will in one hour fall into nothingness by the spoken word of God (Clip 1). Les also sees a near and far fulfillment: the ancient city fell suddenly to the Medes and Persians, and the end-time worldwide system of economy, politics, and religion will also be suddenly and totally destroyed under the wrath of God (Clip 5). He disagrees with Bible teachers who expect ancient Babylon to be rebuilt as the end-time center of activity (Clip 4). The religious dimension is also part of this Babylon, pictured as a wealthy religious system committing spiritual fornication, with the name 'Babylon' on her forehead (Clip 7).
Les Feldick teaches that the Babylon of Revelation cannot be the ancient city because the Old Testament says it will never be rebuilt — it will always be a habitation of nothing but wild animals and birds of prey (Clips 1, 4). He notes that some Bible teachers believe ancient Babylon will be rebuilt and become the center of end-time activity, but he disagrees, holding that Scripture meant what it said: once Babylon was destroyed it would become nothing but a habitation of wild beasts (Clip 4).
According to Les, the Babylon of Revelation is the whole worldwide system — the entire one-world concept where the cities of the world are like one tightly knit group (Clips 1, 5). It encompasses the world's religions, politics, and economics. He points to modern technology — the internet, computers, and the financial world that can transfer trillions of dollars in split seconds — as making this worldwide-system interpretation far more believable today than it was decades ago (Clip 6). The religious side is pictured as a wealthy religious system decked with gold and precious stones, holding a golden cup full of abominations, committing spiritual rather than physical fornication (Clip 7).
Les sees a near and far fulfillment in the fall of Babylon. In the near view, ancient Babylon was suddenly destroyed when the Medes and Persians entered under the walls by drying up and diverting the river Euphrates, and the city fell almost overnight (Clip 5). In the far view, the end-time Babylon — the worldwide system of economy, politics, and religion — will also come under the wrath of God and be suddenly and totally destroyed (Clip 5). When it falls, Les says, it will not be just one city; all the cities of the world will in one hour fall into nothingness by the spoken word of God (Clip 1).
In Revelation 18:4, John hears a voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.' Les explains that this is the warning for God's people to separate from the world system so that they will not be partakers of her sins and will not receive the plagues that will come upon the world in the tribulation period (Clip 6). The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived deliciously with the world system will bewail her and see the smoke of her burning, lamenting that in one hour her judgment has come (Clip 3).
What Does "Babylon the Great" Really Mean in Revelation 18?
have you in our nightly classes as well. Now in Revelation chapter 18, which was a chapter that we had skipped over previously because I was trying to chronologically bring out all the events that are taking place during this final seven years.
Babylon Is the Whole Worldwide System
Les explicitly teaches that the Babylon of Revelation is not the ancient city but the whole worldwide one-world system — all the cities of the world falling in one hour by the spoken word of God.
What Really Happens at Armageddon — Revelation 16 & 19
All right, now I have to stop again. The Babylon in Revelation is not the ancient city because the Old Testament says it will never be rebuilt. It will always be a habitation of nothing but wild animals and birds of prey. But the Babylon of Revelation is the whole worldwide system as we see it coming together today, the whole one world concept where Tokyo and Berlin and London and Rome and New Yor…
Kings and Merchants Bewail Babylon
Les identifies the 'her' of Revelation 18 as the world system, showing the kings of the earth lamenting her judgment and the merchants weeping because no man buys their merchandise anymore.
Not a Rebuilt Ancient Babylon
Les disagrees with Bible teachers who expect ancient Babylon to be rebuilt as the end-time center, insisting Scripture meant what it said that Babylon becomes a habitation of wild beasts.
Near and Far Fall of Babylon
Les explains the near and far view — ancient Babylon fell suddenly to the Medes and Persians, and the end-time worldwide system of economy, politics, and religion will be suddenly and totally destroyed by the wrath of God.
The World System Growing Together
Les shows that the internet, computers, and the financial world make the interpretation of Babylon as the whole world system far more believable today, and connects it to the call to 'Come out of her.'
Babylon as the Religious System
Les connects Babylon to a wealthy religious system committing spiritual fornication, with the mystery name 'Babylon' written on her forehead — the religious dimension of the worldwide system.
Revelation 18:2: And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
Identifies the subject of Revelation 18 as 'Babylon the great' and describes her as utterly fallen and defiled.
Revelation 18:3: For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.
Shows Babylon's worldwide influence over nations, kings, and merchants — the political and economic dimensions.
Revelation 18:4: And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
The divine call for God's people to separate from Babylon so they do not share her sins and plagues.
Revelation 18:10: 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 judgment come.
Records the lament of the kings over Babylon's sudden judgment arriving in one hour.
Revelation 18:11: And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.
Shows the economic collapse of the world system as merchants lose their market.
Revelation 17:5: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Connects the name Babylon to the religious harlot system in Revelation 17.
Isaiah 13:20: It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation: neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there; neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.
The Old Testament promise that ancient Babylon will never again be inhabited, which Les uses to show Revelation's Babylon is not the ancient city.
Jeremiah 51:8: Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.
The verse Les applies to both ancient Babylon's sudden fall and the end-time worldwide system's sudden destruction.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the Babylon of Revelation is not the ancient city, because the Old Testament says it will never be rebuilt and will remain a habitation of wild animals and birds of prey. Instead, it is the whole worldwide system of the end times.
Babylon represents the whole worldwide system of economy, politics, and religion — the one-world concept in which the cities of the earth are tightly knit together. When it falls, Les says, all the cities of the world will fall in one hour by the spoken word of God.
The voice from heaven calls God's people to separate themselves from the world system so that they will not be partakers of her sins and will not receive her plagues — the judgments that will come upon the world during the tribulation period.
Les Feldick disagrees with Bible teachers who think ancient Babylon will be rebuilt as the end-time center. He holds that Scripture meant what it said — once destroyed, Babylon would be nothing but a habitation of wild beasts.
Watch the Teaching: What Does "Babylon the Great" Really Mean in Revelation 18?