Yes — Babylon in Revelation signifies the entire worldwide system of religion, politics, and economics, not a literal rebuilt city.
Les Feldick teaches that whenever the word Babylon appears in Revelation, it points to the whole global picture — a one-world system in which the cities of the earth are like one tightly knit group. He distinguishes this from the ancient city of Babylon, which the Old Testament says will never be rebuilt. When Babylon falls, all the cities of the world will collapse into nothingness in one hour by God's spoken word.
Revelation 18:2 — The angelic cry that 'Babylon the great is fallen' is the key verse Les uses to show that Revelation's Babylon is an end-times system, not the ancient city.
The Bible speaks of Babylon in two distinct ways. In the Old Testament, Isaiah 13:19–20 declares that Babylon, 'the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It shall never be inhabited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation.' Jeremiah 51:8 records the sudden fall of Babylon: 'Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.'
Les Feldick teaches that the Babylon of Revelation is not the ancient city of Babylon. He bases this on the Old Testament, which he says declares the ancient city will never be rebuilt and will always be nothing but a habitation of wild animals and birds of prey. Instead, the Babylon of Revelation is the whole worldwide system — the entire global picture of the world's religions, the world's politics, and the world's economics. Les points out that the world is becoming smaller through vast communication systems and rapid transportation, so that Tokyo, Berlin, London, Rome, and New York are all like one tightly knit group. When Babylon falls, 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. He disagrees with Bible teachers who expect the ancient city of Babylon to be rebuilt as a great trade and cultural center, because Scripture says it will never be rebuilt. In Jeremiah 51:8, Les sees a near and far fulfillment: the ancient city fell suddenly under the Medes and Persians, and the end-time worldwide system will likewise be suddenly and totally destroyed under the wrath of God.
Les Feldick teaches that it is not. He points to the Old Testament, which says the ancient city will never be rebuilt and will be a habitation of nothing but wild animals and birds of prey. He disagrees with books and Bible teachers who claim the ancient city will be rebuilt as a great trade center and cultural center, noting that even Saddam Hussein's grandiose schemes to rebuild the city have not succeeded.
Babylon in Revelation represents the whole global picture — the entire worldwide system of the world's religions, the world's politics, and the world's economics. It is the one-world concept in which Tokyo, Berlin, London, Rome, and New York are like one tightly knit group, and the world is getting smaller through communication systems and transportation. Les says whenever you see the word Babylon in Revelation, always think of the whole global system, which Scripture can speak of as one city.
When Babylon falls, 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. The setting is the seventh bowl judgment in Revelation 16, where great Babylon comes in remembrance before God to receive the cup of the fierceness of His wrath, and the cities of the nations fall. Les also teaches the near and far view of Jeremiah 51:8 — the ancient city fell suddenly when the Medes and Persians entered under the walls, and the end-time worldwide system will also be suddenly and totally destroyed.
Some Bible teachers and authors claim that the ancient city of Babylon will be rebuilt and become a great trade and cultural center in order to be the Babylon of the book of Revelation. Les says he begs to differ on the basis of Scripture. He notes that in Revelation 18, many people try to make the Babylon spoken of there the ancient city rebuilt, but the Old Testament says it will never be rebuilt — it will remain a habitation of wild beasts and birds of prey.
The Seventh Bowl Judgment Setting
The seventh bowl judgment in Revelation 16 is the end-times setting in which great Babylon is judged; Les enters this passage as he teaches the final events of the tribulation.
Babylon as the Whole World System
Les explains that the Babylon of Revelation is not the ancient city, which the Old Testament says will never be rebuilt, but the whole worldwide one-world system — and its fall will be all the world's cities falling into nothingness by God's spoken word.
Distinguishing Revelation's Babylon from a Rebuilt City
Contrary to books claiming the ancient city will be rebuilt, Les shows that Revelation's Babylon is not any one city but the whole world, which has become small through communication and transportation.
Babylon as Religion, Politics, and Economics
Les teaches that whenever Babylon appears in Revelation, it refers to the whole global picture — comprising the world's religions, the world's politics, and the world's economics.
The Whole Global System
Because Scripture says the ancient city will never be rebuilt, Les identifies Revelation's Babylon as the whole global system — one word for a world where the global market intertwines everything.
Ancient Babylon vs. the Present World System
Les holds that ancient Babylon and the present-day world-system Babylon are not the same, even though some theologians expect the old city to be rebuilt; he notes that even Saddam Hussein's rebuilding efforts are not succeeding.
Revelation 18 – Babylon the Great Is Fallen
In Revelation 18:1-2, the angel declares that Babylon the great is fallen, and Les points out that many try to make this the rebuilt ancient city rather than the end-times system.
The Near and Far Fall of Babylon
Using Jeremiah 51:8, Les shows a near fulfillment when the Medes and Persians destroyed ancient Babylon suddenly, and a far fulfillment when the end-time worldwide system of economy, politics, and religion will be suddenly and totally destroyed by God's wrath.
Revelation 18:2: And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.
The angelic announcement of Babylon's fall — the verse Les teaches when showing that Revelation's Babylon is an end-times system, 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.
Les uses this verse to show both the historic sudden fall of ancient Babylon and the future sudden destruction of the end-time worldwide system.
Isaiah 13:19-20: And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. 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 declaration that ancient Babylon will never be inhabited again — the basis for Les's teaching that Revelation's Babylon cannot be a rebuilt ancient city.
Revelation 16:19: And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
At the seventh bowl judgment, great Babylon is judged along with the cities of the nations, showing the worldwide scope of God's wrath.
No. Les Feldick teaches that the Babylon of Revelation is the whole worldwide system, not the ancient city. The Old Testament says the ancient city will never be rebuilt — it will be a habitation of wild animals and birds of prey (Isaiah 13:19-20) — so Revelation's Babylon must be understood as the entire global system.
Babylon in Revelation represents the whole global picture — the world's religions, the world's politics, and the world's economics coming together as a one-world system. Les says whenever you see Babylon in Revelation, think of the entire world, where the cities of the earth are like one tightly knit group.
When Babylon falls, all the cities of the world will in one hour fall into nothingness by the spoken word of God — it will not be just one city. Revelation 16:19 shows great Babylon receiving the cup of God's wrath at the seventh bowl while the cities of the nations fall.
Watch the Teaching: What Really Happens at Armageddon — Revelation 16 & 19