How Has the Historical Influence of Babylon Contributed to the Formation of the Great BABYLON of our Time?

Apr 15, 2025

From the dust of ancient Mesopotamia to the palaces of modern power, an invisible hand has woven itself through human history. Satan has never changed his intention. Since the dawn of time, his purpose has been one: to rebel against the Almighty and drag all of humanity with him toward corruption, idolatry, and spiritual independence. Its name is ancient, yet its influence is alive today: Babylon. But Babylon is not merely a ruined city or a fallen empire—it is a spirit, a system, a mystery. It is the mother of harlots, a seductive force wrapped in spiritual deception, clothed in splendor but inwardly corrupted. Its essence remains the same, but its methods have evolved. It no longer needs snakes in gardens or statues in deserts. Today, its work is disguised as modern ideologies, seductive entertainment, diluted religions, and systems that promote a life without God. It is a reality that continues to shape cultures, influence governments, manipulate religion, and prepare the way for global apostasy.

This article explores how historic Babylon has influenced generations leading to the prophetic identity of Babylon the Great—as revealed in Scripture, confirmed by history, and witnessed in the present. It traces Babylon's origins, exposes its transformations, and alerts God's people to its final judgment. It is a message off warning, of revelation, and ultimately, of hope for those who remain faithful to the Lamb.

The Vision of John: Unveiling the Mystery of Babylon

In Revelation 17, John receives a profound vision while exiled on Patmos. He sees a woman clothed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones, holding a cup of abominations. As written in Revelation 17:4-5: "The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand filled with everything detestable and with the impurities of her prostitution. On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE DETESTABLE THINGS OF THE EARTH." This vision reveals more than mere symbolism—it exposes a spiritual reality. The woman represents a corrupt religious system, wearing the colors of royalty and sin. Her outward splendor masks her true nature, symbolized by the cup of spiritual fornication she holds.

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While some associate this Babylon with the ancient city, John's vision points to something greater. Though the physical Babylon lay in ruins, its religious system lived on, spreading across cultures and ages. It maintained its core essence: rebellion against God and the worship of creation rather than the Creator, as described in Romans 1:25: "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever."

Today, this system manifests in modern religious ceremonies, rituals, and institutions that compromise biblical truth. Its influence extends through cathedrals, governments, media, and false teachings. Though its appearance has changed, its nature remains the same—a global spiritual deception awaiting final judgment, as warned in Revelation 18:2-3. How did this ancient religion evolve into such a pervasive force? How has a system born in antiquity managed to maintain its influence in our modern world?

The Genesis of Babylon: Nimrod and the Rebellion Against God

In Genesis 11, we encounter a pivotal moment after the flood: humanity, unified by language, settles in the plain of Shinar. Here, the first city of Babel is built—marking the genesis of organized rebellion. The man behind this movement is Nimrod, described as a "mighty one" before the Lord (Genesis 10:8-10). The Hebrew word gibbore suggests not just strength but tyrannical rule. His name means "we shall rebel," and rebel he did—not only politically but spiritually.

Rather than fearing God, Nimrod sought to centralize power, protect people through cities, and defy the divine command to spread across the earth (Genesis 11:4). He established a religious system—a counterfeit priesthood filled with idolatry and perversion. Nimrod met a violent end; his body was dismembered, burned, and scattered across several regions, reminiscent of other biblical accounts. Though his death was deeply mourned by the people, his religious system did not perish with him. Instead, it was strengthened and expanded under the leadership of his wife, Semiramis.

After Nimrod's death, Semiramis, who had engaged in fornication, became pregnant and gave birth to Tammuz. To conceal her sin and maintain power, she fabricated a religious deception. She claimed that Nimrod had become a sun god and had visited her in rays of sunlight, miraculously impregnating her. She also declared that she herself had descended from the moon, leading to her worship as a moon goddess. She declared that her son, Tammuz, was Nimrod reincarnated (Ezekiel 8:14). This blasphemous claim deliberately mimicked the prophetic promise of the virgin birth of the true Messiah. Through this deception, she established the Babylonian trinity—Nimrod (the sun god), Semiramis (self-proclaimed queen of heaven and moon goddess), and Tammuz (their supposedly divine child). This elaborate false trinity became the pillars of a false religion that imitated the true divine plan, and their corrupt system spread throughout the world. The prophet Jeremiah condemned this cult directly in chapter 7:18 and again in 44:17-19, where he denounced offerings made to the “queen of heaven.” The Israelites fell into it, as did nearly every ancient nation. Babylon became, as Jeremiah 51:7 says, “a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth drunk.”

The Spread of Mystery Religion: From Babel to the Nations

When God scattered the nations by confusing their language, they carried Babylonian religion with them. The mother-child cult transformed and spread across different civilizations, taking various forms throughout the ancient world. In Egypt, it manifested as Isis and Horus, while in India, it appeared as Devaki and Krishna. The Chinese knew it through Shingmu and her child, the Romans through Fortuna and Jupiter, the Greeks through Aphrodite and Eros, and the Druids through Paraura and her son. In Assyria, it emerged as Ishtar and Tammuz, in Phoenicia as Ashtoreth and Baal, in Persia as Anahita and Mithra, and among the Scandinavians as Freya and Balder. In Celtic mythology, it appeared as Ceridwen and her child, while the Germanic tribes knew it as Frigg and Baldur. The Slavic peoples worshipped Lada and Lelya, and the Japanese had Amaterasu and Okuninushi. The Babylonian influence even reached the Americas, where the Aztecs worshipped Coatlicue and Huitzilopochtli, and the Incas had Mama Quilla and Inti. In Southeast Asia, it manifested as Quan Yin in Vietnam and Guanyin in China. The African traditions included Yemoja and her divine child among the Yoruba, while Native American cultures had the White Buffalo Calf Woman and her sacred offspring. In Polynesian mythology, it appeared as Hina and her son Maui, and in Australian Aboriginal mythology as the Great Mother and the Rainbow Serpent.

The imagery remained remarkably consistent across cultures—a mother goddess with a child, typically depicted with halos, stars, or sacred animals. This worship system was characterized by mystery rituals, secret doctrines, and spiritual fornication. Though the names and specific practices evolved over time, the essential nature remained unchanged: it exalted creation over the Creator, replaced genuine repentance with empty rituals, and elevated human wisdom above divine revelation.

Centuries later, the Apostle Paul in Romans 1:21-26 and Romans 1:28-32 perfectly described this process of spiritual corruption:

"For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks to him. But they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. Therefore God delivered them over in the desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served what has been created instead of the Creator, who is praised forever. Amen. And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right."

Babylonian Influence in the Roman Church

By the third and fourth centuries A.D., Christianity—once persecuted—became institutionalized under Constantine. What followed was not the destruction of paganism, but its incorporation. Pagan temples were renamed churches. Pagan gods became saints. Ancient festivals were rebranded as Christian holidays - Several pagan traditions were adapted into Christian practices. For instance, December 25th was originally celebrated as the birthday of Mithras, a Roman sun god (Baal), before it became Christmas. Similarly, what we now know as Easter was originally a spring festival honoring Ishtar (Semiramis), an ancient fertility goddess. Religious ceremonies were also transformed: Ancient pagan ceremonies for welcoming new members, often known as initiation, was rebranded as Christian baptism. Traditional coming-of-age ceremonies from mystery religions were adapted into the Christian confirmation ceremony. Even the simple pagan ritual feast of "Cakes and Ale" was transformed into the Christian Eucharist (communion).

One of the most obvious examples was the cult of Mary. While Scripture honors Mary as the faithful mother of Jesus, the Roman church eventually exalted her to near-divine status: immaculate, co-mediatrix, queen of heaven—titles rooted not in the Bible but in Babylonian tradition. As seen in Jeremiah 7:18 and Jeremiah 44:17-19, where the idolatrous worship of this "queen of heaven" is denounced. The biblical text states: "The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead the dough to make cakes for the queen of heaven and to make offerings to other gods to provoke me to anger." Additionally, in Jeremiah 44:25-27, God pronounces judgment on those who make vows to the queen of heaven, showing His strong opposition to this practice.

Church historian Epiphanius condemned the worship of Mary as a goddess in the fourth century. Theologians like John Gil and John Henry Newman noted that Marian veneration mirrored ancient mother-goddess worship patterns. As religious scholar Lorraine Boettner observes, rather than rejecting paganism, the church simply transformed it. Many religious elements—incense, holy water, priestly vestments, images, pilgrimages, and even the title "Pontifex Maximus" (meaning "chief bridge-builder," originally held by the chief priest of the Roman state religion and Roman emperors, before being adopted by the bishops of Rome - Pope)—can be traced to Babylonian origins.

Modern Ecumenism and the Rise of the False Church

As we read the identity of Babylon in Revelation 17, she is not a literal woman but a spiritual entity—a global religious-political system inspired by Babylon. She is seductive, powerful, and deeply corrupt. Her "fornication" with kings and merchants symbolizes illicit alliances between religious authority and worldly power. She is not the name of one church—it is the sum of all systems that pervert truth, worship false gods, and oppose the gospel. Her cup is filled with the blood of martyrs, for she persecutes those who resist her lies. Her influence touches cathedrals, parliaments, media, music, and culture. She has evolved from a Babylon city-state into a global power.

In our time, Babylon’s face is revealed in the global push for religious unity without truth. Under the guise of peace and tolerance, the ecumenical movement seeks to unite Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, esotericism or even open satanism in shared worship—often by removing doctrinal differences and excluding Christ as the only way.

On February 4, 2019, Pope Francis and Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, signed the “Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together” in Abu Dhabi, declaring religious diversity as part of God’s will. The document calls for interfaith dialogue, mutual respect, and explicitly states: “The pluralism and the diversity of religions, colour, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings.” (Vatican.va, 2019). The document is widely recognized as a milestone in Christian-Muslim relations, aiming to promote peace and coexistence among all people. It led to the establishment of the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity and inspired the UN to designate February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity (Wikipedia, 2025).

In 2023, the Abrahamic Family House opened in Abu Dhabi—an interfaith complex housing a mosque (Imam Al-Tayeb Mosque), a church (St. Francis Church), and a synagogue (Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue). The project was inspired by the Document on Human Fraternity and supervised by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (Human Fraternity, 2023; CNN, 2023; Wikipedia, 2025).

Yet this unity is not based on the gospel but on a faceless, crossless spirituality. It denies the Lordship of Jesus, the necessity of repentance, and the exclusivity of salvation through Him. As theologian Francis Schaeffer warned, this ecumenism is the final betrayal—a harlot church trading truth for acceptance. Most painfully, many evangelical churches are falling into this trap. The great harlot is making the nations drunk with the wine of her spiritual fornication. Christian movements that once stood firm in defending the faith now promote unity without doctrinal foundation. They encourage interfaith prayer gatherings, maintain silence on controversial issues, and avoid preaching repentance for fear of offending.

This spirit is evident in today's world, as described in 2 Timothy 3:1-5: "But know this: Hard times will come in the last days. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, proud, demeaning, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, without love for what is good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to the form of godliness but denying its power." Those who preach that Christ is the only way are labeled fanatics (AFA, 2015). Those who uphold biblical views of sin face accusations of hatred (American Family Radio, 2015). Those who preach against homosexuality are labeled as hate speech promoters (ACLU, 2025) In Sweden, for example, a pastor was prosecuted under hate speech laws for preaching against homosexuality, with authorities arguing that quoting the Bible on this topic constituted hate speech: “Pastors in Sweden are now on notice–if you preach what the Bible teaches about homosexuality, you will go to jail. The watching world and the praying church must bear witness to this violation of conscience.” (Albert Mohler, 2004).

We see example of those who condemn abortion, divorce, and remarriage being dismissed as ignorant or outdated (David, 2009), while Those who call for repentance, which is central to the gospel (Acts 17:30), yet it is increasingly seen as intolerant or judgmental. The gospel’s message that all have sinned and need forgiveness is now considered by some as the “unpardonable sin” of intolerance: “The message of Christianity is very intolerant. After all... the gospel is a message of severity as well as consolation.” (American Family Association, 2015).

Meanwhile, new legislation increasingly protects falsehood while penalizing truth. Recent legal trends in some countries have seen the expansion of hate speech laws and anti-discrimination statutes that, intentionally or not, restrict the public expression of biblical truths—especially on sexuality and gender(Albert, 2004). Meanwhile, the same legal systems often protect speech that promotes unbiblical or even demonstrably false ideas, under the banner of free expression (Cass, 2020; Knight Columbia, 2022; The Fire, 2023).This creates a paradox where truth is penalized and falsehood is protected. Such is the strategy of the great harlot—first to seduce, then to dominate, and finally to shed blood, as warned in Revelation 13:15-17. Revelation 17:6 describes this woman as "drunk with the blood of the saints." This spiritual intoxication symbolizes her pleasure in silencing truth, persecuting preachers, and destroying those who will not conform. History bears witness through centuries of institutional religious systems that persecuted, condemned, and executed thousands of martyrs who refused to submit to their authority. This pattern is not merely historical—it will resurface with even greater intensity in the final days.

Babylon and the Antichrist: A Temporary Alliance

According to 2 Thessalonians 2, the Antichrist cannot be revealed until the Restrainer— the Holy Spirit within the Church—is removed. After the Rapture, the stage will be set. The Antichrist will rise, and Babylon will be his religious platform. Revelation 17 shows the woman riding the beast, symbolizing that the religious system will initially dominate the political order. But this is short-lived. Revelation 17:16 says the beast and ten kings "will hate the prostitute… and burn her with fire." The Antichrist will destroy the prostitute once her usefulness ends and this is when the Antichrist is fully helped to sit in God's temple declaring himself as god. Her judgment is both strategic and divine.

Revelation 18 declares Babylon's downfall in a single hour. Her destruction will be total. Kings will wail. Merchants will weep. Why? Because Babylon represented not only false religion, but also greedy commerce, moral decay, and human trafficking—including the "souls of men" (Rev. 18:13). A mighty angel casts a stone into the sea, declaring, "With violence Babylon shall be thrown down, never to rise again." Her fall is permanent. Her wealth, influence, and deception—all consumed. Heaven rejoices (Rev. 19:1–2) for God's justice is fulfilled.

Conclusion: Be Watchful, Be Separate, Be Faithful

Babylon's influence has reached its peak in our world today, having worked through centuries to establish its deceptive systems. The time for decisive action is NOW. As this corrupt system's final form emerges, every believer must make an urgent choice - there is no middle ground. God's warning is clear and time is running out.

The Lord's command rings with unprecedented urgency: "COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, before it's too late!" (Revelation 18:4). This is not just a suggestion - it is a divine imperative. The time for compromise is over. We must completely separate ourselves from false religious systems, worldly values, and everything that stands against the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

The signs are clear - Christ's return is imminent. The Rapture could happen at any moment. Now is the time to examine your heart, repent of all sin, and ensure you are ready to meet the Lord. Don't risk being left behind to face the judgment that will come upon this corrupt system. Turn to Jesus Christ today - tomorrow may be too late.

Remember: Babylon cannot be reformed or redeemed - it must be completely abandoned. The choice is yours, but the consequences are eternal. Will you heed God's final warning and come out, or will you perish with this doomed system?

Take heart - for those who choose Christ, glorious hope awaits. The Lamb will reign victorious. All man-made systems will crumble, and the New Jerusalem will descend in glory. Truth will triumph eternally as the kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"TODAY, IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS" (Hebrews 3:15)

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