Revelation chapter 17-18

It's possible that the "woman" of chapter 17 of Revelation is referring to Rome, Italy. The reason John did not directly refer to it in his letter is because he was in prison there, and if he referred to them directly, he would be killed. That is why he called it MYSTERY BABYLON in capital letters, so the Roman empire wouldn't know that he was saying Rome would be utterly destroyed by the antichrist. John was a political prisoner on the isle of Patmos during the writing of the letter, so any letter John wrote to them in which the Roman empire was referred to in a negative would not go unpunished. John new, however, that his readers would KNOW without a doubt that he was referring to Rome, Italy for two reasons:

1. Both Rome and Babylon destroyed Jerusalem, and both did it on the exact same day on the Jewish calendar, the 9^th of Av.
2. Both Rome and Babylon persected the Jews.
3. In verse 9, John says writes that the woman sits on seven mountains. Rome, Italy sits on seven hills, AND one of the coins used by the Roman empire during that period featured a picture of a Roman god sitting on seven mountains.

With these clues, there would be NO DOUBT that his readers knew John was referring to Rome, Italy!

The whore of Revelation 17, that rides on the beast, is Rome. In another chapter, it is explained that the 8th kingdom of the antichrist will have the 10 kings (5 from Europe, 5 from Grecia) give them their power in one hour. Then those kings with the antichrist's kingdom while utterly destroy Rome.

In chapter 17, it says the whore is drunk with the blood of the saints, martyrs and prophets. The Roman empire is responsible for the most deaths of Christians over the years...they killed Jesus as well. The persecution of the early church came from Rome. Pope John Paul, and many of the bishops of the Catholic church believe that Rome will be destroyed in the end of days as well because it will become so apostate in the last days. This isn't my opinion or some conspiracy theory. This is the opinion of the actual leaders of the Roman Catholic church.

Parallels between ancient Babylon and Rome:

1. Both invaded Israel

2. Both invaded Jerusalem

3. Both destroyed the temple

4. Both took the temple treasures

5. Both destroyed the temple on the 9th of Av

6. Both burned the temple and the city

7. Both took the Jews as slaves

8. Both killed thousands of Jews

The Babylonian empire and the Roman empire are so similar that John's readers would easily equate the two. There are two areas to discuss: the ancient Babylonian territory ruled by the antichrist, and Rome which in the end of days will apostacize and will be destroyed by fire by the antichrist's armies (Revelation 17). That may be why the antichrist moves his armies into Jerusalem and takes over Egypt, Libya and Ethiopia.

Finally, check out these two maps, and notice the similarities between the two cities:

ANCIENT ROME

A quick check of a map of New York City will probably shock you, because New York City looks very similar to these two cities.