IT IS NOT ABOUT GEOGRAPHY OR HISTORY
Anyone who has read the Bible knows that there are many references to geographical entities called cities (1,074), kingdoms (107) and nations (374). In these modern days our tendency is to think of these entities as legal, corporate entities with unique physical languages, boundaries, governments, people and cultures. In Biblical usage, however, application of these conventional definitions would be misleading and steer readers from the spiritual symbolism God intends.
God’s purpose in the Bible is not to give us lessons in history or geography. Knowing historical and geographical information adds to our spiritual understanding, of course, but our goal is to learn about God and how he works in the spirit world — not about the natural world. Because God is always giving instructions in righteousness, we always look for the spiritual intent of scripture and not just at the literal meaning. Therefore, we should interpret cities, and nations as unique groupings of spiritual people who are under spiritual authority — not as geopolitical entities. Kingdoms, however, are not groupings of people but have more to do with governmental authority which we shall discuss in the following pages.
STUDY TIP: Although we are ultimately concerned with the spiritual meaning of cities, kingdoms and nations, we must acknowledge that God uses the natural facts about these and other physical locations in the Bible to communicate spiritual content. We therefore recommend researching factual information about these physical entities.
The internet has many sites where such information can be found. One site we have found useful is WebBible Encyclopedia. This site contains facts and scriptural references for an extensive list of Biblical locations. It does not appear to offer much in terms of the spiritual meaning of physical locations, but readers who are experienced in symbolic interpretation will be able to discern spiritual content when they combine intellectual (i.e. ginosko) knowledge with spiritual (i.e. epiginosko) knowledge.
This recommendation comes with the usual caution to use discernment when consulting non-biblical resources. Just because they claim to be Biblical and Christian does not guarantee that they are without error. Nevertheless, God does communicate spiritual truth through natural and historical facts, and he does reward those who make an effort to search for truth.
The best clues we have about the spiritual nature of cities, nations and kingdoms are found in these scriptures from Revelation:
Revelation 11:1-8 KJV And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood , saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. 2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. 3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. 4 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. 5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed . 6 These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will . 7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
COMMENTARY: As is well known, the book of Revelation is filled with prophecies and enigmatic symbolism. This is especially true for Jerusalem which has three meanings:
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For example, in verse 2 we find a “holy” city which we know from other scriptures to be Jerusalem.
The imagined purity of Jerusalem’s holiness is radically upset, however, in verse 8 where we find Jerusalem equated with Sodom and Egypt which were both associated with evil. This tells us that Jerusalem was not always holy.
We understand this because Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem — not in either Sodom or Egypt. Jerusalem, therefore, is a spiritual city — not just a physical place. The understanding of Sodom as a godless city is quite well known, and the understanding of Egypt as a nation that worshiped many different gods is also well known. But we do not easily interpret Jerusalem as being godless. What we see in these verses, nevertheless, is Jerusalem represented as being both holy and godless.
City must refer to people not a physical city that is overlaid with holiness.
We have discussed the spiritual meaning of Egypt in Egypt and Babylon.
It is very interesting to notice that verse 8 equates Egypt and Babylon with Jerusalem which is the city where Jesus was actually crucified. Thus the verse actually says that Jerusalem was no better than Babylon or Egypt which were well-known pagan nations.
Revelation 14:6-8 RSV: Then I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; 7 and he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water.” 8 Another angel, a second, followed, saying, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of her impure passion.”
COMMENTARY: These verses give warnings to people to get out of the spiritual city of Babylon. To do that they would need to quit consorting with the religious leaders (i.e. Kings, Queens and Princes) who are able to rule the city/nation through their control of religion because the people related to these leaders as though they were gods.
Basically, the call to get out of Babylon it is a call to repentance for anyone who participates in Old/First Covenant religion to escape and convert to New Covenant disciples. Since Revelation is written to Jews and Christians, it is a call for both to abandon their religions.
The impure passion in verse 8 is Old/First Covenant religion. Babylon will fall because it practices Old/First Covenant religion. People are redeemed, however, when they become New Covenant disciples.
Revelation 16:17-21 RSV: The seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were flashes of lightning, voices, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as had never been since men were on the earth, so great was that earthquake. 19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered great Babylon, to make her drain the cup of the fury of his wrath. 20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found; 21 and great hailstones, heavy as a hundred-weight, dropped on men from heaven, till men cursed God for the plague of the hail, so fearful was that plague.
COMMENTARY: We find here that God is not bringing judgment only on Babylon but on all the cities of all spiritual nations. In this prophecy of judgment, Babylon symbolically represents all cities, kingdoms and nations that practice Old/First Covenant religion in all of its various forms.
Revelation 17:12-18 RSV: And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind and give over their power and authority to the beast; 14 they will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.” 15 And he said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the harlot is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the harlot; they will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and giving over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
COMMENTARY: These verses are hard to interpret. One fact we can reliably interpret is that the Lamb (i.e. Spiritual Messiah) conquers the kings of the city. We also see that the woman (i.e. the harlot) is equated with the city of Babylon.
A good way to interpret this scripture is to say that Old/First Covenant religion is replaced with the New Covenant.
The reference to Lord of lords and King of kings is a way of saying that religious leaders may function as Kings, Queens and Princes for a while, but God is still God and he ultimately replaces their kingdoms with his kingdom and then functions as their King.
We see further symbolism in the harlot seated on waters which are explained as peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues. This means that religious leaders have authority over religious nations such as Judaism and Christianity.
Revelation 18:1-2 RSV: After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority; and the earth was made bright with his splendor. 2 And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit, a haunt of every foul and hateful bird;
COMMENTARY: Here we see that the Kings, Queens and Princes who rule over Babylon are equated with demons and foul spirits. Since kings, queens and princes symbolize religious leaders, they are considered by God to be demons and foul spirits. This is how God sees people who engage in Old/First Covenant religion.
Revelation 18:9-15 RSV: And the kings of the earth, who committed fornication and were wanton with her, will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning; 10 they will stand far off, in fear of her torment, and say, “Alas! alas! thou great city, thou mighty city, Babylon! In one hour has thy judgment come.” 11 And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her, since no one buys their cargo any more, 12 cargo of gold, silver, jewels and pearls, fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, all articles of ivory, all articles of costly wood, bronze, iron and marble, 13 cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and slaves, that is, human souls. 14 “The fruit for which thy soul longed has gone from thee, and all thy dainties and thy splendor are lost to thee, never to be found again!” 15 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,
COMMENTARY: We have identified the spiritual meaning of kings in Kings, Queens and Princes. Obviously they have not committed fornication with a physical city. We interpret this scripture to mean, therefore, that religious leaders in effect engage in fornication with the people of their religious cities, kingdoms and nations.
Engaging in Old/First Covenant religion is the spiritual equivalent of fornication and prostitution in God’s eyes. Religious people pay their religious leaders to teach them and make them feel good about their religion. In God’s language, it is the equivalent of a harlot receiving payment for her sexual services.
The cargo of valuable items with which these kings have traded is identified as human souls in verse 13. That is why God must destroy Babylon.
Kings (i.e. religious leaders) who trade in human souls for money and honor will be very sad and afraid when they observe Babylon’s destruction because their careers and high positions will be destroyed along with Babylon. They will also fear judgment for their involvement as buyers or sellers in commercial religion activities.
References to “merchants” in verses 11 and 15 represent the business of religion in which paid religious leaders (e.g. Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, Apostles, Bishops, Elders, Deacons, Overseers, Rabbis, Popes, Missionaries and Evangelists, singers, writers, etc.) earn income by selling religious information (e.g. teaching, music, books, rituals, etc.) and products for consumption by religious people. These merchants will be sad to see Babylon destroyed because they will lose their incomes.
Revelation 18:15-21 The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud, 16 “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, bedecked with gold, with jewels, and with pearls! 17 In one hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off 18 and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?” 19 And they threw dust on their heads, as they wept and mourned, crying out, “Alas, alas, for the great city where all who had ships at sea grew rich by her wealth! In one hour she has been laid waste. 20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, O saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” 21 Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, “So shall Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence, and shall be found no more;
COMMENTARY: Here we find again that Babylon, a great city, is destroyed. The symbolism is made quite clear in verse 16 where it is said to be clothed with items that are, in natural terms, considered to be beautiful and valuable. These include, money, pride, honor, position etc. In spiritual terms these items are not beautiful or valuable because God does not look at externals. He looks at a person’s heart. Therefore, he sees fit to destroy them because these external things bring glory to people and not to God.
Obviously, calling Babylon “great” is a matter of poetic hyperbole. It is great only in its own eyes — not in God’s eyes
The merchants who gained wealth (i.e.money, pride, honor, position etc.) from Babylon are religious leaders otherwise called kings which we have discussed in Kings, Queens and Princes. They have acquired wealth by selling religious products and services to religious people who do not understand that they do not need to spend money for religious services and products.
The conclusion we draw from these scriptures is that cities are religious institutions occupied by demons and foul spirits (i.e. religious leaders) who practice Defiled Religion — especially Commercial Religion. Furthermore, because nations and kingdoms are nothing more than aggregations of cities, these entities are also spiritual places occupied by religious leaders and their followers who practice defiled religion.