Mystery Babylon: Chapter 9

The Woman Reigneth Over the Kings of the Earth

In this short chapter we shall see more evidence leading us to believe that Mystery Babylon is not the unsaved world in general, but is Satan's counterfeit end-time church masquerading as the true Church of Jesus Christ. Many students of the Bible and theologians down through the centuries have pondered the identity of this great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. The time for God's revelation of these end-time verses simply had not arrived for them. Daniel chapter twelve clearly indicates that many scriptures concerning the timing of the end would not be revealed until the very end of time itself. Probably speaking of the great tribulation period.

"And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." (Revelation 17:18)

Once agian we will say that the city of Rome has taken front row in the lists of possible candidates. Yes Rome, the seat of the Pope who rules the nations of Catholicism. Others have speculated that this great city will be a European city, perhaps Brussels, that is destined to rule a ten nation European Common Market and eventually rule over all the kings of the entire earth. Still others say that ancient Babylon will be rebuilt in Iraq and rise to world prominence. Perhaps the United States, symbolized as a "city," will soon reign over all nations of the world? Who really is this great city that reigns over the kings of the earth? I believe scripture truly discloses her identity if we begin to search the Bible verses.

When we look to the original Greek, we find that the word "reigneth" (Rev. 17:18) is defined as denoting "sovereignty, royal power, dominion." It is pronounced "bas-il-i'-ah" which literally means "hath a kingdom."

The "Zondervan Parallel New Testament In Greek and English" quotes this verse as follows:

"And the woman whom thou sawest is the city - great - having a kingdom over the kings of the earth."

The "Interlinear Greek-English New Testament" quotes this verse this way:

"And the woman whom thou sawest is the city great, which has KINGSHIP over the kings of the earth."

To have kingship or to hold a kingdom over the kings of the earth carries identical meanings. This Greek word "bas-it-i'-ah" is translated "reigneth" only once in scripture, while all other renderings of over two hundred verses translate it as "kingdom," most of which deal with either the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven. Very interesting. When we read in Revelation chapter twelve of the birth of Christ, the man child, we are told in verse five that He will RULE all nations with a rod of iron. To rule all nations would indeed encompass ruling and reigning over the kings of the earth, would it not? "Rule" means to shepherd, guide, or to govern. This is the work of Christ, our Great Shepherd of the sheep. He it is who rules or shepherds over His church, which in turn spiritually reigns over the kings of the earth.

Can we say with any certainty and honesty that one literal city at the end of time will reign over the kings of the earth? Probably not. And so this great city must then be a symbol of some kind. We have already seen from Revelation 17:18 that the woman in the wilderness is this great city. The church of Christ has always ruled in the affairs of man. The Gospel of Christ does indeed rule and reign over every individual on the face of the earth, whether they want to believe that or not makes no difference. God's infallible and holy Word indeed reigns over the kings of the earth. Abraham through faith looked for a CITY which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

"And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD; and thou shalt be called Sought out, a CITY not forsaken." Isaiah 62:12.

An almost identical Greek word to "bas-il-i'-ah" (reigneth; as in reigneth over the kings of the earth) is the word "bas-il-yoo'-o" which is derived from the same Greek word as is "bas-il-i'-ah," both meaning sovereign. The only difference is that this latest word is not translated "reigneth," but is translated "reign." It is basically the very same Greek word that is used in Revelation 17:18. It is given in only two places in scripture, Revelation 11:17 and 20:4.

"Saying, We give thee thanks, O LORD God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast REIGNED." (Revelation 11:17)

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and REIGNED with Christ a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4)

This is nearly the identical word used in describing the woman, now a harlot, who REIGNETH over the kings of the earth! Yes indeed, Christ and His kingdom does reign over the kings of this earth. Even though the visible church has fallen into degradation, its original principles and holy laws nevertheless continue to reign over the souls of unsuspecting man.

"...for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:3)

The woman that reigneth over the kings of the earth is not some unknown worldly entity with a mysterious code name of "Babylon the Great," but she appears to be the faithful woman in the wilderness who was once Christ's own earthly representation. She is now the great harlot - Babylon the Great - because she has opened her doors to the world and has been overtaken by the world of Babylon. She has become Babylon herself; she and the world are one. She, who reigned over the kings of the earth is now being judged in the wilderness. The true Word of God is being taken from her, resulting in condemnation for the outside world, as well as for the corporate church. Every soul who has ever lived has been ruled and reigned by Christ Himself, regardless of whether that person died saved or unsaved. If the phrase "kings of the earth" in this context were meant to symbolize believers only, (since Christians are said to be kings and priests - Revelation 1:6;5:10) the outcome would still be the fact that this Mystery Babylon once ruled over the corporate church through Christ Jesus. However, the term "kings of the earth" can also be a negative term or have a negative fulfillment in scripture such as in the following verses:

Acts 4;26 - "The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ."

Matthew 17:25 - "He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?"

Psalm 2:2 - "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Psalm 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us."

Finally let us consider Lamentations 4:12 - "The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem." The kings of the earth, whether the context is speaking of world rulers, corporate believers within the church or true believers in Christ, the fact remains that Christ rules and reigns over them. Up until God removes or "removed" (past tense) His candlestick from the corporate church, the light of the Christian corporate Church (Christ Himself) was the ruling entity in the souls of men throughout the world. As we just read in Lamentations 4:12, the kings of the earth along with the world would not have believed that the adversary (Satan; Lucifer), the enemy of the Gospel, would have ENTERED into the church of Christ worldwide! But he has! God's Old Testament Israel and His New Testament church have always ruled and reigned over the world in a spiritual sense because God Himself was and still is the omnipotent Ruler and Creator of all things.

Additional passages:

"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness."
"Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great king." (Psalm 48:1-2)

Are there any doubts as to the identity of this great city of Revelation, which reigns over the kings of the earth? Which reigns over the whole earth (Ps. 48:2)?

"The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom RULETH over all." (Psalm 103:19)

"But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it."
"And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
"And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall REIGN over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever." (Micah 4:1,2,7)

"For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him."
"But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me." (Luke 19:26-27)

"For he must REIGN, till he hath put all enemies under his feet." (1 Corinthians 15:25)

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our LORD, and of his Christ; and he shall REIGN for ever and ever." (Revelation 11:15)

"And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia; for the LORD God omnipotent REIGNETH." (Revelation 19:6)

"Who raised up the righteous man from the east, called him to his foot, gave the nations before him, and made him RULE OVER KINGS [cf. Rev. 17:18 "reigns over the kings of the earth"]; he gave him as the dust to his sword, and as driven stubble to his bow." (Isaiah 41:2)

Back : Chapter 8 - The Woman: Drunken with the Blood of the Saints

Next : Chapter 10 - Babylon the Great is Fallen, is Fallen