(31) Debunking Jerusalem as the Great Harlot THE BOOK OF REVELATION Session 58 - YouTube
In this video, Joel Richardson makes a disingenuous attempt to debunk the view that Jerusalem is the Great Harlot of Revelation 17 and 18. Richardson's talent for misrepresenting opposing views should be a matter of serious concern to those who take the time to test his various teachings against the scriptures. (1 John 4:1).
Richardson; "In the session, I am going to take on the position that Mystery Babylon is referring to present-day Jerusalem, it is referring to an end-time entity. It is referring to Jerusalem at the end of the age just before the return of Jesus. In other words, the Jerusalem of today is in fact Babylon the Great."
The view that Jerusalem is the Great Harlot refers to eschatological (future) Jerusalem, not present-day Jerusalem. This point is very difficult to miss since two of the best-known scholars who hold this view, Chris White and J Paul Tanner, have gone to some lengths to emphasize that they are referring to Eschatological (future) Jerusalem.
Chris White: "I believe Mystery Babylon is the eschatological city of Jerusalem. I chose my words very carefully in this description. In other words, I believe it is the Jerusalem of the end times, where, according to Daniel 11:45, the Anti-Christ sets up his end-times world government and end-times world religion headquarters." {1}
Richardson points out that two women are identified in the book of Revelation, Jerusalem and Babylon, but he is unwilling to admit that it is possible for these two opposing "women" to exist simultaneously in one location. There were two opposing factions within physical Jerusalem in Jesus' time; those who believed and accepted Him as their Messiah, and those who falsely claimed to be the true descendants of Abraham due to their lineage. (John 8:33,39). Jesus identified his primary enemies as the scribes and Pharisees and He did not hesitate to condemn them. (John 8:44-45). The religious hierarchy of Jerusalem continued its fierce opposition to the gospel throughout the Book of Acts and beyond. (Acts 18:5-6). The faction that bitterly opposes Jesus today within Jerusalem will make a strong covenant with the Antichrist for one week (seven years). (Daniel 9:27). If anyone thinks it is anti-semitic to say such a thing, then we should consider how Jesus Himself regarded them.
It should be noted that all true believers are commanded to evacuate Jerusalem at the midpoint of the 70th week of Daniel when the city will be given over to the Antichrist.
But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. (Luke 21:20-24).
So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (Matthew 24:15-22 cf. Daniel 9:27, 11:31, 12:11; Revelation 13:7).
Richardson promotes the view that Mecca, the centre of the Islamic faith, is the Great Harlot. However, Babylon is defined as a name of mystery, i.e. it is non-literal: And on her forehead was written a name of mystery:“Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” (Revelation 17:5). The non-literal name of Babylon is further alluded to in 1 Peter 5:13. It is probable that the place alluded to by Peter is Jerusalem since there is no evidence that Peter ever visited Rome.
Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” (Revelation 17:1-2,15). Revelation 17:15 identifies many waters as peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. This is an apt description of the Antichrist's authority over the kings of the earth/the earth dwellers during the 70th week of Daniel. (Revelation 17:12-13).
Richardson's claim that Babylon the Great must be a seaport is another one of his intentional errors. The text indicates that much wealth is made from Babylon the Great by those who earn their living on the sea. At the time of her destruction, the seafarers stood far off. (Revelation 18:17). This indicates that there is some distance between the seafarers and Babylon the Great. Jerusalem is approximately 50km/30 miles inland. It is perfectly feasible that her destruction will be visible from the Mediterranean Sea. One possibility is the seaport of Ashdod which is known as the "gateway to Jerusalem".
And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?” 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! (Revelation 18:17-19).
There can be no doubt that Jerusalem will be the headquarters of the Antichrist and the epicenter of eschatological iniquity. This iniquity will quickly fan out and engulf the entire world following the abomination of desolation event at the midpoint of the 70th week of Daniel. (Daniel 9:27). The Antichrist ..opposes and exalts himself over every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:4 cf. Matthew 24:15; Daniel 9:27, 11:31-32 ). Jerusalem, especially the future temple, is the most coveted place on earth for the Antichrist (empowered by Satan) to set up his headquarters. The original temple housed God's glory (1 Kings 6:1,37-38; 8:10-11), and it appears that the third temple will be the site of the Antichrist's lying signs and wonders. (2 Thessalonians 2:9). It is difficult to imagine a more wicked place on earth during this 3.5-year period of time. Jerusalem will be the city where the Antichrist will be hailed as the one true god by the inhabitants remaining in the city. There will be a brief moment of victory for the Antichrist and his supporters. (John 8:44).
..there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints (Revelation 18:24). Jerusalem is held responsible for the blood of the prophets and saints. The words spoken are in the present tense and embrace both the past and the future. : “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” (Matthew 23:37-39 cf. Luke 13:34-35). Opposition to the beast system will arise in the form of the two witnesses, the final martyrs killed in Jerusalem. ..the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified (Revelation 11:8). Worldwide persecution against the tribulation saints will arise from the Antichrists headquarters in Jerusalem. (Revelation 12:17, 13:7).
Meyer:
Matthew 23:37 ff.
"After denouncing all those woes against the scribes and Pharisees, the departing Redeemer, looking with sad eye into the future, sets the holy city also—which He sees hastening to its destruction under the false guidance of those leaders—in a living connection with the tragic contents of Matthew 23:34 ff., but in such a way that his parting words are no longer denunciations of woe, but the deep wail of a heart wounded, because its love has been despised. Thus Matthew 23:37 ff. forms an appropriate conclusion to the whole drama of the discourse. Luke 13:34 introduces the words in a historical connection entirely different." {2}
Jerusalem and Babylon are both described as "the great city" in the book of Revelation. (Revelation 11:8, 14:8, 16:9, 17:18, 18:10). Richardson suggests that this phrase proves no connection between the two cities since other cities are described as "great" in the scriptures e.g. Gibeon (Joshua 10:2), Jericho (Jonah 1:2, 3:2, 4:11). These additional references to great cities in the Old Testament refer to previous cities, whereas eschatologically, the phrase "the great city" is limited to Jerusalem/Babylon.
Richardson's emotive argument pulls on the heartstrings and is based on God's love for Jerusalem and His intent to restore her. These prophecies concerning the future blessings of Jerusalem are obviously true, and yet at the same time, it is clear that Jerusalem's future blessed state comes through judgement and repentance. When Paul stated: all Israel will be saved (Romans 11:26), he was not referring to every single Israelite, but to the remnant who survive the Antichrist's persecution, aka the time of Jacob's trouble (Jeremiah 30:7 cf. Jeremiah 30:22; Hosea 6:1-2; Zechariah 12:10; Joel 2:32). Two-thirds of the Jewish people will perish during the great tribulation. (Zechariah 13:8-9). The surviving remnant of Israel will consist of one-third of the Jewish people i.e. those who call out to the Lord in repentance. (Revelation 12:14).
And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.“On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness. (Zechariah 12:10-14, 13:1).
The earliest known commentary on the Book of Revelation identifies Jerusalem as the Great Harlot:
Hippolytus - On Christ and Antichrist: By the unrighteous judge, who fears not God, neither regards man, he means without doubt Anti-Christ, as he is a son of the devil and a vessel of Satan. For when he has the power, he will begin to exalt himself against God, neither in truth fearing God, nor regarding the Son of God, who is the Judge of all. And in saying that there was a widow in the city, he refers to Jerusalem itself, which is a widow indeed, forsaken of her perfect, heavenly spouse, God. She calls Him her adversary, and not her Saviour; for she does not understand that which was said by the prophet Jeremiah: “Because they obeyed not the truth, a spirit of error shall speak then to this people and to Jerusalem.” {3}
The great city of Babylon will ultimately be completely obliterated in one day/in one hour and will be found no more. (Revelation 16:18-19; 18:8, 10, 17, 19, 21). Interestingly Ezekiel 40-48 tells us that millennial Jerusalem will bear no resemblance to the current city of Jerusalem regarding its size, location and topography. Jerusalem will sit on a high plateau and will have two rivers flowing from its east and west sides. In respect of size, Jerusalem will be nine times larger than present-day Jerusalem. The physical location of the city will not be in the exact location of the present city. The vast temple will be bigger than the current city of Jerusalem and will be located outside the city. Millennial Jerusalem, renamed the Lord is there, bears no comparison with present-day Jerusalem. (Ezekiel 48:35).
I find the case for eschatological Jerusalem as the Great Harlot very convincing. Like many other believers, I was influenced by Dave Hunt and other teachers who promoted Rome as
The woman riding the beast aka the Great Harlot. However, looking at it with fresh eyes, I now wonder why did not realize that eschatological Jerusalem fulfils all the criteria for the Great Harlot. Where I differ with Chris White is that I do not think that the Antichrist will claim to be the Jewish Messiah. My present view is that the Antichrist will pretend to be a political ally and a powerful friend
to the Jewish people up until the midpoint of the 70th week. White's concluding analysis promoting Jerusalem as the location of Armageddon as against Megiddo originated with Michael Heiser who I do not endorse. {4}
I have expressed my concerns about Richardson's background in previous posts. Richardson was "prophetically endorsed" by false prophet Paul Cain, which is no endorsement at all! During the same meeting, Cain also endorsed and kick-started the ministry of hyper-grace teacher Joseph Prince. Later, Cain transferred his "anointing" to Todd Bentley. {5} Richardson's disastrous associations with Whalid Shobat, TBN, and more recently with Dalton Thomas (Frontier Alliance International), casts further doubt on the validity of his ministry.
Richardson is a popular speaker and many take him at face value and do not care to delve deeper into some of his questionable assertions. In particular, Richardsons teaching regarding an Islamic Antichrist is deeply flawed. There are those who genuinely seek truth through exhaustive study and sound exegesis, and there are those who peddle their wares and twist the scriptures for their own motives. I would define Richardson as belonging to the latter. (2 Corinthians 2:17).
Further Links
Tanner_ETS Paper on Rev 17-18_Mar 20 2017.pdf (paultan
(conspiracyclothes.com)
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