America and Babylon
To identify and answer the question is America Babylon, we must study Revelation 13. Revelation 13 speaks of two beasts. The first ten verses of Revelation 13 describe the first beast or the papacy in its rise to power (see Who is the Beast of Revelation 13). The Papacy represents Babylon, Revelation 17 (see Can you identify the harlot …)
And the second beast of Revelation 13 represents the United States of America which will play a role with Babylon in the end time events. “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon” (Revelation 13:11). There are several points in this Bible verse that help us see that America is the second beast of Revelation 13 is, and these points are:
- Point 1: Comes into existence around the time that the first beast receives its wound.
- Point 2: Comes up out of the earth.
- Point 3: Has two lamb-like horns.
- Point 4: Speaks like a dragon.
Here is the Biblical explanation for these four points:
Point 1
The second beast comes into existence around the time that the first beast receives its wound. The papal captivity, mentioned in Revelation 13:10, took place in 1798, and the new power (verse 11) was seen emerging at that time. The United States declared its independence in 1776, voted the Constitution in 1787, adopted the Bill of Rights in 1791, and was clearly recognized as a world power by 1798. The timing clearly fits America.
Point 2
The second beast comes out of the earth. Knowing that water in Bible prophecy represents a densely populated area (Revelation 17:15), earth as opposed to water means a scarcely populated area. This new nation would arise in an area of the world that had been virtually unpopulated before the late 1700s. The United States of American arose in a “new land.”
Point 3
The second beast has two lamb-like horns. Horns represent kingdoms, governments (Daniel 7:24; 8:21), and powers (Habakkuk 3:4). Therefore, this nation has two separate powers and the two governing principles upon which the USA was founded which are: civil and religious liberty. Lamb-like horns means an innocent, non-oppressive, and spiritual nation. No other power on earth besides the USA could fit the characteristics and the time frame of the lamb-horned beast.
Point 4
The second beast will speak like a dragon. The ‘lamb-like horns’ and ‘dragon’s voice’ point to a contrast between the peaceful words and the actions of this nation. The dragon is Satan, who works through governments to crush God’s saints by persecution. So “speaking as a dragon” means that the United States (under the influence of Satan) will, in the end time, force people through legal actions to worship contrary to conscience or be punished.
The First Beast (Papacy-Babylon) and Second Beast (America) Will Unite:
Revelation 13:12 states: “And he (the second beast) exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”
The book of Revelation predicts that the government of United States of America will go against the Declaration of Independence and the rights defended by the Constitution concerning religious freedom, and be biased towards the papacy to promote religious intolerance of other beliefs, and persecute those who oppose it.
The United States, will next lead the nations of the world to impose a universal death sentence upon all who refuse to worship the beast or receive his image. “And cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed” (Revelation 13:15).
You can also check out: Revelation 13:16 says people will receive the mark of the beast in the forehead or in the hand. What does this mean?
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In His service,
BibleAsk Team
