There is nothing in the description of Babylon in Revelation 17–18 to make one think he is referring to some future empire. Babylon for John was very present and very now. He feels it in his feet because where he stands and writes and prays is a location determined by Babylon. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Each century has its Babylons, each country has its Babylons, and each state and city and—yes, church institutions and churches—has the potential to release the powers of Babylon. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Babylon became for Jews and early Christians the most graphic image, metaphor, or trope for a city filled with arrogance, sin, injustice, oppression of God’s people, and idolatry. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

And now we begin to see the significance of Babylon for reading Revelation. This prostitute was intoxicated, not with alcohol, but the blood of the faithful witnesses to Jesus. Her idea of a fun night on the town was finding some Jesus followers and draining their blood into a bowl to drink and feed her raging lust for power. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Revelation is a visionary, auditory experience interpreted for the seven churches, the result of an artistic and graphic imagination. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

Nice ride this morning along Culgoora Road. #cycling #Narrabri #Biketooter

Revelation is a visionary, auditory experience interpreted for the seven churches, the result of an artistic and graphic imagination. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett

We might call John a double dissident because he had his eyes on the evil powers at work in the empire as well as those same powers at work in the church. He saw too much Rome in the church, and not enough church in Rome. Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett