Lorenzo Palon

Revelation’s Warning and the Corruption of a Nation

When the Apostle John described his vision of “Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and of the Abominations of the Earth” (Revelation 17:5), he was not simply talking about one ancient city. In Scripture, Babylon is a symbol of systemic evil—human society organized in rebellion against God. It is where power is abused, wealth is idolized, and justice is trampled.¹

Babylon has always been with us. It was there in the Tower of Babel, when humanity tried to make a name for itself apart from God (Genesis 11:9). It was there in Nebuchadnezzar’s empire, when Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and exalted itself above the Lord (Isaiah 47:7–8). It was there in Rome, which persecuted the early church (1 Peter 5:13). And Babylon is still here today, manifesting in nations and governments that mirror its corruption. Augustine called this reality the civitas terrena—the “earthly city” founded on self-love and pride, standing in opposition to the civitas Dei, the City of God.²

For us in the Philippines, the imagery of Babylon feels painfully familiar.

The Marks of Babylon

Revelation gives us several features of Babylon that can be seen in corrupt societies today:

• Luxury built on exploitation – “The merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living” (Revelation 18:3). In our nation, we see how greed enriches the few while millions struggle in poverty. Filipino theologian Eleazar Fernandez has described corruption in the Philippines as a “culture of exploitation” where power and wealth are concentrated at the top, while the poor are systematically left behind.³
• Blood on her hands – “I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6). Violence, killings, and injustice without accountability echo this verse in our headlines. William Henry Scott notes that Philippine history is marked by cycles of oppressive regimes, where ordinary citizens bear the brunt of systemic violence.⁴
• Idolatry of power – Babylon boasts, “I sit as queen, I am no widow, and mourning I shall never see” (Revelation 18:7). In the same way, many leaders cling to power as if they were untouchable, forgetting that authority is meant to serve, not dominate (Mark 10:42–45). As José de Mesa warns, political idolatry is one of the greatest temptations facing Philippine Christianity.⁵

These are not just ancient descriptions—they read like a mirror held up to our society today.

The Philippines as a modern-day Babylon

Corruption in the Philippines is not merely the fault of a few bad politicians. It is systemic, woven into governance, economy, and even culture. From vote-buying to misuse of public funds, from nepotism to political dynasties—the spirit of Babylon thrives where self-interest replaces justice (Micah 3:11; Isaiah 1:23).

And it is not only in government. Babylon’s influence seeps into everyday life:

• Bribery accepted as “normal” (Proverbs 17:23).
• Dishonesty tolerated if it benefits one’s family (Proverbs 11:1).
• A culture of impunity where the powerful rarely face consequences (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

As Revelation warns, Babylon makes nations “drunk with the wine of her immorality” (Revelation 14:8). Corruption does not simply oppress—it seduces ordinary people into compromise.

God’s Call: “Come Out of Her, My People”

In Revelation 18:4, a voice from heaven declares: “Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.”

This is a prophetic word for us today:

• Reject compromise – “Do not be conformed to this world” (Romans 12:2). Refuse to participate in bribery, dishonesty, or unjust practices.
• Live as witnesses – “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
• Hold systems accountable – “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Proverbs 31:8).

We cannot change Babylon by becoming like her. We resist her by living as citizens of the kingdom of God, embodying truth, justice, and love.

The Fall of Babylon, the Hope of God’s Kingdom

Revelation does not end with Babylon’s arrogance—it ends with her collapse. “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” (Revelation 18:2). And in her place, John sees the New Jerusalem, the holy city of God (Revelation 21:2).

This is our hope: corruption, though deeply entrenched, is not eternal. Every empire of greed will fall. God’s justice will prevail. “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

For the Philippines, this is both a warning and a promise. A warning—that no nation can persist in corruption without facing God’s judgment (Galatians 6:7). A promise—that God is raising up a people who live differently, bearing witness to His righteousness even in the midst of broken systems (Philippians 2:15).

Conclusion

Babylon is not just Rome. Babylon is not just ancient history. Babylon is anywhere—yes, even here in the Philippines—where greed, injustice, and idolatry reign. But the call of Revelation is not despair. It is hope.

“Come out of her, my people.” (Revelation 18:4) We are called to resist Babylon’s corruption, to live as citizens of God’s kingdom, and to trust that one day Babylon will fall and the New Jerusalem will shine in glory.

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Footnotes

1. Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993), 35–40. ↩︎
2. Augustine, The City of God, trans. Henry Bettenson (London: Penguin, 2003), XIX.24. ↩︎
3. Eleazar S. Fernandez, Toward a Theology of Struggle (Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 1994), 87–92. ↩︎
4. William Henry Scott, Cracks in the Parchment Curtain and Other Essays in Philippine History (Quezon City: New Day Publishers, 1982), 65–70. ↩︎
5. José M. de Mesa, In Solidarity with the Culture: Studies in Theological Re-rooting (Quezon City: Maryhill School of Theology, 1991), 112–115. ↩︎