Babylon Reference

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---Dave Gaban <drrod@slip.net> wrote:


> > BRYCE

> >      Babylon the city was probably the most famous of Israel's

ancient

> > enemies, and one which most Jews would have a passing familiarity

> > with.  Many of the books of the New Testament were written during

the

> > Roman occupation, when referring to Rome as "Rome" would have set

the

> > author up for crucifixion.  Instead, writers would speak

symbolically,

> > so that those who were familiar with the "code" would understand the

> > message, while maintaining plausible deniability if the author was

> > caught.  Isaac Asimov's Guide to the Bible uses basically this

concept

> > to explain both Revelations and Daniel.

> > 

> >      As for the 1 Peter 5:13 quote, it doesn't really appear to fit

> > the same mold as Revelations.  While Revelations was filled with

> > symbolic predictions of the fall of Rome,  "Peter" seems to be using

> > it as a straightforward place name.  My theory is that as the author

> > was writing to the locations listed in 1 Peter 1:1, he wanted to

brag

> > that the new Christian church had members in as distant and exotic

> > location as Babylon.  It's sort of like how the LDS Church keeps

> > harping on the fact that they now have a foothold in Russia.  Anyone

> > object to this interpretation?

> > 

>  Dave G.

> Bryce, I'm not saying it wasn't a code, I could be wrong.  However, to

> interpret the true meaning and use of Babylon as a code for Rome, Is

> there a non-biblical source from the era in which these books were

> written, that can confirm the use of Babylon in place of Rome as a

code?

BRYCE
     As far as I know, the use of "coding" can only be inferred from
textual clues.  Usually, when Rome is called "Babylon," there will be
predictions of its fall or destruction, and it will be accompanied by
symbolic representations of other nations.  For example, in
Revelations 9, the really strange looking locust are thought by some
to represent the Parthanians (if I remember correctly.)  I would
hazard a guess that, since 1 Peter doesn't appear to contain anything
"treasonous," the quote can be taken at face value.
     
==
Bryce Anderson
http://members.tripod.com/~Idafab/index.html

How can it be tourist season if we can't shoot them?



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