Charles Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities tells an enduring story of events and characters caught in the tumultuous aftermath of the French Revolution. Paris and London, the two cities of the title, were at center stage in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Their roles have diminished, and today we find two other cities not only headlining the news, but also playing major roles in the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. In its ultimate fulfillment, one represents freedom, dignity and eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Historically the other has played a role in enslaving mankind with chains of spiritual darkness.

Jerusalem: focus of prophecy

Let’s first look at the pivotal city of Jerusalem. Bible prophecy reveals that several key events will take place in and around this city. In Revelation 11:2 we learn that gentiles—non-Israelites—“will tread the holy city underfoot.” Verses 3-8 show that two powerful servants of God will arise and prophesy to the nations, but they will die as martyrs: “And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.”

The Bible characterizes Jerusalem as both a holy city and a type of Sodom and Egypt. This is quite a contrast for a city revered by three major faiths.

Peace talks in the last few years have been largely futile as it becomes evident that the Israelis and the Palestinians cannot agree on matters of control regarding Jerusalem.

A piece in the New York Times during negotiations a few years ago accurately summarized the problem: “Jerusalem is rarely publicly discussed by Israeli or Palestinian leaders in anything but black-and-white terms. It is the ‘eternal, undivided capital’ of Israel, on the one hand, and the future capital of the Palestinian state on the other: seemingly irreconcilable concepts that have led many intelligent politicians to recommend that the issue be left unresolved in the current, supposedly final, peace talks.” (May 21, 2000).

Indeed, Jerusalem’s status remains unresolved and threatens to be a major stumbling block in any effort to reach a major peace accord. The prophet Zechariah accurately predicted the central position and troublesome nature of the city in end-time geopolitics:

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples… I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it” (Zechariah 12:2-3).

When it comes to Jerusalem, some leaders seem to be intoxicated with greed over control of the city. The most hotly contested part of the city is the area called the Temple Mount, the site of two sacred Islamic mosques as well as the Western Wall, important to the Jews. The Palestinians hope to claim permanent sovereignty over the site and claim a significant victory in the long-standing struggle between Arab and Jew.

A history of conflict

The history of Jerusalem has been a succession of changes, revolutions, sieges, surrenders and famines…

The history of Jerusalem has been a succession of changes, revolutions, sieges, surrenders and famines—each followed by restorations and rebuilding. Its time of greatest glory was under Solomon, son of Israel’s most famous king, David. Solomon built the fabulous temple described in 1 Kings and 2 Kings.

Over the centuries, the city has seen much contention. Christians and Muslims have alternately slaughtered each other in battles to control the city. Multiple thousands of people have died under the banner of the cross and the crescent within the walls and gates of Jerusalem.

From 1948 to 1967, the city was divided between the Jews and Arabs. Israel gained control and united the city during the Six Day War of 1967. Since then, Israelis have guaranteed all the major religions access to all the holy sites. The push to achieve a settlement of the Palestinian-homeland issue has again highlighted the emotional pull of the city.

Tension continues over the Temple Mount area. Undoubtedly this site will become a flash point.

More conflict prophesied

Prophecy shows Jerusalem will be the focal point of key events before the return of Christ. Notice what Jesus revealed: “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16).

Jesus was referring to a prophecy in Daniel 9. Within this detailed prediction of the coming of the Messiah, Daniel describes “one who makes desolate” (verse 27). Here God reveals a future conflict involving a sacrifice and a covenant (agreement, accord or treaty).

Jerusalem’s future will see continuing strife over conflicting ideas. As in every war, many people will suffer. Notice what Jesus said in His Olivet prophecy: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.

“For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:20-24).

Second city’s role in prophecy

What will bring this scene to its climax? For the answer, let’s look at the other city of our story.

In Revelation 17, the apostle John describes a woman with a name on her forehead—“Babylon the great.” What does this woman symbolize? Verse 18 tells us the “woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

Here in prophecy is described a great city called Babylon that will sit astride an end-time combine of nations symbolically represented by a beast. Will this be a literal revival of the ancient city of Babylon, or are we to look for another city to fulfill this prophecy? Let’s first understand the history of Babylon.

Prophecy shows Jerusalem will be the focal point of key events before the return of Christ.

Genesis 11 describes the human race, then united with a common language, beginning to build a massive tower at a place called Babel. At that time it was the center of culture—but a culture without the revealed knowledge of God at its core. Man began building a society apart from, and in defiance of, his Creator. God would not allow men’s designs to continue lest civilization progress too rapidly for His plan. So He scattered the people by confusing their language.

Babylon was later built on the ruins of this site. The city became the antithesis of God’s purpose and the ancient scourge of God’s people. Babylon, derived from a root word meaning “to confound,” is symbolic of the system of spiritual confusion that overlays the entire world. A modern city Scripture labels “Babylon the great” will, like ancient Babylon, set the cultural and religious standards for the end-time political-religious empire of the “beast” of Revelation.

The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible explains the biblical implications of this Babylonian heritage: “As the realm of the devil… Babylon is… understood as the arch-typical head of all entrenched worldly resistance to God. Babylon is an age long reality including idolatrous kingdoms as diverse as Sodom, Gomorrah, Egypt, Tyre, Nineveh, and Rome… Babylon, the mother of all harlots, is the great source and reservoir of enmity to God, as well as the objectified product of the ‘one mind’ [Revelation 17:13, 17] which gives power and authority to false gods. As such, she is the antithesis of the virgin bride of Christ, the holy city, the new Jerusalem, the kingdom of God” (1962, p. 338, “Babylon (NT),” emphasis added).

Will this city be a revival of the literal city of Babylon, or is the Bible speaking here symbolically? The idea that the ancient city of Babylon will be rebuilt has been popularized in the Left Behind series of religious-themed books. In these books the seat of the New World Order and the Antichrist is found in Babylon, in modern-day Iraq. But is this where we should look?

Babylonish religious system

The “woman” John describes is a worldwide religious system based in a city (Revelation 17:18), but its roots are ancient Babel and Babylon. Only one religion and only one city match that description today. That city is Rome, within which is Vatican City, the seat of the Roman Catholic Church.

For hundreds of years the Roman Catholic Church has claimed to be the “mother” church of Christianity. Its popes have historically claimed to be the Vicar of Christ. This belief is well documented through history.

This dogma was recently restated by the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. On Sept. 5, 2000, a 36-page paper titled “Dominus Iesus” was released. It states: “Only in the Catholic Church does Christ’s Church subsist in all her fullness.

Nonetheless, outside the Catholic Church ‘elements of truth and sanctification’ exist that are of the Church… Consequently, there exists only one Church (which subsists in the Catholic Church) and at the same time there exist true particular Churches that are non-Catholic.”

Specifically, the document reiterates long-held Catholic teaching that salvation is possible only through Christian revelation. Non-Christian teaching may contain elements of truth but are deficient spiritually. The same applies to other Christian faiths. Religious relativism, the idea that all faiths are valid and equal, is denied.

It is said Christian Rome killed far more Jews than did pagan Rome.

However, Catholics are taught to uphold the teaching that the sole path to spiritual salvation is through the Catholic Church. Official Catholic dogma states that full salvation is possible only through its rites and teachings. All other faiths “suffer from defects” (“Dominus Iesus”).

The church’s position has led to great abuse of its power. In 2000, Pope John Paul II issued a momentous apology for the past record of persecutions by those acting on behalf of the church. Though the apology was carefully crafted not to say the church had erred, it did bring attention to the long record of death and injustice inflicted on those who dared to oppose or differ with the doctrine of the Catholic Church.

It is said Christian Rome killed far more Jews than did pagan Rome. On July 15, 1099, soldiers of the first Crusade sacked Jerusalem, killing all the Muslims of the city. All the Jews were herded into a synagogue and burned alive. For many, their last sight in this mortal life was of the sword and cross-emblazoned shield of their executioner. Millions died in the Inquisition.

Reigning over kings

Revelation 17:18 also tells us that “the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

Throughout history the papacy has crowned and deposed kings. Pope Leo III on Christmas Day in 800 crowned Charlemagne, the great Frankish king. Henry IV’s struggle with Pope Gregory VII included an excommunication. When a repentant Henry stood barefoot in the snow outside the papal residence, the spiritual power of the church was clearly demonstrated.

One other point should be made. In the last decade of the first century, when John received the book of Revelation, there was only one city he could have identified as the persecuting “Babylon” that “reigns over the kings of the earth”—Rome. By then Rome had sacked Jerusalem and demolished the temple. Rome had killed Paul and martyred other Christians. Rome was responsible for John’s exile to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the book of Revelation.

For the past 15 centuries the Catholic Church has continued to influence political institutions and leaders. Its rituals, traditions and teachings—many of them derived from pre-Christian idolatrous worship—remain the standard for many social and cultural traditions. No other city in history meets the criteria described by John in Revelation 17 and 18.

The situation today

In the meantime, the issue of Jerusalem’s status awaits a resolution. Will the Vatican, and the papacy, offer its services to break through the Gordian knot that prevents a peace settlement?

In July 2000, while the Israeli and Palestinian leaders met at Camp David with President Clinton, the pope urged that Jerusalem be governed under international protection. “…I want to ask all the parties not to neglect the importance of the spiritual dimension of the city of Jerusalem, with its sacred places and the community of three monotheistic religions that surround them,” he said.

In September 2000 he repeated that desire for international intervention in Jerusalem. “The history and present reality of inter-religious relations in the Holy Land is such that no just and lasting peace is foreseeable without some form of support from the international community,” he said.

At the return of Christ, the then downtrodden city of Jerusalem will be rescued. It will again become a city of light, truth and glory.

This tale of two cities will come to a climax with the return of Christ and the time of God’s judgment on all individuals, peoples and nations that have opposed Him. Prophecy indicates a modern “Babylon” and the city of Jerusalem are destined to touch every human life in the great upheaval at the end of this age. God’s “elect” (Matthew 24:31) need to discern between the two and have the wisdom to choose correctly.

God does not give His people the choice of blending or blurring lines. The book of Revelation shows that two ways of life are represented by these cities. Like Egypt in Old Testament times, Rome typifies the Babylonish system that enslaves men. Its history and culture of deception, persecution and death will bring the whole earth to a state of ruin, then come crashing down itself (Revelation 14:8). God warns His servants to “come out of her” before it is too late (Revelation 18:1-5). God offers a much better way of life based on His Word.

At the return of Christ, the then downtrodden city of Jerusalem will be rescued. It will again become a city of light, truth and glory. Ruling from Jerusalem, Jesus Christ will liberate all mankind from the agelong deception that began in ancient Babylon (Revelation 17:5).

Out of the worst of times, in tribulation and the Day of the Lord, will ultimately come the best of times in the light and life of the coming Kingdom of God and the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:9-11).