It appears that The Book of Revelation - when referring to the destruction of Babylon the Great- is describing the destruction of a religious system that was once "clean" in Jehovah's eyes.
Notice how Rev 18:2 reads:
"And he cried out with a strong voice, saying: “She has fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen, and she has become a dwelling place of demons and a lurking place of every unclean exhalation and a lurking place of every unclean and hated bird."
That Babylon the Great became a dwelling place of demons and a lurking place of every unclean exhalation ... implies that she was not always that way.
This could not have been the religions of the world today because they already belong to Satan and are under his control; they were always dwelling places of demons from the start.
This Babylon the Great would have to be something that was at some time a clean place that was not a habitation of demons.
I believe this is the "great city" we see today made up of over 7 million Jehohah's Witnesses.
That this "great city" became a "dwelling place of demons and a lurking place of every unclean exhalation and a lurking place of every unclean and hated bird" means that the great city has been infilitrated by Satan and his demons and is now corrupted; the prophesize evil slave (weeds) have grown and matured right along with the wheat, the faithful slaves.
This is why we see the call at Rev 18:4 to "Get out of her, my people."
No one should confuse the fact that Jehovah's Witnesses are fulfilling Bible prophecy. No one is carrying out Matthew 24:14 other than Jehovah's Witnesses.
"And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come."
The problem now is that they have been for a longs time targets of Satan; and Satan has been successful in misleading many of the annointed. (Rev 12:9)
The Apostle John, when writing down the Revelation Jesus gave, was particularly concerned about his Brothers. That is, those in line for a kingddom. So he warns them to "stay awake" (Rev 16:15). Jesus gives the same warning at Luke 21:36.
The world and the things in the world are not targets of Satan; he already has the world in this power and control.
No, we will not see the politcal elements turn against all religion. This is not what the Apostle John is describing.
John is describing something many Jehovah's Witnesses are not expecting: The destruction of the WT Bible and Tract Society Organization which has become corrupted.
This destruction will not come at the hand the worldly political elements, it will come from powers within the WT organization. This event will be absolutely shocking.
Jehovah's people will be scattered, but not forsaken. Many will lose faith and fall away because of this event.
Yes, there will be Great Tribulation, but it will be for Jehovah's people (who are in Satan's world).
The mistake (the lie that has been believed by many JWs) is that we have applied much of Bible prophecy to the world, not ourselves.
When reading The Book of Revelation, it is clear who John is addressing and warning: his Brothers.
It is "to show his (Jesus') slaves the things that must shortly take place." Then John goes on to write to the seven angels of the seven congregations.
I have studied the Revelation Climax Book many times as a part of the congregational book study. I know that "organizations" rendering of the "kings of the earth" is incorrect as well as the identity of Babylon the Great, the Wild Beast, the Scarlet Colored Wild Beast, The Image of the Beast, and the Two-Horned Wild Beast.
These things have nothing to do with the world that Satan has in his control. They have much to do with Jehovah's people: Those ones that Satan aggressively seeks to scatter and break the integrity of. He has already succeeded in a large way as many Jehovah's Witnesses have not seen through his great deception and blindly obey and follow an organization (of men) rather than Jehovah. (Acts 5:29)
Again, I want to emphasize that the 7 million or so witnesses in the world are Jehovah's people and they are the only ones carrying out the kingdom preaching work. Yet, a time would come when the great city in which they now inhabit would be undermined by Satan.
Jehovah now calls for his people to withdraw from this corrupted city.
You will continue to preach the kingdom message and carry out Jesus' command at Matthew 28:19, 20. But you will do so outside the gate.
Never speak harshly of your Brothers (Jehovah's Witnesses) even if you were put out of the congregation. Keep in mind that many of them have been misled by a powerful spirit creature. You are still obligated to love.
It is not the 7 million JWs that is the enemy. It is Satan, the one "who is misleading the entire inhabited earth." (Rev 12:9)
Notice who John says Satan is coming down to the earth to:
"Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to YOU." (Rev 12:12)
Always keep in mind that John is writing to his Brothers (those, like himself, in line for a kingdom)
This "earth" and "sea" is not the world that belongs to Satan. This is referring to the organized body of Jehovah's people. Later, in The Book of Revelation, this organization becomes corrupted and undermined by Satan.
