They looked on as the city burned

[placebofactor]

Can New York City be the Babylon of Revelation 18?
Concerning the last days, Revelation 18 describes modern-day Babylon as a habitation of demons, foul spirits, unclean, and hateful. The ancient city of Babylon has never been rebuilt, and Jerusalem cannot be meant because it remains when the Lord returns. So, we need to look for another Babylon. What we are looking for is a city of wealth, a large Jewish population, crime, drugs, corruption, and a population that, for the most part, rejects Jesus Christ. Can New York City be modern-day Babylon, the book of Revelation chapter 19 speaks of? Let’s set up a Biblical scenario. We need a city with a large Jewish population and close ties with Israel.

New York City and Israel share a deep and multifaceted connection. In May 2025, NYC Mayor Eric Adams and Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat, signed a Declaration of Intent to launch the New York City–Israel Economic Council. This initiative is designed to foster business partnerships between NYC and Israeli companies, support Israeli startups establishing a presence in NYC, promote collaboration in sectors like environmental innovation, life sciences, and artificial intelligence, and coordinate participation in major tech and business conferences.

New York holds the crown as the world’s leading financial center in 2025. It consistently ranks at the top of the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI) and the International Financial Centers Index (IFCI) thanks to its unmatched concentration of capital, institutions, and influence. It is home to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, the two largest stock exchanges globally. It is the headquarters for major investment banks, hedge funds, and private equity firms. A hub for fintech, asset management, and global finance regulation. Strong legal infrastructure and global connectivity

N.Y.C. has the largest Jewish population outside of Jerusalem, with an estimated 960,000 Jewish residents as of 2023, more than Tel Aviv, which has around 401,500 Jews. New York’s Jewish community is incredibly diverse, including large populations of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi Jews, as well as a vibrant Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) presence. The city is home to hundreds of synagogues, Jewish schools, cultural institutions, and kosher restaurants.

New York City holds the crown as the city with the most millionaires in the world. As of 2025, it boasts an estimated 384,500 millionaire residents, according to the World’s Wealthiest Cities Report by Henley & Partners.
NYC’s dominance is fueled by its status as a global financial hub, home to Wall Street, major corporations, and a thriving real estate market. It’s also where the wealth gap is among the widest in the U.S., making it a city of stark contrasts. New York City is known for its global influence in finance, fashion, media, and entertainment, and has been symbolically compared to Babylon by some Christian commentators. They highlight its material wealth, cultural liberalism, and perceived secularism as signs of moral decline.

From a biblical perspective, the term “sin city” isn’t officially defined, but it’s often used to describe places known for widespread immorality, idolatry, or rejection of God’s teachings. In the Bible, cities like Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) and Babylon (Revelation 18) are depicted as centers of corruption, pride, and spiritual rebellion.

New York City is home to vibrant religious communities, churches, synagogues, mosques, and temples. Contrary to stereotypes, religious life appears to be flourishing.

Drug cartels have a significant presence in New York, especially when it comes to trafficking operations. Drug cartels move narcotics from California to NYC and then distribute them across Upstate New York

If all Christians were to leave New York, (raptured) the state would still remain one of the most diverse places in the U.S., just with a very different religious and cultural landscape. Here's what that might look like:
New York’s population (2025 est.): ~19.9 million
Without any Christians, the remaining religious and non-religious groups would include Jews, Islamists, Hindus, Buddhists, and atheists.
What Would Change in N.Y.C. if all Christians were raptured? Many Christian churches, cathedrals, and Christian schools would be vacated or repurposed, and political and cultural influence would shift toward secular, Jewish, Muslim, and other religious communities. Holidays, public events, and even food culture might reflect a broader mix of traditions.
Your thoughts:

[placebofactor]

Can New York City be the Babylon of Revelation 18?

No because Babylon the Great is a religious entity. She commits fornication with the politicians of the world. Isn't that well-known? Politicians and religion are in bed together, if you will, religion controlling or at least influencing much of what the Beast does.

You wrote, "Babylon the Great is the world-wide empire of false religion."

Babylon no longer exists, so what's your next guess?

You wrote, "Babylon the Great is the world-wide empire of false religion."

Does that include the Watchtower?

[JehovahsWitness]

... at the moment no other way comes to my mind

The bible always gives the meaning of its contents my question concerned your methodology to determine if a particular verse or word is to be taken literally of figuratively. You don't have to give an example you just have to explain what it kind of things you look for to make your determination.

Literal or figurative is the most basic of questions when it comes to reading comprehension, did it not come up when you were writing your book?

[placebofactor]

[Replying to JehovahsWitness in post #22]

Jehovahswitness, I had to do a little research for you, research you should have done before you posted your answer. The following are more reasons why N.Y.C may be the city that burns.
Size and Scope in NYC Religious organizations in the greater New York City metro area are impressively vast and diverse: There are over 25,900 religious organizations and churches across NYC and the surrounding areas. These groups collectively employ nearly 40,000 people, generate over $5 billion in annual revenue, and hold $8 billion in assets.

The largest segments include: Christian nonprofits: 9,000+ organizations, Jewish nonprofits: 6,400+ organizations, Islamic, Buddhist, and Hindu nonprofits also have hundreds of active centers.

Concerning their global Reach and influence, many NYC-based religious organizations have international footprints: The Jewish National Fund and World Jewish Congress, headquartered in NYC, support initiatives and communities across Israel and the Jewish diaspora.

The Interfaith Center of New York collaborates globally to promote religious diversity and social justice, connecting leaders from faiths like Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, and more.

NYC’s religious media and publishing organizations produce content consumed worldwide, influencing spiritual discourse far beyond city limits.

New York’s religious landscape isn’t just local—it’s a global hub of faith, culture, and activism. Want to explore how these organizations shape international policy or humanitarian efforts? And in case you forgot, the Watchtower is headquartered in N,Y.C.

[1213]

... at the moment no other way comes to my mind

The bible always gives the meaning of its contents my question concerned your methodology to determine if a particular verse or word is to be taken literally of figuratively. You don't have to give an example you just have to explain what it kind of things you look for to make your determination.

Literal or figurative is the most basic of questions when it comes to reading comprehension, did it not come up when you were writing your book?

I think Bible is very clear on whether something is literal or not. Please show a scripture that you think is not clear in is it literal or not? I think it would be easier to explain it with some example.