Babylon the Great

I was reading something after an article showed up on Facebook. I got so wrapped up that I've been reading articles for hours now. The article was about Pompeii. And there was a comment that someone returned to the site afterwards and had written on a wall "Sodom and Gomorrah". I was intrigued with Pompeii in relation to Sodom and Gomorrah and started searching articles and found lots of interesting stuff.

Before that, a little interesting point...Jesus gave a list of signs of the end times. We all know these words.

Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened."

This means humanity will have the ability to exterminate itself. Something that has been a long time concern of nuclear war.

Now, the Scripture I've been looking at is found in Revelation 18. Summarized, Babylon has become a dwelling for demons and a haunt for every impure spirit, the nations have drunk the wine of her adulteries, the merchants grew rich from her excessive luxuries.

8 Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her: death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire...

17 In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!’

After these things it says that there is a call to "Come out of her, my people". And then no one buys their cargoes anymore, the kings will see the smoke of her burning, they will stand far off and cry, no one buys their cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth, etc. It says that her luxury and splendor have vanished, and the merchants who gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment and see the smoke of her burning.

21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a large millstone and threw it into the sea...

This was written by John, estimated just prior to Vesuvius erupting.

So in 70 A.D. Mount Vesuvius erupted and within 18 hours, the city of Pompeii (with between 10-20,000 people) was buried and preserved until excavation began in 17648. With excavation still ongoing nearly 2,000 years later, they know more about the society there.

Archeologists have unearthed an elaborate city of wealth with jewels, art works, frescoes, wall paintings and mosaics. They have found household items decorated with sexual themes; engraved carnelian gemstones showing subjects including a cupid riding a ram, satyrs with a goat and Mercury, the Roman god of commerce; and a set of ornately carved ivory panels, one depicting a naked Bacchus, the Roman god of love, wine and music. The place was full of erotic artwork such as sex with animals, orgies, etc. and multiple brothels. Erotic art in Pompeii has been both exhibited as art and censored as pornography. 

Pompeii was located near the mouth of the Sarnus River and was a busy port town that exported products throughout the Mediterranean region.

A few years after the event, Pliny Younger wrote two letters describing what he witnessed when the eruption killed his uncle. He stated that his uncle prepared ships and went in to get people out. Ashes and bits of pumice were falling. Flames were blazing at various points. The buildings started shaking. The waves were too dangerous for him and his men to leave. Pliny wrote that he heard shrieks, people calling out for loved ones and even some who besought the aid of the gods.

Historical and scientific explanations tell that there would have been an earthquake and huge waves.

I know this is a lot, but go back to the top to paragraphs 5 to 9.

Was the Roman inhabited Pompeii John's prophecy of of Roman Babylon?

Revelation is all about future prophecy but is all it still to come or has some happened like this? Something to ponder.

Kudos for reading to the end. I spent hours researching and a couple more writing.

Something catches my attention and I run with it.