Is the Babylon of Revelation Rome or Jerusalem? 385 (7) The counting of the seven Roman emperors of Rev 17,9-10 is probably a false problem. First of all, John speaks of seven kings not because he feels bound to historical exactness, but for the sake of the number seven, in the same way he speaks of seven Asian Churches in Rev 1-3, even though he certainly knew other Churches in Asia. If he knows Laodicea, certainly he knew also Colossae and Hierapolis, because, for example, Laodicea and Colossae exchanged apostolic letters, as attested in Col 4,16. Second, John is interested in only one of the seven kings, the one who is also the eighth. The counting of the seven kings, therefore, is of no use, because it is outside of John’s perspective and interest. (8) The Nero Redivivus legend is the better explanation available for: (i) the mortal wound of the Beast, (ii) the change of stance by the Beast, at first at the side of, and then against Babylon, (iii) the otherwise insoluble enigma of the Beast who “was, is not, and is to come”. (9) The destruction of Jerusalem is better attributed to such Nero redivivus, rather than to the “kings of the land of Israel” (cf. de Water). Furthermore, after A.D. 70, Jewish apocalypses (4Ezra and 2Baruch), Christian writings (1Pt), and some interpolations in the Oracula Sibyllina call Rome with the epithet of “Babylon” because it had destroyed Jerusalem and burnt its temple, as the ancient Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar did in 586 B.C. (10) As far as the imperial cult is concerned, Domitian built a temple dedicated to his father Vespasian, to his brother Titus and to himself in Ephesus in circa 90 A.D.(47), with the economical and political support of the whole Asian province, placing it between the political and the commercial agora; and built an enormous sports ground in the lively harbour area, for the games to be periodically celebrated in honour of the emperor (48). It is possible and also probable —————— Christian poet (348-405 A.D.) Prudentius (Peristefanon, Romanus, 412-413: “… cum puer Mavortius / Fundaret arcem septicollem Romulus” (PL 60, 479.A). (47) The date is deducible from the names of the proconsuls L. Mestrius Florus, M. Fulvius Gillo, L. Luscius Ocrea who were in charge in Asia around the years 88 and 91 A.D. Such names appear in thirteen surviving inscriptions erected in Ephesus by the cities of Asia Minor for the occasion of the inauguration of the temple. Cf. S.J. FRIESEN, Twice Neokoros. Ephesos, Asia and the Cult of the Flavian Imperial Family (RGRW 116; Leiden – New York – Köln 1993) 159. (48) According to E. AKURGAL, Ancient Civilizations and Ruins of Turkey (Istanbul 61985) 157, the sports ground of Ephesus was “the most imposing project during the reign of Domitian”. The gymnasium on its own measured 240 x 200 metres, while the length of the whole complex was 360 metres.