I think there may be 4 possible
answers:
- That
Mystery, Babylon is identified with the blood of "all"
that were slain upon the earth, not only in her
physical location, but the entire earth is intimated
by the word "all"; additionally "all that were slain
upon the earth", would also be more than in her days,
but in all of history, as well. Included in that, yet
mentioned specifically, are the prophets and saints.
This is similar to what happened to Jerusalem: Matthew
23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood
shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel
unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye
slew between the temple and the altar. 36 Verily I say
unto you, All these things shall come upon this
generation.
- It
says she was drunken with the blood of the saints and
martyrs, which is different than saying she is guilty
of their blood, or that she has their blood on her
hands. Why this may be significant is because the
reverse is also mentioned in relation to her:
Revelation 18:3a For all nations have drunk of the
wine of the wrath of her fornication, also
Revelation 14:8 And there followed another angel,
saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city,
because she made all nations drink of the wine of the
wrath of her fornication. So, possibly, in
reverse, as the nations are drunk on what she does,
she in turn is drunk on what they do, particularly
persecution of Jews and Christians, not only
historically, but currently, especially in the Middle
East, a number of African nations, as well as North
Korea & China, and other communist nations. As her
fornication is intoxicating for them, the persecution
of Jews and Christians is intoxicating for her.
- Another
possibility is that it's not over yet, i.e. that
severe persecution is still coming to America. So if
the Lord tarries a decade or so, it could get bloody,
like it quickly changed in other places, over the
years.
- Another
possibility is that America is not in any way related
to Mystery, Babylon.
As I had spent a large part of
my life as a catholic, so, when got saved, I quickly began
seeing similarities between what Revelation 17 & 18
said, and things I knew, or read about the catholic
church, like the purple & scarlet robes upon the
hierarchy at Christmas, and the golden cup in her hand. As
time went on, I began to wonder about somethings. Like, if
she was the great whore of those 2 chapters, then what was
going to be judged by fire? only the vatican compound? or
also to include currently secular Rome? or also to include
all the dioceses around the world? or also to include
every parish around the world? or also to include the home
of every catholic worldwide? Additionally, it has been
centuries since the catholic church has reigned over the
kings of the earth. Not only are there many world leaders
of communist, muslim, hindu, and other non-catholic
nations, but even countries that are nominally catholic,
there is strict separation, like in Mexico. Many other
nations have basically secular governments. When the
orthodox church split from the catholic church, there were
a number of nations no longer affiliated with the catholic
church. Also, the catholic church takes in a lot of money
from around the world, but is not currently making the
merchants of the earth wealthy. Additionally, it has also
been half a millennium since that catholic church has been
directly identified with current persecutions, as a
practice of the church (though it still happens by the
hands of some catholics, in various parts of the world).
.