It’s called “Mystery” for a reason. Sometimes, it appears to be the original Babylon. Sometimes it appears to be a city. Sometimes, something larger. It is difficult to tell and I wouldn’t be dogmatic about it.
“It’s called “Mystery” for a reason.”
Well, “mystery” in the New Testament is a translation of a Greek word that doesn’t carry the exact meaning of how we use “mystery” in English. “Mystery” in the NT usually means a hidden or secret doctrine known or understandable to the initiated (Christians) but unknown or not understandable to the uninitiated (non-believers). So if you see the word “mystery” in the NT, it often means you very well should be able to understand it, and if you do not, you have some homework to do.
“Sometimes it appears to be a city.”
More than appears to be. The Bible says it “is a city”, no qualifications about it. The only real question that is left for us to ponder then is exactly which city it is, and the Bible clearly identifies that for us as well, since it gives us many clues and only one city on the planet has ever fulfilled those clues, or ever could.
“I wouldn’t be dogmatic about it.”
It’s not me being dogmatic, it’s the Bible itself. Inherent in the word we translate as “mystery” is the idea that the thing being discussed is a doctrine, or a dogma:
3466. mustérion
Definition: a mystery or secret doctrine
Usage: a mystery, secret, of which initiation is necessary; in the NT: the counsels of God, once hidden but now revealed in the Gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation.
3466 mystḗrion (the root of the English term, “mystery”) – mystery. In the Bible, a “mystery” (3466 /mystḗrion) is not something unknowable. Rather, it is what can only be known through revelation, i.e. because God reveals it.
https://biblehub.com/greek/3466.htm