Babylon is located in Iraq in Old Testament. In the New Testament, where is the "mystery, Babylon" in Revelation 17-5?

The name written on the forehead of the woman riding the scarlet colored beast did not represent a location nor did it refer to literal Babylon located in Iraq in ancient times.  Rather it was part of a title,  “MYSTERY: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH”. The title symbolically identified the woman.

All of Revelation is filled with signs, symbols, and pictures from the vision the Apostle John received on the isle of Patmos. These visions were delivered to him by Our Lord Jesus, Himself.  Given the symbolic nature of the book, you can see the Revelation 17vision does not refer to a literal woman riding a scarlet colored beast, nor was her head literally inscribed with a title, nor was that Babylon a literal city.  The woman is a symbol.

Where else in the Scriptures do we find a woman as a symbol?  In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins given by our Lord in Matthew 25. Here the true bride of Christ is represented as the wise virgins who go out to meet the bridegroom.  They represent the pure church, the true church. In the opposite sense, the woman in Revelation 17:5 represents a false and evil church as shown by her description. She was arrayed in purple and scarlet and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls.  Does this remind you of any church you may know that displays various forms of wealth in both person and ritual?  In her hand was a golden cup full of the abominations and filthiness of her fornication.  Who was she fornicating with?  Rev 17:1,2 says that she was a prostitute and had committed fornication with the “kings of the earth!”  Since the time of our Lord’s first advent, has there been a church which has made strong alliances with the kings of the earth, the earthly governments throughout history?

Why does her title include the name, Babylon?  Smith’s Bible Dictionary tells us that Babylon is the Greek form of Babel.  You may recall the account of the tower of Babel in the Old Testament where God confused the language of the people so that they could not complete the construction of the tower.  Indeed, the name Babylon means the same as its real reference, that is, confusion.   

This false church system carries in her hand, a cup that was once filled with truth, but now is contaminated with a wide array of confusing doctrines. Those doctrines are designed to intoxicate those who drink it.  As error was spread, ambition replaced the spirit of humility and loyalty to God and she desired the conditions that would give her greater power and influence in the world.  Revelation 18 describes in detail the destruction of this false system. 

Are the Great Crowd the same as all the people in Paradise Earth?

Just as the Anointed 144,000 (the Little Flock) are selected “out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (Rev 5:9 NWT), so are the Great Crowd (Rev 7:9).  Neither of these two groups are the world, but they are both taken “out of” the world.  This larger group (the world) from which these two classes are taken “out of” is described in Daniel 7:14, ” And to him there were given rulership and dignity and kingdom, that the peoples, national groups and languages should all serve even him. His rulership is an indefinitely lasting rulership that will not pass away, and his kingdom one that will not be brought to ruin” (NWT).

This larger group is also described as the “nations” who live in the city (Rev 21:24), yet the Great Crowd is never said to enter the city, but “…they are before the throne of God; and they are rendering him sacred service day and night in his temple;” (Rev 7:15NWT).  The Great Crowd is brought before the Jehovah’s throne for service.  In contrast, the world of mankind (both raised from the dead and surviving Armageddon) are brought before the throne for judgment during the thousand year kingdom (Rev 20:12; Matt 25:31,32; Dan 7:9,10).  The Great Crowd is not the world of mankind on Paradise Earth.

The evidence points to three distinct kingdom classes 1) the Anointed Little Flock of 144,000, 2) the Great Crowd and 3) the world of mankind.

The fact that both the World (Rev 22:14) and Great Crowd (Rev 7:9) are described as wearing white robes does not prove they are the same group.  The Anointed 144,000 have white robes too (Rev 3:5; 19:8 –note that justification and righteousness are from same Greek root word Strong’s 1344).  All who become justified have white robes, because white robes are a symbol of justification/righteousness (Isa 61:10).  Anyone without a white robe (justification) has no standing with God (Matt 22:11-13).  At the time of the earthly Paradise, the world will “wash” their robes (Rev 22:14 – present tense in Greek), but the Great Crowd will already have clean robes (Rev 7:14 “washed” – Greek past tense).

Did Jesus Die a Ransom for Many or a Ransom for All?

“Who gave himself a corresponding ransom for all- this is what is to be witnessed to at its own particular times.” (1Ti 2:6 NWT_)

“Just as the Son of man came, not to be ministered to, but to minister and to give his soul a ransom in exchange for many.”” (Mt 20:28 NWT_)

The Bible does not contradict itself.  Why did Paul say, that Jesus gave himself a ransom “for all,” but Jesus said “for many?”  The simple answer is that “many” means “all” as demonstrated in Romans.

“But it is not with the gift as it was with the trespass. For if by one man’s trespass many died, the undeserved kindness of God and his free gift with the undeserved kindness by the one man Jesus Christ abounded much more to many.” (Ro 5:15 NWT_)

In Romans 5:15, the “many” are ALL of Adam’s posterity, just like those who receive Jesus’ free gift.  Just as Adam’s posterity is ALL mankind, so those who will benefit from the free gift on Paradise Earth is ALL Mankind.  Yes, ALL Mankind will have the future opportunity of a trial for life under favorable conditions on Paradise Earth.  This is what the Society taught in the early days at the time of Pastor Russell.

Paul clearly explains what this free gift is for many (ALL) is:

“For the wages sin pays is death, but the gift God gives is everlasting life by Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ro 6:23 NWT)