Koester in his book "Revelation and the End of All Things" presents a "timeless" or "ideal" perspective on the book of Revelation by contrasting two cities. One city is the city of God which is "the New Jerusalem" which is contrasted with the harlot city "Babylon." This city "Babylon" I believe is classified in Gal 4. as a symbol of the Jerusalem from below. I differ from hyper-preterism as defining the city "Babylon" as 1ST CENTURY Jerusalem which was destroyed by the Romans in 70AD . By making the book of Revelation about a historical moment in time, I believe they make the judgment on the harlot city a past historical event rather than a symbol of a present reality for those standing in the outer courts, or outside of Christ. The fact is, we are ALL called to flee "or come out" of that wicked harlot "Babylon" (18:4) or "that present Jerusalem." Hyper-Preterism would see fleeing "Babylon" as simply instructions pertaining to that first century Christians in Jerusalem which I believe to be very narrow and restricting view. No one will deny "people fled Jerusalem" to Pella but to fail to look beyond the past to the imagery of the present is inexcusable and misleading. I believe this call to "flee" or "come out" is far more powerful if the book is not simply a book about the past but represents the present situation to come out of the world. The book of Revelation still speaks and still reveals Jesus Christ. It presents a reality and warning to those living within that harlot city and gives assurance and hope to those who have taken refuge in Jesus Christ.
Craig R. Koester. Revelation and the End of All Things. 2001.
"Revelation addresses readers who are pulled in two directions, toward faithfulness and unfaithfulness. Accordingly, John wrote what might be called a "Tale of Two Cities," because he identifies faithfulness with the holy city and unfaithfulness with the harlot city. . . . They vision of the holy city and the vision of the woman both depict the same thing: the situation of the people of God on earth, as they live among powers that seek to overwhelm them and to end their existence as a community of faith." (page 194)
"This dazzling conclusion to John's "Tale of Two Cities" is designed to give readers a reason to pursue the way of faith IN THE PRESENT. The contrasts between Babylon and New Jerusalem, between the harlot and the bride, seek to alienate readers from powers that oppose God, while drawing them more firmly to a vision of life with God. Readers are called away from Babylon (18:4) and toward the New Jerusalem. There will be no reason for the bride and groom to rejoice in Babylon (18:23), but there will be a celebration at the marriage feast of the Lamb in God's city (19:7,9). Babylon will be a dwelling for demons (18:2), but the New Jerusalem will be the dwelling of God (21:3). The harlot may exhibit a splendor that comes from the exploitation of people (19:12-13), but the bride manifests the glory that comes from God (21:11-21). Nations are corrupted when they seek to amass wealth for themselves by trafficking with the harlot, yet God calls the nations to a vision of the bridal city, where they will bring their glory into the presence of God and the Lamb (21:24-26). Babylon is filed with impurity and deception (17:4-5; 18:23), but there is nothing impure or false in the New Jerusalem (21:27). The harlot makes the nations drunk on idolatry and sin (17:2),(18:3), but the bride invites the nations to drink of the water of life and to be healed by the leaves from the tree of life (22:1-5).
