John,
I find it interesting that you cited Isaiah starting with 1:26 but ignored v 21 which explicitly identifies Jerusalem as the Harlot:
"How the faithful City has become a Harlot, She who was once full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers."
As well, Jeremiah identifies Jerusalem as the Harlot as well:
"For long ago I broke your yoke And tore off your bonds; But you said, “I will not serve!” For on every high hill And under every green tree You have lain down as a harlot. . . . You are a swift young camel entangling her ways, A wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness, That sniffs the wind in her passion. In the time of her heat who can turn her away? All who seek her will not become weary; In her month they will find her. . . . Your sword has devoured your prophets Like a destroying lion. O generation, hear the Word of the LoRD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of thick darkness? Why do My people say, “We are free to roam; We will come no more to Thee”? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a Bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number. How well you prepare your way To seek love! Therefore even the wicked women You have taught your ways. . . .God says, If a husband divorces his wife, And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me, declares the LORD. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; Where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them Like an Arab in the desert, And you have polluted a land With your harlotry and with your wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, And there has been no spring rain. Yet you had a harlot’s forehead; You refused to be ashamed." Jer. 2:20-24, 30-33; 3:1-3
Ezekiel in chapt 16 goes into graphic detail describing Jerusalem as a harlot and in chapt 23. It is very common for prophets in the Old Testament to describe Jerusalem as a Harlot and so in the case of Revelations the principal of letting scripture interpret scripture would make it more than likely that Jerusalem is the Harlot city who killed the prophets and was drunk on their blood and who rode on Rome the beast who later destroyed the Harlot just as Rome did in the first century.
I strongly suggest to all who are interested in eschatology like this to get David Chilton's commentary on Revelations: "Days of Vengeance" available for free on
http://www.freebooks.com
Edited by ReformedRob, : forgot my signature
"...but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables"