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Who is Babylon the Whore?

Undoubtedly one of the most mysterious and fascinating books ever written is the book of Revelation or The Apocalypse. It is from this book that we often quote when we use terms such as ,Armageddon, The Mark of the Beast, The AntiChrist and the New Heaven and New Earth.

There have been many, through the ages, who have tried to understand and decipher this book. But it was only until the beginning of the 20th Century that the veil of mystery that shrouded the book begun to part. It is commonly agreed by Scholars and Theologians that things are becoming clearer because we have entered the times described by the Prophet Daniel, " for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the end." Dan 12:9
As part of our study of the time of the end we are addressing here the fantastic events covered by Chapters 17 and 18 in the Book of Revelation. Please do not think that we are somehow delving into an Indiana John's historical adventure dealing with a romanticized view of the past, this is a sobering and eye opening view into the world we are now living in and its immediate future. It is an expose and condemnation of the world's political and religious systems.


Bible Verses
Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters;
Rev 17:2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.
Commentary
This is a description of a deceiving woman representing false religion. All the different governments have throughout time cooperated with the religious system of their day. A system that helps them rule over the people. A closer scrutiny reveals that the major religious system of the world is and has always been Materialism, the worship of things.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,
Commentary
A fitting description as she lives in luxury and fornication (spiritual intercourse)with the world's secular system. She is THE Religious System, not just a particular religion, but that which most of humanity has always worshipped and is motivated for, wealth, power, greed, money, in essence the Commercial System.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:5 and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Commentary
The term used here to describe such a system is "Babylon". The ancient city, the wicked and idolatrous city that was once the capital of the world's wealth. It is important to know that the term "Babylon" is used here, in reference to the present day commercial system, the final embodiment of the spiritual god of riches and wealth. Which all men worship except for those whose love and faith to the true God have liberated from such a curse.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.
John is here quite surprised at the sight of the woman drunk not with wine but with the blood of the saints, which she has martyred. All false religions have opposed, fought and killed the peace-loving followers of the true God from Cain and Abel to the crucifixion of Jesus and the persecution of His followers to the present days.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.
Rev 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition.
Commentary
This beast comes out of Hell and goes back to Hell. It is demonic and evil-inspired.
Bible Verses
And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come. Rev 17:9 Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth:
Commentaries
Contrary to what some believe the number 7 does not refer to the 7 hills upon which the city of Rome was built, thus implying that this represents the Catholic Church. A careful study and comparison of other related scriptures both in the terminology and content, indicate that the number 7 refers to the 7 great world powers or empires. Most of which have passed, one is and one is to come.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:10 and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while.
Commentaries
John received this revelation about the year 107 A.D. in the small island of Patmos, off the coast of today's modern Turkey. According to the angel there are seven kings or world empires.
1.Egypt (Fallen)
2.Assyria (Fallen)
3.Babylon (Fallen)
4.Medo-Persia (Fallen)
5.Greece (Fallen)
6.Rome (one is, Rome at the time of John)
7.The AntiChrist (yet to come)
It is clear that since the days of Rome, there has not been an Empire that totally and unchallenged dominated the known world as Rome did. Some argue to the contrary and it is true that there have been other important Empires, such as the Chinese, Arab, Turkish, British, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and now the American Empire. All important but none like Rome.And even now Rome rules through its legacy in the arts, culture, laws, architecture, and alphabet among other things.
As far as the last one, the AntiChrist Empire, he is coming. A super human, the incarnation of Evil. And when he comes "he must continue a little while". He will only rule for a brief period of time, only seven years of which the last 3 and a half years will bring the most troublesome and terrible time the World has ever known.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition.
Commentaries
At first glance this verse sounds like a difficult riddle but we have to remember that we are only talking about one Beast, a seven headed Beast. So in essence the seven World Empires are nothing more than the seven manifestations of the same Beast from which these seven heads sprout out. The Devil, Satan, behind all of them. Only under the seventh head, the last revival of the Roman Empire, the Beast Himself, Satan, rules and reigns, making himself the Eight, both the Seventh and Eight at the same time. Satan has always ruled by proxy, through evil and seduced men but finally he will personally possessed the last World dictator. In Revelation 13:3 we read "And I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten unto death; and his death-stroke was healed: and the whole earth wondered after the beast;" It seems that it is at that time when the Devil fully posses the AntiChrist and brings him back from certain death, and in so doing cause great wonder.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:12 And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.
Commentaries
Only one of the heads is described as having ten horns, the seventh head. At the time appointed the AntiChrist will rise to power and with him ten kings. These kings or presidents, or world leaders were not yet in power at the time of John, " who have received no kingdom as yet", but when they come they fully cooperate to put the AntiChrist in power. And for "one hour" a brief time will rule over the Earth. It is very important now to use all this information and refer it to today's current events and developments in the World. These ten leaders may or may not be yet in power but their kingdoms, nations or alliances are already in existence. Only their leaders have not yet surrendered power to the One World Dictator.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:13 These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.
Commentaries
These ten World leaders will voluntarily surrendered their power to the Beast and proclaim Him the World Leader. They will recognize him as a Superman. They all have one mind to give power to the Beast.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:14 These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.
Commentaries
This Lamb is the Lamb of God, Jesus. He and His children will fight the forces of Evil and when it looks like the AntiChrist has won, in the final battle of Armageddon the Lamb and His followers will overcome Evil.
Bible Verses
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Commentaries
The woman decked in gold and precious stones represents what humanity associates with greatness, success and power. She, Babylon, the Great Whore represents the pinnacle of Materialism. What most people worship, long for and esteem. In other words the Religion of the World. In a Capitalistic, greed driven economy its true temples are its banks and financial institutions. Where are this institutions congregated today? Where are the centers of commerce in the World today? New York, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Shanghai, Paris.
Bible Verse
Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
Rev 17:17 For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
Rev 17:18 And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Commentaries
Nations and Empires have always fought over riches , natural resources and trade. So it is not surprising that the ten Kings will turn on the Whore and destroy her for control of the World. Could this mean that the current World Order will be supplanted by a new one? Few would argue that current globalization and corporate greed driven economy is creating millions of disenchanted masses of physically and displaced refugees. Are we fast approaching the time where a change is expected, welcomed and even demanded? "and the woman is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth" What better typifies materialism today, wealth, greed, money and riches? What city is the epitome, what city had a " World Trade Center"? No other than, New York City.

Next >> Who are the Ten Kings? Who is the Woman Harlot?