[UPDATE]In response to feedback from readers, and at risk of giving the game away, many readers have adamantly asserted that the Roman Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon. I have written an extensive post on why Rome is not the Whore of Babylon.[/UPDATE]
Who is the Great Whore of Babylon?
The Apostle John devoted over two chapters to this, so it is likely worth our time and effort to understand and identify who is described and what actions they take.
The take-away after reading Revelation 17 & 18 is the Whore has the following characteristics:
- Major political power. So great, she even rules over the Sea Beast of Revelation 13.
- Massive economic power. So enormous that merchants from all over the world weep at her destruction.
- Promotes sexual perversion to all nations on the earth.
- Is hated by the Sea Beast, and by her own great merchants.
- She is destroyed by a pharmaceutical deception, brought by the great merchants who rule the earth.
Power over the Kings of the Earth
The primary description of Babylon the Great and the Whore of Babylon is given in Revelation 17 and 18.
18 And the woman you saw is the great city that has royal power over the kings of the earth.”
Revelation 17
The woman/whore IS (not was) the great city that has (not did have) dominion over the kings of the Earth. This is clearly pertaining to the time of fulfilment. She possesses these qualities at the time of fulfilment, not in times past.
The English translates it as ‘great city’ (megas polis). ‘Polis’ according to LSJ lexicon is ‘city’, ‘community’, ‘state’. Thus, the Whore rules over many people. It’s most likely that the whore isn’t a particular city, but a nation-state; similar in how Babylon referred to as both a city and nation-state, even though the empire was Assyrian. It also says that the whore sits on many waters (Rev 17:1). Waters typically are representative of people (as explained in Revelation 17:15).
Hated by the Beast that she rides
Many popular end time scenarios often forget that the Whore is hated by the Beast that she rides (which is the Sea Beast of Revelation 13, having the same number of heads and horns, although is now scarlet).
The Beast likely hates the whore because the Whore also rules over it, forcing it to do things it does not want, and profiting from it. The whore Nineveh (Nah 3:4), sold nations and families, and the whore Tyre (Isa 23:15-18) did likewise. These show harlotry is not confined to spiritual idolatry, or literal sexual perversion and can include abusive commercial transactions[efn_note]As noted earlier, in the OT “fornication” is often used in a figurative sense of Israel’s spiritual unfaithfulness and her lapses into idolatry (see Lev. 17:7; 20:5-6; Num. 14:33; 15:39; Deut. 31:16; Judges 2:17; 8:27; 1 Chron. 5:25; 2 Chron. 21:11; Ps. 73:27; see also Hosea 1:2; 2:4; 4:15; 9:1; Jer. 2:20; 3:2,9,13; 5:7,11; 13:27). However, harlotry was also associated with actual sexual perversion, frequently in scripture. We cannot therefore say that that is the primary meaning of the term here in Revelation[/efn_note]. From earlier articles we know the Sea Beast of Revelation 13, the one being ridden by the Whore, is Islam and Islamic nations. Isaiah 21 depicts this judgement against Babylon: the terror that comes from the Arabian Peninsula, across the sea.
Although it is covered later, the sexual perversion along with financial exploitation may well be the reasons the Beast hates the Whore.
Hated by the 10 Kings without a Kingdom – great merchants
The 10 kings without a kingdom lend their support to the scarlet Sea Beast, to make war with her, and destroy her (Rev 17:11-13). We know from Revelation 18, that this is accomplished, by the Whore’s own great merchants who rule the earth. They achieve this through a massive pharmaceutical deception (Rev 18:23).
Sexual Immorality is exported all over the world
While many people will argue that the sexual immorality of the Whore is actually code for spiritual idolatry, just 3 chapters later, John describes separates sins of sexual immorality and spiritual idolatry. On balance, while there is likely to be spiritual idolatry, it more likely to be sexual immorality. It is this sexual immorality that makes nations rich. Is it more probable to be spiritual idolatry, or sexual immorality that trade with the Whore is contingent? The sexual immorality emphasised in Revelation 18, fits well with the luxurious living, more so than spiritual idolatry.
In 2018, Psychology Today, cited that 98% of men have used pornography in the last 6 months, and 73% of women; 17% are addicted of have compulsion issues with porn[efn_note]https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/experimentations/201802/when-is-porn-use-problem[/efn_note]. While other papers have cited lower figures, the reality is pornography is pervasive across the world.
Pakistan tops the list of most porn-searching countries and leads the way in porn searches for animals like pigs, donkeys, dogs, cats and snakes, according to the data released by Google.
The data also showed that six of the top eight porn-searching countries were Muslim states with Egypt ranking second in the list followed by Iran, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Turkey at numbers four, five, seven and eight, respectively, reported The Express Tribune.[efn_note]https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/pak-occupies-top-slot-in-google-s-list-of-most-porn-searching-countries-115011900366_1.html[/efn_note]
Is there any wonder the Beast hates the whore? The Islamic nations deride the USA as being the great Satan[efn_note]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Satan[/efn_note] and great whore.
At this present point in history, there is only one candidate: the USA.
The UN is head quartered in New York. The USA has 750 military installations on foreign soil[efn_note]https://www.thesoldiersproject.org/how-many-us-military-bases-are-there-in-the-world/[/efn_note]. Pornography is one of the USA’s chief exports. The USA literally requires the promotion of gay and trans perversions in its free trade agreements under the guise of “human rights” and “equality measures” [efn_note]https://lawecommons.luc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1173&context=lucilr
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3376051
https://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2446&context=gjicl
https://geneva.usmission.gov/2011/03/22/lgbtrights/
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/869592/UK_US_FTA_negotiations.pdf[/efn_note] [efn_note]
USTR officials use the term “gender equity and equality.” Executive Order 13985 defined the term “equity” to be “consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to undeserved communities that have been denied such treatment, such as Black, Latino, and Indigenous and Native American persons; Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other persons of color; members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons;
persons with disabilities; persons who live in rural areas; and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.” The National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality defined gender equality as “a world in which equal opportunity is afforded to all people regardless of gender or any other factor.” https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-104711.pdf[/efn_note]. It has been said the USA sneezes and the world catches a cold. The world economy centres around the USA. The USA controls the UN and other “international” bodies. The USA is the leading nation in human trafficking, and taking advantage of undocumented immigrants for cheap labour.
Dressed in Scarlet and Purple, gold, jewels and pearls
How should the colours be interpreted?
- Are these colours are symbolic, perhaps conveying something about their nature or actions, or whether they are more literal?
- Does the same approach apply to the scarlet beast the whore is riding?
- Do the colours we define today have the same definition as in times past?
- If the colours are literal, are the gold, jewels and pearls also literal, or is more descriptive of extravagance or a display of wealth?
I have written more extensively about purple and scarlet in relation to the USA vs Rome, and in a technical discussion on purple. If you wish to see how purple is used in John’s time, and how they apply to the USA and Rome, check out those links.
In summary of those links, the USA more accurately is clothed in scarlet and purple than any other candidate.
Seven Heads are Seven Hills and are Seven Kings
John’s description of the Beast that the Whore rides is clear that the 7 heads are 7 kings/kingdoms. He states in verse 10-11: “Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. The beast that was and is not, is itself an eighth king, but it belongs to the seven and is going to destruction” Five kingdoms had fallen before the time of John; the Roman empire was the 6th; the 7th. Then there would be an 8th beast, that was also the 7th beast. The only empire that came after the Roman empire that ruled Israel, was Islam. Islam suffered a fatal wound, but survived, making it also the 8th Beast. Thus, we know that the Beast that the Whore rides, is the Sea Beast and is Islam.
But John also describes the 7 heads are also 7 hills or mountains. It has been argued that this represents the 7 continents, but also more literally as 7 actual hills. Some have argued that this description is an overlap, that the seven heads are also applicable to the Whore, as well as the Beast.
The following cities are a selected group from a long list of cities built on seven hills:
- Washington DC
- New York, Staten Island
- Jerusalem
- Mecca
- Rome
- Athens
- Brussels
- Edinborough
- Istanbul
- Moscow
- Brisbane (Australia)
I don’t believe that it is Rome, despite the clothing and seven hills. Firstly, Rome was not a mystery. Rome was well known in John’s time. Secondly, the Roman Catholic Church does not rule the earth as described in Revelation 17; she cannot be said to have made the nations and merchants wealthy; and hardly described as exporting sexual perversion, nor are nations made drunk with the wine of their fornication, by the Catholic church. Mecca, although on seven hills, does not rule the earth, however, Mecca, as a symbol of Islam is found on all continents. Jerusalem is a possibility but unlikely given that it is said in Revelation 18 that the harp and flute will not be heard in her again, which is difficult to achieve if Jesus rules from there in the future.
While Mecca sits on 7 hills, it is the Whore that sits on the beast that has all these heads. The colours of Mecca cannot be said to be scarlet and purple; nor Mecca responsible for the spread of sexual perversion. However, Mecca have been a source of wealth and prosperity for those who traded, since we know that the Beast is Islam, the Whore has exploited the oil that comes from the Middle East, and sacrificed Christians lives to get the wealth. However, Mecca has no real authority over the nations and it is difficult to stretch the understanding of the Whore to Mecca, but Mecca does fit the Beast.
Washington, can be said to rule the Earth, as can New York, via the United Nations.
If the USA is the Whore, how/when does the Whore get nations drunk on the blood of the saints?
This verse is what leads many to believe it is the Roman Catholic Church who slaughtered millions of people over the last 2000 years. However, the text is quite specific that the Whore and nations get drunk on the blood of the saints. When seeking to get drunk, one rarely cares what one drinks, as it is the effect one craves, not the route. The nations and the whore are drunk on the blood of the saints, not because that is what the Whore wants, but because she craved the benefits, and if the blood of the saints is what it takes, that’s a cost she’s willing to pay.
The USA has literally made an ally of Islamic nations (and others) that kill and slaughter Christians, so they can have oil and trade. The USA, a nation founded on trust in God, has betrayed Christians, and remained silent while Christians are being killed, so that oil and trade flows unhindered.
In Revelation 18:24, it is declared that in the whore was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all those slaughtered on the earth. The USA has welcomed into her house, at no cost, people of literally all creeds, and religions, and embraces their history and values as her own.
Jesus’ lay the blame for the slaughter of the prophets at the feet of the Pharisees, even though they themselves had not killed any prophet.
47 “Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 48 Therefore, you are witnesses that you approve the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments. 49 Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,’ 50 so that this generation may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world— 51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.
“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible. – Luke 11:47-51
The Pharisees were proud of their fathers, and refused to renounce their evil deeds. And Jesus said they were therefore guilty of the blood of the prophets. Likewise, the USA, welcomes the creeds and religions of those who have killed literally everyone on the earth and tells them that their religion, values and heritage will be part of her “rich tapestry”. These people that the USA, Europe, and the West import, hate the West, hate Christianity, and hate the Whore, and they openly and proudly proclaim this.
You can read in more detail why Rome is not the Whore of Babylon, and about the economic destruction the 10 Kings without a kingdom, bring upon the Whore.
