A 1800s Russian engraving depicting the Whore of Babylon riding the seven-headed Beast.

The Whore of Babylon is one of several Christian and Rastafarian allegorical figures of supreme evil mentioned in the Book of Revelation in the Bible. The Whore is associated with the Antichrist and the Beast of Revelations by connection with an equally allegorical kingdom. The Whore's apocalyptic downfall is prophesied to take place in the hands of the beast with seven heads and ten horns. There is much speculation within all religious perspectives on what the Whore and Beast symbolize as well as the possible implications for contemporary interpretations. The Whore of Babylon, from a 1800s Russian engraving The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... The Whore of Babylon, from a 1800s Russian engraving The two-dimensional work of art depicted in this image is in the public domain in the United States and in those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 100 years. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... Haile Selassie I The Rastafari movement (also known as Rastafari, or simply Rasta) is a new religious movement[1] that accepts Haile Selassie I, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, as God incarnate, called Jah[2] or Jah Rastafari. ... Allegory of Music by Filippino Lippi. ... For other uses, see Evil (disambiguation). ... Visions of John of Patmos, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ... For other uses, see Bible (disambiguation). ... In Christian eschatology, the Antichrist or anti-Christ means a person, office, or group recognized as fulfilling the Biblical prophecies about one who will oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christs place. ... St. ... For other uses, see Prophecy (disambiguation). ...

Symbolism

The “great whore” of the biblical book of Revelation is featured in chapters 17 and 18. Many passages define symbolic meanings inherent in the text:

^17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
^17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
^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 great admiration.
^17:9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth (King James Version; the New International Version Bible uses "hills" instead of "mountains").
^17:10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
^17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
^17:12 And the ten horns which thou saw are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
^17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
^17:18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

—Revelation 17:4-18 (various))

Identity

Late 15th century German print from a woodcut.

Image File history File links Download high resolution version (764x987, 321 KB) Whore of Babylon (woman of Babylon) unknown artist, probalby a woodcut, appearently made in a German speaking country. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (764x987, 321 KB) Whore of Babylon (woman of Babylon) unknown artist, probalby a woodcut, appearently made in a German speaking country. ...

Rome and the Roman Empire

Many Bible scholars agree that "Babylon" is an allegory of Rome; perhaps specifically at the time to some aspect of Rome's rule (brutality, greed, paganism), or even a servant people that does the bidding of Rome. The Roman Catholic commentary of the Jerusalem Bible, the evangelical Protestant commentary of the New International Version Study Bible, the Rastafarians and the liberal Protestant commentary of the Oxford Annotated Study Bible all concur that "Babylon is the symbolic name for Rome" and that (1st century) "Rome" is the "type of place where evil is supreme" (Jerusalem Bible, commentary to Rev. 17). For other uses, see Babylon (disambiguation). ... Allegory of Music by Filippino Lippi. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... Pagan and heathen redirect here. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... The Jerusalem Bible (JB) is a Catholic translation of the Bible which first was introduced to the English-speaking public in 1966 and published by Darton, Longman & Todd. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Evangelicalism is a theological perspective in Protestant Christianity which identifies with the gospel. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ... The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Christian Bible which is the most popular of the modern translations of the Bible made in the twentieth century. ... A study Bible. ... Oxford University Press (OUP) is a highly-respected publishing house and a department of the University of Oxford in England. ... A type in biblical theology is a figure, representation, event, or symbol in the bible which is believed to be a prefigurement designed by God to foreshadow things to come. ...

Elsewhere in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 5:13; "Babylon" is possibly used to refer to Rome. This is bolstered by the remark in Rev. 17:9 that she sits on "seven mountains"(the King James Version Bible-the New International Version Bible uses the words "seven hills"), which could be the seven hills of Rome. "Rome" would therefore be the 'new Babylon' and all of the symbolism characterizing Babylon as a wanton "whore," would be transferable to Rome, according to this view. This article is about the Christian scriptures. ... In Christianity, the First Epistle of Peter is a book of the New Testament. ... For the film starring Mario Lanza, see Seven Hills of Rome (film). ...

There are a number of smaller symbolic clues that some see as suggesting a link between Rome and Babylon — the Roman Empire in its military occupation of Palestine, its repression of the Jewish nation and religion, its destruction of Jerusalem following Jewish revolts in 70 AD and 135 AD, and its persecution of Christians, would lend meaning to the imagery of the 'whore, drunk with the blood of martyrs,' as a wantonly violent and bloodthirsty entity. For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... The Destruction of Jerusalem (specifically, the Second Destruction of Jerusalem) was the culmination of the successful campaign of Titus Flavius against Judea after an unsuccessful attack four years prior by Cestius Gallus. ... BCE redirects here. ... BCE redirects here. ... A Christian Dirce, by Henryk Siemiradzki. ... For other uses, see Martyr (disambiguation). ...

In Rastafarian ideology both Babylon and Rome are also equated with this modern world in which we live. The Rastas have popularized the name Babylon to refer to what they see as the fundamentally evil modern society.

Earthly Jerusalem

The Apocalypse: The Woman of Babylon by Albrecht Dürer.

Many Christian scholars^{[citation needed]} point out that although Rome was the prevailing pagan power in the 1st century when the Book of Revelation was written, the symbolism of the whore of Babylon refers not to an invading infidel of foreign power, but to an apostate false queen, a former "bride" who has been unfaithful and who, even though she has been divorced and cast out because of unfaithfulness, continues to falsely claim to be the "queen" of the spiritual realm.^[1][2] This symbolism did not fit the case of Rome at the time. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x1536, 296 KB) The Apocalypse: The Woman of Babylon (AKA Whore of Babylon) by Albrecht Dürer 1496 - 98 on quote This image is one of a series of woodblocks made by the German artist Albrecht Dürer in the late... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x1536, 296 KB) The Apocalypse: The Woman of Babylon (AKA Whore of Babylon) by Albrecht Dürer 1496 - 98 on quote This image is one of a series of woodblocks made by the German artist Albrecht Dürer in the late... Albrecht Dürer (pronounced ) (May 21, 1471 – April 6, 1528)[1] was a German painter, printmaker and theorist from Nuremberg, Germany. ...

Several Old Testament prophets referred to Jerusalem as being a spiritual harlot and a mother of such harlotry (Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 3:1-11; Ezekiel 16:15-18; Ezekiel 23).^{[original research?]} Some of these Old Testament prophecies concerning Judah are in fact very close to the text concerning Babylon in Revelation, suggesting that John may well have actually been citing those prophecies in his description of Babylon.^{[original research?]} For other senses of this word, see Prophet (disambiguation). ...

For example, in Jeremiah 13, Judah is warned that because of her whoredom, the cups of all of the people will be "filled with wine," they will be "made drunk," and the nation will be suddenly destroyed. This is identical to the scenario in Revelation 17-18; it also correlates with the warning of Jesus that Jerusalem would be suddenly invaded and destroyed just prior to His return to Earth, in Luke 21:20-22. So, according to this view, John's prophecy about Babylon was merely a detailed repetition of warnings already given by many Old Testament prophets and by Jesus Himself in Matthew Chapter 23.^{[original research?]} However, Jerusalem never literally ruled over the kings of the Earth, as is specified in the scriptures used. The Book of Jeremiah, or Jeremiah (יִרְמְיָהוּ Yirməyāhū in Hebrew), is part of the Hebrew Bible, Judaisms Tanakh, and later became a part of Christianitys Old Testament. ...

The scholars who defend this position believe that Earthly Jerusalem would "ride the beast" that is control and manipulate the Satanic power behind the various 'pagan' or 'worldly' nations. Some see it as an evil relationship between the harlot, apostate Jerusalem, and the scarlet beast Rome on whom she is seated to crucify Jesus and persecute the Christians. This evil alliance is confirmed in the Book of Acts (Acts 4:26-28, 12:1-3, 19:21-23). For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ...

"‘The kings of the earth took their stand and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed.’ Indeed they gathered in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do what your hand and (your) will had long ago planned to take place." (Acts 4:26-28)

According to this view, the "great city" in the Book of Revelation, the Earthly Jerusalem is opposed to the spiritual, heavenly, new Jerusalem, which is the Christian Church of the faithful of Jesus (the bride): "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:2) For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Jerusalem (disambiguation). ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ...

Roman Catholic Church

Protestant Reformation

Most Reformation writers and all Reformers themselves, from Martin Luther (who wrote On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church), John Calvin, and John Knox (who wrote The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women) identify the Roman Catholic Church with the Whore of Babylon.^[3] This opinion influenced several generations in England and Scotland when it was put into the 1599 edition of the Geneva Bible. Reformation redirects here. ... Martin Luther (November 10, 1483 – February 18, 1546) was a German monk,[1] priest, professor, theologian, and church reformer. ... On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church is a theological and historical work by the Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther. ... John Calvin (July 10, 1509 – May 27, 1564) was a French Protestant theologian during the Protestant Reformation and was a central developer of the system of Christian theology called Calvinism or Reformed theology. ... For other persons named John Knox, see John Knox (disambiguation). ... Monstrous regiment, or monstrous regiment of women are phrases which have become notorious; they are borrowed from the title of a work by the Scot John Knox, published in 1558, The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstrous Regiment of Women. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... The Geneva Bible was a Protestant translation of the Bible into English. ...

Identification of the Pope as the Antichrist was written into Protestant creeds such as the Westminster Confession of 1646. The identification of the Roman Catholic Church with the Whore of Babylon is kept in the Scofield Reference Bible (whose 1917 edition identified "ecclesiastical Babylon" with "apostate Christendom headed by the Papacy") and pro-Reformation writings such as those of I.M. Haldeman, and it is kept alive by contemporary figures such as Ian Paisley and Jack Chick. The "drunkenness with the blood of saints and martyrs," by this interpretation, refers to the veneration of saints and relics and the Sunday sacredness, which is viewed by Reformers as idolatry and apostasy. Some Protestants commonly used the phrase "Whore of Babylon" to refer to the Roman Catholic Church. The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith, in the Calvinist theological tradition. ... The Scofield Reference Bible is a widely circulated annotated study Bible edited and annotated by the American Bible student Cyrus I. Scofield. ... While all episcopal sees can be referred to as holy, the expression the Holy See (without further specification) is normally used in international relations (as well as in the canon law of the Catholic Church)[1] to refer to the central government of the Catholic Church, headed by the Bishop... Ian Richard Kyle Paisley (born 6 April 1926), styled The Revd and Rt Hon. ... Jimmy Akins rendition of Jack Chick. ... Veneration is a religious symbolic act giving honor to someone by honoring an image of that person, particularly applied to saints. ... Saints redirects here. ... For other uses, see Relic (disambiguation). ... The Adoration of the Golden Calf by Nicolas Poussin Idolatry is a major sin in the Abrahamic religions regarding image. ... Apostasy (from Greek αποστασία, meaning a defection or revolt, from απο, apo, away, apart, στασις, stasis, standing) is a term generally employed to describe the formal renunciation of ones religion, especially if the motive is deemed unworthy. ...

The Protestant reformers were not the first people to call the Roman Catholic Church the Whore of Babylon. There was a fairly long tradition of this kind of name-calling by opponents of the Papacy. Frederick Barbarossa published missives that called the Papacy the Whore of Babylon, and the Pope the Antichrist, during the course of his protracted quarrel with Pope Alexander III. Dante equated the corruption and simony in the office of the Papacy with the Whore of Babylon in Canto 19 of his Inferno: Frederick Barbarossa in a 13th century chronicle. ... For other uses, see Pope (disambiguation). ... Pope Alexander III (c. ... Dante redirects here. ... Look up simony in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses see The Divine Comedy (disambiguation), Dantes Inferno (disambiguation), and The Inferno (disambiguation) Dante shown holding a copy of The Divine Comedy, next to the entrance to Hell, the seven terraces of Mount Purgatory and the city of Florence, with the spheres of Heaven above, in Michelino...

Di voi pastor s'accorse il Vangelista,

quando colei che siede sopra l'acque

puttaneggiar coi regi a lui fu vista. . .

("Shepherds like you the Evangelist had in mind when he saw the one that sits upon the waters committing fornication with the kings.")

When the Florentine religious reformer Girolamo Savonarola also called the Papacy the Whore of Babylon, he meant something closer to the Reformers' usage; these claims, however, were based chiefly on social and political disagreements with Roman Catholic policy, or, at their strongest, accuse the Papacy of moral corruption. The Protestant reformers, in contrast, seriously considered the Papacy to be at least potentially the apocalyptic figure mentioned in Bible prophecy, and included the claim in Bible commentaries as well as polemics. They meant something more than to accuse the Roman Catholic Church of political or moral corruption; they claimed that, as a church, it taught a Satanic counterfeit plan of salvation, one that would lead its faithful to Hell rather than to Heaven. Florence (or Firenze, Florentia and Fiorenza) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany, and of the province of Florence. ... Girolamo Savonarola by Fra Bartolomeo, c. ... This article is about the concept of Satan. ... For other uses, see Salvation (disambiguation). ... This article is about the theological or philosophical afterlife. ... For other uses, see Heaven (disambiguation). ...

Swedenborgianism

According to Swedenborgian doctrine, the Whore of Babylon symbolizes the lust for power within the Roman Catholic Church. It is believed that the book of Revelation is a spiritual allegory for the downfall of traditional Christianity, and its revival into a New Church. Each symbol in Revelation is thought to have correspondence with some aspect of the spiritual state of the Christian Church. In the book "Apocalypse Explained" Swedenborg expounds an explanation of Revelation that includes judgement on the corrupted leadership of the Catholic Church, as the Whore of Babylon. Emanuel Swedenborg, 75, holding the manuscript of Apocalypsis Revelata (1766). ... Swedenborgianism is a term based on the ecclesiastical organization of certain beliefs relating to Emanuel Swedenborgs writings and, as such, is considered a religious movement by some. ... Correspondence may refer to: In the theology of Emanuel Swedenborg, correspondence is the relationship between spiritual and physical realities. ...

Latter Day Saint movement

Main article: great and abominable church

In the Latter Day Saint movement, which accepts the Bible as scripture, additional books within its canon describe the Whore of Babylon as a "great and abominable church". According to the religion's Book of Mormon, the great and abominable church was formed soon after the life of Jesus and is responsible for the Apostles' deaths and the Great Apostasy (1 Ne. 13:5-6). The church was said to be instrumental in corrupting the Bible and removing from it "the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb" (1 Ne. 13:34). In the Latter Day Saint movement, the great and abominable church (also called the great whore of all the earth) is an actual or metaphorical church described in the Book of Mormon and other revelations by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Latter Day Saint movement (a subset of Restorationism) is a group of religious denominations and adherents who follow at least some of the teachings and revelations of Joseph Smith, Jr. ... A biblical canon is a list of Biblical books which establishes the set of books which are considered to be authoritative as scripture by a particular Jewish or Christian community. ... In the Latter Day Saint movement, the great and abominable church (also called the great whore of all the earth) is an actual or metaphorical church described in the Book of Mormon and other revelations by Joseph Smith, Jr. ... // The Book of Mormon [1] is one of the sacred texts of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... This article is about Jesus of Nazareth. ... Alternate meaning: See Apostle (Mormonism) The Christian Apostles were Jewish men chosen from among the disciples, who were sent forth (as indicated by the Greek word απόστολος apostolos= messenger), by Jesus to preach the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles, across the world. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Great Apostasy is... The First Book of Nephi (pronounced ) is the first book of the Book of Mormon. ...

Although some followers of the religion's founder Joseph Smith, Jr.—including prophets and apostles of the LDS faith—have understood the great and abominable church to refer to the Catholic church or Protestantism, the book states that there are "two churches only": one that follows Jesus, and another that follows the devil (1 Ne. 14:10-11); therefore, many adherents understand the references in the Book of Mormon to refer metaphorically to all followers of Satan. Joseph Smith redirects here. ... The name Catholic Church can mean a visible organization that refers to itself as Catholic, or the invisible Christian Church, viz. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ... This article is about the concept of Satan. ...

Traditionalist Catholics

A handful of Traditionalist Catholics and sedevacantists, who do not accept the 1969 revision of the rite of Mass and consider the recent popes to be heretics, believe that the official Roman Catholic Church as it has existed since Vatican II or the election of John XXIII is in fact the Whore of Babylon.^[4] They differ from the Protestant view only in that they consider the Catholic Church before the Second Vatican Council to be the "real" Catholic Church, with which they claim continuity. In their eyes, the present-day Roman Catholic Church is a blasphemous mockery. A traditionalist Catholic is a Roman Catholic who believes that there should be a restoration of the liturgical forms, public and private devotions, and presentation of Catholic teachings that prevailed in the Catholic Church just before the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). ... Sedevacantism is the term commonly used to denote the belief, held by a minority of Traditionalist Catholics, that some or all of the men generally recognized as Popes since the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958 (Pope John XXIII, Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul I, Pope John Paul... The Mass of Pope Paul VI is the liturgy of the Catholic Mass of the Roman Rite as revised after the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965). ... For other uses of Mass, see Mass (disambiguation). ... The Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II, was an Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church opened under Pope John XXIII in 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI in 1965. ... The Blessed John XXIII wearing a Papal Tiara Angelo Roncalli was born in Sotto il Monte (province of Bergamo), Italy on November 25, 1881. ... The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. ...

Catholic responses

The Roman Catholic Church denies the claim that it is the being referred to by the Book of Revelation as the Whore of Babylon. At the height of the Reformation era tensions, Roman Catholic authors often accused specific Protestant leaders of being potential Antichrists; these leaders, however, did not include St Robert Bellarmine, who taught that a personal Antichrist would arise before the end of the world, as do most Protestants who take a position today. This article is about Robert Bellarmine, the Catholic Saint. ...

The use of the idiom appears to have dwindled, along with the rise in secular terminology to replace religious symbolism. Among the explanations are that the term is contrary to evangelical methods and goals and socially unconstructive, and so the tradition is kept only internally if it is kept at all. The rise of dispensationalism as a school of interpretation of the end times has also caused many Protestants to revise their interpretation of these passages in a way that diminishes the certainty of their identification of the Whore of Babylon with any present religion. Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Evangelicalism is a theological perspective in Protestant Christianity which identifies with the gospel. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      A current... // In the three Abrahamic Religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity), the End Times are depicted as a time of tribulation that precede the predicted coming of a Messiah figure. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Relation to other religions Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Christianity Portal This box:      Protestantism encompasses the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated with the doctrines of the Reformation. ...

United States

This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (January 2008)

The use of the "Great Satan" metaphor by some fundamentalist followers of Islam makes an implicit comparison of the United States to ancient Babylon and Rome. Those who equate the US with Mystery Babylon liken the United States to the Roman Empire — and therefore to Babylon — because of what they charge is its high-handed treatment of other countries as a military superpower. South American intellectuals from the 60's and 70's political movements have been known to use this metaphor as well. American religious right groups such as the American Family Association, see United States as decadent, evil and anti-Christian; and 'drunk with the blood of the saints' due to its popular culture as well as its earthly military and technological superiority. Concern has been expressed that a self-published source being cited in this article is not legitimately citable as a secondary source in this article but only as a primary source in an article about the source itself, according to the Reliable sources guideline and the Verifiability policy. ... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Superpowers redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The American Family Association (AFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes conservative Christian values. ... Decadence was the name given, first by hostile critics, and then triumphantly adopted by some writers themselves, to a number of late nineteenth century fin de siècle writers associated with Symbolism or the Aesthetic movement. ... Popular culture (or pop culture) is the widespread cultural elements in any given society that are perpetuated through that societys vernacular language or lingua franca. ...

Not only is Mystery Babylon, in Revelation 17 and 18, described as a great consumer and superpower, but she is destroyed by the beast kingdom of the Antichrist with its seven heads and ten horns. The beast with seven heads and ten horns is a reference to Daniel's description of the kingdom of the Antichrist, in Daniel 7:23-25. Additionally, an online organization claims that the Statue of Liberty bears relatively close resemblance to the Whore; the statue was modeled after the Roman goddess Libertas, which they suppose had come from the chief Babylonian goddess Ishtar.^[5] Babylon (or the Whore) is also described as sitting upon many waters (Revelation 17:1); this may apply to either the United States, which stretches from the Pacific to the Atlantic and which has a trading empire across the oceans; or to the Statue of Liberty, which sits in New York Harbor. Furthermore, if the "beast" is identified as the United Nations, then the U.S. might be seen as being its rider, since it is one of the five members of the UN Security Council and hosts the UN headquarters in New York City. Another aspect of interest is that the United States has "conquered" the historical capital of Babylon in Iraq during the Iraq War. By virtue of tradition, this implies that America has taken up the mantle of the Babylonian Empire. Such an interpretation has been promulgated by individuals such as Texas preacher Texe Marrs. For other monuments to freedom, see Monument of Liberty. ... For other uses, see Ishtar (disambiguation). ... Pacific redirects here. ... Atlantic and North Atlantic redirect here. ... New York Harbor, a geographic term, refers collectively to the rivers, bays, and tidal estuaries near the mouth of the Hudson River in the vicinity of New York City. ... UN redirects here. ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... This article is about the physical offices of the United Nations in New York. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... For other uses, see Iraq war (disambiguation). ... Texe W. Marrs is an American preacher from Austin, Texas. ...

Soviet Union

During the Cold War, United States popular culture was engendered to view the former Soviet Union as a "Babylon" of sorts — a monster to be defeated. Dispensationalist study Bibles and commentaries such as the Scofield Reference Bible and The Late Great Planet Earth typically identified the Soviet Union, or earlier Russia, with Gog, also an allegorical figure of evil that appears in Revelation and the Book of Ezekiel (although it is important to note that Gog and Magog are themselves defeated by the Beast who rules Babylon). A great many parallels could be drawn to the USSR, and for that matter, the British Empire, and Nazi Germany. The demise of the Soviet Union has led dispensionalists to revise their commentaries. For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... A study Bible. ... The Scofield Reference Bible is a widely circulated annotated study Bible edited and annotated by the American Bible student Cyrus I. Scofield. ... Hal Lindsey, author of numerous fiction and non-fiction books, wrote The Late, Great Planet Earth as a contribution to the non-fiction pre-millennialist dispensationalist body of literature. ... Gog and Magog redirect here. ... Book Of Ezekiel is rapper Freekey Zekeys debut album and debut on Diplomat Records/Asylum. ... For a comprehensive list of the territories that formed the British Empire, see Evolution of the British Empire. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ...

Resurgent Ottoman Empire

There is a theory linking the “whore of Babylon” to a resurgent Ottoman Empire and militant Islam. The belief in an Islamic link to the whore of Babylon is not new – Christian groups as theologically diverse as Eastern Orthodox believers (i.e., the Byzantine Emperor) and the Protestant English Puritans noted similarities between Revelation and medieval Islam. However, Constantinople, today known as Istanbul, has (like Rome) been known as the city built on seven hills. It also sits on "many waters" (Rev. 17:1), and was capital of both the Ottoman Empire and Roman Empire. This theory, which takes issue with the tendency in the United States and Western Europe to view the world through a Western perspective, is being promoted by publication of books, such as Walid Shoebat's book Why I Left Islam, and AntiChrist: Islam’s Awaited Messiah, by Joel Richardson. Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1683, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–1365) Edirne (1365–1453) Ä°stanbul (1453–1922) Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 (first) Osman I  - 1918–22 (last) Mehmed VI Grand Viziers  - 1320... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... The Puritans were members of a group of radical Protestants which developed in England after the Reformation. ... This article is about the city before the Fall of Constantinople (1453). ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: , historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. ... Motto دولت ابد مدت Devlet-i Ebed-müddet (The Eternal State) Anthem Ottoman imperial anthem Borders in 1683, see: list of territories Capital Söğüt (1299–1326) Bursa (1326–1365) Edirne (1365–1453) Ä°stanbul (1453–1922) Government Monarchy Sultans  - 1281–1326 (first) Osman I  - 1918–22 (last) Mehmed VI Grand Viziers  - 1320... For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ...

Jehovah's Witnesses

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that the Whore of Babylon symbolizes the world empire of false religion,^[6] including, but not limited to, Christendom, a term they use to refer to the part of the world that claims to be Christian.^[7][8] Among John’s visions recorded in the book of Revelation appear pronouncements of judgment against “Babylon the Great,” as well as a description of her and of her downfall.^[9] This T-and-O map, which abstracts the known world to a cross inscribed within an orb, remakes geography in the service of Christian iconography. ...

Jehovah's Witnesses believe Babylon the Great must be viewed as a symbolic city, of which the literal city of Babylon was the prototype. Therefore, they look to the features of Babylon on the Euphrates, for clues as to the identity of the symbolic city of John’s vision. The Bible lists Babel first when giving the ‘beginning of Nimrod’s kingdom.’^[10] Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures the ancient city of Babylon is positioned as the enemy of Jehovah God and his people.^{[citation needed][11][12][13]}

Though Babylon became the capital of a political empire in the seventh and sixth centuries B.C.E., it was known during its entire history as a religious center from which religious influences radiated in many directions.

Babylon’s religious influence is traced eastward to India.^[15]

Thus, ancient Babylon’s religious influence spread out to many peoples and nations, much farther and with greater potency and endurance than did her political strength.

Like mystic Babylon, the ancient city of Babylon, in effect, sat on the waters, located, as it was, astride the Euphrates River and having various canals and water-filled moats.^[16][17] These waters served as a defense to the city, and they provided the thoroughfares upon which ships brought wealth and luxuries from many sources. Notably, the water of the Euphrates is depicted as drying up prior to Babylon the Great’s experiencing the wrath of divine judgment.^[18]

See also

• Antichrist
• Babalon
• Hattie Durham
• Babylon (New Testament)
• Beast of Revelation
• End times
• Garden of Eden
• Great Apostasy
• Great Satan
• Historicism (Christian eschatology)
• New World Order (conspiracy)
• Summary of Christian eschatological differences
• The Two Babylons
• Tower of Babel

In Christian eschatology, the Antichrist or anti-Christ means a person, office, or group recognized as fulfilling the Biblical prophecies about one who will oppose Christ and substitute himself in Christs place. ... Babalon riding The Beast, as depicted on the Lust card of Crowleys Thoth Tarot. ... Hattie Durham is a fictional character in the Left Behind series, by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins. ... Babylon occurs in the Christian New Testament both with a literal and a figurative meaning. ... ... // In the three Abrahamic Religions (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity), the End Times are depicted as a time of tribulation that precede the predicted coming of a Messiah figure. ... For other uses, see Garden of Eden (disambiguation). ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Great Apostasy is... Concern has been expressed that a self-published source being cited in this article is not legitimately citable as a secondary source in this article but only as a primary source in an article about the source itself, according to the Reliable sources guideline and the Verifiability policy. ... Historicism in Christian eschatology is a school of interpretation of the eschatological prophecies of Daniel, Revelation and other passages are seen as finding literal earthly fulfillment through the history of the church age, and especially in relation to the Protestant- Catholic conflicts of the Reformation. ... One World Government redirects here. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Original cover of The Two Babylons, which alleges that many of the Roman Catholic churches doctrines and ceremonies came from ancient Babylonian culture. ... This article is about the Biblical story. ...

References

Bibliography

• Harper's Bible Dictionary Paul J. Achtemeier, general editor (1985, Harper Collins), ISBN 0-06-069863-2
• The Jerusalem Bible, Alexander Jones, general editor. (1966, Doubleday & Co.)
• The NIV Study Bible, Kenneth Barker, general editor. (1995, Zondervan) ISBN 0-310-92589-4
• The New Oxford Annotated Study Bible with Apocrypha, Bernhard W. Anderson, Bruce Metzger, general editors. (1991, Oxford University Press) ISBN 0-19-528356-2
• John Coleman, Conspirators' Hierarchy, 4th ed., Carson City: Joseph Holding Corp., 2006.
• R. A. Coombes, America, The Babylon: America’s Destiny Foretold In Biblical Prophecy, Leathers Pub, 1998.
• Walter Wink, Engaging the Powers, Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1992.

External links

• A woman rides the beast True Protestant teaching from John Wycliff to John Calvin.
• According to the Scriptures The whore is that great city Babylon revived.
• Catholic Answers on the Whore of Babylon
• What is the whore of Babylon? from an Evangelical Christian perspective
• Enominepatris.com America The Great - Mystery Babylon
• European Institute of Protestant Studies EU as the Whore of Babylon
• "The End of False Religion Is Near!" - a tract distributed by Jehovah's Witnesses