BABYLON THE GREAT - THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS

In the last post we established a direction connection between the woman on the beast and the kingdom of the Antichrist.  John next reveals the identity of the woman.

Revelation 17:4–5 “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: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

It is significant that the woman is dressed in purple and scarlet, colors associate with the dress of the high priest in Israel and often associated with royalty.  This seems to indicate that she is associated with “religion” and a position of power and influence.  I think she represents the religious authority that is supported by and exerts great influence in league with Satan in the person of Antichrist.

This woman is holding a golden cup that is filled with abominations (especially idolatry) and filthiness (moral impurities) that are part of her fornication.

I liked this comment by E. W. Bullinger in connection with this verse:  “The cup is one.  This tells us that the corrupt streams which flow from this one fountainhead are all one in essence, character, and effect.  It is the religion originally instituted at Babylon, by Nimrod, at the instigation of Satan.  It is seen in all the great religions of the world.  They are all alike in substituting another God for the God of the Bible:  a god made either with the hands or with the imagination; but equally made.  And a religion consisting of human merit.  These things are common to all systems of false religion, and unite them in one.”

I believe the writing in her forehead affirms Bullinger’s statement.  There is nothing good about these false religions; they all lead to eternal damnation.

John identifies the woman as:  “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

Many people use the word mystery to jump off into other possibilities for identifying Babylon, such as Rome or New York City.  Personally, I believe the reference to be the Babylon of scripture.  Note that John describes her as the “mother of harlots.”  In other words, she was the mother that gave birth to idolatry and the detestable things associated with it that was given root through the leadership of Nimrod at the tower of Babel in (Genesis 11).  Babel is in the land of Shinar, the land that eventually became known as Babylon.            

Genesis 10:8-11”And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be a mighty one in the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the LORD: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.”

That makes an interesting tie in to the following verses in Zechariah that I think are a reference to the kingdom of Antichrist.

Zechariah 5:6-8&11 “And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.  And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah.  And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.  And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.”

The ephah represents business transactions.  The fact that the woman is described as wickedness indicates that Babylon will become the base of evil business operations.  This is especially interesting since a worldwide base of wicked business practices could not have described the Babylon of Zechariah’s day.  Today is a different story; and if, as I believe, the Antichrist establishes his base there, this would again have direct application to end times.

I had thoughts that the “mystery” of Babylon could be the seemingly resilient nature of Babylon.  She has featured prominently in past history in association with Nimrod’s kingdom and again as the empire that took Judah captive.  God scattered the inhabitants of Nimrod’s kingdom by confusing the language of the people according to Genesis; Archbishop Ussher dates this at 2,242 BC. 

Genesis 11:5-9 “And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.  Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.”

Babylon, the capital of the empire that took Judah captive, was conquered by Cyrus and made part of the Medo-Persian empire; Usher dates this at 538 BC. 

If my understanding is correct, the rise of Babylon to world prominence in the tribulation period will mark her third rise to prominence.  This would certainly defy historical precedence and present a “mystery.”  I’m just convinced that it is an area of great satanic stronghold where he exerts great influence and false religion holds sway. 

The “mystery” could also make reference to the many forms in which false religions have emerged.  They have all, however, found unity in the fact that they all rejected and sought to usurp the authority of Almighty God.

(to be continued…)