In Revelation 17:3, notice how Babylon, the mother of harlots is described:
Babylon is described as a woman and a woman in Bible prophecy symbolizes a church, for example the parable of the 10 virgins symbolizes the condition of the church before our Lord’s return. Babylon, the mother of harlots is pictured as riding on a beast. A beast in Bible prophecy symbolizes a political power.
We see this illustrated in Daniel 7:23: stating “the fourth beast shall be a fourth Kingdom on earth.” The woman riding the beast symbolizes a church and state union, and since the woman is in control of the Beast that means the political powers will do Babylon’s bidding.
In the end times, Babylon is also described as full of names of blasphemy. The Bible gives two definitions of blasphemy, the first one is claiming to be God. An example is when Jesus said in John 10:30 “I and my father are one.” In verse 33, “the Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a man, make Yourself God.”
The second definition of blasphemy is claiming to be able to forgive sins. After Jesus told a paralytic his sins are forgiven Mark 2:6-7 says “And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” The Catholic Church is guilty of both of these things because the pope uses titles that belong to God alone like Holy Father.
For example while praying to the father in John 17:11 Jesus said “I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are.”
The Catholic Church also claims the authority to forgive sins in the practice of confession. Catholic priests claim the ability to forgive sins through the sacrament of penance. Continuing on, Revelation 17:4 says “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.”
Notice how this woman or church is arrayed in purple and scarlet these are colors of Catholic Cardinals and Bishops. Cardinals wear scarlet to symbolize their willingness to defend their faith even to the point of shedding their blood and Bishops wear purple to signify penitence, humility and the dignity of their office.
Babylon being adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls is a reflection of her wealth and the Catholic Church is considered by many to be the richest Church in the world.
An online post entitled How much money does “God” have? states the church has vast assets including billions in real estate and some priceless art, not to mention the Vatican Bank. Its finances are largely secret, tallying that immense wealth is pretty much impossible according to experts.
Babylon also has a golden wine cup of abominations in her hand. The Bible calls a list of things abominations including sun worship in Ezekiel 8:16, idolatry in Deuteronomy 7:15 and spiritism in Deuteronomy 18:1. All of which the Catholic Church is guilty of.
Sunday keeping has its origins in pagan sun worship praying to statues of “saints” is idolatry and this is also spiritism. Spiritism is communication with the dead. Those “saints” are not alive, they are asleep in the grave awaiting the resurrection. So whomever you think you're communicating with when you pray to them. I can assure you, it's not Mary or Joseph.
Revelation 17:4 also says Babylon’s wine cup contains the “filthiness of her fornication.” Fornication is an elicit relationship and James 4:4 says “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Now this doesn't mean that you shouldn't have any friends but it points to the deeper spiritual truth that forming alliances with worldly powers to advance one's agenda at the cost of one's loyalty to God is considered spiritual adultery. The Catholic church is guilty of this in the sense that during the Middle ages it united with various European countries to eliminate its opposition and extend its power and influence.
Revelation 17:5 says “And on her forehead a name was written: Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.” Notice that Babylon is a mother, this is significant because the Catholic Church actually calls itself the “Holy Mother Church” and if she's a mother that means she has daughters as well, those daughters are other churches and religions that adopt her false teachings and practices and will unite with her in the end times.
Revelation 17:6 says “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.” This refers to the violent persecution carried out by the Catholic church in the Middle Ages against those it deemed heretical. This included movements such as the Waldensians, Albenzians and later Protestant reformers, crusades, religious wars and the inquisition were used to accomplish this. Millions of people lost their lives in this conflict.
All things considered, God has people in Babylon, there are people in the Catholic Church and other false systems of religion that are sincerely seeking God, however God doesn't want you to remain in those religious systems, he wants you to come out. Revelation 18: 4-5 says “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” God has remembered her iniquities, judgment is coming upon the false religions of the world and God warns his people to come out of them to avoid the coming judgment and the plagues that will fall on her.
In the end, while the call for unity may seem appealing, it's vital to ensure that such unity is based on truth rather than compromise. The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one way to God, Jesus Christ. The Bible doesn't call everyone children of God. Yes God is the creator of us all but only those who have a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus have the right to be called his children. The Bible warns against aligning with false religious systems. God's invitation is clear: “come out of her my people!” As we draw closer to the final events of earth's history it's essential to remain faithful to God's word and follow his truth no matter what the cost.
“and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and 10 horns”
Babylon is described as a woman and a woman in Bible prophecy symbolizes a church, for example the parable of the 10 virgins symbolizes the condition of the church before our Lord’s return. Babylon, the mother of harlots is pictured as riding on a beast. A beast in Bible prophecy symbolizes a political power.
We see this illustrated in Daniel 7:23: stating “the fourth beast shall be a fourth Kingdom on earth.” The woman riding the beast symbolizes a church and state union, and since the woman is in control of the Beast that means the political powers will do Babylon’s bidding.
In the end times, Babylon is also described as full of names of blasphemy. The Bible gives two definitions of blasphemy, the first one is claiming to be God. An example is when Jesus said in John 10:30 “I and my father are one.” In verse 33, “the Jews answered Him, saying, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy, and because You, being a man, make Yourself God.”
The second definition of blasphemy is claiming to be able to forgive sins. After Jesus told a paralytic his sins are forgiven Mark 2:6-7 says “And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, ‘Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” The Catholic Church is guilty of both of these things because the pope uses titles that belong to God alone like Holy Father.
For example while praying to the father in John 17:11 Jesus said “I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to you. Holy Father, keep through your name those whom you have given me, that they may be one as we are.”
The Catholic Church also claims the authority to forgive sins in the practice of confession. Catholic priests claim the ability to forgive sins through the sacrament of penance. Continuing on, Revelation 17:4 says “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.”
Notice how this woman or church is arrayed in purple and scarlet these are colors of Catholic Cardinals and Bishops. Cardinals wear scarlet to symbolize their willingness to defend their faith even to the point of shedding their blood and Bishops wear purple to signify penitence, humility and the dignity of their office.
Babylon being adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls is a reflection of her wealth and the Catholic Church is considered by many to be the richest Church in the world.
An online post entitled How much money does “God” have? states the church has vast assets including billions in real estate and some priceless art, not to mention the Vatican Bank. Its finances are largely secret, tallying that immense wealth is pretty much impossible according to experts.
Babylon also has a golden wine cup of abominations in her hand. The Bible calls a list of things abominations including sun worship in Ezekiel 8:16, idolatry in Deuteronomy 7:15 and spiritism in Deuteronomy 18:1. All of which the Catholic Church is guilty of.
Sunday keeping has its origins in pagan sun worship praying to statues of “saints” is idolatry and this is also spiritism. Spiritism is communication with the dead. Those “saints” are not alive, they are asleep in the grave awaiting the resurrection. So whomever you think you're communicating with when you pray to them. I can assure you, it's not Mary or Joseph.
Revelation 17:4 also says Babylon’s wine cup contains the “filthiness of her fornication.” Fornication is an elicit relationship and James 4:4 says “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Now this doesn't mean that you shouldn't have any friends but it points to the deeper spiritual truth that forming alliances with worldly powers to advance one's agenda at the cost of one's loyalty to God is considered spiritual adultery. The Catholic church is guilty of this in the sense that during the Middle ages it united with various European countries to eliminate its opposition and extend its power and influence.
Revelation 17:5 says “And on her forehead a name was written: Mystery, Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.” Notice that Babylon is a mother, this is significant because the Catholic Church actually calls itself the “Holy Mother Church” and if she's a mother that means she has daughters as well, those daughters are other churches and religions that adopt her false teachings and practices and will unite with her in the end times.
Revelation 17:6 says “I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.” This refers to the violent persecution carried out by the Catholic church in the Middle Ages against those it deemed heretical. This included movements such as the Waldensians, Albenzians and later Protestant reformers, crusades, religious wars and the inquisition were used to accomplish this. Millions of people lost their lives in this conflict.
All things considered, God has people in Babylon, there are people in the Catholic Church and other false systems of religion that are sincerely seeking God, however God doesn't want you to remain in those religious systems, he wants you to come out. Revelation 18: 4-5 says “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.” God has remembered her iniquities, judgment is coming upon the false religions of the world and God warns his people to come out of them to avoid the coming judgment and the plagues that will fall on her.
In the end, while the call for unity may seem appealing, it's vital to ensure that such unity is based on truth rather than compromise. The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one way to God, Jesus Christ. The Bible doesn't call everyone children of God. Yes God is the creator of us all but only those who have a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus have the right to be called his children. The Bible warns against aligning with false religious systems. God's invitation is clear: “come out of her my people!” As we draw closer to the final events of earth's history it's essential to remain faithful to God's word and follow his truth no matter what the cost.
