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

To understand who "Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots" is, you must know some history on the literal city of Babylon.  This city began as Babel (Genesis 10:10, 11:1-9), which means confusion, and later came to be called Babylon. The original Babel was a very religious place, and the remains of no less than fifty three temples have been discovered there. Originally, Babel was a "melting pot" of many different kinds of false gods and religions.

The apostle John wrote about "Babylon the Great" around 96 A.D.  The similarity between the literal Babel and Babylon is that both mean confusion. In Revelation, chapter 17, Babylon the Great is referred to as a whore that sits on the many waters ("the waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues" Revelation 17:15).

When thinking of a whore, many negative images come to mind: deceitful, alluring, smooth talking, seductively dressed, looks good on the outside, but in essence fornicates, selling what people want for money. The whore in the scriptures displays these same traits. She is very popular and accepted around the world, yet most people do not realize she is referred to as a "whore" in the Bible. Her "houses" are on nearly every street corner, and people are drawn to her thousands at a time. Music and candles burn in her houses, and brides and grooms are known to wed there. (Revelation 18:23) Have you guessed who this whore is yet? Other than commerce and governments, what other world-influencing institution exists today?

The whore in the scriptures is false religion (or doctrines) of the world, also called Babylon (Revelation 17:1-5, Proverbs 7, Revelation 18:22 -23). The literal city Babylon ( Babel ) is a foreshadow of false religions up to and including today. As literal Babel was made to be confused with different languages, false religion (the Babylon of today) is full of confusion, mystery, and countless false doctrines, which have significant power and influence on the world. "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, 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." (Rev 17:4-5)

Her "daughters" are the many different sects of false teachings. Some names may come to mind, such as Christendom, Jews, Hindus and Muslims, these are included as well. The false ministers confuse and abuse the Bible and other books, for their own gain. Her "daughters" are harlots because they not only commit fornication with the kings of the earth, but they will also cause all who follow her to support the United Nations, which will be destroyed by the coming government of God, "For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of he plagues" (Revelation 18:1-4).

Beginning with Babel

Genesis 10:9-10  The kingdom of Babel, which later became Babylon, is introduced.

Genesis 11:1-9  The people were all of one language enabling them to easily communicate and attempt to build a great tower. Jehovah God saw it and in order to prevent technology from progressing too quickly, he confused their languages and scattered the peoples around the earth. Babel means confusion.

I Corinthians 14:33  We know that the literal city of Babylon was a den of confusion just as false religion is. Furthermore, we know that scriptures are perfect, with no contradictions.  God does not desire to confuse people.

What is Babylon?

Revelation 17:1-6, 15  "I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication." The world system is made up of governments, commerce, and religion. According to this and other scriptures, the kings of the earth are in bed with the whore, Babylon is not a government. We learn from other scriptures that Babylon is not commerce. The great whore is false religion that sits on the waters, and verse 15 explains the waters represent people and nations of the world.

Jeremiah 51:6-7  False religion has been a "golden cup" in the hand of Jehovah God, which He uses to separate the good people from the bad people. Only those who have a sincere desire to truly learn and follow the truth of the scriptures are able to "come out of her."

Revelation 18:3-4, 20-24 (also see verses 9-19 in the same chapter)  When false religion is exposed and done away with, the merchants (commerce) of the world will weep and wail because of it. They make money from the big business of false religion. The clergy are even referred to as her merchants. Verse 23 also says, "the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee" Generally speaking, people get married in a church or religious building. This is more scriptural proof that Babylon is false religion.

Isaiah 47:9-15 This is a prophecy about the fall of Babylon the Great. When all false religion is exposed for their lying and murdering ways, no one will be able to save her.

Acts 7:48-50  "Heaven is My throne and earth is my footstool" Jehovah God does not dwell in temples made with the hands of men. All of the church buildings that exist in the communities around the world are full of confusion and deceit, not true knowledge of Almighty God.

Ezekiel 16:24-25  Notice how church buildings are mostly on corner lots of the street, and they usually have a steeple, which Ezekiel describes here as "an eminent place and has made thee an high place in every street." Just as prostitutes look for customers on street corners, the "whore", named Babylon, is usually positioned on the corner of a city block.

Proverbs 7:1-27  The churches seek out people who are willing to believe their lies. To the unlearned, the clergy seem to know the Bible. They use flattering speech and deceive the people by telling them what they want to hear. In reality, her way is the way of death. Don't be a victim of Babylon. Come out of her and learn the gospel of the Kingdom of Almighty God.

After reviewing this study, you may be interested in the study topic titled, Clergy or True Church.