Babylon, the Woman of Revelation 17 also refers to the same entity as the beast of Revelation 13 and the little horn of Daniel chapter 7. Bible scholars for many centuries have recognized this woman of prophecy by her detailed description.
The Description of this Woman gives us additional clues about the identity of the Antichrist and the mysterious number 666.
Babylon Clue #1
"...I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." Revelation 17:3
It is clear from the scriptures that
a woman in Bible prophecy represents a church. Please see Jeremiah 6:2
"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Ephesians 5:31-32
Babylon Clue #2
"...sitteth upon many waters." Revelation 17:1
The location of this church
is described as being in the midst of many "waters." The clue to this verse is found later in the same chapter in verse 15. "...The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." Revelation 17:15
Babylon is located where there are many different nations, people groups, and languages in close proximity.
This great apostate church, Babylon is also a world wide church. At the very end of this world, nearly everyone will be obeying her commands rather than God's. See Revelation 13:3-4 and Daniel 7:25
Babylon Clue #3
"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:" Revelation 17:1
| "When religion is good, it will take care of itself. When it
is not able to take care of itself, and God does not see fit to
take care of it, so that it has to appeal to the civil power for
support, it is evidence to my mind that its cause is a bad one." Benjamin Franklin, Statesman, Inventor, Author, Letter
to Dr. Price. |
Babylon is a "great whore." Is this woman being described pure or impure? She is called a "great whore" because she is GREATLY impure, she has left her first husband Jesus and "commited fornication" with the "kings of the earth."
The church described here has close relationships with the leaders of the world. Rather than depending on God for support, she encourages governments and nations to support her, enforce her teachings, and "win" converts by force.
Why does Babylon need to turn to the governments of the world? Because she has replaced many of the Bible's teachings with Babylonian pagan ones and as a result God has left her. The Holy Spirit does not draw the hearts of men to her so Babylon has to rely on outward show, deception, coercion, and ultimately force.
Please remember, that Jesus never forced anyone to follow Him, He said "Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 The church here described does not act like Jesus would, it is not filled with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus also said: "My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." John 18:36
Babylon Clue #4
"...the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." Revelation 17:2
In the closing moments of time the kings, governments and leaders, of the earth will force people to "drink" in her teachings(See Revelation 13:11-17, and Revelation
17:12-17.) Even today, the people of the world are in confusion regarding spiritual things because of this church's mixing of Chrisitan and Pagan teachings.
Babylon Clue #5
"...full of names of blasphemy," Revelation 17:3
The titles of the leaders of this church are blasphemous against God. Likewise the things these church leaders think they have the right to do and say are also blasphemous against God. (See also: Revelation 13:6 and Daniel 7:8 and Daniel 7:25)
Babylon Clue #6
"And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour..." Revelation 17:4
Babylon's principal colors are purple and scarlet. So we are looking for a church that incorporates purple and scarlet colours.
Purple and scarlet are two of the principal colors of the old testament church in the wilderness. The third prinicipal color of the older church was blue, but this church is missing the color blue, could there be a reason for that? YES, we need to understand what the colors symbolize. (More on this topic later.)
Babylon Clue #7
"decked with gold and precious stones and pearls" Revelation 17:4
Babylon, is a wealthy church, filled with gold, precious, stones and pearls.
Babylon Clue #8
"having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:" Revelation 17:4
Her golden cup is a clear identifying mark. The golden cup is a noteable part of this church's service. However, the church here symbolized is filled with filthy abominable doctrines, a deadly, intoxicating mixture of Christian and Pagan teachings.
Babylon Clue #9
"And upon her forehead [was] a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Revelation 17:5
Babylon is the "Mother" church but she has a family of daughters. These "HARLOT" churches retain elements of her false Babylonian teachings and also turn to Governments for help rather than to their husband Jesus.
Through His apostles, Jesus prophesied that a great "apostacy", a falling away from the truth, would occur.
Paul said: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." Acts 20:29-30
Babylon Clue #10
"And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus:" Revelation 17:6
A great paradox is pictured here, this Mother church, which thinks she is following Jesus, is in actuality does the greatest harm to Christ's true children. The church pictured here is a persecuting church who is responsible for the death of multitudes of God's people. Jesus warned His disciples about this when he said:
"...the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me." John 16:2-3
Jesus warned his disciples that they would soon face the hatred of the Jews, but this warning has an application in our day as well. See Matthew 24:5-9
Babylon Clue #11
"And here [is] the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth." Revelation 17:9
The wise will be able to understand this final conclusive identification point, kind of like the number 666 in revelation 13. This church is located in a city (see clue #12 below) that is noted for it's seven mountains.
Babylon Clue #12
"And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." Revelation 17:18
A final clue for the wise, Babylon, the mother church, is also a great city which has reigned over the kings of the earth. This church is a not only a church, but it is a political organization, infact it is a city and even a country / nation. Daniel described it as being "diverse" or different from the other nations.
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