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Bible Question: In
Revelation it speaks of Babylon the great, and for
God's people to get out of her. What is Babylon the
great? I was taught that it was a false religion;
what do you think it is???
Bible Answer: The
Bible talks about Babylon the Great in Revelation 14:8
and in Revelation 17-18. Revelation 14:8 is the first
key to understanding who this "woman" is. She
is described as a harlot. "Harlotry," "immorality" or "adultery" was
a symbolic term often used in scripture to refer to idolatry.
Jeremiah 3:8-9 is a great example of this,
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And
I saw that for all the adulteries of
faithless Israel, I had sent her away
and given her a writ of divorce, yet
her treacherous sister Judah did not
fear; but she went and was a harlot also.
And it came about because of the lightness
of her harlotry, that
she polluted the land and committed
adultery with stones and trees. (NASB)
Jeremiah 3:8-9 |
Notice the common theme of harlotry and adultery with
stones and trees. This is symbolic of false religion.
Revelation 17:1 says Babylon the great sits on many waters.
The term "many waters" refers to "peoples,
multitudes, nations and tongues" according to Revelation
17:15. Revelation 18:24 says in her is found the blood
of the prophets and saints. It is interesting that Jesus
said the religious leaders would be guilty of the "blood
of all the prophets, shed since the foundation of the
world" (Luke 11:47-51). This Babylon the great is
also called the "Mother of Harlots" (Rev. 17:5).
If we combine this information we discover that Babylon
the great represents a world wide religion in the end
times.
Revelation also describes Babylon the great in other
ways. Here is the list:
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Passage |
Description
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Rev.
17:3, 7-14 |
She
will work together with a strong military
empire. |
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Rev.
17:4-5 |
She
is a wealthy false religion, clothed
in scarlet, gold, pearls, gems. She is
called the "Mother of Harlots." |
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Rev.
17:9 |
It
appears she is colocated with the military
empire in Rome, Italy. |
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Rev.
17:15 |
The
religion is influential over many people
and nations. |
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Rev.
18:2 |
The
false religion will be destroyed and
be possessed by demons and unclean spirits. |
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Rev.
18:7 |
She
will consider herself to be a "Queen" and
to be invincible. |
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Rev.
18:16-19 |
She
has great economic power and influence
in addition to being a false religion. |
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Rev.
18:24 |
In
her is found the blood of the prophets
and saints |
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It appears this Mother of Harlots is located in Rome
(it was and is well known that |
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