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,

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:

Revelation describes Babylon the great
PASSAGEDESCRIPTION
Rev. 17:3, 7-14She will work together with a strong military empire.
Rev. 17:4-5She is a wealthy false religion, clothed in scarlet, gold, pearls, gems. She is called the “Mother of Harlots.”
Rev. 17:9It appears she is colocated with the military empire in Rome, Italy.
Rev. 17:15The religion is influential over many people and nations.
Rev. 18:2The false religion will be destroyed and be possessed by demons and unclean spirits.
Rev. 18:7She will consider herself to be a “Queen” and to be invincible.
Rev. 18:16-19She has great economic power and influence in addition to being a false religion.
Rev. 18:24In her is found the blood of the prophets and saints

It appears this Mother of Harlots is located in Rome (it was and is well known that Rome has seven hills) along with the military empire described in Rev. 17:3, 7-14. This military empire is the revived Roman Empire. The book of Daniel describes in detail what dominated the Jewish people from the time of Daniel onward. The first three are Babylon, Media-Persia, and Greece. The last one was the Roman Empire, which will return to power in the end times to work together with this false religion for awhile before being destroyed.

Conclusion:

Babylon the great is a false world religion. It will apparently have its headquarters in Rome. it is interesting that she is described as wealthy and clothed in purple and scarlet. Purple was the color of the Roman Empire.