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[[File:Blake Whore of Babylon.jpg|thumb|right|Whore of Babylon by [[William Blake]].]]

[[File:Blake Whore of Babylon.jpg|thumb|right|Whore of Babylon by [[William Blake]].]]

The '''Whore of Babylon''' is a symbolic figure of evil in the [[Bible prophecy|prophetic book]] of the [[Bible]] the [[Book of Revelation]], specifically in Chapters 17-18. Revelation describes her as, "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations."<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:5|ESV}}</ref>

The '''Whore of Babylon''' is a symbolic figure of evil described in [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] chapters 17 and 18. Revelation describes her as, "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations."<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:5|ESV}}</ref>

Bible scholars have various theories on what entity or entities the whore represents. In ancient times, [[Tertullian]] suggested that Babylon was a stand-in for imperial Rome.<ref name=ISBE>"[http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/B/babylon-in-the-new-testament.html Babylon in the New Testament]," ''International Standard Bible Encyclopedia''. See also "Revelation— Note on 17: 9– 11," ''ESV Study Bible''. "Rome, which then had “dominion over the kings of the earth” (v. 18), rests on seven mountains (or seven hills);"</ref> Like Babylon of Revelation, Rome ruled over the kings of the earth,<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:18|ESV}}</ref> sat on seven mountains,<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:9|ESV}}</ref> was the center of the world's merchandise,<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|18:3|ESV}} and {{bibleverse|Revelation|18:11-13|ESV}}</ref> corrupted nations,<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:2|ESV}}, {{bibleverse|Revelation|18:3|ESV}}, and {{bibleverse|Revelation|19:2|ESV}}.</ref> and was a persecutor of saints.<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:6|ESV}}</ref>  If Babylon does represent Rome, it would suggest that the beast represents Emperor Nero and that the whore represents the Jews, who John accuses of collaborating with the Roman authorities against Christians.<ref>[http://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/WhoreOfBabyl.html Who is the Whore of Babylon?], Catholic Apologetics.</ref>

Bible scholars have various theories concerning what the whore represents. In ancient times, [[Tertullian]] suggested that Babylon was a stand-in for pagan Rome.<ref name=ISBE>"[http://www.internationalstandardbible.com/B/babylon-in-the-new-testament.html Babylon in the New Testament]," ''International Standard Bible Encyclopedia''. See also "Revelation— Note on 17: 9– 11," ''ESV Study Bible''. "Rome, which then had “dominion over the kings of the earth” (v. 18), rests on seven mountains (or seven hills);"</ref> Like Babylon of Revelation, Rome ruled over the kings of the earth,<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:18|ESV}}</ref> sat on seven mountains,<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:9|ESV}}</ref> was the center of the world's merchandise,<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|18:3|ESV}} and {{bibleverse|Revelation|18:11-13|ESV}}</ref> corrupted nations,<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:2|ESV}}, {{bibleverse|Revelation|18:3|ESV}}, and {{bibleverse|Revelation|19:2|ESV}}.</ref> and was a persecutor of saints.<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:6|ESV}}</ref>  If Babylon does represent Rome, it would suggest that the beast represents Emperor Nero and that the whore represents the Jews, who John accuses of collaborating with the Roman authorities against Christians.<ref>[http://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/WhoreOfBabyl.html Who is the Whore of Babylon?], Catholic Apologetics.</ref>

However, Protestants historically interpreted the Whore as referring to the Roman Catholic Church, due to its location in Vatican City (surrounded by Rome), its history of prior direct involvement in determining who would rule certain nations (and its indirect involvement in politics to this day, due to it being the predominant branch of Christianity in large parts of the world), and its past history in persecution against persons opposing its rule.  Though this interpretation is not as prevalent today (in large part due to increased dialogue between Catholics and some Protestants), it is still quite common, especially among [[fundamentalist]] branches of Protestantism.

However, Protestants historically interpreted the Whore as referring to the Roman Catholic Church, due to its location in Vatican City (surrounded by Rome), its history of prior direct involvement in determining who would rule certain nations (and its indirect involvement in politics to this day, due to it being the predominant branch of Christianity in large parts of the world), and its past history in persecution against persons opposing its rule.  Though this interpretation is not as prevalent today (in large part due to increased dialogue between Catholics and some Protestants), it is still quite common, especially among [[fundamentalist]] branches of Protestantism.