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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]].]]
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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>
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The '''Whore of Babylon''' is a symbolic figure of evil described in [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]]. Revelation describes her as, "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations."<ref>{{bibleverse|Revelation|17:5|ESV}}</ref>
  
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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>
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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>
  
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Protestants historically interpreted the Whore as representing the Catholic Church, due to its location in 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.<ref>For an example see [[Matthew Henry]]'s Complete Commentary on Revelation 17:https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/revelation/17.html</ref> 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.
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Historically, Protestant commentators saw parallels between the Whore and the Catholic Church. The ''Geneva Bible'' (1540), the Bible of the Reformation, says: "A scarlet color, that is, with a red and purple garment: and surely it was not without cause that the Romish clergy were so much delighted with this color."<ref>''Geneva Bible'' (1560), Commentary for Revelation 17:3.</ref> There is also, "That harlot, the spiritual Babylon, which is Rome."<ref>''Geneva Bible'' (1560), Commentary for Revelation 17:4.</ref> In his 1706 Bible commentary, Henry Matthew identified those who followed the whore with those that "have been bewitched and enslaved by the papacy."<ref>''[https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/revelation/17.html Complete Commentary on Revelation 17]''</ref>
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See [[Seven hills of Rome]], [[Vatican Hill]] and [[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)]]
 
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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{{reflist|1}}
 
{{reflist|1}}
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== External links ==
 
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*[https://www.gotquestions.org/whore-Babylon-mystery.html What is the whore of Babylon / mystery Babylon?]
 
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*[http://www.shmoop.com/revelation-apocalypse/whore-babylon.html Whore of Babylon]
 
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[[Category:Bible]]
 

Revision as of 08:01, April 13, 2019

Whore of Babylon by William Blake.

The Whore of Babylon is a symbolic figure of evil described in Revelation. Revelation describes her as, "Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations."[1]

Bible scholars have various theories concerning what the whore represents. In ancient times, Tertullian suggested that Babylon was a stand-in for pagan Rome.[2] Like Babylon of Revelation, Rome ruled over the kings of the earth,[3] sat on seven mountains,[4] was the center of the world's merchandise,[5] corrupted nations,[6] and was a persecutor of saints.[7] 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.[8]

Historically, Protestant commentators saw parallels between the Whore and the Catholic Church. The Geneva Bible (1540), the Bible of the Reformation, says: "A scarlet color, that is, with a red and purple garment: and surely it was not without cause that the Romish clergy were so much delighted with this color."[9] There is also, "That harlot, the spiritual Babylon, which is Rome."[10] In his 1706 Bible commentary, Henry Matthew identified those who followed the whore with those that "have been bewitched and enslaved by the papacy."[11]

References

  1. ↑ Revelation 17:5
  2. ↑ "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);"
  3. ↑ Revelation 17:18
  4. ↑ Revelation 17:9
  5. ↑ Revelation 18:3 and Revelation 18:11-13
  6. ↑ Revelation 17:2, Revelation 18:3, and Revelation 19:2.
  7. ↑ Revelation 17:6
  8. ↑ Who is the Whore of Babylon?, Catholic Apologetics.
  9. ↑ Geneva Bible (1560), Commentary for Revelation 17:3.
  10. ↑ Geneva Bible (1560), Commentary for Revelation 17:4.
  11. ↑ Complete Commentary on Revelation 17
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