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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>

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>

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>

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>

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>

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>Matthews, Henry, ''[https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/revelation/17.html Complete Commentary on Revelation 17]''</ref>

== References ==

== References ==

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