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