Judging the Infamous Harlot

JEHOVAH'S righteous anger must be poured out to completion, seven bowls of it! When the sixth angel emptied his bowl at the location of ancient Babylon, it fittingly symbolized the plaguing of Babylon the Great as events move swiftly toward the final war of Armageddon.  (Revelation 16:1, 12, 16) Likely, it is this same angel that now reveals why and how Jehovah executes his righteous judgments.  John is struck with wonderment at what he next hears and sees:  "And one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying:  'Come, I will show you the judgment upon the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, whereas those who inhabit the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.' " -Revelation 17:1, 2. 

"The great harlot"!  Why so shocking a designation? Who is she?  Some have identified this symbolic harlot with ancient Rome.  But Rome was a political power.  This harlot commits fornication with the kings of the earth, and this evidently includes the kings of Rome.  Besides after her destruction,  "the kings of the earth" are said to mourn her passing.  Therefore, she cannot be a political power.  (Revelation 18:9, 10)  Additionally, since she is mourned also by the world's merchants, she could not picture big business.  (Revelation 18:15, 16)  We read, however, that 'by her spiritistic practice all the nations were misled.'  (Revelation 18:23)  This makes it clear that the great harlot must be a worldwide religious entity.

Which religious entity?  Is she the Roman Catholic Church, as some have maintained?  Or is she all of Christendom?  No, she must be even larger than these if she is to mislead all the nations.  She is, in fact, the entire world empire of false religion around the earth.  For example, belief in the inherent immortality of the human soul, in a hell of a torment, and in a trinity of gods is to be found in most Oriental religions as well as in the sects of Christendom.  False religion, spawned more than 4,000 years ago in the ancient city of Babylon, has developed into the modern monstrosity that is called, appropriately, Babylon the Great.  Why, though, is she described by the repugnant term "the great harlot"? 

Babylon (or Babel, meaning "Confusion") came to its peak of greatness in Nebuchadnezzar's time.  It was a religio-political state with more than a thousand temples and chapels.  Its priesthood exercised great power.  Though Babylon has long since ceased to exist as a world power, religious ancient pattern, she still seeks to influence and mold political affairs.  But does God approve of religion in politics?  In the Hebrew Scriptures, Israel was said to  prostitute herself when she got involved with the false worship and when, instead of trusting in Jehovah, she made alliances with the nations.  (Jeremiah 3:6, 8, 9; Ezekiel 16:28-30)  Babylon the Great also commits fornication.  Outstandingly, she has done whatever she deems expedient in order to gain influence and power over the ruling kings of the earth. -1 Timothy 4:1.

Today, religious leaders frequently campaign for high government office, and in some lands, they share a government, even holding cabinet posts.  In 1988 two well-known Protestant clergymen ran for the office of president of the United States.  Leaders in Babylon the Great love the limelight; their photos are often to be seen in the public press as they consort with prominent politicians.  In contrast, Jesus shunned political involvement and said of his disciples: "They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world." -John 6:15; 17:16; Matthew 4:8-10; see also James 4:4.

Next time: Judging the Infamous Harlot - Modern-Day 'Harlotry'

From the Book of Revelation