Judging the Infamous Harlot - Continue

 Which religous 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. Her origin in the mysteries of Babylon is shown in that many Babylonish doctrines and practices are common to religions  around the earth. For example, believe in the inherent immortality of the human soul, in a hell of 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 appropriatedly, Babylon the Great.  Why, though, is she described by the repungant term "the great harlot"? 

Babylon (or Babel, meaning "confusion ") came  to it peal of greatness in Nebuchadnezzar's time.  It was a religio -political state with more than a thousand temples and chapels. Its priesthood exercisesd great power. Though Babylon has long ceased to exist as a world powe, religous Babylon the Great lives on, and after the 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 false worship and when, instead of trusting in  Jehovah, she made alliances wih the nations.  (Jeremiah 3:6m 8, 9; Ezekiel 16:28-30)  Babylon the Great also commits fornication.  Outstandinly, she has done whateve 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 in government, even holding cabinet posts.  In 1988 two well-known  Prostestant clergymen ran for office of the president of the United States.  Leaders in Babylon the Great love the llimelight; their photos are often to be seen in the public press as they consort with prominent politicians.  In contrast, Jesus shunned political involvment and said of his disciples:  "They are  no part of the world, just as I am not 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 'Harloty' 

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