Chapter Thirty-Three/Judging the Infamous Harlot -A Name, a Mystery - Continue

 Babylon the Great is dressed in "purple and scarlet," the colors of royalty, and is "adorned with gold and precious stone and pearls." How appropriate! Just reflect on all the magnificent buildings, rare statues and paintings, priceless icons and other religious paraphernalia, as well as astronomical amounts of property and cash, this this world's religions have accumulated. Whether at the Vatican, in the TV empire of evangelism centered in the United States, in the exotic wats and temples of the Orient, Babylon the Great has amassed-and at times lost-fabulous wealth.  

Look now at what the harlot has in her hand. John must have gasped a the sight of it-a golden cup "full of disgusting things and the unclean things of her fornication"! with which she has made all the nations drunk. (Revelation 14:8; 17:2) It looks rich on the outside. but its contents are disgusting, unclean. (Compare Matthew 23:25, 26) It contains all the filthy practices and lies that the great harlot has used to seduce the nations and bring them under her influence. Even more revolting, John sees that the harlot herself is inebriated, drunk with the blood of God's servants! In fact, we later read that "in her was found the blood of prophets and of holy ones and of all those who have slaughtered on the earth." (Revelation 18:24) What massive bloodguilt!

Next time: Chapter Thirty-Three/Judging the Infamous Harlot - A Name, a Mystery - Conclusion

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