The Whore of Babylon

Experts say that the whore of Babylon is NOT a particular individual or person of the future.

This past, hot and muggy Saturday, I dog-sat for some family members.  Both being Christians, they left the radio on for the family's pooch.  Funny, how God uses different means to answer my question about Bible prophesy.  Since much of future events prophesied in the book of Daniel have already been identified in simple terms, I just can't help but wonder who or what is the whore of Babylon?  This question whirled around in my head for days.  And so, here I am, wondering about the reference in the book of Revelation.  I set that aside on the back burner but understood that the missing link could affect my understanding of many things foretold to us over two thousand years ago.  Checking on the pooch...a Christian radio program about end time prophesy was on the air!  I've tuned into this show before.  The host accepts calls from listeners and answers their questions.  This one person called in to ask about the whore of Babylon!  How eerie but awesome.  Well, the short answer he gave to the question is this:  the whore of Babylon mentioned in the book of Revelation is the church who has or will lead many astray.  When I heard this explanation, I almost dropped to the floor.  Why is it no one ever tells us anything!  I pulled out my PDA and Laptop and started searching for more on the Logos Bible software.  I've heard about Warren Weirsbe before from one of Beth Moore's bible study classes.  So, I pasted a portion of his commentary on the subject below:

The harlot represents the apostate world church of the latter days, centered in Rome. The name “Babylon” takes us back to Gen. 10:1–11 and 11:1–9, where the first organized rebellion against God took place. The name “Babel” means “confusion” and stands for apostate religion. The Babylonian system has been guilty of persecuting true believers ever since Cain killed Abel. All anti-Christian sects (even those that call themselves “Christian”) that have killed God’s servants are a part of this abominable system.  In the last days, one world church will be formed. This world church (the harlot) will be involved in the political and economic affairs of the world and, with the help of the Beast, will become a great power. The world church will “ride into power” on the back of the Beast, that is, with the help of Satan and the United States of Europe.  The Beast will get the support of the ten kings as he rides to victory (Rev. 6:1–2). A union will exist between the nations of Europe, the Beast, and the world church. The scene in chapter 17 takes place during the first half of the Tribulation. Note that the Beast has not yet been revealed in his true satanic character.  During the middle of the Tribulation, the Beast will want to have all power and worship for himself (chap. 13). This means he must get rid of the harlot, because she represents the worship of God, if even in an apostate way. Verse 16 indicates that the federated nations of Europe will turn against the world church and destroy her, fulfilling the prophecy of Rev. 2:20–23. Once the harlot is out of the way, the Beast will declare himself to be a god and demand the worship of the nations.  The apostate church is called a “harlot,” while the true church is pictured as a pure bride. The harlot is in the wilderness; the bride is in heaven. The harlot is adorned by Satan (17:4), while the bride is adorned by Christ (19:8). The harlot is judged forever; the bride reigns forever. The harlot is stained with the blood of the martyrs; the bride is redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.  It behooves dedicated Christians to separate themselves from Satan’s false church and to identify with those who are true to Christ and the Word of God. The false church may appear to be successful for a season, but her doom is fixed.

Here we read of commercial Babylon, which represents the great global system of the latter days. Of course, religious Babylon (the apostate church) will have a great part to play in the economics of the nations. When this religious system collapses, it will be the beginning of the end for the Beast’s entire empire, although he will have three and one-half years yet to reign. It is comforting to read 17:17 and realize that all of these things fulfill the Word of God! Note in this chapter four different voices:


I. The Voice of Judgment (18:1–3)

This angel announces the fall of Babylon, an event that has already been announced (14:8 and 16:19). The repetition of “is fallen, is fallen” suggests the dual judgment of the two chapters (on religious and commercial Babylon), as well as the statement in v. 6 that she would receive double for her sins. This “great city” (v. 10), the center of the world economic system, will finally get what it deserves from the hand of God. It has become a habitation of demons (see Eph. 2:22, where the church is a habitation of the Spirit), and a haven for foul spirits (see 16:13–14). Satan is often pictured as a bird (Matt. 13:4, 19, 31–32). Verse 3 indicates that Babylon influenced the nations of the earth the way wine influences drunkards. But this city made them rich, which was all that mattered to them.


II. The Voice of Separation (18:4–8)

Some of God’s people are in this city, and God wants them to come out for two reasons: (1) the city will be destroyed and He wants them saved; (2) the city is satanic and He does not want them defiled. “Come out!” has always been God’s call to His people, for salvation means separation from the world unto the Lord (2 Cor. 6:14ff). The world glorifies itself (v. 7); the Christian seeks to glorify God. The world lives for the “delicious pleasures of sin,” while the Christian lives for the pleasures of Christ. Look at Babylon’s pride in v. 7: “I sit a queen … and shall see no sorrow!” But v. 8 indicates that in one day she will exchange her joys for sorrow, her riches for famine! There is a lesson here for God’s people today: “Do not share in other people’s sins” (see 1 Tim. 5:22; also Jer. 51:9).


III. The Voice of Mourning (18:9–19)

We see two groups lamenting the fall of Babylon: the kings of the earth (vv. 9–10), and the merchants of the earth (vv. 11–19). They had “committed fornication” with Babylon by rejecting the true God and going after idols, money in particular. They sold their souls for wealth. Their luxurious living was now at an end. Note the repetition of “Alas, alas!” in vv. 10, 16, and 19. Babylon is judged in one day (v. 8) and one hour (vv. 10, 19).  Why do the merchants and kings lament? Because their merchandise is now gone. Verses 12–13 indicate the vast wealth of the mercantile system, including “slaves and the souls of men.” Slavery will increase in the last days, for Satan has always wanted to enslave the souls and bodies of humans. The rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer. Both luxuries and necessities will be destroyed when God judges Babylon. Shipping will be destroyed and the shipping industry brought to ruin. The world’s peoples depend on this economic system to care for them, protect them, and satisfy them; but ultimately it will fail them.


IV. The Voice of Rejoicing (18:20–24)

The men of the earth never have the same viewpoint as the people of God. When Satan was cast out of heaven, heaven rejoiced but the earth mourned (12:10–12). Now that Babylon has been destroyed, heaven rejoices but earth laments.  The main reason for heaven’s rejoicing is that God has avenged the blood of the martyrs. The Babylonian system is satanic and from the very beginning (Gen. 4) has been responsible for the martyrdom of God’s faithful people. The souls under the altar in Rev. 6:9–11 had asked, “How long, O Lord?” Now their prayer is answered: God has avenged their blood. See Rom. 12:19.  The casting down of the millstone indicates the suddenness of God’s judgment on the empire of the Beast. Some students see in this millstone the return of Christ, the Smiting Stone, as pictured in Dan. 2:34–35, 44–45. Just when the world thinks it is performing beautifully, Christ will return to destroy its works.  Note the repeated “no more” statements in this chapter, and read Jer. 25:9–11. When God says “No more!” there is nothing man can do to change it. Read Jer. 51 also.  We have seen, then, the destruction of the Beast’s economic and religious empire. All that remains is for Christ to destroy his armies, and this we see in chapter 19 [of the book of Revelation].

Wiersbe, W. W. (1997). Wiersbe's expository outlines on the New Testament (847–849). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.