[§283] Rev 17:5: The Name of the Great Whore Is Babylon the Great

This podcast explains the imagery and symbolism used by John in Revelation 17:5 to describe the Great Whore of false religion in the last days. He states that “upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” The names in this verse are written on the forehead of the Great Whore to indicate that she displays herself prominently in the world today according to the ancient tradition in Rome where prostitutes had a brand or inscription in their forehead to identify who and what they were to attract interested patrons. The word mystery is either an adjective that describes the other name-titles in Revelation 17:5 or it is also a name and title for the Great Whore. In either case, the mystery is a hidden meaning or spiritual secret about false religions in the last days that can be known only through the spirit of revelation. The great whore is also called Babylon the Great, which alludes to ancient Babylon. In Hebrew, Babylon comes from the word Babel, meaning confusion associated with the confusion of tongues from the tower of Babel. More anciently, the word Babylon probably comes from the word Bab-il, which means the Gate of God. This contradictory term refers to the wicked and apostate kingdom of Nimrod. He established an idolatrous kingdom whose ideals still survive in the false religions of the modern world. Hence, the Great Whore is called Babylon the Great. The Great Whore is also called the mother of harlots and abominations. She is the mother church who gives birth to many other false churches who spiritually fornicate, which makes them harlots also. Their spiritual activities are called abominations. Hence, the mother of these many harlots is also the mother of abominations.