The great harlot is introduced and described in comparison to the woman (Israel) of chapter 12!
Babylon was founded by Nimrod, the first world dictator, and he was an Assyrian.
Moses being led by THE SPIRIT recorded in Genesis chapter 10:
8 Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.
9 He was a mighty hunter in defiance of the LORD; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod the mighty hunter in defiance of the LORD.”
10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
11 From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,
The name “Nimrod” means “we will rebel.” The final global dictator will also be an Assyrian. By THE SPIRIT, Isaiah chapter 10 describes the prophetic implications of the Assyrian:
1 Woe to those who legalize injustice and write oppressive legislation!
2 You rip away the rights of the poor and prey upon widows and orphans!
3 What will come of you on your day of visitation when disaster comes from afar? To whom will you run for help? And what will you do then with all your great wealth?
4 You’ll have no option but to cringe among the captives or fall among the corpses of the slain! Yet despite all this, his anger has not subsided, and his hand is poised to strike.
5 Woe to arrogant Assyria, the rod of my anger! The club I place in the king’s hand is my fury.
Further, all forms of occultic practices have had their origins in the original city of Babylon, referencing Isaiah chapter 47. The Babylonians worshipped the sun god who supposedly died at the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. They burned a yule log (representing an infant) at that time. The occultic calendar year-end was October 31st and was related to the worship of Baal. The adversary is definitely subtle!
The Beloved Disciple wrote by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 17:
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters,
2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
Harlotry is a form of false devotion. Idol worshippers have no fear or reverence of GOD! Blasphemy is any attempt to change what GOD had done.
3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (a political system and its leader)
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS (false religions) AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
Comparing the two women in Revelation chapters 12 & 17:
| Israel in Chapter 12 | Woman riding the beast in Chapter 17 | |
| Where? | In Heaven | Upon many waters |
| Mother | Of the Man-Child | Of harlots |
| Clothed | With the sun | Purple, scarlet, gold |
| Identity | Sun, moon, stars | Reigns over kings of the Earth |
| Enemy | Dragon | 10 kings |
| Relationship | Hated by the world | Caressed by the world |
| Sustained by | Wings of Heaven | Dragon |
| Headdress | Crown of 12 stars | Mystery Babylon the great |
| Status | Widowed, divorced | She is no widow |
| Final location | New Jerusalem | Habitation of demons |
The harlot (the fornicator) who is mother of the abominations refers to idol worship. All false religions arise from this harlot. Idol worship is being promoted around the globe. Singers, bands, and athletes are referred to as “superstars”. However, after they have reached their peak, they are forgotten and replaced. Awards of various types are given and later forgotten. The adversary simply cycles through his idols as they lose their appeal.