^^The Whore of Babylon Unveiled

Throughout history many people have predicted the mystery of the infamous 'Whore of Babylon'. Countless predictions and comments has been made from the early days of Christianity until this time. Some of these predictions were far-fetched, while some has only traced the history of Babylon without getting to a subjective conclusion.
So who or what exactly the Whore of Babylon is?

And on her forehead a name written:
MYSTERY,
BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND
OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
-Revelation 7:5

To answer this we need to interpret every word on Revelation 7:5 and try to gather all symbolism they represents. Let me just remind you that the Book of Revelation or Apocalypse uses symbols that hide the exact identity of a certain subject or event. The author, John the Beloved, one of the Twelve Apostles, wrote this book based on what he saw in a vision in the Island of Patmos.

MYSTERY - it is a mystery since multitude of people doesn't know the personification of the Whore of Babylon.

BABYLON - means a pagan nation. Babylon has been considered as one of the cradle of paganism.

THE GREAT - has power and authority over others.

THE MOTHER OF ALL - its the source or the origin. Simply indicating parenthood and symbolizes a nation or church.

HARLOTS - having multiple relationship or partners.

AND OF ABOMINATIONS - all other sins (idolatry, murder, fornication, etc.)

OF THE EARTH - bound on earth.

Aside from this verse, we can also find more sources from the whole chapter 17 of Revelation.

Here are the corresponding verses:

So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
-Revelation 17:3

• Scarlet Beast - the one pulling the strings behind the woman's activities.

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.

-Revelation 17:4

• Purple and Scarlet - both colors signify royalty, power and dominion. During Roman rule they were the color of dresses worn by caesars and high emperial officials.
• Gold and Precious Stones - symbolizes the wealth of the woman.

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.

-Revelation 17:6

• Drunk with the Blood - killing and torturing those who don't follow the teachings, laws and will of the woman. During the Dark Ages many Christians were sent to Roman Coliseum to die in the hands of wild beasts and gladiators. Killings and mass murder followed during the Age of Reformation, when Protestants tried to get out from Catholicism. They were branded as heretics, witches, conspirators and died from public executions and inquisitions.

The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

-Revelation 17:8

• The Beast - obviously it refers to Satan.
• Was - means he was already from before.
• Is Not - gone or concealed himself.
• Will Ascend from the Bottomless Pit - Satan will be released and ascend to earth.

"Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits."

• Seven Mountains - Rome was called in history as the 'City of the 7 Hills'.

It is situated on the Tiber River in the central part of the country. The historical site of Rome on its seven hills was occupied as early as the Bronze Age (c. 1500 bc), and the city was politically unified by the early 6th century bc. It became the capital of the Roman Empire. (Source: Britannica Encyclopedia)

• Which the Woman sits - the location or the place where it stands.

The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as
yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

-Revelation 17:12

• Ten Horns - on this verse, it was revealed by the angel as the ten kings who are under the beast(Satan).
• One Hour - means for a short time only. In the Bible the day of the LORD means a year. So an hour may only take a month.

Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw,
where the harlot sits, are
peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues."

-Revelation 17:15

• The Waters - in verse 1 means the peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.

Combining all the symbols we can arrive on the following conclusion:

1) The Beast is no doubt Satan the father of lies and abominations.
(Revelation 17: 8, 12, 16)

2) The Woman /Harlot is a nation or church located at Rome (the City of Seven Hills).
(Revelation 17:9)

3) The Woman/Harlot has authority, power, wealth and revered by people and nations.
(Revelation 17:3, 5, 15)

4) Killed the saints and martyrs. We know that during Dark Ages and Age of Reformation many Christians were killed because they stand firm on their faith. They were accused as heretics, witches, creating conspiracy against the Church where they came out. Most of these people were burned to death, hanged, beheaded and were subject to torture and inquisition.
(Revelation 17:6)

5) She was called the 'Whore' because she had mingled with other religion, occult and pagan practices. Here are some of its pagan practices:

• Idolatry - images, paintings, sculptures of saints and other celestial beings.
• Inquisition - torture and killing of accused heretics like Protestants, Tydale and Joan of Arc.
• Use of pagan symbols - like crucifix and prayer beads.

(Revelation 17:2, 5)

With all these undeniable facts you may starting to get the bigger picture of the Whore of Babylon.