Who really is the Whore of Babylon?

[Marilena]

Is it not false religion? It certainly does not apply to the Holy
Catholic Church!

 

[Della]

We cannot know exactly who or what St. John meant by the expression Whore of Babylon, but most Bible scholars believe he was referring to Rome and its persecution of the Christians in the Roman Empire. Dr. Scott Hahn and others believe it refers to apostate Israel who rejected their Messiah. But, in any case, it cannot refer to the Roman Catholic Church because it was the very Church being persecuted at the time St. John wrote the book of Revelation. It simply doesn’t fit no matter how much some anti-Catholics try to shoehorn the Catholic Church into being the WoB.

 

[trustmc]

Bible commentaries identify Babylon to the city of Rome, given that Peter writing from Rome also referred to this city as its code name, Babylon. The Whore of Babylon is apostate Jeruselem which rejected the Lordship of Christ.

Mike

 

[Semper_Fi_1]

It could be pagan Rome under the Caesars who believed they were gods and were worshiped as such, or it could be referring to apostate Israel. Or, it could be both. Most biblical scholars and mainline protestant theologians believe that 666 (or 616, depending on who you talk to) and the Beast refers to the pagan Roman Emperors.

The Christians at the time had to use allegorical language because they were under such persecution, and directly referring to Rome would have been the end of them.

See “Hunting the Whore of Babylon”:
catholic.com/library/Hunting_the_Whore_of_Babylon.asp

 

[Eileen_T]

trustmc:

Bible commentaries identify Babylon to the city of Rome, given that Peter writing from Rome also referred to this city as its code name, Babylon. The Whore of Babylon is apostate Jeruselem which rejected the Lordship of Christ.
Mike

This is how I see it too. Although the Book of Revelation is a bit like an onion that has many layers, each applying to something separate.

Rome represented Civil authority and the Jewish religion of the time worked hand-in-glove almost with Roman Law in using it to rejectand persecute Jesus and the early Christians.

Maybe we need to be wary of any religious efforts that would seek to use legalistic means to suppress the Catholic Church and Her teaching. Such a religion would surely be the Whore of Babylon in this day and age.