Bible Readings — Bible Questions Answered

Modern Babylon

In the visions of John what interpretation is given of the impure woman with a golden cup in her hand, seated on a seven-headed beast? BR-ASI9 176.8

“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17:18. (See verses 3, 4, 9.) BR-ASI9 176.9

Note.—The great city which reigned over the kings of the earth in John’s time was Rome; and that seven-hilled city has given its name to the power which succeeded to its dominion—the organization which is represented by the woman, the Church of Rome, ruled by the Papacy. In the closing days of earth’s history, “Babylon the Great” includes all apostate forms of Christianity. BR-ASI9 176.10

In this same prophecy how is this religio-political power, the Roman Church, or the Papacy, designated as the counterpart of ancient Babylon? BR-ASI9 177.1

“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT.” Revelation 17:5. BR-ASI9 177.2

Note.—The parallels between the Roman Church and ancient Babylon are striking, as we view the pagan Babylonian state religion with its wealthy and politically powerful hierarchy, its elaborate temple ritual, its priestly monopoly of learning, its liturgy performed in an ancient language unknown to the common people, its processions of divine images, its great spring festival in which mourning is followed by rejoicing, its ubiquitous virgin mother goddess who intercedes for her worshipers. But there is even more than a parallel; there is a genuine line of inheritance, from Babylon through the Roman Empire to the Roman Church, of many religious elements. BR-ASI9 177.3

“The mighty Catholic Church was little more than the Roman Empire baptised.”—A. C. Flick, The Rise of the Mediaeval Church (Putnam’s 1909 ed.), p. 148. Cardinal Newman lists many examples of things admittedly “of pagan origin” which that church introduced “in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen”; “The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints, and ornamented on occasions with branches of trees; incense, lamps, and candles; votive offerings on recovery from illness; holy water; asylums; holydays and seasons, use of calendars, processions, blessings on the fields; sacerdotal vestments, the tonsure, the ring in marriage, turning to the East, images at a later date, perhaps the ecclesiastical chant, and the Kyrie Eleison.”—J. H. Newman, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1920 ed.), p. 373. BR-ASI9 177.4

Babylon also contributed “the great and ubiquitous cult” of the virgin mother-goddess (actually more important than the highest gods); Babylonian Ishtar is identified with Astarte, Ashtoreth, Persephone, Artemis (Diana) of Ephesus, Venus, perhaps Isis, and others. (See S. H. Langdon, Semitic Mythology [1931 ed.], pp. 12, 13, 19, 20, 24, 32, 34, 108, 344, 368, 369.) This multiform goddess was called virgin mother (Ibid., pp. 16, 18, 19), merciful mother (p. 111), queen of heaven (p. 25), my lady—compare “Madonna”—or our lady (p. 341), and was often depicted by mother-and-infant images (pp. 34, 111), or as a mater dolorosa interceding with a wrathful god in behalf of her worshiper (pp. 151, 188; see also Encyclopaedia Britannica [1945 ed.], vol. 2, p. 858, art. “Babylonian and Assyrian Religion”). Today many local virgin cults are evidently continuations of those of ancient goddesses. (See Gordon J. Laing, Survivals of Roman Religion [1931 ed.], pp. 92-95, 123, 124, 129-131, 238-241.) BR-ASI9 177.5

The influence of astrological sun worship can be seen in the idea—if not the mode—of purgatory (Cumont, Astrology and Religion, pp. 190, 191), the adoption of December 25, the birthday of the Invincible Sun, and the Mithraic Sunday, also orientation of church buildings and praying toward the east (Ibid., pp. 161-163; Laing, op. cit., pp. 148-153, 190-193), and even the nimbus which crowns pictured saints (Laing, op. cit., p. 246). (Laing offers other interesting examples of pagan survivals in Catholicism, especially from Isis worship—holy water, votive offerings, elevation of sacred objects, the priest’s bell, the decking of images, and possibly tonsure—also processions, festivals, prayers for the dead, saint cults, relics, and so forth.) BR-ASI9 178.1

What actions point to this identification? BR-ASI9 178.2

“With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” Revelation 17:2. (See verse 4.) BR-ASI9 178.3

Note.—Ancient Babylonian religion had immoral features, but modern Babylon commits spiritual fornication, polluting the church with false doctrines and pagan practices, and having illicit connection with the secular powers to enforce her teachings; and like her ancient namesake, Roman Babylon has made many nations drink impure wine from her cup. BR-ASI9 178.4