Misplaced Pages

Babylon the Great, commonly known as the Whore of Babylon, refers to both a symbolic female figure and a place of evil as mentioned in the Book of Revelation of the New Testament. Her full title is stated in Revelation 17:5 as "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth" (Greek: μυστήριον, Βαβυλὼν ἡ μεγάλη, ἡ μήτηρ τῶν πορνῶν καὶ τῶν βδελυγμάτων τῆς γῆς, romanized: mystḗrion, Babylṑn hē megálē, hē mḗtēr tôn pornôn kaì tôn bdelygmátōn tês gês).

She is further identified as a representation of "the great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth" in Revelation 17:18.

Passages from Revelation

The "great whore" of the Book of Revelation is featured in chapter 17:

— Revelation 17:1–18, King James Version

Symbolism

The Whore is associated with the Beast of Revelation by connection with an equally evil kingdom. The word "Whore" can also be translated metaphorically as "Idolatress". The Whore's apocalyptic downfall is prophesied to take place in the hands of the image of the beast with seven heads and ten horns. There is much speculation within Christian eschatology on what the Whore and Beast symbolize as well as the possible implications for contemporary interpretations.

Caroline Vander Stichele demonstrated that the narrative of the Whore of Babylon follows many of the same patterns of the personification of capital cities as women who commit "prostitution / whoredom" and/or "adultery" in the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible. These capital cities, representing the states they govern, are alleged to have committed various sins that have rendered them sexually promiscuous, and therefore they will eventually be annihilated through various well-deserved violent punishments sent by the Israelite God Yahweh.

Rome

First Peter (1 Peter 5:13) implies the author is in "Babylon", which has been held to be a coded reference to Rome. Many Biblical scholars believe that "Babylon" is a metaphor for the pagan Roman Empire at the time it persecuted Christians, before the Edict of Milan in 313. According to Eusebius of Caesarea Babylon would be Rome or the Roman Empire:

And Peter makes mention of Mark in his first epistle which they say that he wrote in Rome itself, as is indicated by him, when he calls the city, by a figure, Babylon, as he does in the following words: «The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, salutes you; and so does Marcus my son.»(1 Peter 5:13)"

Some biblical scholars recognize that "Babylon" is a cipher for Rome or the Roman Empire but believe Babylon is not limited to the Roman city of the first century. Craig Koester says outright that "the whore is Rome, yet more than Rome." It "is the Roman imperial world, which in turn represents the world alienated from God." Some exegetes interpret the passage as a scathing critique of a servant people of Rome who do the Empire's bidding, interpreting that the author of Revelation was speaking of the Herodians—a party of Jews friendly to Rome and open to its influence, like the Hellenizers of centuries past—and later, corrupt Hasmoneans, where the ruler of Jerusalem or Roman Judea exercised his power at the pleasure of the Roman emperor, and was dependent on Roman influence, like Herod the Great in the Gospel of Luke.

In 4 Ezra, 2 Baruch and the Sibylline Oracles, "Babylon" is a cryptic name for Rome. In Revelation 17:9 it is said that she sits on "seven mountains", typically understood as the seven hills of Rome. A Roman coin minted under the Emperor Vespasian (ca. 70 AD) depicts Rome as a woman sitting on seven hills.

According to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "The characteristics ascribed to this Babylon apply to Rome rather than to any other city of that age: (a) as ruling over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:18); (b) as sitting on seven mountains (Revelation 17:9); (c) as the center of the world's merchandise (Revelation 18:3, 11–13); (d) as the corrupter of the nations (Revelation 17:2; 18:3; 19:2); (e) as the persecutor of the saints (Revelation 17:6)."

Jerusalem

Biblical scholars such as Alan James Beagley, David Chilton, J. Massyngberde Ford, Peter Gaskell, Kenneth Gentry, Edmondo Lupieri, Bruce Malina, Iain Provan, J. Stuart Russell, Milton S. Terry point out that although Rome was the prevailing pagan power in the 1st century, when the Book of Revelation was written, the symbolism of the whore of Babylon refers not to an invading infidel or foreign power. It refers to an apostate false queen, a former "bride" who has been unfaithful and who, even though she has been divorced and cast out because of unfaithfulness, continues to falsely claim to be the "queen" of the spiritual realm. This symbolism did not fit the case of Rome at the time. Proponents of this view suggest that the "seven mountains" in Rev 17:9 are the seven hills on which Jerusalem stands and the "fall of Babylon" in Rev 18 is the fall and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.

Several Old Testament prophets referred to Jerusalem as being a spiritual harlot and a mother of such harlotry (Isaiah 1:21; Jeremiah 2:20; 3:1–11; Ezekiel 16:1–43; 23, as well as Epistle to the Galatians 4:25). Some of these Old Testament prophecies, as well as the warnings in the New Testament concerning Jerusalem, are in fact very close to the text concerning Babylon in Revelation. This suggests that John of Patmos may well have actually been citing those prophecies in his description of Babylon.

For example, in Matthew 23:34–37 and Luke 11:47–51, Jesus himself assigned all of the bloodguilt for the killing of the prophets and of the saints (of all time) to the Pharisees of Jerusalem. In Revelation 17:6 and 18:20,b24, almost identical phrasing is used in charging that very same bloodguilt to Babylon. This is also bolstered by Jesus' statement that "it's not possible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem." (Luke 13:33).

Historicist and idealistic interpretations

Catholic view

In the most common medieval (Catholic) view, deriving from Augustine of Hippo's The City of God (early 5th century), Babylon and Jerusalem referred to two spiritual cities which were spiritually at war with one another, throughout all of history:

Babylon is interpreted confusion, Jerusalem vision of peace. ...They are mingled, and from the very beginning of mankind mingled they run on unto the end of the world. ...Two loves make up these two cities: love of God makes Jerusalem, love of the world makes Babylon.

They also represented two principles at war with one another, inside each individual person, even inside seemingly worldly Christian monarchs; thus Augustine could boast approvingly, "...believing monarchs of this world came to the city of Rome, as to the head of Babylon: they went not to the temple of the Emperor, but to the tomb of the Fisherman."

Some sedevacantists believe that the post-concilliar church is the Whore of Babylon.

Reformation view

Historicist interpreters commonly used the phrase "Whore of Babylon" to refer to the Catholic Church. Reformation writers Martin Luther (1483–1546, author of On the Babylonian Captivity of the Church), John Calvin (1509–1564), and John Knox (1510–1572, author of The First Blast of the Trumpet Against the Monstruous Regiment of Women) taught this association.

Most early Protestant Reformers believed, and the modern Seventh-day Adventist Church teaches, that in Bible prophecy a woman represents a church. The connection noted on the seven hills of Rome is argued to locate the church.

Identification of the Pope as the Antichrist was written into Protestant creeds such as the Westminster Confession of 1646. The identification of the Roman Catholic Church with the Whore of Babylon is kept in the Scofield Reference Bible (whose 1917 edition identified "ecclesiastical Babylon" with "apostate Christendom headed by the Papacy"). An image from the 1545 edition of Luther's Bible depicts the Whore as wearing the papal tiara.

Latter-day Saint view

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) views the Whore of Babylon and its Book of Mormon equivalent, the "great and abominable church", as having dominion over the entire earth and representing a powerful collection of groups and carnal individuals seeking wealth, sexual immorality, dominion, and the persecution or death of saints. The Whore of Babylon, or the Devil's Church, consists of all organisations not associated with the followers of Christ or that are against his followers. Ultimately, the Whore of Babylon's fate is to be destroyed in the last days.

Seventh-day Adventist view

Seventh-day Adventists believe that the whore of Babylon represents the fallen state of traditional Christianity, especially the fallen state of Christianity in the Catholic Church. Other churches (predominantly Protestant) are generally considered either part of the harlot or her daughters. Adventists further hold the view that the persecution of the "saints" in Revelation 17:6 represents the persecution of believers who rejected the doctrines which were introduced by the Roman Catholic Church because they were based on pagan Roman beliefs. The persecution of anyone who opposed the Catholic Church during the Middle Ages, especially by the Inquisition, and the persecution of the Waldensians and the Huguenots are cited as examples of this persecution.

Seventh-day Adventists interpret Revelation 17:18 as a prophecy about the false church, which has power over the kings of the earth. They consider the pope to be in apostasy for allowing pagan rituals, beliefs and ceremonies to come into the church. They consider the Papacy, as a continuation of the Roman Empire, to be a fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians 2:7: "For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way."

Ellen G. White's The Great Controversy (1858) states that "Spiritual Babylon" would have worldwide influence, affecting "all nations", that the Imperial Roman Empire could not meet the criteria, because she wrote that it only had influence in the Old World. Like many reformation-era Protestant leaders, her writings also describe the Catholic Church as a fallen church, and it plays a nefarious eschatological role as the antagonist against God's true church and that the pope is the Antichrist.

Jehovah's Witnesses view

Jehovah's Witnesses, whose early teachings were strongly influenced by Adventism but have since diverged, believe that the Whore of Babylon represents "the world empire of false religion", referring to all other religious groups including, but not limited to, Christendom. Jehovah's Witnesses literature frequently refers to the "Great Harlot" of Babylon and the subsequent attack on her by the political powers, signaling the beginning of the "great tribulation". They believe that the empire of false religion has persecuted God's people, and that "false religion" has committed "fornication" with the world's political and commercial elements, based on their interpretation of Revelation 17:1, 2.

View in Thelema

Part of a series on
Thelema
Unicursal hexagram
The Rights of Man
Holy Books and Stele The Book of the Law The Holy Books of Thelema The Stele of Revealing
Key figures Ankh-af-na-Khonsu François Rabelais Aleister Crowley Victor Neuburg Charles Stansfeld Jones Jack Parsons Wilfred Talbot Smith Jane Wolfe Karl Germer J. F. C. Fuller Grady McMurtry Marcelo Ramos Motta Marjorie Cameron Sara Northrup Helen Parsons Smith Phyllis Seckler Christopher Hyatt Kenneth Grant James Lees Nema Andahadna James Wasserman Kenneth Anger The Scarlet Women Rose Edith Crowley Mary d'Este Sturges Jeanne Robert Foster Roddie Minor Marie Rohling Leah Hirsig Leila Waddell
Core concepts One Star in Sight Great Work True Will The Abyss Magick Qabalah Holy Guardian Angel Thoth Tarot Yoga Gnostic Mass The Aeon
Methods Abrahadabra Night of Pan Liber Resh Crossing the Abyss Banishing Invocation Bornless Ritual Qaballa Sex magic Body of light Tree of life
Thelemic texts Aleister Crowley bibliography Kenneth Grant bibliography Marcelo Motta bibliography
Organizations A∴A∴ O∴A∴A∴ Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (EGC) Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO) Society Ordo Templi Orientis (SOTO) Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn Typhonian Order (TOTO)
Deities Nuit Hadit Heru-ra-ha Aiwass Therion Babalon Baphomet Chaos Ma'at
Places Boleskine House Abbey of Thelema Agape Lodge
Related topics Abramelin oil Cake of Light Choronzon Eroto-comatose lucidity Goetia Magical formulae Number of the beast Obeah and wanga Qlippoth Table of magical correspondences The Beast and Whore of Babylon Worship of heavenly bodies
v t e

Babalon (also known as the "Scarlet Woman" or "Mother of Abominations") is a goddess found in Thelema, a religious system which was established in 1904 with the writing of The Book of the Law by English writer Aleister Crowley. The spelling of the name as "Babalon" was revealed by Crowley in his The Vision and the Voice. Her name and imagery are featured in Crowley's "Liber Cheth vel Vallum Abiegni".

In her most abstract form, Babalon represents the female sexual impulse and the liberated woman. In the creed of the Gnostic Mass she is also identified with Mother Earth, in her most fertile sense. Along with her status as an archetype or goddess, Crowley believed that Babalon had an earthly aspect or avatar; a living woman who occupied the spiritual office of the 'Scarlet Woman'. This office, first identified in The Book of the Law is usually described as a counterpart to his own identification as "To Mega Therion" (The Great Beast). The role of the Scarlet Woman was to help manifest the energies of the Aeon of Horus. Crowley believed that several women in his life occupied the office of Scarlet Woman, for which see the list below.

Babalon's consort is Chaos, called the "Father of Life" in the Gnostic Mass, being the male form of the creative principle. Chaos appears in The Vision and the Voice and later in Liber Cheth vel Vallum Abiegni. Separate from her relationship with her consort, Babalon is usually depicted as riding the Beast. She is often referred to as a sacred whore, and her primary symbol is the chalice or graal.

As Crowley wrote in his The Book of Thoth, "she rides astride the Beast; in her left hand she holds the reins, representing the passion which unites them. In her right she holds aloft the cup, the Holy Grail aflame with love and death. In this cup are mingled the elements of the sacrament of the Aeon."

See also

• Anti-Catholicism
• Barbēlō
• Book of Daniel
• Great Apostasy
• Rastafari § Babylon and Zion
• The Two Babylons
• Woman of the Apocalypse

References

1. "Revelation 17:18 Parallel Verses". BibleRef.com. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
2. πόρνη Archived 2019-12-13 at the Wayback Machine: From Greek. Fr. transliteration; pornē; English; prostitute/whore. 2) Metaphor; an idolatress; a) of "Babylon" i.e. Rome, the chief seat of idolatry. "Dictionary and Word Search for pornē (Strong's 4204)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996–2011. Retrieved on: 3 Nov 2011.
3. Rome or Jerusalem Archived 2019-03-27 at the Wayback Machine? A Protestant Study on the Whore of Babylon in Revelation
4. "The Interpretation of Revelation". Archived from the original on 2011-10-26. Retrieved 2011-11-03.
5. Hunting the Whore of Babylon Archived 2016-11-30 at the Wayback Machine. Catholic Answers
6. Ch 17: Babylon the whore Archived 2011-11-03 at the Wayback Machine. Commentary on Revelation
7. Vander Stichele, Caroline (2000). "Just a Whore. The Annihilation of Babylon According to Revelation 17:16". Lectio Difficilior. European Electronic Journal for Feminist Exegesis (1). University of Amsterdam. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
8. Harris, Stephen L. (2010). Understanding the Bible (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. p. 477. ISBN 978-0-07-340744-9. Archived from the original on 2021-10-20. Retrieved 2021-09-04. "'Babylon' became the Christian code name for Rome after Titus destroyed Jerusalem, thus duplicating the Babylonians’ demolition of the holy city (587 BCE)."
9. Grabbe, Lester L.; Haak, Robert D. (2003). Knowing the End From the Beginning. A&C Black. ISBN 978-0567084620. Archived from the original on 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2016-03-01 – via Google Books.
10. Feldmeier, Reinhard (2008). The First Letter of Peter. Baylor University Press. ISBN 978-1602580244. Archived from the original on 2016-05-10. Retrieved 2016-03-01 – via google.ca.
11. Women in scripture: a dictionary of named and unnamed women in the Hebrew
12. *L. Michael White, Understanding the Book of Revelation Archived 2017-12-28 at the Wayback Machine, PBS
    • Helmut Köster, Introduction to the New Testament, Volume 2 Archived 2016-05-01 at the Wayback Machine, 260
    • Pheme Perkins, First and Second Peter, James, and Jude, 16
    • Watson E. Mills, Mercer Commentary on the New Testament, 1340
    • Nancy McDarby, The Collegeville Bible Handbook Archived 2016-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, 349
    • Carol L. Meyers, Toni Craven, Ross Shepard Kraemer Women in Scripture: A Dictionary of Named and Unnamed Women in the Hebrew, p. 528
    • David M. Carr, Colleen M. Conway, Introduction to the Bible: Sacred Texts and Imperial Contexts Archived 2016-06-03 at the Wayback Machine, 353
    • Larry Joseph Kreitzer Gospel Images in Fiction and Film: On Reversing the Hermeneutical Flow Archived 2016-04-30 at the Wayback Machine, 61
    • Mary Beard, John A. North, S. R. F. Price Religions of Rome: A History Archived 2016-05-15 at the Wayback Machine,
    • David M. Rhoads, From Every People and Nation: The Book of Revelation in Intercultural Perspective Archived 2016-06-17 at the Wayback Machine, 174
    • Charles T. Chapman, The Message of the Book of Revelation Archived 2016-05-27 at the Wayback Machine, 114
    • Norman Cheadle, The Ironic Apocalypse in the Novels of Leopoldo Marechal Archived 2016-05-06 at the Wayback Machine, 36
    • Peter M. J. Stravinskas, The Catholic Answer Book, Volume 1 Archived 2016-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, 18
    • Catherine Keller, God and Power: Counter-Apocalyptic Journeys, 59
    • Brian K. Blount, Revelation: A Commentary, 346
    • Frances Carey, The Apocalypse and the Shape of Things to Come, 138
    • Richard Dellamora, Postmodern Apocalypse: Theory and Cultural Practice at the End, 117
    • A. N. Wilson, Paul: The Mind of the Apostle, 11
    • Gerd Theissen, John Bowden, Fortress Introduction to the New Testament, 166
13. of Caesarea, Eusebius. Church Fathers: Church History, Book II (Eusebius). Newadvent. Archived from the original on 2017-11-18. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
14. Craig R. Koester, Revelation, Anchor Yale Bible 38A (New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2014), 684.
15. Koester, 506.
16. 2 Esdras/4 Esdras; see the article on the naming conventions of the Books of Ezra
17. 4 Ezra 3:1–2, 28–31
18. 2 Baruch 10:1–3, 11:1, 67:7
19. Sibylline oracles 5.143, 159–60
20. Lester L. Grabbe, Robert D. Haak, ed. (2003). Knowing the End From the Beginning. A&C Black. p. 69. ISBN 9780567084620. Archived from the original on 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
21. (the King James Version Bible—the New International Version Bible uses the words "seven hills")
22. Wall, R. W. (1991). New International Biblical Commentary: Revelation (207). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
23. Bratcher, R. G., & Hatton, H. (1993). A Handbook on the Revelation to John. UBS handbook series; Helps for translators (248). New York: United Bible Societies.
24. Davis, C. A. (2000). Revelation. The College Press NIV commentary (322). Joplin, Mo.: College Press Pub.
25. Mounce, R. H. (1997). "The Book of Revelation." The New International Commentary on the New Testament (315). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
26. Beckwith, Isbon T. The Apocalypse of John. New York: MacMillan, 1919; reprinted, Eugene: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2001.
27. David Criswell (2002). She Who Restores the Roman Empire: The Biblical Prophecy of the Whore of Babylon. iUniverse. p. 46. ISBN 9780595249282. Archived from the original on 2016-05-04. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
28. "Babylon in the New Testament". International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online. Archived from the original on 2011-03-12. Retrieved 2010-10-20.
29. * Alan James Beagley, The 'Stitz Im Leben' of the Apocalypse with Particular Reference to the Role of the Church's Enemies, 1987, 92–108
    • David Chilton, The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation, 1987, 421–466
    • Josephine Massyngberde-Ford, "Revelation", ed, Anchor Bible, vol. 38, 1975, 283–286
    • Peter Gaskell, Is She Jewish? Is She Roman? The Identity of the Whore of Babylon in the Book of Revelation, 2003
    • Kenneth Gentry, Four Views of Revelation, 1998, 73–79
    • Edmondo Lupieri, A commentary on the Apocalypse of John, 2006, 281
    • Bruce Malina, 1995, 206–220
    • Iain Provan, "Foul Spirits, Fornication and Finance: Revelation 18 from an Old Testament Perspective," JSNT, 64, 1996, 81–100
    • J. Stuart Russell, The Parousia: A Critical Inquiry into the New Testament Doctrine of Our Lord's Second Coming, 1887, 482–498
    • Milton S. Terry, Biblical Apocalyptics: A Study of the Most Notable Revelations of God and of Christ, 1898, 426–439
30. Hunting the Whore of Babylon Archived 2006-12-31 at the Wayback Machine
31. Douglas Connelly. "The Indispensable Guide to Practically Everything: Bible Prophecy and End Times". ISBN 978-0-8249-4772-9
32. "Congratulations!". thepreteristpost.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
33. A commentary on the Apocalypse of John, Edmondo Lupieri, p. 7
34. Drane, John (1999). Revelation: The Apocalypse of St. John. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-312-22513-1. Archived from the original on 2016-05-09. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
35. Roy, William L. (1848). "A New and Original Exposition of the Book of Revelation". google.ca.
36. "And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
37. "Church Fathers: Exposition on Psalm 65 (Augustine), 2". www.newadvent.org. Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
38. "Church Fathers: Exposition on Psalm 87 (Augustine), 7". www.newadvent.org. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2017-08-11.
39. "The Apocalypse & the Prophesied Whore of Babylon". 31 January 2007.
40. Bilhartz, Terry D. (1986). Urban Religion and the Second Great Awakening. Madison, NJ: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press. p. 115. ISBN 0-8386-3227-0. Archived from the original on 2016-10-22. Retrieved 2016-03-01.
41. Edwards, Mark Jr. Apocalypticism Explained: Martin Luther, PBS.org. Archived from the original on 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-09-18.
42. Commentary on Daniel and Revelation Archived 2021-09-21 at the Wayback Machine. Google Books.
43. Keys To Bible Symbols Archived 2010-09-28 at the Wayback Machine see Woman, pure and Woman, corrupt on bottom of page
44. Walvoord, John F. "Every Prophecy of the Bible". pp. 603–610. ISBN 978-1-56476-758-5.
45. LaHaye, Tim. "Revelation Unveiled". pp. 262–271. ISBN 978-0-310-23005-2 (softcover).
46. "Who Is Mystery Babylon The Great – Mother Of Harlots". mystery-babylon.net. Archived from the original on 2011-06-15. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
47. "GHDI - Image". Archived from the original on 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
48. "Recapturing My Religious Satirical Soul in Lutherland, Germany". p. 2. Archived from the original on 2019-12-26. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
49. ^ Stephen E. Robinson, "Warring Against the Saints of God" Archived 2019-10-16 at the Wayback Machine, Ensign, January 1988.
50. Dennis A. Wright, "Great and Abominable Church" Archived 2014-03-19 at the Wayback Machine, Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Daniel H. Ludlow ed.) (Macmillan: New York, 1992).
51. "Timeline of Bloody History of Papal Rome – Oppression of Protestants". Amazing Discoveries. Archived from the original on 2015-06-22. Retrieved 2015-06-06.
52. Seventh-Day Adventists Believe. Review & Herald Publishing Association. 1988. p. 259.
53. Austin Best. "White Horse Media". whitehorsemedia.com. Archived from the original on 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2014-01-11.
54. White, Ellen G. (1999) . "Enmity Between Man and Satan". The Great Controversy: Between Christ and Satan. The Ellen G. White Estate. p. 581. ISBN 0-8163-1923-5. Archived from the original on 2007-05-31. Retrieved 2006-06-06. His word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike. All that she desires is vantage ground, and this is already being given her. We shall soon see and shall feel what the purpose of the Roman element is. Whoever shall believe and obey the word of God will thereby incur reproach and persecution.
55. "Watch Tower's Debt to Seventh-day Adventism: A Fascinating Footnote to History". The Ministry. October 1969. Archived from the original on 2018-12-09. Retrieved 2018-12-08.
56. "Take Your Stand for True Worship –Watchtower Online Library". jw.org. Archived from the original on 2012-12-21. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
57. The Watchtower, April 15, 1962, p. 229 par. 6 Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. "Christendom Has Failed God! After Her End, What?"
58. The Watchtower, October 15, 1961, p. 229 par. 6. "When All Nations Unite Under God's Kingdom". Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.
59. What Does the Bible Really Teach? p. 219 par. 2 – p. 220 par. 3. Archived 2015-10-11 at the Wayback Machine Published by Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.
60. Crowley (1983), "Liber Cheth vel Vallum Abiegni".
61. Helena & Tau Apiryon (2001).
62. Crowley (1974).

Works cited

• Crowley, Aleister (1974). The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians. Illustrated by Frieda Harris. Samuel Weiser, Inc. ISBN 978-0877282686.
• Crowley, Aleister (1983). The Holy Books of Thelema. York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser.
• Helena; Tau Apiryon (2001). "The Creed of the Gnostic Catholic Church: an Examination". Mystery of Mystery: A Primer of Thelemic Ecclesiastical Gnosticism. Red Flame (Revised 2nd ed.). Berkeley: Ordo Templi Orientis. ISBN 0-9712376-1-1.

External links

• Media related to Whore of Babylon at Wikimedia Commons

• Whore of Babylon
• Anti-Catholic slurs
• Babylon
• Bible-related controversies
• Book of Revelation
• Christian terminology
• Mythological queens
• Roman Empire in art and culture
• Seventh-day Adventist theology
• Thelema
• Women in the New Testament