“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Revelation 17:5).

Thus far we have been privy to a progression of amazing information regarding the harlot.

Harlot sitting on waters	Kings/leaders of earth have illicit relations with her through her wine	Harlot sitting on beast	Harlot, dressed as wealthy and royal, has cup filled with abominations
This data relates to a period when the harlot comes to her end!

From this brief revelation we can deduce many things:

1.   The harlot has controlling power over the people of the world – from the word “sitteth” (vs 1).

2.   The leaders of the world have made themselves subject to her doctrines or beliefs – wine (vs 2).

3.   She has controlling power over a kingdom/nation – beast – from the word “sit” (vs 3).

4.   Wine in the cup refers to something specific that God calls an “abomination” – falsehood (vs 4).

5.   Since the cup is full – there appears to be something very distinct that the Roman Church is dispensing to the world – enough for the whole world (vs 4). She is focused on that one thing at this end time!

We have alluded to the Book of Daniel, which echoes the abominable doctrine of a false sabbath. Contextually, that sin originates with the joining of a civil and an ecclesiastical power.

The abomination also echoes the rebellion against God’s covenant (Daniel 11:31-32). That aligns with His Decalogue (Deuteronomy 4:13), representing God’s sanctifying sign (Exodus 31:13). God’s law is challenged in a way that He sees as abominable!

This imagery now changes. Her forehead names are clearly labels of her true character. They are what God sees in her. They will give us, therefore, insight as to God’s judgment or perception of what the harlot is like.

"Upon her forehead was a name written” (vs 5)

In John’s time prostitutes had a custom of putting their name on their foreheads, announcing that they were harlots.[1] The forehead also symbolized what was in the mind or the very heart of the individual (seen also with the followers of the beast – 13:16, 14:9, 17:5, 20:4; and even the people of God – 7:3, 9:4, 14:1, 22:4).

Therefore – the names we are about to observe are given by God to help us fully understand the nature of the Roman Catholic Church. That also represents another comparison between God’s people and Satan’s people.

God’s people are sealed in their foreheads (7:3, 9:4). Later, John notes the
Father’s name (14:1) and the Lamb’s name (22:4) are on the foreheads of the 144,000 (His servants). It was to the overcomers of the Philadelphia Church that Jesus said He would “write upon him” (Revelation 3:12). The names on the harlot are dramatic in contrast to these! Let’s now look at these intriguing labels.

“Mystery” (vs 5)

There is a question whether this is part of the name or refers to “mysterious names” on her forehead. There is riveting evidence, however, that the name “mystery” is a harbinger of darkness and deception of ecclesiastical Rome. It is a noun (mysterion) and represents a “mystery to be revealed”[2] in the New Testament. It implies that a new revelation is to be unfolded regarding this harlot.

Intriguingly, the Roman Church claims a dogma of mysteries and serves at the same time threatening indictments against its disbelievers.

“The existence of theological mysteries is a doctrine of Catholic faith defined by the Vatican Council, which declares: ‘If any one say that in Divine Revelation there are contained no mysteries properly so called (vera et proprie dicta mysteria), but that through reason rightly developed (per rationem rite excultam) all the dogmas of faith can be understood and demonstrated from natural principles: let him be anathema’ (Sess. III, De fide et ratione, can. I).”[3] Anathema = damned, excommunicated, abominable, hated, lost forever.

This Catholic position introduces two elements:

1.  Doctrinal mysteries transcend spiritual discernment. “Reason” clarifies truth. The next logical step is that only Catholic reason can define truth.

2. Denying their authority brings damnation on the person. This rises to the level of religious arrogance, exhibits moral tyranny over an individual and lacks any admission of understanding from God’s Spirit. The more broadly a position is labeled “mysterious,” the more vulnerable it is to depraved interpretation! This chapter is an unveiling of the horrors of the Babylon harlot – depravity is at the center of that church.

The name “mystery” occurs in the Greek Old Testament with an eschatological theme (Daniel 2:18-19, 27-30, 47 LXX). Here, it is again in an end-time association since the whole vision is the destruction of Babylon immediately preceding Christ’s second coming (cf. 17:10-18). “Mystery” has already been used with end-time connections (1:20, 10:7).[4]

The “mystery harlot” also represents Rome personified by Dea Roma, “the goddess Rome” that was established at the time Jerusalem fell under Emperor Vespasian. That goddess is shown sitting on seven hills in a coin struck at that time.

Notice the beast to her side. Some historians feel that her position and the symbol to her right is one of prostitution. Most interesting, John’s book was written shortly after this coin was struck.

“Babylon the Great” (vs 5)                                                     

“Apparently Tertullian, late in the second century, is the first [‘]church father[’] to use ‘Babylon’ as a name for Rome. The seven hills noted in 17:9 and the great city (17:18) is proof that ‘Babylon’ means Rome.”[6] But the association was even noted by Peter when he alluded to Rome as Babylon (I Peter 5:13) in approximately 64 A.D.[7] Others of antiquity made similar associations [2 Bar. 11.1; 67.7; 79.1; Sib. Or. 5.143, 159; 2 Esdr. (4 Ezra) 3:2].[8]

“Babylon” was to be understood symbolically, as were the names “Balaam” (2:14), “Jezebel” (2:20) and the city prefigured as “Sodom and Egypt” (11:8). Their collective characteristics typify the rebellion against God and truth.

Babylon is a theme in Scripture, beginning in Genesis 10:9-10 and continuing through the last book. It is noted as a false religion in Genesis 11:1-9. The tower and its city represent an ancient church/state (Micah 5:6)[9] that became symbolic of resisting and defying God.[10] Thus, at the end, it ties directly to Rome as the great center of religious apostasy. Again, the evidence is stunning that the end-time prophecy of the harlot represents the Roman Catholic Church – a symbol for prostitution of truth and worship.

Her power and arrogance have not ceased to grow.

“Every cleric must obey the Pope, even if he commands what is evil; for no one may judge the Pope.”[11]

“The First See [Rome/papacy] is judged by no one. It is the right of the
Roman Pontiff himself alone to judge … those who hold the highest civil office in a state….

“There is neither appeal nor recourse against a decision or decree of the Roman Pontiff.”[12]

Nebuchadnezzar, while walking in the palace, said: “Is not this great Babylon, that I have built, for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honor of my majesty?” (Daniel 4:30).

Thus, Babylon was used by God as a symbol for end-time apostasy, arrogance and power, centered in Rome. Again:

“Thus, as the moon receives its light from the sun … so the royal power [state] derives from the Pontifical authority the splendor of its dignity…. The state of the world … will be restored by our diligence and care … for the pontifical authority and the royal power … fully suffice for this purpose.”[13]

The Protestant Reformation was based on the growing recognition that the Roman Catholic Church was the antichrist – the “man of sin.” Charles H. Spurgen even noted:

“It is the bound duty of every Christian to pray against Antichrist, and as to what Antichrist is no sane man ought to raise a question. If it be not the Popery in the Church of Rome there is nothing in the world that can be called by that name.

“It wounds Christ, robs Christ of His glory, puts sacramental efficacy in the place of His atonement, and lifts a piece of  bread in the place of the Savour….

“If we pray against it, because it is against Him, we shall love the persons though we hate their errors; we shall love their souls though we loathe and detest their dogmas.”[14]

“Since the female figures of these chapters (12, 17, 19 and 21) represent purely religious realities, Babylon must also be essentially religious.”[15] She is further designated as a mother.

“The mother of the harlots and abominations of the earth.” (vs 5)

When this seductive whore with all her false attractions is exposed, Christ’s bride will be revealed in all her innocence, purity and beauty (Revelation 21:9-10). The woman of Revelation 12 gave birth to the church. This harlot of Revelation 17 tries to exterminate that church.

This woman has the two sinful ingredients that filled her golden cup in verse 4: (1) idolatry and (2) sexual promiscuity. In Hosea 2:2-5 (cf. Isaiah 50:1), Israel is personified as a mother who has played the whore and has bastard children.[16] This typifies God’s view of apostate Christianity at the end of time. If the Roman Catholic Church is here the great whore, those who bond to her ecumenically are her illegitimate daughters.

Babylon, the mother of harlots, makes her the progenitor of everything anti-Christian. The Roman-based church, in turn, is the epitome of what God does not tolerate. She is an abomination by being the mother of abominations.

There are numerous beliefs and practices that the Catholic Church holds that mock God’s Holy Word. These range from honoring tradition equal to or above the Bible, the infallibility of the pope, the co-redemptrix role of Mary to the “sacrifice” of the eucharist. All of its rebellion can be summarized in the dogma found in a myriad of papal and Vatican decrees on salvation:

“There is one holy Catholic and apostolic church, outside of which there is no salvation…. It is altogether necessary for salvation for every creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff.”[17]

“If anyone says that the sacraments of the New Law [of the Roman Catholic church] are not necessary for salvation but … that without them … men obtain from God through faith alone the grace of justification … let him  be anathema. – Council of Trent, 7, General, 4.”[18]

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that:

“… all salvation comes from Christ…. Through the [Catholic] Church …”

“… the [Catholic] Church … is necessary for salvation …”

“… Christ … affirmed … the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door.”

When the present pope – Benedict XVI – was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he was head of the Congregation for the Doctrine and the Faith. He wrote, “Dominus Iesus” as a special document presented to the Catholic Bishops of America. In it was this section:

“VI. The Church and the Other Religions in Relation to Salvation

“20. Above all else, it must  be firmly believed that ‘the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and baptism (cf. Mk 16:16; Jn 3:5), and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through baptism as through a door.”

“The Church is the ‘universal sacrament of salvation’, since, united always in a mysterious way to the Saviour Jesus Christ, her Head, and subordinated to him, she has, in God’s plan, an indispensable relationship with the salvation of every human being.”[19]

These defy the wonderful truth, such as:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8).

“He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”
(I John 5:10-13).

The Roman Catholic Church is the harlot of Revelation 17, filled with heresy and blasphemy against the God of the universe! She spreads her falsehood to the kings of the world. She is the apostate Babylon of prophecy. This echoes the “abomination” of Daniel the prophet (chapters 8–12) that are part of earth’s final prophecies (Matthew 24:15).

Intriguingly, many scholars point to Rome as the end-time focus of this harlot/ Babylon prophecy. Yet, their description quickly reverts to ancient Rome and her excesses, persecutions, idolatry and Christian apostasy. They all seem to be afraid of a contemporary application.

Franklin S. Fowler Jr., M.D.; Prophecy Research Initiative © 2009