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Mother of Harlots and Abominations

I

InSpiritInTruth

Guest
In Revelation 17:5 we are told the woman that sat upon many waters and the scarlet colored beast had a name written upon her forehead; " MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Many try to confine this MOTHER OF HARLOTS to a city in the the past, or even in the present day, like a brick and mortar city yet to come called "Babylon the great", or the great city of Jerusalem of old. But it takes people to make up a city, and cities don’t commit abominations but rather people do.

Some also say the woman represents the RCC and try to place her in a physical place like Rome, or even in the United States. But if look at all the descriptions concerning where the woman sits, and all the judgements to come upon her then hopefully you will come to see this is not the case.

And though many similitudes are compared to descriptions of Babylon and Jerusalem of old in scripture, and though Rome and the US may be enjoined to this corrupt Harlot system, they just don’t seem to fit all the descriptions, as I will try to show by scripture.

Being the mother of something is like being the origin of, just as I’ll try to show in this study there are actually 2 spiritual mothers who are the origin of all their children. We also know a Harlot in scripture is often shown as one who leaves her first love for another, thereby playing the Harlot just as Israel and her 2 daughters did with the Lord. The Lord said in Jeremiah 3:20 “Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.”

In Jeremiah chapter 3 the Lord pleads with Israel to return to him, even though she has played the Harlot with many lovers, and has greatly polluted the land with all her abominations. In Ezekiel 23:2 we see she is known as the Mother of 2 daughters that have also played the harlot, and committed whoredoms throughout the land.

Ezekiel 23:1-4 “The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,2 Son of man, there were two women, the daughters of one mother:3 And they committed whoredoms in Egypt; they committed whoredoms in their youth: there were their breasts pressed, and there they bruised the teats of their virginity.4 And the names of them were Aholah the elder, and Aholibah her sister: and they were mine, and they bare sons and daughters. Thus were their names; Samaria is Aholah, and Jerusalem Aholibah.”

Israel had played the harlot by taking up many of the false beliefs, false traditions, and false idols of the surrounding nations, and then in turn polluted others with these abominations of her fornication. These 2 daughters of 1 mother Israel that played the harlot are called Aholah, which means his tabernacle, and the other is Aholibah, which means my tabernacle.

So what we see in the Mother of Harlots in Revelation is a false tabernacle system, or false religious system in bed with the ways of the world, the name “Babylon the great” representing the ways of the world.
This also explains part of the dress of the harlot woman in Revelation 17:4 “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:”

The golden cup in her hand represents the ways of the world, as the golden cup in the OT represented Babylon of old in Jeremiah 51:7 “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord's hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.”

In the first tabernacle Moses was commanded to build by God we saw the colors blue, purple, and scarlet, and gold; but this woman is adorned with the ways of the world (Babylonish garment) which represents the merchandise of the world.

Notice the description of the merchandise when Babylon falls in Revelation chapter 18 the merchants weep and mourn over their merchandise in Revelation 18:12 “The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, …..” And again notice in Revelation 18:16 “And saying, Alas, alas that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!”

This false idol worship of covetousness is also shown in the love of money as written in 1 Timothy 6:10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Now we are getting closer to the root of the problem (so to speak), and also notice the wording of “many sorrows” there. Compare to the judgement of the woman in Revelation 18:7 “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.”

Babylon of old was known as the land of graven images and false idols, which explains the name on the woman’s forehead “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT.” Babylon the great represents the ways of the world such as the lusts and desires of the flesh, false doctrines, false idols, and covetousness etc. Just as Israel, the mother of the 2 harlot daughters had defiled herself with by taking up the false beliefs, false idols, false religions, and traditions of all the surrounding Nations.”

So thus far the spiritual imagery we are seeing in Revelation represents a false religious system in bed with the ways of the world, which explains the last part of the name written on her forehead reads “AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

To be continued......
 
This is symbolized with the harlot being in bed with, or committing fornication with the kings of the earth in Revelation 17:2 “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. (made drunk with false doctrine, idolatry, traditions etc.)
Revelation 18:3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. Revelation 18:9 “And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning,”

This fornication that the harlot religious system has committed with the kings of the earth is shown here in James 4:4; "You adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that friendship of the world is enmity with God?" Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God."

This writing on the forehead also symbolizes the way one thinks as well, just as the Lord told Israel in Jeremiah 3:3 “Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.”

This way of thinking would also be on, or in the heads of the worldly Beast system, as the woman sat on the 7 heads, which are 7 mountains, which are 7 kings, or Kingdoms. Revelation 17:9-10 “And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.”

Verse 10 proves the woman is not the RCC or the US because the woman will sit on all the 7 heads, and 5 of those Kingdoms had already fallen, and the 6th was present when John received the Revelation so the woman predates both the RCC and the US.

Continued next....
 
Ok, let me get back to the Mystery of the 2 spiritual mothers I mentioned at the beginning of the study.

Spiritually speaking there are 2 women, which are 2 spirits, and represent the 2 spiritual seeds of both flesh and Spirit, which are also represented in the 2 Jerusalem’s in Galatians chapter 4. These 2 Jerusalem’s, one earthly and the other heavenly are also shown as “mothers”. The earthly Jerusalem is symbolized in the bond woman and her children; she is the mother of the children of the flesh who are also of the world and in bondage to sin. I believe her name is called wickedness and she is also shown in Zechariah 5:7-8; her children make up the wicked and adulterous generation Jesus spoke of. It is also written the whole world lieth in wickedness in 1 John 5:19

In Zechariah 5: 11 we see she is also called “it” and was to have a house built in the land of Shinar (Shinar is Babylon) note in verse 11 “And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.” Her children are cursed by the curse mentioned to Zechariah 5:4, which curse falls upon all those who swear falsely by the Lords name. = false religion and HYPOCRISY. I believe this curse also includes all those who swear falsely by the God of Abraham, this would include Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.

The other Spirit and woman is called Wisdom,(wisdom is justified of all her children Luke 7:35) she is shown as the freewoman in Galatians 4:23 and as the heavenly Jerusalem and the “mother” of all those who are born of God’s Holy Spirit and seed of promise in Jesus Christ. God’s people are referred to as a “holy city” even the “new” Jerusalem being the bride of the Lamb.

In Revelation 12:1 we read “And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:” We see this woman would give birth to the man child Jesus in verse 5, and she represents the spiritual Israel, not the natural Israel. For there is an earthy Israel and Jerusalem, as there is a heavenly Israel and Jerusalem. We who are of the heavenly Jerusalem have her name written in our forehead. (Revelation 3:12)

We know this woman in Rev. 12 is the spiritual Israel because Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and they that are of the remnant of her seed have the testimony of Jesus Christ as shown in verse 17 “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

And we know the earthly Jerusalem who is the mother of the children of flesh being carnally minded do not have the testimony of Jesus Christ by way of the Holy Spirit.

Continued next...
 
Now let’s explore who is drunken and guilty of the blood of the saints and prophets, in order that we might better discern that the woman and Mystery Babylon the great is not a brick and mortar city on the map somewhere.

In Revelation 17:5-6 we read;”And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth.And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.”

Now some say this woman refers to a brick and mortar city like Jerusalem, but hopefully with some scriptural proof we will see the woman speaks of much more than a certain location on a map, but more of a global spiritually corrupt worldly system of false religion based on false beliefs of carnally minded men.

To prove the woman is global, and her ways effect the whole earth lets go to Revelation 16:1-6 “And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood.And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.”

Here we see the judgment of God’s wrath falls upon the whole earth not just a single city or a limited geographic location, because it is those who are of this world (and of the spirit of this world) who are guilty of the blood of the saints and prophets, not just the brick and mortar city of Jerusalem.

This can also be proven in Jesus’ words concerning the “wicked generation”. (or serpents seed) Matthew 23:33-36; “Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.”

First thing notice the Lord calls them a generation of vipers, which are those who are of the serpents seed, or children of that wicked.

The Lord said in the beginning to the serpent that He would put enmity between the serpents seed (generation of vipers) and the woman’s seed (seed of promise in Christ). The serpents seed are those who are of the flesh, and the woman’s seed are those who are born again of Gods Spirit. That allegory was shown in the 2 separate Jerusalem’s (earthly vs heavenly) and their children in Galatians 4:23; “But he who was of the bond woman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.”

Notice Jesus started with the righteous blood of Abel; and so who killed Abel, and what seed was Cain of? We are given the answer here in 1 John 3:12; “Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”

In this we see the Lord didn’t single out any certain small generation like the Jews only, or a small city like Jerusalem as some might understand it. But Jesus foretold of the judgment and wrath that would fall upon a whole wicked and adulterous generation. This generation of vipers are of their father the Devil, and they are also the ones who have persecuted and killed the saints of the world since the time of Cain, even until now.

So when the judgment and wrath falls on Mystery Babylon, the “great city”, it shall be felt globally, as this can also be confirmed by scripture. When the 7th angel pours out his vial into the air soon thereafter there is an great earthquake upon the earth. Revelation 16:19 “And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath.
 
If Mystery Babylon the “great city” were a small brick and mortar city, it still would not cause “the cities of the nations to fall” if it only experienced a localized earthquake. And if that were the case it would also not cause all the merchants of the earth to bewail her falling. Revelation 18:11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: Revelation 18:15 The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing,”

So this Mystery Babylon is much more than just a small place on the map, but more of a global religious system of corruption connected to commerce, and in bed with world governments, thereby being corrupted also by the merchandise and the ways of the world.

So when Jesus spoke of the end of this age in Luke 21:32 “Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.” He was speaking to the whole wicked generation ever since iniquity was first found in man until the Lord returns and consumes that Wicked, and iniquity shall have an end.

Now think about this, what is the origin of the 3 main beliefs in this world today? Judaism, Christian, and Muslim faiths are all based upon the single God of Abraham. And like Israel did, they have all gone astray and have corrupted themselves with man-made beliefs, worldly doctrine, commandments and traditions of carnally minded men, etc.

This corrupted version of the faith is also shown as the synagogue of Satan, false tabernacle or the defiled corrupted church system (Harlot) vs. the True Church who has remained faithful to her Husband (Bride of the Lamb). And this false religious system is of all peoples, nations, and tongues, not just Jews and Christians in a certain geographic location. That is why she sits on, and is carried by a global beast system, on many waters,= (many peoples nations, tongues) as she is also in bed with the kings of the earth. (ways of the world)

So to me this Mystery Babylon is not just a single city on the map, or a single religious denomination, but rather it is spiritual imagery of a global corrupt religious system that has defiled all Nations, peoples, and all tongues. It is this corrupt system that has infected all faiths by false beliefs, false doctrines, false idols etc. And by being in bed with the ways of the world, she is also doing the same abominations that the rest of the world is also doing.

This is why I believe part of the name written on her forehead reads “AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” This is also why the Lord said; "come out of her my people, and be not a partaker of her sins."

The Lord is not talking about coming out of a small city like Jerusalem, but out of the wicked ways of the world.
 
Over the centuries she's been amassing great wealth for herself she's the richest nation on the face of the earth..
 
Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
 
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Dear Brother InSpiritInTruth, Would you consider the following scripture describing Thyatira to be directed to Rev 18:4?

Rev 2:22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds.

Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people (those who have believed on Christ Jesus), that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Rev 18:5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.
 
Eugene, though the wording sounds alot alike we see in Rev. 1:11 the Lord is speaking to the 7 churches in Asia. But notice the language in Rev. 18....
Revelation 18
18 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

To me those verses above are describing how this world is going to become a habitation, hold, and cage etc for every foul spirit, and they shall not escape. Hope that helps, Peace
 
Here is something else interesting I wanted to note in the wording of where the blood of all that were slain upon the earth is....

Notice the wording here concerning the Mystery, Babylon the great……
Revelation 18:24 “And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”

I know of no single country or city in the world where the blood of all that were ever slain can be found do you? But there is one “her” found in scripture that fits this description, and that is good ole Mother Earth.

Notice the earth is mentioned as “her” several times in scripture, and notice she receives the blood…

Genesis 4:11 “And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;”

Notice the blood and slain go back to the earth….

Isaiah 26:21 “For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.”
 
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I'll try this another way, and if it doesn't fit your eschatology that's alright too. The Church is one body regardless of divisions and separation, and when Jesus is referring to His people IT IS THE CHURCH. The judgment of the Church is dispensed according to what is written in Chapters Two and Three of Revelation from Pentecost through our being caught up together with Jesus in the air. That is the viewpoint of writing "The things which are" of Rev 1:19, and of course the things which shall be hereafter.
Blessings in Christ Jesus. :wave2
 
Yes the Church=Body of Christ are His people, both Jews and Gentiles. And God has been calling His people out of the ways of the world for some time now. God's people are of His Spirit, but the harlot system is not of God's Spirit. Here is how I see it....

Here is a way to show how one singular spirit unites many into one body.....

What I want to show in this post is how the scarlet Beast and the Harlot in the book of Revelation are united, and not only united by one spirit, but they both speak of many people, not just a single geographic location, or city, or even individual man yet to come in the future. The best way to show this is by looking at the opposite reflection of the True, which is shown in the Church (Bride of the Lamb), and the Lamb of God, or Body of Christ.

It is written in 1 Corinthians 12:27 “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” Here we see Paul refers to the Church as the Body of Christ, and there is a reason for this. We read in Ephesians 5:30-32 “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”

And again in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.14 For the body is not one member, but many.”

So if can grasp this, how One Spirit unites both the Church and the Lamb into one body, and is made up of many members gathered over the ages, then so also is the scarlet Beast and the Harlot united by one spirit, and also made up of many members gathered over the ages.

1 Corinthians 6:16 “What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.”

And if the Bride of the Lamb is shown as the New heavenly Jerusalem and holy city, which is made up of many living stones, then you will also understand that the earthly Jerusalem (Harlot/ false tabernacle system) is also made up of many dead stones, or many spiritually dead people; not some a brick and mortar city with a zip code.

Remember, the Holy Ghost teaches us to compare spiritual things with spiritual.
 
Mystery Babylon the great as being great in ruling over the nations political, economic and religious system ever since the fall of Cain has always been the mother of harlots. Her abominations of merchandise (various forms) has caused many to fornicate with this harlot causing a great falling away from God's truth, 2Thessalonians 2:3,4, as she entices man with her bounty of merchandise that have made her and others rich. She will cause lying signs and wonders in the heaven, 2Thessalonians 2:9-12, that will cause many to bow down and take the mark of this beast, Rev 13, and worship her as she promises peace, safety and provision during the time of God's great wrath being poured out on those who refuse to repent. This great harlots end will come by fire that God sends down on her just as He did with Sodom and Gomorrah, as this beast with her son of perdition being the false prophet will be cast into the lake of fire when Christ returns and all those who have fornicated with her that refuse to repent and turn back to the truths of Gods word they were being preached to, Rev 17-19.

Trace the ancestry line of Babylon beginning with her kings, Caesars and priest up to the end of days mystery Babylon in Revelations 17-19 and that Daniel in chapter 7 has already given us the clues and it will lead you to the greatest worldwide end of days abominations of desolation that controls all economic, political and religious systems and you will see who mystery Babylon truly is.
 
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Another interesting insight is in searching the meanings of names, like the meaning of Babel or Babylon

Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)"

There is a lot of good stuff to glean by searching that word "confusion" as it relates to the ways world and those who are of it.
 
InSpiritInTruth said:
Another interesting insight is in searching the meanings of names, like the meaning of Babel or Babylon

Babel or Babylon = "confusion (by mixing)"

There is a lot of good stuff to glean by searching that word "confusion" as it relates to the ways world and those who are of it.
Click to expand...
Yes, I agree as it is very important to search out the meanings of words as our English language is the most confusing language to learn as there are many definitions for just one word.
 
Sinthesis said:
So who or what have we decided is the mother of harlots and abominations?
Click to expand...
No one comes out of Babylon until they first see they are in Babylon to start with. Otherwise they can not see their way out. IF believers are in Babylon, and come out, they can say "both" how they were in Babylon, and who Babylon is. And how they came out.

But those who are "in" Babylon can not see it. Even if it is shown to them in writing, openly. They simply can not see it.

Revelation 18:2
And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

That cage is quite securely locked.

Believers will say Mystery Babylon is Rome or Jerusalem or London or the U.S. or Russia or yada yada yada. But they only show their inability to read or perceive. Because they are virtually LOCKED in the cage of Mystery Babylon, and can not see.

 
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