In Revelation 17:1–5, Jesus describes Babylon as a harlot dressed in scarlet and purple. She is seated on a scarlet-colored beast with seven heads and ten horns, and she sits on many waters.

A pure woman clothed with the sun is depicted in Revelation 12:1–6. She symbolizes God’s pure church, faithful to her husband, Jesus. This chapter is studied more fully in Lesson 23.

As a pure woman symbolizes a pure church faithful to Jesus, so an impure woman represents an impure, or fallen, church that is unfaithful to Jesus (James 4:4).

Yes. The points of Revelation 17 clearly fit the papacy: A. She persecuted the saints (verse 6). B. She was dressed in purple and scarlet (verse 4) — the colors of papal and cardinal robes. C. The beast’s seven heads are seven mountains (verse 9): Rome is built on seven hills. D. The beast is guilty of blasphemy (verse 3). E. She ruled over the kings of the earth (verse 18). Many leaders of the Reformation taught that this power is the papacy.

The words Babel and Babylon mean confusion. The name arose at the Tower of Babel, where the Lord confused the builders’ language (Genesis 11). Later a pagan kingdom named Babylon arose — an enemy of God’s people, embodying rebellion, pride, and idolatry. In Isaiah 14, God uses Babylon as a symbol of Satan. In Revelation, the term Babylon signifies a religious kingdom hostile to God’s spiritual Israel — His church (Revelation 14:8; 16:19).

They are some of the churches that originally protested mother Babylon’s false teachings and left her during the Reformation, but later began to mimic her principles and fell themselves. No woman is born a harlot. Any church that follows Babylon’s false doctrines could become a fallen daughter. So Babylon is a family name embracing both the Mother Church and her fallen daughters.

In Revelation 13:1–10, Jesus portrays the papacy as a combination of church and state. In Revelation 17, He depicts the church (the harlot) and state (the beast) as separate but related entities. The woman rides the beast, signifying that the church controls the state.

The dragon (Revelation 12:3,4) and the false prophet (Revelation 13:11–14; 19:20) form an alliance with the beast (papacy). A. The dragon represents Satan working through pagan Rome, and in the last days, non-Christian religions. B. The false prophet represents apostate Protestantism centered in the U.S. C. The beast is the papacy. D. These three powers will unite in Armageddon against God. Jesus calls this coalition “Babylon the great” (Revelation 18:2).

Unclean spirits like frogs (Revelation 16:13,14) will unite them through the miracles they work. Spiritism — the belief that the dead are alive and can contact the living — will be the welding tenet. Satan and his angels, posing as spirits of the dead, as prophets, and even as Christ Himself (2 Corinthians 11:13,14; Matthew 24:24), will convince the world that their cause is guided from heaven. Notably, all three entities believe the dead are alive.

To fall means to turn away from Bible truth and the worship of the true God (2 Peter 3:17,18). God indicts Babylon for (1) conferring with devils through spiritism and (2) deceiving nearly the whole world through lying demonic spirits. Lies are an abomination in the Bible (Proverbs 12:22). Babylon’s wine (false teachings) makes people spiritually drunk. The church, by contrast, is the bride of Christ, loyal to Him by keeping His commandments (John 14:15). Babylon also traffics in the souls of men (Revelation 18:11–13).

Some prominent teachings of today’s Protestantism are not found in the Bible at all; they came from paganism through Rome. Among them: (A) God’s law is changed or repealed — but it is unchangeable (Luke 16:17); (B) the soul is immortal — but people are mortal (Job 4:17), and immortality is given only at the second coming (1 Corinthians 15:51–54); (C) sinners burn eternally in hell — but they will be consumed (Matthew 10:28); (D) baptism by immersion is unnecessary; (E) Sunday is God’s holy day — but God’s holy day is the seventh-day Sabbath.

In this final battle, the angels of heaven (Hebrews 1:13,14) and God’s people — the remnant (Revelation 12:17) — will be allied with Jesus, who leads the armies of heaven (Revelation 19:11–16). God’s remnant are those who refuse Babylon’s falsehoods. They are known for (1) their love of Jesus (1 John 5:2,3), (2) their loyalty and faith in Him (Revelation 14:12), and (3) their obedience to His Word and commandments (John 8:31,32).

Satan and his demons will pose as holy angels and devoted Christian ministers (2 Corinthians 11:13–15). What he presents as evidence for his side will seem so righteous and Christlike that nearly everyone will be deceived (Matthew 24:24). He will doubtless use the Bible, as he did when tempting Jesus in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1–11). His logic is so persuasive that it deceived a third of the angels, Adam and Eve, and everyone on earth before the Flood except eight people.

God always counters Satan’s lies with truth. When tempted in the wilderness, Jesus repeatedly quoted Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11). Through His remnant, God will tell the truth about the unbiblical nature of Babylon and show that it preaches a false gospel (Galatians 1:8–12). God’s counter-movement is outlined in the great three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6–14), calling people to worship and obey God in spirit and in Bible truth.

In Scripture, angels represent messengers or messages (Hebrews 1:13,14). God’s final appeal is symbolized by a mighty angel whose power is so great that the whole earth will be lightened with God’s truth and glory (Revelation 18:1). This message will reach the inhabitants of the entire world (Revelation 14:6; Mark 16:15; Matthew 24:14).

He will call His people to come out of her so they do not share in her sins (Revelation 18:4,5). Notice that Jesus refers to many in Babylon as “my people.” There are millions of sincere Christians in Babylon who have not yet heard this warning message. These people love the Lord supremely, and Jesus calls them His children.

Jesus promises that He has other sheep not of this fold, and they will hear His voice (John 10:16,27). Jesus recognizes His children who are in Babylon. He promises to call them out of Babylon before it is destroyed, and — most glorious of all — He promises that they will hear and recognize His voice and come out to safety.