In Revelation the 17 and 18 chapters, we are given one of the ominous warnings contained in the whole scripture. Here, we find a great WOMAN which is called the "Great Whore, Mystery Babylon, and the Mother of Harlots".

She is also identified as the Mother of all the abominations of the earth. She stands above all others as a direct enemy to Jesus Christ. Her own seductive spell has swept the whole earth, from the kings to the inhabitants in it.

She is satan's queen (In Revelation 18:7, she says "I sit as a queen and am no widow"). So alluring and cunning are her enchantments that Revelation 17:8 tells us that the only ones who will not wonder but know her for what she is will be those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the world. All the world will eventually bow to her and become a part of her and her daughter-system.

WHO IS THIS TREACHEROUS WOMAN?
Below we have listed some verses out of Revelation 17 which will enable the reader to identify the clues provided by God to show who this WOMAN is.

The fact that we are dealing with a WOMAN who according to Revelation 13 desires to be worshipped, reveals that it will be a RELIGIOUS SYSTEM.

The Church is typed in the Bible as a virgin, a WOMAN prepared as a Bride for Christ, for Christ is supposed to be our Bridegroom. But this woman we're dealing with here is not a virgin, but a whore or a prostitute and is also a mother of harlots.

In Revelation 17:1-6, 9, 15, 18, we read the Clues:
1. And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great WHORE that sitteth upon many waters:

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.

3. So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a WOMAN sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

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:

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.

9. And here is the MIND which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the WOMAN sitteth.

15 And he saith unto me, The WATERS which thou sawest, where the WHORE sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

18. And the WOMAN which thou sawest is that GREAT CITY, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.

Now, let's accumulate the CLUES listed in the above scriptures and ask ourselves some questions:

WHICH RELIGIOUS SYSTEM...

a. Controls multitudes, nations and tongues?
b. Has seduced kings and inhabitants of the earth?
c. Is arrayed in purple and scarlet?
d. Is decked with silver and gold?
e. Is drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus?
f. Sits upon seven mountains?
g. Is a great city reigning over kings?

Unless the reader is willfully ignorant, it becomes obvious that the religious system herein described has to be the great CHURCH of ROME; the so-called "eternal city of seven hills".

Let's see further how The Vatican in Rome today resembles this Mystery Babylon.

a. Rome controls multitudes, nations and tongues.
No other authority on earth has ever interacted with the world and its political systems more than the Vatican. The international Monetary Fund and the World Bank are virtually controlled by the Vatican.

b. Rome has seduced kings and inhabitants of the earth.
None other than the Vatican is involved in the ecumenical movement of compromise known today as religious tolerance and unity. The world has seen Pope John Paul-11 going to Israel in the year 2000, meeting with Arafat, and even fellowshipping with communist leaders for world unity.

Today the call is for "humanity" and not for Christ. The call is for "Unity" and not separation from worldliness. The Catholic Church has declared that Islam is an Abrahamic faith and there is not much difference, in faith, between Moslems and Christians. The Pope was seen kissing the Quran for the whole world to witness in an effort to be seen as a peace-maker, though the Catholic Church does not believe the Quran. This is indeed hypocrisy at its highest peak.

c,d. The Vatican is arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with silver and gold.
Who else but the cardinals and the arch bishops of the Catholic Church dress in purple and scarlet, the colors of so-called "royalty". The golden cup is exactly what the Pope uses in the celebration of the "mass".

e. Rome is drunk with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
As recorded in history, from the time of St. Augustine in 300 AD until AD 1850, 68 million Protestants were killed by the Roman Catholic Church just because of disagreeing with their doctrine.

The Great Massacre of Ireland was one of the worst mass murders done by the Roman Church ever recorded in history. Millions of Christians were burnt at stake, fed to the lions, and tortured to death by the Catholic Church. The martyrs include Joan of Arc and St. Patrick – a "cup of abominations" indeed that deserves the Biblical verses mentioned in Revelation 17:6 "drunken of the blood of the saints and the martyrs of Jesus". This cruel and mass murder is recorded in history as the Holy Inquisition. Google "Holy Inquisition" for further information.

Don't be deceived to start thinking that the Church of Rome has repented of her slaughter of the saints because she is attempting to unite with the Protestants today by making her creeds line-up with Protestant creeds. Not once has she ever apologized of her murders. No matter how sweet and mellow she appears at this particular time, she will yet rise up to kill in the great tribulation to come, for murder lies in her evil and unrepentant heart. Those who will not bow to the Pope will be persecuted, tortured, and killed.

f. Rome sits upon seven mountains (Italian: sette colli di Roma, Latin: septem montes Romae) namely:
(i) Quirinal Hill (Collis Quirinalis)
(ii) Viminal Hill (Collis Viminalis)
(iii) Capitoline Hill (Collis Capitolinus)
(iv) Esquiline Hill (Collis Esquilinus)
(v) Palatine Hill (Collis Palatinus)
(vi) Caelian Hill (Collis Caelius)
(vii) Aventine Hill ( Collis Aventinus)

Rome is popularly known to the world as the "City of Seven Hills". Yes, Rome sits upon literal seven hills. In fact, Rome is an autonomous city state within the nation of Italy and it is being ruled by the Pope as its sovereign president and head of state, having her own ambassadors, flag, anthem etc.

g. Rome is a great city reigning over kings.
This WOMAN "Mystery Babylon" is none other than the Catholic Church. "Mystery" simply means it is "hidden" (subtle); "her deception is veiled to the world" but yet for a while.

Today, Rome appeals to all nations and religions due to her doctrine of "unity".

The Ecumenical Council, which is the "Image" patterned after the system of Rome, is none other than the "Image" erected unto the Beast. A "Beast" means "power" and it is the power of the Catholic Church, while an "Image" is something like it, which is nothing but the Confederation of Protestant Churches.

The whole system of "Beast" and "Image of the Beast" is an exact type of the force unity of the Tower of Babel in the old Testament. The Tower of Babel was an effort of a gathering of various people with the sole aim of reaching God. The gathering, however, was outside God's will. It was by Nimrod, a wicked man who forced all the little countries to come into one place to erect such a man-made tower.

The Roman Empire of iron (iron signifying power and great destructive force against opposition) was to be made of two main divisions. And it certainly was, for the empire literally split into two--East and West. Both were very powerful, crushing all before them.

But as the glory and power of all empires fail, so this empire began to fall also. Thus Rome fell. Pagan Imperial Rome was no longer iron. She crumbled. She was wounded to death. Rome could not now rule. It was all over, so thought the world. But how wrong the world was, for that head (Rome) though wounded was not wounded unto death. (Wuest, translation of Revelation 13:3, "And one of his heads appeared to have been mortally wounded, the throat having been slashed. And his death stroke was healed. And the whole earth followed after the Wild Beast in amazement."). The power of the Roman Empire re-emerged as the power of the Roman Church. The wound was healed.

Revelation 18:2-10 speaks of her destruction: "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. 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. 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 plaques. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup in which she hath filled fill to her double. 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. Therefore shall her plaques come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burnt with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. 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, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour is thy judgment come."

ROME IS NOT DOING IT ALONE
Rome is not doing it alone, her daughters are right with her. She will take absolute authority by the help of the World Council of Churches. This may seem far-fetched to some but actually it is very plain to see how at the moment, the churches are controlling politics. At the opportune time, during the SQUEEZE, she will manifest her control. This ecumenical move will end up with Rome at the head, even though the people did not envision it that way.

This is so because in Revelation 17:3-6, it states that the whore, MYSTERY BABYLON, is seated on the beast. She is controlling the last or forth empire. This Roman Church is doing that. With the world Church system under her, Rome will be controlling, and this image (church system) will be obedient to Rome because Rome controls the gold and the politics of the world. Thus, all Christians will have to belong to the world church system or be at the mercy of its control for they cannot buy or sell without being part of the system. Being part of the system is receiving the MARK OF THE BEAST, a spiritual mark.

According to Scriptures, those who receive the mark of the beast, receive it in their foreheads or in their right hands (Revelation 13:16). This is because when the churches agree to form one world church system, in the name of unity and world peace, despite their doctrinal differences, they receive a spiritual mark in their foreheads. Amos asks in Amos 3:3, "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" To fulfill scriptures, these will walk together, though they don't agree on basic doctrines. Then, when they give their right hand (authority) in fellowship, they will receive the mark in their right hands.

With this great power, the church system will persecute the true Bride of Christ. This image will try to keep the Bride from preaching and teaching. Her ministers will be forbidden to give comfort and truth to the people who need it. But before the antichrist (in person) completely takes over the world church system, the true church will be taken away in a rapture by her Lord.

A MOTHER WITH HARLOT DAUGHTERS (Revelation 17:5)
If the Mother is an illegitimate church, so also will be the Daughters. She was pretending to be a Christian church, but was giving out man-made dogmas and creeds. A scanty study of all Protestant denominations will reveal that they actually came from the womb of Rome.

When Martin Luther was inspired by God to spawn the reformation, it was a true revival. However, when Luther left the scene, the followers of Luther, instead of being led by the Holy Spirit into further light, denominated on Luther's message and gave birth to another organization. By this, the first daughter was born and in the same manner every successive daughter came about until every denominational church became her daughter. Any church that will not take wholly, the teachings of Paul and the faith of the early Christians, is placed under a curse and is seen by God as an adulterous woman (Galatians 1:8, Revelation 17:5). This is the reason why there is a promise of restoration of the pure original faith before the second coming of Christ (Zechariah 14:7; Malachi 4:5,6; Joel 2:23-26; Acts 3:19-21 etc.)

Each church mixed their creed with God's Word and like the mother, strayed from God's direct leadership to become a dead illegitimate organization because of their hybrid teaching. By the time of the Lord's return, Rome and her adulterous daughters are seen to have formed into a vast system able to control politics, religion and commerce – a one world government system and a one-world religion, which was being intensified under the leadership of Pope Benedict XVI with the cooperation of the member-Protestant churches of the World Council of Churches. From such, the true Bride of Jesus Christ will have to separate and heed the call of Revelation 18:4. "...Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plaques."

ARE YOU PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST OR PART OF THE SYSTEM ?
If your faith is founded entirely on the Word of God, you are part of God. As Matthew 4:4 states, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God."

AND WHAT IS THE SYSTEM?
INSCRIBED IN THE VATICAN THRONE ARE THE LATIN WORDS "VICARIVS FILII DEI" which when translated means "INSTEAD OF THE SON OF GOD" or "IN PLACE OF THE SON OF GOD."

It becomes even more enlightening when one understands the numerical value of this blasphemous title. The value of these Roman numerals in this TITLE totals to 666! It is on this throne that the Anti-Christ will one day reveal himself.

Written on the throne of the pope are the Latin words :

V I        C A R   I V S  F I L I I         D E I
5 +1 + 100 + 1 +5 + 1+ 50+1+1+ 500 + 1 = 666

Which means "instead of the son of God"

666 then is the number of Rome and as such is the number of any system headed up by Rome.

Imagine such blasphemy of a man, whether he be a priest or pope, to claim to stand before the people "instead of the Son of God." The second chapter of II Thessalonians describes him well:

II Thess. 2:4. "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

We can now see that this man of sin is truly exposed in Revelation 13:16-18. "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a MARK in their right hand , or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy, or, sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred, threescore and six."

Let us not be blind. It is not by chance that the major religious movements of today are leaning more and more towards Catholicism. It is not by chance that the charismatic movement is becoming an adhesive to cement together Catholicism, Pentecostalism, and liberal Protestantism. It is not by chance that the Anglican church is trying to amalgamate with the Roman Catholic Church. Nor is it by chance that we have World Council of Churches with their one-world church thrust. Though it is all very religious and much activity is taking place, remember the scriptures speak of two churches, one very large and illustrious and one very small and humble.

Don't be fooled for there is no such thing as "unity and being one" as far as God is concerned unless it is unity around the Word of God. In this hodge-podge, Catholics are still Catholics and all other respective churches hold to their own creeds with equal tenacity. "How can two walk together except they be agreed?"

There is little regard for basic scriptural fundamentals such as holiness, place of women, correct water baptism, error of infant baptism, and many others, in these gatherings. In this mock revival, the one dispensable element is the Bible itself.

Scripture nowhere points to a vast end-time revival nor does it teach that the Living Saints at the time of His second coming will be of any great number. Luke 18:8 states, "When the Son of Man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth"?

Just as in Noah's day (Luke 11:26), God will speak to the Laodicean Church and will call out individuals by His prophet to join Christ, (THE WORD) on the outside of the church system. Rev. 3:20 says "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." That faithful minority will represent His lovely but tiny end-time Bride today.