And on [the prostitute’s] forehead a mysterious name was written: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

— Revelation 17:5

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

— Colossians 3:5

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on their children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,

— Exodus 20:5

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.

17 The world is passing away, along with its desires; but whoever does the will of God remains forever.

–1 John 2:15-17

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and salvation from Christ to you.

John recorded in Revelation 17 that he saw a great prostitute on whose head a ribbon declaring her name:”BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” From Babylon’s earliest beginnings, the ancient city stood for rebellion against God. Though God graciously sent His prophets and people to live within Babylon’s boundaries, the Babylonians persisted in false worship. Babylon depicts pride, excess, and human-centered focus that flows from and gives rise to false religion. God’s people hold out the glory of the gospel to the world, but the prostitute influences the world for evil. Those seduced by the great prostitute in turn seduce others into unfaithfulness toward God.

This seduction points to the “mystery” of the great prostitute’s designation as the “mother of prostitute.” This woman seems to represent more than one culture or place, whether Babylon, Rome, or any modern example. Today’s global culture of consumerism, which exalts a materialistic worldview and the love of possessions over love for God and people, presents a type of “Babylon.” The prostitute Babylon not only satisfied such sinful desires by celebrated them. Babylon exists whenever and wherever proud and pretentious displays of power and luxurious prosperity join with violence, injustice, and rebellion against God.