THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH BY SCRIPTURE—Part 1

Subject In This Section

1. THE GREAT WHORE AND CITY
2. THE GREAT WHORE, THE FALSE RELIGION
3. THE WOMAN, THE CITY OF ROME
4. WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE GREAT WHORE (MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT?)
5. THE CONTINUAL SACRIFICE—ROME’S GREATEST HERESY
6. THE BABYLONIAN CULT—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
7. DO THE PROPHECIES OF THE WOMAN, BABYLON, FIT ROME?
   DO THEY FIT OLD BABYLON ON THE EUPHRATES?
8. CONCLUSION
9. ONCE MORE THE FOLLOWING NEEDS TO BE SAID.

THE GREAT WHORE AND CITY

(Scripture)
(Note: Unless otherwise specified, the following verses are taken from the Revelation.)

    Rev 17:1-COME HITHER; I WILL SHEW UNTO THEE THE JUDGMENT (or punishment) OF THE GREAT WHORE (or prostitute) THAT SITTETH UPON MANY WATERS:
    17:15-THE WATERS...WHERE THE WHORE (or prostitute) SITTETH, ARE PEOPLES, AND MULTITUDES, AND NATIONS, AND TONGUES (or languages).
    17:2-WITH WHOM THE KINGS OF THE EARTH HAVE COMMITTED FORNICATION (or adultery), AND THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH HAVE BEEN MADE DRUNK (or intoxicated) WITH THE WINE OF HER FORNICATION, (of the whore’s fornication).
    18:3-FOR ALL NATIONS HAVE DRUNK OF THE WINE (or maddening wine) OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION (the whore’s fornication), AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH HAVE COMMITTED FORNICATION WITH HER, AND THE MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH ARE WAXED RICH (or grew rich) THROUGH THE ABUNDANCE OF HER DELICACIES (or from her excessive luxuries).

    7:3-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 (or covered with blasphemous names), HAVING SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS.
    17:18-AND THE WOMAN WHICH THOU SAWEST IS THAT GREAT CITY, WHICH REIGNETH OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH.
    17:9-AND HERE IS THE MIND WHICH HATH WISDOM. THE SEVEN HEADS ARE SEVEN MOUNTAINS, ON WHICH THE WOMAN SITTETH.
    17:4-AND THE WOMAN WAS ARRAYED (or dressed) IN PURPLE AND SCARLET COLOUR, AND DECKED (or was glittering) WITH GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONES AND PEARLS, HAVING A GOLDEN CUP IN HER HAND FULL OF ABOMINATIONS (or filled with abominable things) AND FILTHINESS OF HER FORNICATION (or the filth of her adulteries).
    18:16-ALAS, ALAS, THAT GREAT CITY, THAT WAS CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, AND PURPLE, AND SCARLET, AND DECKED WITH GOLD, AND PRECIOUS STONES, AND PEARLS!
    17:5-AND UPON HER FOREHEAD WAS A NAME WRITTEN (or this title was written on her forehead-NIV), MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND (of the) ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
    17:6-AND I SAW THE WOMAN DRUNKEN WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS, AND WITH THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS OF JESUS (or with the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus-NIV): AND WHEN I SAW HER, I WONDERED WITH GREAT ADMIRATION (or I was greatly astonished).
    18:4-AND I HEARD ANOTHER VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING, COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, THAT YE BE NOT PARTAKERS (or share) OF HER SINS, AND THAT YE RECEIVE NOT OF HER PLAGUES.
    18:5-FOR HER SINS HAVE REACHED (or are piled up) UNTO HEAVEN, AND GOD HATH REMEMBERED HER INIQUITIES (or crimes).
    18:7-HOW MUCH SHE HATH GLORIFIED HERSELF, AND LIVED DELICIOUSLY(as the glory and luxury she gave herself), SO MUCH TORMENT AND SORROW (or torture and grief-NIV): GIVE HER: FOR SHE SAITH IN HER HEART, I SIT A QUEEN, AND AM NO WIDOW, AND SHALL SEE NO SORROW.
    18:17-FOR IN ONE HOUR SO GREAT RICHES (or wealth) IS COME TO NOUGHT (or has been brought to ruin). AND EVERY SHIPMASTER, AND ALL THE COMPANY IN SHIPS, AND SAILORS, AND AS MANY AS TRADE BY SEA (or all who earn their living from the sea), STOOD AFAR OFF.
    18:19-AND THEY CAST DUST ON THEIR HEADS, AND CRIED, WEEPING AND WAILING, SAYING, ALAS, ALAS, THAT GREAT CITY, WHEREIN WERE MADE RICH ALL THAT HAD SHIPS IN THE SEA BY REASON OF HER COSTLINESS! FOR IN ONE HOUR IS SHE MADE DESOLATE.
    18:20-REJOICE OVER HER, THOU HEAVEN, AND YE (saints and) HOLY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS; FOR GOD HATH AVENGED YOU ON HER (God has judged her for the way she treated you-NIV).
    18:23-FOR BY THY SORCERIES WERE ALL NATIONS DECEIVED.
    18:24-AND IN HER WAS FOUND THE BLOOD OF PROPHETS, AND OF SAINTS, AND OF ALL THAT WERE SLAIN (or killed) UPON THE EARTH.
    19:2-FOR TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS ARE HIS JUDGMENTS: FOR HE HATH JUDGED THE GREAT WHORE, WHICH DID CORRUPT THE EARTH WITH HER FORNICATION, AND HATH AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS SERVANTS AT HER HAND.
    Rev 17:1,15,2; 18:3; 17:3,18,9,4; 18:16; 17:5,6;
    Rev 18:4,5,7,17,19,20,23,24; 19:2.

The Scriptures relate to us a false religion that is referred to as the whore. This false religion shall exist during part of the Tribulation. This same religion has also existed in the past.
    The Scriptures relate to us a great city which is also called the woman. This city has also existed in the past, even before the days of the apostles.
    The Scriptures indicate to us that both this city and the false religion are interwoven. The city is part of the false religion, and the false religion is part of the city.

(Scripture with commentary)

    Rev 17:1-COME HITHER; I WILL SHEW UNTO THEE THE JUDGMENT (or punishment) OF THE GREAT WHORE (or prostitute) THAT SITTETH UPON MANY WATERS.
    This false religion is called a "great whore", because it has left the true teachings of Christ, and turned aside to many false doctrines. As a whore turns aside and goes into sin, so this religion has turned aside as an unfaithful woman or whore. The church is called to be obedient to Jesus, as a faithful wife is to her husband. In the opposite sense, this religion is pictured in the imagery of an unfaithful woman, a great whore. The verse then says THAT SITTETH UPON MANY WATERS.
    17:15-THE WATERS...WHERE THE WHORE (or prostitute) SITTETH, ARE PEOPLES, AND MULTITUDES, AND NATIONS, AND TONGUES (or languages).
    This false religion encompasses peoples, multitudes, nations, and people of different languages. This shows us that it is a worldwide, false religion, of which multitudes of people are part of.
    17:2-WITH WHOM THE KINGS OF THE EARTH HAVE COMMITTED FORNICATION (or adultery). The rulers of nations are also part of this great whore. AND THE INHABITANTS OF THE EARTH HAVE BEEN MADE DRUNK (or intoxicated) WITH THE WINE OF HER FORNICATION. People throughout the world have been deceived. They have become as a drunkard that is so intoxicated with the whore’s deceptions, that they are numb to the truth. Their mind has been taken totally captive and deceived with the whore’s adulterous doctrines, which are contrary to God. This false religion has intoxicated the world.
    18:3-FOR ALL NATIONS HAVE DRUNK OF THE WINE (or maddening wine) OF THE WRATH OF HER FORNICATION. The kings of the earth, the people of the earth, and the nations of the earth have partaken of the whore’s maddening adulterous doctrines. AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH HAVE COMMITTED FORNICATION WITH HER. The kings of the earth have become intoxicated with sin, with false teachings, with abominations, and they have committed spiritual fornication with her. Consider a person drinking. They want to drink more and more. Their senses become dulled. Sin offers pleasure, but produces death. AND THE MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH ARE WAXED RICH (or grew rich) THROUGH THE ABUNDANCE OF HER DELICACIES (or from her excessive luxuries). Here the verse switches over to the city of the great whore. The city is pictured as a trade capital with many luxuries. And as such, merchants have become rich through her. We note that the whore and the city seem to be inseparable. They blend in together, so that some of the descriptions given for one, fit the other, also.
    17:3-SO HE CARRIED ME AWAY IN THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS: AND I SAW A WOMAN SIT UPON A SCARLET COLOURED BEAST. The woman is pictured as a city in Rev 17:18. The beast is the Antichrist and his empire. This city and false religion sits on the beast, and rides the beast. It goes along with the beast, and may even try to control the beast. FULL OF NAMES OF BLASPHEMY (or covered with blasphemous names). Both the false religion and the Antichrist are full of blasphemy against God. This should be fulfilled during the Tribulation. HAVING SEVEN HEADS AND TEN HORNS. The city is shown to be full of the names of blasphemy against God. The seven heads are explained in Rev 17:9.
    17:18-AND THE WOMAN WHICH THOU SAWEST IS THAT GREAT CITY. The woman is portrayed as a great city. WHICH REIGNETH OVER THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. During at least part of the Tribulation, this city shall reign over the kings of the earth.
    17:9-AND HERE IS THE MIND WHICH HATH WISDOM. THE SEVEN HEADS ARE SEVEN MOUNTAINS, ON WHICH THE WOMAN SITTETH. The city is shown to be sitting on seven mountains or hills.
    There is a city, that is a trade capital, that does sit on seven mountains, having a worldwide religion that is part of the city itself. That city is Rome. The religion is the Roman Catholic church. (Ancient Babylon did not sit on seven hills. It was situated on a plain. Ancient Babylon does not fit many other prophecies that are yet to be covered).
    17:4-AND THE WOMAN WAS ARRAYED (or dressed) IN PURPLE AND SCARLET COLOUR, AND DECKED (or was glittering) WITH GOLD AND PRECIOUS STONES AND PEARLS. The city is portrayed in these colors and glittering. Do these previous words also fit the church at Rome? What colors have the pope and his cardinals worn in the past? These same colors have also been used in certain Roman celebrations. We have pictured here a false religion that is in Rome. It is pictured as being arrayed in beauty, glamour, and splendor which is far removed from the sackcloth that the two witnesses of God will wear during the Tribulation. The beautiful and magnificent Vatican, in the city of Rome, is very enticing, even intoxicating. The verse continues, HAVING A GOLDEN CUP IN HER HAND. The woman (the city) had in her hand a golden cup (the whore). The city and false religion are as one. We are reminded of the golden cup that the whore uses. The gold may show us it is something beautiful, something to be desired. It is something that, on the outward appearance, appears to be just, and right, and beautiful. However, on the inside of the cup, God’s Word tells us, it is FULL OF ABOMINATIONS (or filled with abominable things) AND FILTHINESS OF HER FORNICATION (or the filth of her adulteries). It is full of abominable teachings, sin, and deception. It is full of wine that intoxicates people and dulls their senses to the pure truth of God’s Word. Satan is clever. He mixes truth with deception. He mixes God’s Word with lies, and few suspect what is really happening.
    18:16-ALAS, ALAS, THAT GREAT CITY, THAT WAS CLOTHED IN FINE LINEN, AND PURPLE, AND SCARLET, AND DECKED WITH GOLD, AND PRECIOUS STONES, AND PEARLS! The word "fine linen" is added in this verse.
    17:5-AND UPON HER FOREHEAD (the forehead of the city) WAS A NAME WRITTEN (or this title was written on her forehead-NIV), MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. MYSTERY. This indicates something secretive. BABYLON. This denotes what religion this is, as well as its origin. THE GREAT. This denotes the magnitude of this false religion. THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS. Meaning the origin or source of false doctrines and religions. AND (of the) ABOMINATIONS (mother of filthiness and immorality) OF THE EARTH. This false religion is the mother of abominations. It might be noted that MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT is on her forehead, not the name of Jesus. It might be asked, "Why is Babylon written and not Rome?" This is explained a little further on in detail.
    17:6-AND I SAW THE WOMAN DRUNKEN (the word drunken indicates overindulgence) WITH THE BLOOD OF THE SAINTS, AND WITH THE BLOOD OF THE MARTYRS OF JESUS (or with…the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus-NIV). AND WHEN I SAW HER, I WONDERED WITH GREAT ADMIRATION (or I was greatly astonished). This city, Rome, was drunk with the blood of the saints. In this city, multitudes of people were killed that bore the testimony of Jesus. As the Catholic church emerged, it also was responsible for killing multitudes of the saints. It might be asked, "What religion killed the saints that dared to possess a Bible? What religion today feels that they only have the right or knowledge to interpret the Holy Scriptures? What religion today puts church tradition on an equal level with, or above the Scriptures? What religion is it that takes away the fear of hell by supplanting it with a "not so bad place" called purgatory? What religion is it that denies the finished work of Christ, inasmuch that a person must do certain works to inherit eternal life, and many other things as well?"
    We have pictured a false religion that preaches Jesus, but has killed many that followed Jesus. It is a religion that claims they are holy, but in God’s eyes they are an abomination. It is a religion that has deceived many in the past, is deceiving many today, and will continue to deceive many into the Tribulation. In like manner, during the Tribulation many will believe the Antichrist is really the true Christ, yet he is the embodiment of evil.
    It is no wonder that a religion that teaches in the name of Jesus, but is really full of false teachings and abominations, will undergo a great judgment, and so will all those who partake of her sins.
    18:4-AND I HEARD ANOTHER VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING, COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE, THAT YE BE NOT PARTAKERS (or share) OF HER SINS, AND THAT YE RECEIVE NOT OF HER PLAGUES. God is telling "His" people, to get out of this city and false religion.
    18:5-FOR HER SINS HAVE REACHED (or are piled up) UNTO HEAVEN, AND GOD HATH REMEMBERED HER INIQUITIES (or crimes).
    18:7-HOW MUCH SHE HATH GLORIFIED HERSELF The city and false religion in Rome have glorified themselves. AND LIVED DELICIOUSLY (or in luxury). The Roman false religion has also lived in luxury. SO MUCH TORMENT AND SORROW (or torture and grief) GIVE HER (as the glory and luxury she gave herself-NIV): FOR SHE SAITH IN HER HEART, I SIT A QUEEN, AND AM NO WIDOW, AND SHALL SEE NO SORROW (or I will never mourn). The Lord is telling us what the city and Catholic church say in their heart.
    18:17-FOR IN ONE HOUR SO GREAT RICHES (or wealth) IS COME TO NOUGHT (or has been brought to ruin). Again, it can be noted that the city of Rome is a city of riches. AND EVERY SHIPMASTER, AND ALL THE COMPANY IN SHIPS, AND SAILORS, AND AS MANY AS TRADE BY SEA (or all who earn their living from the sea), STOOD AFAR OFF. The woman, which is a city, is now shown to be a seaport. Again, the Scriptures are clearly showing us, that it is Rome.
    18:19-AND THEY CAST DUST ON THEIR HEADS, AND CRIED, WEEPING AND WAILING, SAYING, ALAS, ALAS, THAT GREAT CITY, WHEREIN WERE MADE RICH ALL THAT HAD SHIPS IN THE SEA BY REASON OF HER COSTLINESS (or wealth)! FOR IN ONE HOUR IS SHE MADE DESOLATE (or has been brought to ruin). During the Tribulation, both the city of Rome and the whore (the Roman Catholic church), will be destroyed in one hour.
    18:20-REJOICE OVER HER, THOU HEAVEN, AND YE (saints and) HOLY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS; FOR GOD HATH AVENGED YOU ON HER (God has judged her for the way she treated you-NIV). This clearly shows us that this is a city that existed during the days of the apostles. Where did Paul die? The answer is Rome.
    18:23-FOR BY THY SORCERIES WERE ALL NATIONS DECEIVED.
    18:24-AND IN HER WAS FOUND THE BLOOD OF PROPHETS, AND OF SAINTS, AND OF ALL THAT WERE SLAIN (or killed) UPON THE EARTH. Again, we note that multitudes were killed in this city. They include prophets and saints of Jesus Christ. Is the slaughter against Christians over? No. Much more is coming during the Tribulation.
    19:2-FOR TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS ARE HIS JUDGMENTS: FOR HE HATH JUDGED THE GREAT WHORE (the church at Rome), WHICH DID CORRUPT THE EARTH WITH HER FORNICATION, AND HATH AVENGED THE BLOOD OF HIS SERVANTS AT HER HAND.

    There are some that think the Babylon of the Old Testament will become the Babylon that appears in the Revelation. Literal Babylon was never a part of the Roman Empire.
    The great whore represents the papal system in its final glory and control of the world during the Tribulation. It can be noted in the message to the church at Thyatira, that Jezebel is also portrayed as the Roman church. God gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not. This portrays that the false religion, that is, the great whore, will continue in her ways until the end, when she is destroyed. She will be cast into great tribulation, and all her followers, except they repent. As has been noted, God’s people are told to come out of her.
    It might be said that the Roman false religion will grow even larger once the Rapture has happened, but it will be short lived.

    Rome was founded approximately 753 B.C.

THE GREAT WHORE, THE FALSE RELIGION

(With Scripture references)

• The great whore. Her teachings have left the truth and turned to many false doctrines
• She has many people-Rev 17:1,15
• She has many nations-Rev 17:1,15
• She is a worldwide religion-Rev 17:1,15
• She has people from many languages-Rev 17:1,15
• Her name is written upon the forehead of the city of Rome-Rev 17:5
• Her name is:
      Mystery-Rev 17:5
• Babylon the Great-Rev 17:5
      The Mother of Harlots-Rev 17:5
      And Abominations of the Earth-Rev 17:5
• The kings of the earth are also a part-Rev 17:2
• Kings have committed fornication with her-Rev 17:2
• She has corrupted the earth with her fornication-Rev 19:2
• The inhabitants of the earth have become intoxicated with her false teachings-Rev 17:2
• She has been responsible for killing God's servants-Rev 19:2

THE WOMAN, THE CITY OF ROME

• The great whore is part of a great city (Rome)-Rev 17:5,18
• The city sits on 7 mountains or hills-Rev 17:9
• The city has a golden cup in her hand-Rev 17:4
  Note the golden cup of the Catholic church
  In the cup:
      Abominations
      Fornication
• The city of Rome, drunken with the blood of the saints-Rev 17:6; 18:24
• Apostles were killed in her-Rev 18:10
• Prophets were killed in her-Rev 18:20,24
• A trade capital-Rev 18:3,15
• Her sins have reached to heaven-Rev 18:5
• She is not far from the sea-Rev 18:17

    Every single one of these fits the Roman Catholic church perfectly. The Roman Catholic church and the city of Rome are as one. The Roman Catholic church is the great whore. It is the modern-day extension of Mystery, Babylon the Great. It is the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth. And it is also true that many will refuse to believe this.

WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE GREAT WHORE (MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT?)

Article by Rev. Clarence Larkin as it appears in the Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy, used with permission.
No part of this article may be copied.  It is protected by copyright.

    In his book, DISPENSATIONAL TRUTH, the late Rev. Clarence Larkin includes the following interesting details of Mystery, Babylon.
    Babel, or Babylon, was built by Nimrod-ref Gen 10:8-10. It was the seat of the first great apostasy. Here the "Babylonian cult" was invented, a system claiming to possess the highest wisdom and to reveal the divinest secrets. Before a member could be initiated he had to "confess" to the priest. The priest then had him in his power. This is the secret of the power of the priests of the Roman Catholic Church today.
    Once admitted into this order, men were no longer Babylonians, Assyrians, or Egyptians, but members of a Mystical Brotherhood over whom was placed a Pontiff or "High Priest," whose word was law. The city of Babylon continued to be the seat of Satan until the fall of the Babylonian and Medo-Persian Empires, when he shifted his capital to Pergamos in Asia Minor, where it was in John’s day-ref Rev 2:12,13.
    When Attalus, the Pontiff and King of Pergamos died, in B.C. 133, he bequeathed the headship of the "Babylonian Priesthood" to Rome. When the Etruscans came to Italy from Lydia, (the region of Pergamos), they brought with them the Babylonian religion and rites. They set up a Pontiff who was head of the priesthood. Later the Romans accepted this Pontiff as their civil ruler. Julius Caesar was made Pontiff of the Etruscan Order in B.C. 74. In B.C. 63, he was made "Supreme Pontiff" of the "Babylonian Order," thus becoming heir to the rights and title of Attalus, Pontiff of Pergamos, who made Rome his heir by will. Thus the first Roman Emperor became the head of the "Babylonian Priesthood," and Rome the successor of Babylon. The Emperors of Rome continued to exercise the office of "Supreme Pontiff" until A.D. 376, when Emperor Gratian, for Christian reasons, refused it. The Bishop of the Church at Rome, Damasus, was elected to the position. He had been Bishop twelve years, having been made Bishop in A.D. 366 through the influence of the monks of Mt. Carmel, a college of Babylonian religion originally founded by the priests of Jezebel.
    So in A.D. 378 the head of the "Babylonian Order" became the ruler of the "Roman Church." Thus Satan united Rome and Babylon in one religious system.
    Soon after Damasus was made "Supreme Pontiff," the "rites" of Babylon began to come to the front. The worship of the Virgin Mary was set up in A.D. 381. All outstanding festivals of the Roman Catholic Church are of Babylonian origin. Easter is not a Christian name (in the sense that it is used today). It means "Ishtar", one of the titles of the Babylonian Queen of Heaven, whose worship by the children of Israel was such an abomination in the sight of God. The decree for the observance of Easter and Lent was given in A.D. 519. (Note-the day that is called Easter, should actually be called the "Feast of First Fruits"-ref Lev 23:9-15. Jesus became the first fruits of them that sleep in the earth. He rose from the dead.)
    The "Rosary" is of pagan origin. There is no warrant in the Word of God for the use of the "sign of the cross". It had its origin in the mystic "Tau" of the Chaldeans and Egyptians. It came from the letter "T," the initial name of Tammuz. It was used in the "Babylonian Mysteries" for the same magic purposes as the Roman Church now employs it. Celibacy, the Tonsure, and the Order of Monks and Nuns, have no warrant or authority from Scripture. The Nuns are nothing more than an imitation of the "Vestal Virgins" (a virgin priestess of the Roman goddess Vesta) of pagan Rome.

    A.D.
    607 Boniface III made first Pope
    709 Kissing the Pope’s foot
    786 Worshipping images and relics
    850 Use of "holy water" begun
    995 Canonization of dead saints
    998 Fasting on Fridays and during Lent
  1079 Celibacy of the priesthood
  1090 Prayer beads
  1184 The Inquisition
  1190 Sale of Indulgences
  1215 Transubstantiation (The conversion of the substance of the Eucharistic elements into that of Christ’s body and blood; a  
         doctrine of the Greek and Roman churches. A change of anything into something essentially different)
  1220 Adoration of the wafer (Host) (the worshipping of a piece of bread that one has become convinced is the Lord Jesus
         Christ)
  1229 Bible forbidden to laymen
  1414 Cup forbidden to people at communion
  1439 Doctrine of purgatory decreed
  1439 Doctrine of the Seven Sacraments affirmed
  1508 The Ave Maria approved
  1534 Jesuit Order founded
  1545 Tradition granted equal authority with the Bible
  1854 Immaculate Conception of Mary
  1864 Syllabus of Errors proclaimed
  1870 INFALLIBILITY OF THE POPE DECLARED
  1950 Assumption of the Virgin Mary (the belief that the Virgin Mary ascended bodily into heaven without dying)
  1965 Mary proclaimed "Mother of the Church"

    Since the above, changes and additions have been made as substantiated by history.
    The Bible does not change. JESUS CHRIST THE SAME YESTERDAY, AND TODAY, AND FOR EVER-Heb 13:8. Nevertheless, throughout history the Roman Catholic Church and its doctrines have continued to change and can be expected to continue to change.

THE CONTINUAL SACRIFICE—ROME’S GREATEST HERESY

    "Thyatira" comes from two words meaning "sacrifice" and "continual". This introduces the central heresy that has produced other false doctrines. That is, the church of Rome denies the finished work of Christ, but instead believes in a continuing sacrifice which produces such things as sacraments and praying for the dead, burning candles, etc. All heresy falls into one of two basic categories: a false concept of the personal deity of Christ or mixing works with faith. The church of Rome can scarcely be accused of teaching a false concept of the personal deity of Christ; however, their emphasis on the "continual sacrifice" and rejection of our Lord’s finished work breeds a concept that causes man to go astray.
    The ironic tragedy is that, in spite of the above facts, many people throughout the world believe this assertion.

BABYLONIAN CULT—ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    Legend tell us that Nimrod had a wife, and it was she that founded the Babylonian mysteries. Supposedly, she had a son born miraculously. This son was named Tammuz. This son was a counterfeit fulfillment of the prophecy of the seed of the woman that was spoken unto the serpent (Satan)-ref Gen 3:15.
    Certain religious practices that were a part of this cult have now found their way into the Roman Catholic Church. Some include recognizing both mother and child as God, and instituting an order of virgins.
    Legend tells us that Tammuz was killed by some animal, but then came back to life. This religion is an abomination to God.
    It is written, THEN HE BROUGHT ME TO THE DOOR OF THE GATE OF THE LORD’S HOUSE WHICH WAS TOWARD THE NORTH; AND, BEHOLD, THERE SAT WOMEN WEEPING FOR TAMMUZ. THEN SAID HE UNTO ME, HAST THOU SEEN THIS, O SON OF MAN? TURN THEE YET AGAIN, AND THOU SHALT SEE GREATER ABOMINATIONS THAN THESE-Ezek 8:14,15.
    THE CHILDREN GATHER WOOD, AND THE FATHERS KINDLE THE FIRE, AND THE WOMEN KNEAD THEIR DOUGH, TO MAKE CAKES TO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, AND TO POUR OUT DRINK OFFERINGS UNTO OTHER GODS, THAT THEY MAY PROVOKE ME TO ANGER-Jere 7:18. BUT WE WILL CERTAINLY DO WHATSOEVER THING GOETH FORTH OUT OF OUR OWN MOUTH, TO BURN INCENSE UNTO THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN, AND TO POUR OUT DRINK OFFERINGS UNTO HER, AS WE HAVE DONE, WE, AND OUR FATHERS, OUR KINGS, AND OUR PRINCES, IN THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AND IN THE STREETS OF JERUSALEM...THEN JEREMIAH SAID...THE LORD COULD NO LONGER BEAR, BECAUSE OF THE EVIL OF YOUR DOINGS, AND BECAUSE OF THE ABOMINATIONS WHICH YE HAVE COMMITTED; THEREFORE IS YOUR LAND A DESOLATION, AND AN ASTONISHMENT, AND A CURSE, WITHOUT AN INHABITANT, AS AT THIS DAY. BECAUSE YE HAVE BURNED INCENSE, AND BECAUSE YE HAVE SINNED AGAINST THE LORD...BEHOLD, I HAVE SWORN BY MY GREAT NAME, SAITH THE LORD, THAT MY NAME SHALL NO MORE BE NAMED IN THE MOUTH OF ANY MAN OF JUDAH IN ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT…BEHOLD, I WILL WATCH OVER THEM FOR EVIL-Jere 45:17,20,22,23,26,27.

Yes—A worldwide religion-Rev 17:5
Yes—has many people-Rev 17:5
Yes—many people from nations all over the world follow this religion-Rev 17:15
Yes—people of many languages follow this religion-Rev 17:15
Yes—is part of a great city-Rev 17:5
Yes—has inherited the rites of the old Babylonian cult-Rev 17:5
Yes—is the Mother of Harlots-Rev 17:5
Yes—abominations of the earth-Rev 17:5. Much of her teaching is very contrary to God's Word
Yes—kings of the earth are allied with her-Rev 17:2
Yes—Kings allied with her have committed biblical fornication against God-Rev 17:2
Yes—did corrupt the earth with her fornication-Rev 19:2
Yes—has been responsible for the blood of the saints-Rev 19:2. The Roman Catholic church has admitted this.
 There is no church or religion in the world that fits every single one of God's biblical descriptions except the Roman Catholic Church. As seen clearly in Rev 17:5, this worldwide religion is closely integrated into or part of some great city. Next, we need to see if the description of the city fits Rome.

DO THE PROPHECIES OF THE WOMAN, BABYLON, FIT ROME?
DO THEY FIT OLD BABYLON ON THE EUPHRATES?

    (Note: Regarding Old Babylon, it may be very difficult for a ship to travel about 250 miles against the current of the Euphrates River. Approaching the end of the Tribulation, the Euphrates will be dried up. It would be impossible for the ships to stand afar off and watch her burning. Also to be considered, will anything of either Iraq or Iran remain after what we call WW3?)
    Yes, every prophecy fits Rome. Yes, every prophecy fits the Roman Catholic church. No other city in the world fits every single prophecy. No other city in the world has a worldwide religion fitting every prophecy in these verses that is so closely linked with a city also fitting every prophecy.
    Several of the prophecies could not fit a rebuilt Babylon where it once was. In addition, it is written of old Babylon, IT SHALL NEVER BE INHABITED, NEITHER SHALL IT BE DWELT IN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION...WILD BEASTS OF THE DESERT SHALL LIE THERE; AND THEIR HOUSES SHALL BE FULL OF DOLEFUL CREATURES; AND OWLS SHALL DWELL THERE, AND SATYRS SHALL DANCE THERE-Isa 13;20,21.

    The Word of God has been clearly presented. Should a person refuse to believe God's Word, little else can be said or done. It is in the hands of the Lord. Our heart determines whether we will believe the voice of truth from God's Word or the voice of deceit in our thoughts and emotions. The voice of deceit, which argues with God's Word, is from the devil. It is the same voice that Eve heard and followed. She ultimately perished.

CONCLUSION

    The "great whore," which is the Roman Catholic Church, is shown to be a false religion during the first part of the Tribulation. It will encompass the entire world, including many nations, multitudes of people, many languages, and the kings of the earth. It’s followers do not get raptured.
    The Bible never calls it a church, but uses several other names including "the great whore." The name of the false religion, and some of the prophecies, indicate that it is not a new religion, but has been around a long time. The prophecies also depict this false religion as being interwoven with a major, industrialized city: a trading center not far from the sea, which sits on seven hills and dates back to the time before the apostles.
    Spiritually, the great prostitute-ref Rev 17:1 NIV, is described as having a golden cup. Every Roman Catholic should be familiar with this cup. The Bible portrays this cup as being full of abominations. Consider a golden cup. On the outside, it is beautiful and glamorous. It seems to illustrate something pure and elegant. The outside of the cup seems to reflect godliness and spirituality. However, this golden cup of the Catholic Church, which is being held in the hand of the city of Rome, is not beautiful on the inside. It is full of death and poison. It is FULL OF ABOMINATIONS (or abominable things). The world will accept the golden cup as beautiful and true-ref Rev 17:4,2. However, God shows it is full of abominations and obscene and filthy things. Note, its biblical name, AND UPON HER FOREHEAD WAS A NAME WRITTEN, (a) MYSTERY (or with a hidden meaning), BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS (or prostitutes, or whores) AND (of the) ABOMINATIONS (or obscenities) OF THE EARTH-Rev 17:5.
    The Roman Catholic Church is portrayed as a whore and a fornicator against Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Bridegroom. Those that belong to Jesus are the bride. The saints of God represent a woman or female. As the wife is to be obedient to her husband, so the church is to be obedient to Jesus. The man is the head of the woman. Jesus is the head of the church.
    Those in league with this great false religion are referred to as fornicators or adulterers, as they have chosen to follow a false religion of deceit rather than Jesus and the truth. They follow a religion that uses the name of Jesus, but is a deception that has been responsible for killing multitudes of the true followers of Jesus. They are committing "fornication" or spiritual whoredom against Jesus—the true Bridegroom. God’s opinion of this great false religion can be seen in the names He uses to describe it. It is a GREAT WHORE or prostitute. Her sins have reached unto heaven.
    Once the Rapture of the true church has taken place, the Scriptures seem to indicate that various religious institutions of the world, including the World Council of Churches, various cults, different denominations, and many others that are left behind, may also become part of the great whore.
    Once the true church of Jesus has been taken out of the way, the Roman Catholic Church will experience, what we may call, "a revival." As best as can be determined, the religious institutions and people of the world will unite under the umbrella of this "great whore." They will partake of her false and alluring doctrines, which are descended from Babylon. Many kings of the earth will reject Jesus in favor of the "great whore." Their minds will be taken captive with the whore's deceptive doctrines. The leaders of many nations become allied with this great false religion, the Roman Catholic Church. They will support her and commit spiritual fornication with her.
    The Roman Catholic Church corrupts the earth with its false teachings and enticing ways.

    The Babylonian cult religion became a foundation for the Roman Catholic Church, which inherited the rites of the old Babylonian cult. It may be said that one could take a golden cup and pour in the teachings of the Babylonian cult. Add to this a distorted understanding of the Bible and some other books related to the Bible. Finally, pour in the results of the many councils the Roman Catholic Church has had, in which they have added other things to their teachings. What emerges is a religion that uses some of the Bible without correct understanding, mixed with many other doctrines that directly contradict God’s Word and deceive multitudes of people. This package of deception and abominations, which is called "Christian," is clothed in beauty (represented by the golden cup). Next clothe the priests and others with fine clothing; add beautiful music; majestic cathedrals; and magnificent, well-planned rituals, pomp and majesty; and you have the Roman Catholic Church. Then add to all this the word "holy." Call it the "Holy" Roman Catholic Church. Then lie and deceive people by telling them that the Pope is God’s representative upon the earth, is descended from Peter in his calling of God, and is infallible. The end result is what God refers to as the "Great Whore." Many are deceived and will perish to hell, yet are positive that it is really God’s ordained church.
    Neither do they think they will go to hell, because they believe a lie, which the Roman Catholic Church fabricated, called "purgatory."
    This name, "Mystery, Babylon the Great," does clearly denote the Roman Catholic Church.
    It is written, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS (or prostitutes, or whores) AND (of the) ABOMINATIONS (or obscenities) OF THE EARTH-Rev 17:5. This great false religion has a biblical name. That name is, in part, "The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth."
    The second part of the name that God gives to the Roman Catholic Church is staggering. This church is called "The Mother of Harlots" (or prostitutes, or whores). It is "the great whore," "the mother" of all those that malign God’s Word, who deceive people by distorting God’s Word and, thus, lead them astray. As a harlot or prostitute seduces a person into spiritual death, so this church is portrayed as the mother of all cults and false, deceptive teachings. This Babylonian cult is now manifested and handed down by the Roman Catholic Church. This false religion is the mother of abominations of the earth. Many people consider this great false religion as true; yet God describes it as the mother of whores and abominations.

ONCE MORE THE FOLLOWING NEEDS TO BE SAID.

    The Word of God has been clearly presented. Should a person refuse to believe God's Word, little else can be said or done. It is in the hands of the Lord. Our heart determines whether we will believe the voice of truth from God's Word or the voice of deceit in our thoughts and emotions. The voice of deceit, which argues with God's Word, is from the devil. It is the same voice that Eve heard and followed. She ultimately perished. It is the same voice that Adam heard when he listen to Eve and then sinned. He also ultimately perished.

    This is written in the fear of the Lord and in great love. John 3:16-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. A person must come to God—God’s way.