Friday, July 5 I was greatly amazed.​—Rev. 17:6.

[Áine]

Friday, July 5

I was greatly amazed.—Rev. 17:6.

 

What amazed the apostle John? A woman riding a scarlet-colored wild beast. She is portrayed as a “great prostitute” and is called “Babylon the Great.” She commits “sexual immorality” with “the kings of the earth.” (Rev. 17:1-5) Who is “Babylon the Great”? This woman cannot represent a political organization because she is spoken of as committing immorality with the world’s political leaders. (Rev. 18:9) In fact, she endeavors to control these rulers, symbolically riding them. Additionally, she cannot represent the greedy commercial elements of Satan’s world. These are portrayed separately as “the merchants of the earth.” (Rev. 18:11, 15, 16) Ancient Babylon was a center of false worship. So, then, Babylon the Great must represent all forms of false worship. In fact, she is the world empire of false religion.—Rev. 17:5, 18. w22.05 11 ¶14-16