Abominations and Filth

Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman … dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This title was written on her forehead: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES, AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. (Revelation 17:3-7, NIV 1984).

My Musings – Purple and scarlet garments required expensive dyes and were thus worn only by the wealthy, such as queens like Jezebel, or by well-to-do prostitutes, who used such attire to attract attention.

In her hand the woman held a golden cup filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. This likely confirms that her character and life are symbolic of false religion, religious practices or doctrines.

Mystery – It was common for Roman prostitutes to wear headbands bearing their name. This causes some to contend that “mystery” is part of the woman’s name, while others believe that it should be interpreted symbolically. Mystery implies a spiritual fact that was previously hidden, was incapable of discovery by mere reason, that is now being revealed.  Here it is the name Babylon that is the likely mystery – one with a hidden meaning which requires interpretation.

Babylon – Since the earliest pages of the Scriptures, Babylon has played a prominent, albeit less than stellar role on history’s stage. The book of Genesis describes the people building a tower at Babel to reestablish a basis for unity after the flood. The name Babel means the gate of God, and the infamous tower of Babel was mankind’s idolatrous attempt to defy God and build their own gateway to the heavens. The Lord sent judgment on the builders by confounding the single shared language of man into many. “That is why it was called Babel—because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world.” (Genesis 11:9, NIV 1984). The word ” babel” came to mean confusion, which could be where we get the English word babble.

Later in history, Babylon became a great empire before finally falling to Media-Persia.  In the Old Testament Babylon came to symbolize a godless political and economic power. God’s people have always been warned to flee from “Babylon.” “Flee out of Babylon; leave the land of the Babylonians and be like the goats that lead the flock. For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an alliance of great nations from the land of the north.” (Jeremiah 50:8–9, NIV 1984). But from its beginnings in Genesis, and even after the fall of Babylon to Media-Persia, an insidious anti-God “Babylonian” influence has been felt throughout history, in various other empires.

In the New Testament, Babylon signifies the world and its forces in opposition to God. It is often contrasted with the New Jerusalem, in which God will finally reign supreme.

Mother of Harlots – The woman is identified not only as “the great harlot,” but as “the mother of harlots” as well. The Babylonian system has, in one way or another, given birth to all false religions, seducing men into opposing God and persecuting His servants.

Abominations of the Earth – The Hebrew word for abomination means something (acts, objects, or images) that is vile and detestable in the eyes of God. The word was used to describe the idolatrous practices of the pagans, as well as the horrible things God’s rebellious people would do.  Following are some examples of abominations that are mentioned in scripture.

My Advice – We should not be astonished at the decline in the ways of the world. Nor should we be surprised if the world hates us for not participating in that decline. “If [we] belonged to the world, it would love [us] as its own. As it is, [we] do not belong to the world, but [Jesus has] chosen [us] out of the world. That is why the world hates [us].” (John 15:18–19, NIV 1984). But if the world has seduced and intoxicated you with its pleasures and excesses, you should “flee out of Babylon.”

Sources:

Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Re 17:4). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Walvoord, J. F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 970). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Re 17:5). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

Vincent, M. R. (1887). Word studies in the New Testament (Vol. 2, p. 544). New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 590). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 612). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Richards, L., & Richards, L. O. (1987). The teacher’s commentary (p. 1082). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.

Carpenter, E. E., & Comfort, P. W. (2000). In Holman treasury of key Bible words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew words defined and explained (p. 3). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Willmington, H. L. (1987). Willmington’s book of Bible lists (p. 15). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.