Last updated on August 3, 2025
The Harlot of the Book of Revelation is one of the most vivid and alarming symbols in biblical prophecy. Identified as “Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth” (Revelation 17:5), she symbolizes the spirit of unfaithfulness, rebellion, immorality and deception that will dominate the world in the last days. Her image serves as both a warning and a call for believers to discern the times and remain faithful to God amidst widespread spiritual deception.
Characteristics of the Harlot
The Book of Revelation provides striking imagery that reveals the Harlot’s true nature. She is described as being “dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold and precious stones, and holding a golden cup filled with abominations“ (Revelation 17:4). Her outward expression of wealth, power and pride embodies the dark world but conceals her inner corruption, which is filled with spiritual filth and rebellion against God.
Dwelling Place Of Demons
Moreover, Revelation 18:2 exposes her ultimate identity and destiny: “And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, ‘Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird!’” This verse reveals that the Harlot is not just a corrupt system but a spiritual stronghold inhabited by demonic forces. Her allure is powered by the influence of unclean spirits, making her a gateway for deception, oppression and spiritual bondage across the earth.
Persecutes The Saints
Another defining trait of the Harlot is her ruthless hatred toward true believers. Revelation 17:6 states that she is “drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus,” portraying her relentless pursuit of those who remain faithful to Christ. This powerful imagery reveals her unquenchable desire to oppress the innocent and faithful, seeking to silence their witness and destroy their testimony about the Son of God.
Responsible For All Who Had Been Slain
Revelation 18:24 exposes one of the most chilling aspects of Babylon’s character: “And there was found in her the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who had been slain on the earth.” This verse reveals that Babylon—the Harlot—bears the guilt of shedding innocent blood throughout history. Her influence has fueled the persecution, suffering, oppression and death of God’s prophets and saints, as well as countless innocent souls. She represents not just a single system or empire but the collective spirit of deception, rebellion and hatred against God that has operated in people’s hearts and through kingdoms, false religions, and corrupt powers across every generation. Her crimes are not hidden; they rise as a testimony against her, calling for God’s final judgment. This verse underscores the reality that the spirit of Babylon is fundamentally murderous, seeking to destroy anything that aligns with God’s purposes, and it will be held accountable for all the bloodshed it has caused.
The Offspring of the Harlot
The Harlot stands in direct contrast to Mount Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, who is portrayed as the faithful bride of Christ and the spiritual mother of all true believers—the Saints. While Mount Zion nurtures the children of God in righteousness and truth, the Harlot births spiritual corruption and leads countless souls into darkness and spiritual death. Those who yield to her seduction are called her offspring, described in Scripture as children of spiritual adultery and rebellion. Isaiah 57:3–4 declares, “But come here, you sons of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute! At whom do you mock? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, offspring of deceit?” This sobering passage reflects the condition of all who follow the Harlot’s path. They become offspring of deceit because they reject the truth of God, embrace deception, idolatry, false worship and form unholy spiritual alliances that ultimately corrupt and defile their faith.
Isaiah further exposes their practices: “You burn with lust among the oaks, under every luxuriant tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks” (Isaiah 57:5). This description highlights the spiritual and moral depravity of those who give themselves to the Harlot’s system, even to the point of sacrificing their own children—both physically in ancient times and spiritually today by sacrificing their children to demonic spirits. Their faith is rooted not in the living God but in deception, rebellion and the lusts of the flesh.
The Harlot’s offspring are those who “make their bed on high and lofty hills” (Isaiah 57:7), meaning they exalt themselves through pride and worldly achievements while forsaking the true God. They form alliances with spiritual darkness, much like those who “went to Molech with oil and multiplied perfumes” (Isaiah 57:9). These people trust in the deceptive power of darkness and lawlessness, yet God warns that their idols will fail them: “When you cry out, let your companies of idols deliver you! Yet the wind will carry off all of them, a breath will take them away” (Isaiah 57:13).
The Harlot’s Voice in Today’s World
The spirit of the Harlot is already at work in modern systems that replace the worship of the true God with human ideologies, material wealth, and spiritual compromise. Her deception is subtle and spiritual in nature, often blending religious traditions with worldly philosophies to create a counterfeit spirituality that appears righteous but leads to destruction.
In these last days, Babylon will manifest itself in two distinct theocratic systems, both embodying the spirits of harlotry and rebellion. These are the one-world religion, which unites false faiths under a deceptive banner of unity, and the “Little Horn” religion, which rises with deceptive power to oppose the true kingdom of God.
Come Out Of Her My People!
Babylon’s influence is not just political but deeply spiritual. Through her enticing appearance, she lures people into idolatry, materialism, and moral compromise. The Scripture warns that she will intoxicate “the inhabitants of the earth with the wine of her fornication” (Revelation 17:2), meaning that her deceptive teachings and corrupt practices will dull spiritual discernment and lead many away from the truth.
Believers are called to remain alert and spiritually discerning. The voice from heaven in Revelation 18:4 urges, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.” This is a clear call for God’s people to separate themselves from her influence, rejecting her seductive promises and standing firm in their allegiance to Christ.
Conclusion: A Call to Spiritual Vigilance
The Harlot of Revelation represents more than just a symbol of ancient Babylon; she embodies the ongoing spiritual rebellion against God that will culminate in the last days where she will express herself outwardly as two distinct theocracies. Her rise is a warning that deception will increase, and only those rooted in the Word of God will withstand her allure. As believers, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, walk in the truth of His Word, and resist the seductive systems that seek to draw our hearts away from Him.
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