I always wonder who this evil creature refers to, the full title being "Babylon the Great, the Mother of Prostitutes and Abominations of the Earth."
I've always thought it to be the Pagan roman empire which persecuted Christians at that time, is that correct?
I grew up with the teaching that it was Rome, but after living in Manama, Bahrain, I believe it's Saudi Arabia (or even a future rebuild of the old city of Babylon). I say this because of what one sees in Arabia, it's just like this:
Revelation 18:11-19 (KJV)
And the
merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What [city is] like unto this great city! 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.
Google "Gold Souq" images and you'll see how opulent they are. They only sell 18-24k gold by law! Their malls are all marble and wonderfully beautiful inlaid wood with gold or mother of pearl trim. In fact the bathroom at the Bahraini airport was more lavish than some of the best European hotel rooms. Their gems and pearls are the best in the world and dirt cheap. In fact people here in Belgium go there to buy Belgium diamonds because they're so much cheaper! They are filthy rich yet they build everything on the slaves from India to Bangladesh (because the labor force is paid a dollar or two a day for 14-hours work, no AC in 140 degree weather and living in shanty towns). In fact Bahrain is one of the last places on earth you can still get natural pearls - not cultured, and Bahrain is only 25k from Saudi Arabia.
Back to the word of God...
Revelation 17:1-2 (KJV)
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
So here we have governments "fornicating" with this whore as well as the inhabitants of the earth being drunk with the "wine" of her fornication... notice in chapter 18 how the merchants, ships and their trade by sea were horrified as the black smoke. The biggest ship type in the world are oil tankers - "drunk with the wine". The world may seem to run on money, but it's Saudi oil that keeps it all flowing - pun intended. Remember when Kuwait was on fire and how the black smoke from the oil fields that burned? The
merchants of the world wouldn't cry over Rome being destroyed, but if Saudi Arabia's oil was gone, yea, that would cause great anguish.
Just my thoughts...from experience...