Ancient records indicate that Nimrod had a wife named
Semiramis who was the founder and first high priestess of
the Babylonian mystery religion. She gave birth to a son
named Tammuz, whom she claimed was conceived miraculously.
This son was considered savior of his people and in effect
was the first false Messiah, a counterfeit of Genesis 3:15
and God’s promise of a Savior. It is alleged the son was
killed by a wild beast, but brought back to life.
The religious system of Semiramis had many secret rites.
These were called mysteries into which new members had to be
initiated; they were given a cup containing a mysterious
drink made of wine, honey, water and flour. This represented
the doctrines of the cult, but these also made the
participant intoxicated and prepared for what the
participant was about to see, hear and do. These rites
involved consecrated male and female prostitutes and the
most sordid sexual immorality carried out in connection with
its idolatrous worship, as well as the worship of the
mother, who was called “the queen of heaven,” and the child.
While the rites varied, and the idol images often varied
from country to country as the cult spread from one location
to another, they all contained one central feature, the
worship of the goddess mother and her child. Often the names
changed, but no matter where you went, pictures and images
of a mother with a child in her arms were found. This is the
reason she is called “Mother of Harlots” (Revelation 17:5).
This system spread to Greece, Egypt, Italy, Phoenicia,
Israel, India, Asia Minor and Europe. Canaan was full of
this iniquity and is one of the reasons God commanded Israel
to destroy its inhabitants. Their failure to do so led to
Israel’s downfall and involvement in the worship of the gods
of her neighbors.
The beast that carries the woman is the same beast John saw
coming up from the sea (Revelation 13:1). As described in
Revelation 13, “filled with names of blasphemy,” refers to
the anti-god character of this empire, kingdom.
“Clothed in purple and scarlet and adorned with gold,
precious stones and pearls,” purple and scarlet represent
royalty and wealth. In part, they stand for her political
power, and in part, they point to her religious pomp and
trappings. The “gold, precious stones and pearls” refer to
her immense wealth. “Having a golden cup” refers to her
enticing manner of alluring men and nations.She invites men
to drink of her deadly and stupefying wine by offering it in
a golden cup, while arrayed in all her splendor.
“Abominations and unclean things” refer to the various forms
of idolatry involved in the worship of God through images,
medals, etc. “Unclean things” refers to the nature of the
doctrines taught, and what they lead to, immorality and
impurity. Man’s religion offers no solution to the flesh. It
is the flesh seeking to overcome the flesh and it profits
nothing (John 6:63; Colossians 2:20-23). “And on her
forehead was written,” the practice of harlots in ancient
times was to write their names on their foreheads for easy
recognition, which showed the shamelessness of their
character. It revealed a seared conscience from continual
rejection of God’s truth. “Mystery” here is not a part of
the name but a revealing of something that will occur in the
future and not revealed in the Old Testament.
“The mother of harlots and of the abominations of the
earth,” points to the source. Besides the concept of the
origin or source of all spiritual idolatry and false
religions, the word “mother” indicates the position the
harlot will play in the final days. She will gather all the
forms of false religions under her wings for the one great
worldwide harlot system.
“And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints” is
a reference to the rampant martyrdom of the children of God.
John tells us, “And when I saw her I wondered greatly,” and
the angel said to John. “Why do you wonder,” and the angel
promises to tell John about the mystery, the secret
concerning the woman and the beast. By the angel’s question
and description of the woman, however, he shows we should
not marvel at the woman who appears in such pompous and
religious attire yet is so satanic and thereby destructive
and deceptive.
