Mystery Babylon - part 1
Revelation 17

"Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” - Revelation 17:1, 2

The ‘great harlot’ has been around a long time because the earth has a history of about 6000 years and the kings and people were committing fornication with her during this time. Fornication can be physical or spiritual and it means unlawful relations. Spiritual fornication is usually in areas of worship, idolatry, etc. The root cause is usually rebellion and selfishness.

She is seen throughout the Bible narrative. The first is in the story of Cain and Abel. Cain had a “I did my way” philosophy and he wanted to worship God his way instead the way God had prescribed. The Harlot is the false church, often using the same practices and even the same words as the true church, but with a different spirit behind them.

Another example is the ‘golden calf’ made by Aaron. They called it Jehovah and Elohim just like the true God, but it was an idol. God had set down three feasts (feasts of the Lord) they were to keep yearly: Unleavened Bread, First fruits, and In-gathering (Pentecost or Weeks) – Exodus 23:14-16. They were His Appointed times to meet with the people. But shortly after God gave these directions to Moses (Exodus 32:5), we see Aaron and the people making their own god (a golden calf) and appointing their own feast to meet with their god. “And Aaron made a proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord (Jehovah).” 

The false church has no real "fear of God" and obeys only those rules which please her. Their Bible is one of convenience and while the Harlot may give 'lip-service' to the teaching of God, she only keeps those that are convenient to her.

In following posts I will explain more about the Great Whore and how to recognize her.