The Great Whore

As we are reading from the Apocalypse (ch 17 now) in Morning Prayer, each day is a tantalizing bit of mysterious imagery full of all manner of possible meaning. As we are in a rather difficult time globally and the Israel situation with Iran is never far from our awareness curious people will ask me from time to time, "Do you think this is it?" I am too much a student of history and too impressed by how bad it has been at other times and in other places to think anything today is different in degree (much less kind). In fact, in many ways, even with all the troubles, life is safer and easier than it has ever been.

The Great Whore is on a scarlett beast. She is later called "Babylon the great, the mother of whores." Now anyone who studies the Book of Revelation in any depth finds out quickly that there are a half dozen approaches to the text, each with its advocates. I am pretty clear it is best understood symbolically (and that is why every theory of exactly what it means makes sense, it is intended to fit into various times and places because that is what it is!) The reference to "seven hills" is clearly Rome. [Which is why reformers were so quickly able to make the connection between the Roman Catholic Church and the anti-Christ] [Which is think is inaccurate, wrong, and a huge problem to this day, in case you wondered...]

I believe the writing is overtly symbolic and general. The ancient author employed the name "Babylon" because it came from the time of the Jewish Exile in the 6th Century before Christ. So Babylon was a code word for earthly kingdoms set against God's Kingdom. Clearly, in the 1st Century AD, the church would have seen Rome as embodying the same place in opposition to God. Also, hills (or mountains, an alternate translation, can mean empires) is a symbolic word. It is probably best to see the Whore as the principle of seduction at work at all times and places. It is the principle used by the Institutional Powers (in our age Nation States, in ancient times Empires and Kingdoms). Today the referent could be Russia, Islam, and the USA (none of which is God's Kingdom and all of which are Institutions governing on the earth)

An in depth analysis is not possible (read Stephen S. Smalley for the absolute best commentary on Revelation) but a few points are. The Kingdom of God is under constant attack. The images of "fornication" and "intoxication" are not literal. In other words, they are not about drinking and sex. They are about something wider and more subtle. The infidelity to God which comes from being seduced by all the pleasures of the earth (which, by the way, include sex and booze, but also all the other trinkets of consumerism). The "political" powers at work on the planet use such things to distract folks from the One Who Rules to those who rule among us. And that is the point. Traditional values like independence and hardwork and thrift are important for citizens, and I prefer them. But the seductive power of the Whore is she sates our appetites (whether we earn the money on our own or not). And our appetites are the road to perdition (whether we drive a welfare van on someone else's nickle or tool along in our paid-for-in-cash Lexus). It is easy for me to see how God's Judgment (which is what chapter 17 is all about) would be appropriate on a nation where there is so much pornography, living outside of marriage, alternative sexual couplings and, worst of all, wholesale murder of unborn babies. And conservatives are right to prophetically condemn such things. BUT, and I repeat, BUT... The concerns of chapter 17 are in a different direction. It condemns injustice and ostentatious consumption. It concerns hard working folks who spend themselves pursuing the dream of their culture (rather than the Kingdom of God). It is about people who would cut off welfare checks while pontificating on the sanctity of human life (and ignoring the living human babies in their innercity). It is about "The World" vs. "The Kingdom" and in that sphere we are all under judgment.

Good News. Jesus is "Lord of Lords and King of Kings"
Bad News. Each of us has citizenship in both Kingdoms. And sometimes we are so busy singing hymns that we do not notice we are living a lie.

Book of Revelation is given us as a template for every age. Each period has its Prostitute, strutting her wares and seducing God's people. She is in the church and outside. She is living in Liberal and Conservative communities (although looking different in each). We are always at risk of giving her our hearts. We are always at risk. But, God be praised, Jesus has conquered her, and the beast, and the other masqueraders who would be replacements gods. And this includes your business, your political party, your family and your own heart. So hang on, Jesus is coming. And keep your eyes open.