Mystery Babylon and Her "Daughters": The Emergence of Many Counterfeit Faith

THE BIBLE speaks prophetically and symbolically of a great religious power—

"Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and the abominations of the earth." (Revelation 17:5, NKJV)

This Babylon is not the literal empire of ancient Mesopotamia, but a spiritual system with global reach, political influence, and religious deception.

The Scripture describes her as the "Mother of harlots," suggesting that she has daughters coming out of her, contributing to the widespread "abominations of the earth."

Understanding the identity of Babylon and her “daughters” is critical for discerning end-time prophecy and recognizing the true Church of God amidst widespread counterfeit worship.

The Origin of Rebellion by Confusion

The name “Babylon” is rooted in the Hebrew word Babel, meaning “confusion.” It began with Nimrod, who built the Tower of Babel in opposition to God (Genesis 10:8–10; 11:1–9). Nimrod is described as "a mighty hunter before (or 'in place' of) the Lord" (Verse 9), indicating not only his cult of personality appeal among people but also his open defiance against the true God. From this rebellion emerged the first organized system of idolatry, blending government and false religion.

The Babylonian mystery religion exalted the sun, the stars, fertility goddesses, and the deified human king. This false worship spread worldwide through various names—"Ishtar" in Mesopotamia, "Isis" in Egypt, "Venus" in Rome—all rooted in the same system of spiritual corruption.

Pagan Rome and the Rise of a New Babylon

As Babylon fell, its religious system migrated. The center of power moved west to Pergamos (Revelation 2:13), then to Rome. Pagan Rome adopted and preserved Babylonian rites, including sun worship, mother-child deities, incense, images, and priestly vestments.

As the Roman Empire declined, its religious institutions morphed into a new form: Roman Catholicism—a fusion of political ambition and pagan mysticism cloaked in Christian language.

Syncretism and the Rise of Clerical Power

Roman Catholicism absorbed pagan beliefs to appeal to the masses. The “mother and child” motif became Mary and baby Jesus. Sunday—the day of the sun god—replaced the biblical Sabbath (Exodus 20:8–11). Pagan festivals like Saturnalia and spring fertility rites were rebranded as Christmas and Easter. Priestly celibacy, confession to men, and the veneration of saints echoed ancient Babylonian priestcraft.

The Catholic clergy claimed apostolic succession, but their practices contradicted apostolic teachings. Jesus said, “Call no man on earth your father” (Matthew 23:9), yet Catholic priests are called "Father." Peter, whom the Pope claims to succeed, rejected human adulation and power-tripping and insisted he was “a fellow elder” (Acts 10:25–26; 1 Peter 5:1–3). Clearly, this church had departed from the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

Mystery Babylon: The Mother and Her Daughters

Revelation 17 describes a woman—symbolizing a church (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23)—“arrayed in purple and scarlet…having a golden cup…full of abominations” (Revelation 17:4). She is called a "mother of harlots," indicating she has offspring—daughter churches that came out of her but retained much of her false worship.

Throughout history, there is only one church with "protesting" offshoots but retaining their common doctrines. These "daughters" are called Protestant denominations that emerged from the Reformation. While they rejected papal authority, most retained her key doctrines: Sunday worship, belief on Trinity, pagan holidays, clergy-laity divisions, and replacement theology. Martin Luther and John Calvin began a needed protest, but their followers often failed to restore biblical truth fully.

In Martin Luther 1520 treatise, "The Babylonian Captivity of the Church", he famously argued and referred to the Papacy in Rome as a new Babylon. He used this term to describe what he viewed as the Church's spiritual captivity and enslavement of Christians through its sacramental system and strange theology, but came short of rejecting their pagan-derived practices.

In Matthew 24, Jesus prophetically warned of their widespread acceptance, thus deceiving the "many":

"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." (Matthew 24:11-12) 

Sabbath vs. Sunday Worship: A Mark of Distinction

One major divergence between the true Church and Babylon is the day of worship. The seventh-day Sabbath was instituted at Creation (Genesis 2:2–3), reaffirmed at Sinai, and honored by Christ and the apostles (Luke 4:16; Acts 13:42–44). Sunday observance has no biblical mandate; it was enforced by Constantine in 321 AD, followed by Church councils.

As the historian James Cardinal Gibbons admitted:

“You may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday…” (The Faith of Our Fathers, p. 111).

Revelation 14:12 describes the saints as those “who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” The Sabbath is a sign (Exodus 31:13) of that obedience—yet Babylon and her daughters scorn it.

Persecution of the Saints: Drunk with the Blood

The woman of Revelation 17 is “drunk with the blood of the saints” (v. 6). History confirms this. During the Inquisition and Crusades, millions of true Christians were tortured and martyred for rejecting the false doctrines of the church-state system. The Waldenses, Albigenses, and Sabbatarians faced brutal suppression for clinging to biblical truths.

In contrast, Revelation 12 shows another woman—a pure Church—fleeing into the wilderness to escape persecution (Revelation 12:6, 13–17). This woman represents the faithful saints who obey God’s commandments. Babylon, by contrast, persecutes them.

Babylon’s Final Fall: “Come Out of Her, My People”

God will not let Babylon reign forever. Revelation 18 describes her sudden destruction:

“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great…Come out of her, My people, lest you share in her sins and receive of her plagues” (Revelation 18:2–4).

This is a call to repentance and separation. God's people must reject all systems of false worship—whether Catholic, Protestant, or ecumenical—and return to the faith of Jesus Christ and the apostles.

Babylon’s ecumenical daughters today promote unity without truth, tolerance without obedience.

As scholar Alexander Hislop noted in The Two Babylons, the entire structure of Roman Christianity was built on the foundation of Babylonian priestcraft, symbolism, and theology. It’s a counterfeit system meant to mimic the true faith while leading souls into deception.

The Victory of the Saints

Despite opposition, God’s Church will prevail. The end-time saints “overcame [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony” (Revelation 12:11). They will not bow to Babylon, nor receive her “mark” (Revelation 13:16–17), but will stand with Christ on Mount Zion (Revelation 14:1).

Jesus Christ will return, destroy Babylon, and establish His Kingdom of truth, righteousness, and peace. The saints will rule with Him (Revelation 20:4), and all false systems will be no more.

Conclusion

Babylon and her daughters represent religious systems that look Christian but are steeped in paganism, tradition, and compromise. They have led millions into spiritual confusion. But God is calling His people to come out, embrace His truth, and stand firm in the faith once delivered.

The time for spiritual clarity is now. Will you heed the call?

"And I heard another voice from heaven saying, 'Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.'" (Revelation 18:4)