THE “MOTHER OF HARLOTS” AND ISLAM
Rev 17:1 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:
Rev 17:2 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.
Rev 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Briefly and simply put, (but also somewhat vaguely because I am not settled in my mind on a number of issues) my understanding is that it is just one of the many “harlots and abominations of the earth” belonging to “the mother of harlots,” but is not the “mother” herself, or “the woman,” which “the man of sin” in his time has as his help meet. Daniel 11, for example, makes it clear (to me anyway) that the “man of sin” himself doesn’t cater to, or regard, the “god/gods” of the nations with which he has to do. He knows that they are mere “harlots” and will avail him nothing. He in his thinking (and understanding of things) goes back further, so to speak, than that of Ishmael’s sons, or the Edomites, or the children of Lot, etc. Hence in order to accomplish his objective he wants and needs “the mother of harlots,” and not any of her mere “harlots.” And this is who he pursues. As one of the “harlots,” Islam in particular has its roots in “the old hatred” against Isaac and Jacob. As such it serves to foster and fuel “the old hatred,” which would continue to exist among the Ishmaelites, Edomites, and others, regardless of the bringing in of this present dispensation of grace. That “old hatred” will naturally continue to exist, and be an issue in the final installment in God’s program with Israel, after the conclusion of this present dispensation.
Dan 11:38 But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things.
Dan 11:39 Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
Dan 11:40 And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
Dan 11:41 He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
Dan 11:42 He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape.
Dan 11:43 But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
So Islam, or some form of it, may be a factor in the confederating of the nations of the “old hatred.” However in my understanding “the old hatred” itself is the confederating issue, regardless of what political and/or religious aids there may be in place to fuel it and spur it on. The “man of sin” himself then takes advantage of the confederation of those nations and uses it to serve his own ends, which again has him regarding none of the “harlots,” but instead pursuing “the mother” herself. As I said, I’m being deliberately vague because there are a number of issues pertaining to the resumption of God’s program with Israel that I am not satisfactorily settled upon in my understanding.
Psa 83:2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.
Psa 83:3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.
Psa 83:4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
Psa 83:5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:
Psa 83:6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;
Psa 83:7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Psa 83:8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah.
Keith Blades
Enjoy The Bible Ministries