Through out scripture the is no alliance more unholy than that of the Beast and the False Prophet. Because of their sins against God and mankind, they are the first ones listed in scripture that are sent to the lake of fire- also know has Gehenna and hell. Other than a couple passages, very little is mentioned about the False Prophet until we realize he is known by several other names. Notice Revelation chapter 19 verse 20:

Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:20

We learn in this passage that the False Prophet works signs (miracles) with the beast and used those miracles to deceive those who took the mark of the beast to worship the beast and his image. Revelation also tells us that a “second beast” has an almost identical description. This “second beast” of chapter 13:

  • Causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast v12
  • He performs great signs v13
  • He deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs v14
  • Telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast v14
  • And to worship the image of the beast v15

Everything we learn about the False Prophet in Revelation chapter 19 is also being done by the “second beast” of chapter 13. Clearly they are one in the same. The Second Beast of chapter 13 IS the False Prophet. 

This connection explains why the Beast and the False Prophet are thrown into the Lake of Fire together.  Their fate is sealed together because they have been working together for the same cause and goal.  The False Prophet “exercises all the authority of the first beast“(v12) and “causes all small and great to receive the mark of the Beast“(v16). 

The Beasts of Daniel 7

As we mentioned in the article on Who is the Beast of Revelation? – in many visions,  a king is symbolic of his kingdom, and a Emperor is symbolic of an empire. And so when we realize the fourth beast of Daniel 7 is the Roman Empire, The Beast not only represents the Roman Empire but also the Emperor himself.  In each of the 6 revivals of the Holy Roman Empire, the Emperor always worked hand in hand with the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church. 

And just as we wait for this final revival of the Holy Roman Empire and the leader of it, we should in no way doubt he will be accompanied by the Pope of the Roman Catholic Church.   This relationship of the Emperor and the Pope and the Empire and the church is referred to in Revelation 17. The Apostle John states in verse 3:

I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet beast that had seven heads and ten horns, full of names of blasphemy. And across her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.  And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

As we know from scripture a church is many times referred to as a woman such as:

  • Revelation 12:1–6 – The woman clothed with the sun, bringing forth the Messiah and representing God’s people.
  • John 3:29 – John the Baptist calls Jesus the bridegroom and the people the bride.
  • Ephesians 5:22–32 – The church compared to a wife, Christ to the husband.

However, when we read in Revelation 17:3 of a woman riding upon the Beast, in no way do we get the impression she represents the Church of God. This is a false church who

  • was full of names of blasphemy (v3)
  • having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication (v4)
  • having the name “The Mother of Harlots” (v5)
  • drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus (v6)

When we read more of this church in verse 9, there is no doubt which church we are referring to: The church of Rome that sits upon the city of Seven Hills. Through numerous inquisitions, the Dominican order and persecutions of Jews and Jewish Christians the Catholic Church can easily fit the description of being drunk with the blood of the saints.

As we read more of Revelation 17 the case becomes more clear as who this great harlot is:

Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.
Rev 17:15 NKJV.

The Roman Catholic Church has extended its reach well beyond Europe for centuries and has a presence in most every nation with 1.4 billion today professing to be Catholic. This church most definitely “sits on many water”.

And why is she referred to as “Mystery Babylon the Great”? Well there is multiple books such as the “The Two Babylons“, “Babylon Mystery Religion” and others that show multiple connections between the Ancient Babylonian religion from Chaldea to the later practices of the Roman Catholic Church.

Apkallu from the temple of Ninurta at Nimrud

The Babylonian or Chaldean Apkallu were the wise men or sages that acted as priests through out the region of Mesopotamia that date back to 2200 B.C. Multiple cuneiform records found in the region, not only trace their lineage of the wise men of Daniel’s time to the Apkallu, but also show that the functions performed by the Apkallu match almost identically with the roles assigned to the Babylonian wise men. Just as recorded in the Book of Daniel, these wise men, priests or Magi (magicians) were never content with religious roles alone but were always trying to influence the political leaders of their day.

We also know from from 2 Kings 17 and many other passages that the Assyrians took captives from Babylon and placed them in Samaria. According to 2 Kings 17:34 they continued in their Babylonia mystery religion and took the name of the Samaritans.

By the time we come to Act chapter 8 we learn of a Samaritan magician or magi, Simon who practiced sorcery. Multiple early church fathers such as Justin Martyr and Hippolytus referred to him as Simon the “magos”, because he used “mageuō”- or sorcery. The Greek word “magos” is the same Greek word Luke uses to refer to a magician and false prophet in Act 13:6. It is also the same Greek word that the Persians used to describe the wise men of Babylon. We find evidence that the Apkallu, Chaldeans or magi from Babylon were not only religious leaders but were involved in the politics of the Persian, the Greeks and later Roman Empire. Berossus, who wrote a history of Babylon in around 281 BC, was advisor in the Seleucid court of Antiochus and a priest of Bel- a Magi. In his histories he traced his lineage back to the Chaldean Apkallu. Polybius, a Greek historian, also confirms that the entire dynasty of Antiochus, including Epiphanes, employed Chaldean Magi as advisors and religious guides.

During the late Republic and early Empire of Rome many Chaldean Magi migrated into Rome from Syria and Mesopotamia. In Tacitus’s Annals (12.52), he states that the Chaldeans were so numerous in Rome that they were politically threatening, and were periodically expelled by the Senate. In Juvenal’s Satire (6.553), he complains that “Chaldeans” were everywhere in Rome, trying to predict the future or influence wealthy citizens.

And just as in the courts of Babylon, Persia and Greece, the Chaldean Magi were influential in Rome. Julius Caesar, Augustus, Tiberius, Claudius and many other emperors used Chaldean advisors for astrology, divination and to perform rituals. Nero was obsessed with Chaldean magi. And up until 370 AD, all Roman Emperor’s held the title “Pontifex Maximus”– meaning he was “High Priest” over the Roman and Chaldean priests. Even “Christian” Emperors held this title. It wasn’t until the reign of Emperor Gratian that the title was transferred to the Bishop of Rome and then he became “Pope”.

Once the empire became “Christian” and sorcery was outlawed, there is significant evidence that the Chaldean Magi didn’t just give up and become farmers, but heavily influenced Roman Christianity. The Liturgical Calendar, Church festivals, Clerical vestments, ritual hierarchy, adoption of the Trinity, indulgences and many other practices came straight from the Chaldean Magi. It is clear to anyone that the Papal vestments are not of Hebrew origin and the mitre (hat) of the pope looks strikingly similar to the one worn by the Apkallu of Mesopotamia.

All of these connections make it clear why Rome, the city of seven hill is referred to by John as “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH “. (Rev 17:5)
Deep within the roots of the Roman system is Babylon.

This cooperation of the Emperor and the Pope through time is illustrated in the Book of Revelation “as the woman who rides the Beast”. Although of and by herself, the Catholic Church has had little political or military power. However combined with a Holy Roman Emperor, that union has been responsible for unspeakable persecution of the Saints and Jews. Just as the Chaldeans were advisors for:

  • Antiochus Epiphanes during the persecution of the Jews in the Maccabean wars
  • Nero when he was sending Christians to the Colosseum
  • Vespasian and Titus when they destroyed Jerusalem

The Pope also worked hand in hand with each of the Holy Roman Emperors. And their combined efforts always resulted in a dramatic rise in persecution of Jews and Jewish Christians.

And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Revelation 17:6

As outlined in our article on The Beast of Revelation, every revival of the Holy Roman Empire saw a dramatic increase in antisemitism.

  • Justinian (A.D. 554)
  • Charlemagne (A.D. 800)
  • Otto the Great (A.D. 962)
  • Charles V (1519–1556)
  • Napoleon (1804–1815)
  • Adolf Hitler (1933–1945)

In each of these 6 revivals we see close cooperation between the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope. And we have absolutely no reason to believe the seventh and final revival will be any different.

They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Rev 17:14 ESV.