Babylonian Judaism

Though many ancient religions were erased with the spread of Christianity and Islam, a few still survive.  For example, India is home to a number of such religions, with Hinduism dominating the region.  In the Western Hemisphere, only one ancient religion continues to be practice — Judaism.  The ancient beginnings of Judaism can be traced back as far as the 11th century BC, when Yahweh coexisted with El and Baal (and Asherah).

For those familiar with the Old Testament, the Babylon captivity of the Jewish people was a significant event, with its drama touched upon in the book of Jeremiah.  According to historical records, Nebuchadnezzar II initiated the first wave of forced migration from the Kingdom of Judah in 597 BC.  During this period, Babylon was at its pinnacle of magnificence.  One would have to assume that Nebuchadnezzar’s construction of one of the greatest ancient cities was in need of workers, as we are told that the first forced wave of migration was comprised of skilled craftsmen and tradesmen from Judah.  Unlike the Egyptians, who used the Jews as slave labor, it would appear that Nebuchadnezzar treated his Jewish workers well.  This is a fair conclusion to make, as historical records show that a significant percentage of the Jewish population in Babylon made the choice to stay in Babylon after Cyrus the Great freed them from captivity in 538 BC.

Given these historical facts, we can see that Babylonian Judaism began in 597 BC, when the first Jewish captives were forced to face a religious life away from the Jewish Temple.  Babylonian Judaism then evolved for another 60 years until Cyrus arrived and ended their forced captivity.  However, for the many Jews who decided to continue to live and work and worship in Babylon, and not return to their homeland, this would mark a significant milestone for Babylonian Judaism, as its adherents were making the conscious choice of religious life without the Temple.   I would argue that with this active choice, Babylonian Judaism was truly born.  This separate branch of Judaism grew and evolved but 600 years later, Judaism was eventually reunified — by the Romans.

When the Romans destroyed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, and destroyed the Kingdom of Judah, dispersing its Jewish citizens, the main branch of Judaism was shattered, as religious life of the main branch of Judaism was centered around the Temple.  With the destruction of the Kingdom of Judah and the Temple, Babylon become the new, de factor center of Jewish religious life.  Babylonian Judaism already had 600 years of religious thought and practice at its disposal, that dealt with the issue of religious life without a Temple.   Even today, though the modern nation of Israel was born over 70 years ago, the Temple remains unbuilt, and the influence of Babylonian Judaism remains as strong as ever.

This brings us to the Book of Revelation, more specifically Revelation 17:1-6:

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:

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.

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.

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:

And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

Generally speaking, evangelical Biblical scholars formed the consensus that the Whore of Babylon represents an organized religion that will aid the Beast/Anti-Christ in his rise to power.  Many have speculated that the Catholic Church or some future world religion would be the manifestation of the Whore.

This site has previously argued that the Beast will take on the guise of the long awaited, secular Jewish Moshiach (aka Messiah).  This site has shown that the goals of the Beast of Revelation align exactly with the goals of those Jewish people working for the rise of the secular Jewish Moshiach and the Jewish Millenium (please read the Topic entitled “The Moshiach, the Beast, and the Whore of Babylon” for a detailed discussion).  Given these arguments and the historical record of Judaism, our argument that the Whore of Babylon is represented by an active, and influential segment of the Jewish world community is more than just credible.