Expert: Fr. Michael - 7/15/2004

Question
A protestant I know has said to me that the Whore of Babylon is the Roman Catholic Church. I read through Revelations chapters 17 and 18. And it states in there that the Whore sits on seven mountains. What scared me was that Rome (Where the Vatican is) is built on 7 hills, the Palatine, Capitoline, Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian and Aventine. It talked about the riches of the Whore, and it is true that the Vatican is filled with gold, lovely sculptures, towering buildings and is very beautiful. In a small paragraph in my Catholic bible it talks about the Whore of Babylon. It says that John (Or whoever wrote the book) was referring Rome at that time (Before the acceptance of Christ, and when Chirstians were persecuted). But aren't Revelations suppose to be the future and tell us about the end of times? I really need to know what the Church thinks of all this!!!

God Bless!
Elle

Answer
It couldn't very well be a reference to the "Roman Catholic Church," since that didn't exist in that sense at the time.  It was the (only) Christian Church.

No, the Fathers make it clear that the reference is to pagan Rome, which, like the civilizations before it would fall.  Remember that the Roman empire did not fall until A.D. 476, almost four centuries after St. John wrote his words.

Apocalyptic literature is not to be take so literally.  We are not supposed to figure out "end times."  Our Lord specifically tells His Apostles, when they asked, that it was not for them to know.

It is not for us to waste time on either.  Our own "end time," our Particular Judgment, will come after 70 years or so.  That is what we should be preparing for.