Does Revelation 17 Call the Catholic Church the “Great Whore”? Let’s Talk About It

by Keith Abell, RPh MI
Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam

Defending the Faith Against a Common Misinterpretation

Back in 1998, a fundamentalist tried to shake my faith and convince me to leave the Church. One of the questions he posed was this:

“When Revelation 17 talks about the great whore and the Church tells you they can't be talking about us, in whom do you put your trust?”

It’s a question designed to plant doubt. If you’ve never thought deeply about Revelation, it can sound scary. So let’s walk through this together—because the truth is far more beautiful than the accusation.

First Things First: Who Was Revelation Written To?

Revelation wasn’t written to Catholics in 2026. It was written around the end of the first century to seven real Christian communities in Asia Minor—Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These weren’t imaginary churches; they were vibrant communities struggling under persecution from the Roman Empire.

Why these seven? They were major hubs along a Roman postal route, making them strategic for communication. Each faced unique challenges—false teachings, complacency, outright persecution. And the number seven? In biblical symbolism, seven means completeness. So these churches represent the whole Church in every age.

So Who Is the “Great Whore”?

Here’s the big reveal: The “great whore” in Revelation 17 is not the Catholic Church. It’s a symbolic reference to imperial Rome—the empire that was persecuting Christians at the time.

How do we know?

• Revelation calls her “Babylon.” In the Old Testament, Babylon was the city of exile and oppression. For first-century Christians, Rome was the new Babylon.
• The text mentions “seven hills.” Rome was famously called the city on seven hills.
• The imagery of wealth, luxury, and corruption fits Rome’s imperial system perfectly.

Why All the Symbolism?

Because writing “Rome is evil” in the first century could get you killed. Revelation was written during Emperor Domitian’s reign, a time of brutal persecution. So John used apocalyptic language—a kind of spiritual code—to encourage Christians without putting them in greater danger. The message was clear: Rome’s power is temporary. God wins.

What Did the Early Church Fathers Say?

The earliest Christian writers—people like St. Irenaeus, St. Hippolytus, St. Jerome, and St. Augustine—all agreed: Babylon = Rome. They lived through persecution. They saw friends martyred. For them, Revelation was about hope in the face of imperial oppression, not a prophecy against the Church Christ founded.

Here are some direct quotes:

St. Irenaeus (Against Heresies, Book V):
“The name Babylon is a figure of speech, signifying the city of Rome, which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

St. Hippolytus (Commentary on Daniel and Revelation):
“What John saw was the city of Rome, the seat of empire, which is built upon seven hills.”

St. Jerome:
“When John speaks of Babylon, he means Rome, for Rome is the new Babylon in its pride and persecution.”

St. Augustine (City of God):
“Two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly city by love of self, even to contempt of God; the heavenly city by love of God, even to contempt of self.”
(Here Augustine contrasts Rome—the earthly city—with the Church, the City of God.)

Fast Forward to the Reformation

During the 1500s, some Reformers started pointing to Revelation 17 and saying, “See? The whore of Babylon is the papacy!” Saints like Robert Bellarmine and Francis de Sales pushed back hard.

St. Robert Bellarmine:
“The Church is the Bride of Christ, holy and without blemish. To call her a harlot is blasphemy against Christ Himself.”

St. Francis de Sales (The Catholic Controversy):
“The marks of Babylon—idolatry, persecution, corruption—fit pagan Rome, not the Church which has always professed the true faith.”

The Council of Trent reaffirmed something essential: Scripture must be read in harmony with apostolic tradition, not twisted to fit personal agendas.

So, In Whom Do You Put Your Trust?

That’s the heart of the question, isn’t it? Do you trust biased interpretations that rip verses out of context? Or do you trust the God who gave us His Word and the Church He founded to safeguard it?

Revelation isn’t a weapon to use against Catholics. It’s a book of hope. It tells us that no matter how dark things look, Christ wins. The Church He built will endure—just as He promised.

A Short Prayer

Lord Jesus, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. Strengthen our faith when doubts arise. Help us trust in Your Word and Your Church, and give us courage to share Your truth with love. Amen.

If this helped you see Revelation in a new light, please like, share, and subscribe so more Catholics can rediscover the beauty and truth of their faith. And don’t stop here—this is part of a whole series answering tough questions posed by a fundamentalist who tried to shake my faith. Start with the first question on the Sacraments and journey with me through the rest.

God bless you!