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The pope died. They had a funeral for him. The ecclesiastical leaders of the Roman church got all dressed up to attend. It was hailed as the biggest funeral in history. And what colors were choosen for the Catholic event of the century? Here are some pictures (full-size links at bottom of article). You'll notice two colors clearly stand out among the officially-dressed Cardinals and Archbishops: purple and scarlet! In fact, besides black and white, those are basically the only colors represented. Read on for why this is significant.

John tells us, beginning in Revelation 17, about a woman astride a beast. She is in league with the antichrist. This woman, according to a strikingly accurate description in Revelation, is none other than the Roman Catholic church. A scandalous charge, considering today's ecumenical climate. However, it has been a long-standing belief among Christians for centuries. Here's why:

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her immorality." 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness; and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.

The Catholic church has fornicated ("acts of immorality") with the kings of the earth for centuries. It has either allied with or controlled secular rulers and kingdoms since 314 AD. This unholy alliance is unbiblical and has resulted in corruption and sin on a grand scale.

The mention of sexual immorality in v.2 (and later in chapter 18 several times) fits well with Catholicism more than just figuratively, as well. The degree of immorality among RCC clergy throughout the centuries is staggering. In recent years, it's been big news. It's historical fact that even popes engaged in the kind of sexual immorality I won't even mention here. In fact, several popes have even been bastard children of other popes. The Vatican even had a church tax for a while on the prostitutes of its priests. Church councils have had prostitutes shipped in to keep the clerical attendees satisfied -- and so on and so forth.

Also note the Church has always been referred to in the Bible as a woman (the bride of Christ). In this case, it's a false church, but the fact that it is a woman riding the beast gives a strong indication of a church of some kind.

4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality,

There it is: purple and scarlet.

Also note the Catholic church has treasures and weath unfathomable in the form of art/idols/land/gold/jewels/etc. Much of it is ill-gotten from inquisitions, crusades, and indulgences.

5 and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."

That word, "mystery" is a common occurence in Catholic culture. Read the catechism or any conciliar writings and you'll come across it frequently. More importantly in v.5 is the Babylon reference. Babylon is a code-word for Rome (a fairly undisputed hermeneutical fact).

6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.

The RCC is drunk with the blood of the saints. They've killed thousands or even millions of Bible-believing Christians during inquisitions, crusades and other assorted persecutions.

7 And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.

It is theorized the seven heads may refer to a number of Roman ceasars, and the ten horns to less significant vassal kings/kingdoms.

8 "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. 9 "Here is the mind which has wisdom The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits,

I won't try to interpret everything here, but the main link to the RCC is in v.9. Rome is widely known as the city on seven hills. No other city in the world has that distinction.

10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. 11 "The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. 12 "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. 13 "These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. 14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

As in v.7, these may refer to Roman caesars.

(Another theory puts the five fallen kings as the kingdoms of Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece, the one that "is" as Rome, and the seventh and eighth are anybody's guess, but may be revived Roman empires. Perhaps the "Holy Roman Empire" comes into play as the 7th?)

15 And he said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. 16 "And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. 17 "For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.

This (the waters) may refer to the Catholic "faithful", which are certainly a multitude and represent many nations and languages. The ten horns, as I mentioned above, may refer to ten lesser kings/kingdoms. These things aren't really significant as to our identification of the woman, however.

18 "The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth."

The woman is a city. This harkens back to v.9. Rome is the city on seven hills. Where is Vatican City located? entirely within the boundaries of Rome. What city has ruled over the kings of the earth? the Vatican! It is interesting to read here about a city that rules over kings. You'd expect it to mention a "nation," or maybe another king who exercises this power. However, it says "city" -- and Vatican city is unique in that it is a sovereign city-state. So we have a city that is a church that reigns over the kings of the Earth. The description fits like a glove.

The prophecy concerning the woman continues in chapter 18, and some of the themes in chapter 17 are repeated. I'll quote one verse, since it deals with my main point:

16 ... 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;

Purple and scarlet again! It would seem there is no doubt to the identity of this treacherous woman. The Bible tells us Satan masquerades as an "angel of light". No where is this more evident than in the Catholic church. What better way could there be of furthering evil than by hiding it behind a facade of good? Unfortunately, as Revelation informs us, the evil of the Catholic church goes deeper than mere false teaching, and will in fact help to usher in the antichrist.


For more information on this prophecy and Catholicism in general, read the excellent "A Woman Rides the Beast", by Dave Hunt.

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