The org teaches that Babylon the Great is the world empire of false religion (although it once confined it the the catholic church) but I find it difficult that there will be a collapse of religion although people's attitude towards religion has changed greatly, particularly muslim. Babylon means confusion.
The recent global Financial crisis has got me thinking that this is quite significant and a collapse of our financial stucture will certainly cause a great deal of hardship for both governments and individuals. It would change every part of our every day life, particularly in the western world. Although our Governments are trying hard to get us out of the mess they are creating a basis for an even more detrimental outcome if it does finally collapse. Their creation of money and debt is only adding to the problem and it is not a matter of if we have another crisis but a matter of when and this next one will be far worse, even to the point of possibly eliminating our current currencies.
Some believe the harlot (BTG) is America and this also fits because all countries use the American dollar as a stronghold in their own economy in one way or another. Either by trading in US dollars, holding funds in US dollars or basing their own currencies on it. Once it was gold now it is the US dollar.
I think the BTG could possibly be the large Banks (including the International Monetary Fund). In most countries they are supposedly independant of the Government but they work hand in hand with it (or fornicate with it). We have seen in the GFC that the Government was quick to put the blame on the banks but due to it's relationship with it they had to support and aid their banks, in the second collapse the Governments will have little left this time around to support and keep the banks afloat as they have already overextended themselves with stimulus programs.
On reading Revelation 17 & 18 it all fits except for one particular aspect and that is from Rev 17:6 "And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the martyrs of Jesus" and also in Rev 18:24 which states "And in her was found the blood of the prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth"
What does fit with it being the banks or money is the following -
Revelation talks about the kings of the earth committing fornication with her and living luxuriously from her
The merchants/traders will mourne her death as no-one buys their goods anymore and they had previously became rich from her
Vs 14 states "and the fruit that your soul longed for has gone from you, and all the things that are rich and splendid have gone from you, and you shall find them no more at all' Their are so many people and Governments that are money hungry, it is their God, their new religion.
Interestingly Rev 18:22 states 'The sounds of the harpists, musicians, flutists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you anymore. And no craftsmen shall be found in you anymore...23: For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were decieved" So the banks have been very creative and cunning in making profits and money for many and it is like music to their ears and yet it is all really just fake and will amount to nothing when it collapses.
What are your opinions?