Yes, they still teach that totally wrong interpretation. The Watch Tower Society began using the expression âworld empire of false religionâ in 1963 (in âBabylon the Great Has Fallen!â, Godâs Kingdom Rules!). Prior to that, it associated âBabylon the Greatâ with âChristendomâ, further contradicting the claim that special âenlightenmentâ was provided to them in 1919.
âBabylon the Greatâ in Revelation represents ancient Rome, which has been understood for many centuries, and Christians could readily identify âBabylon the Greatâ as Rome when Revelation was first written. Revelation 17:9 guides the reader to the actual identity of âBabylon the Greatâ, with its statement that the âseven headsâ of the âbeastâ she rides represent âseven mountainsââthe âseven hills of Romeâ. (Coins minted during the reign of Vespasian depict Romaâa female deity who personified Romeâseated on seven hills.) This would be an obvious clue to 1st-century Christians, who were well aware of Rome as an enemy of Christianity. Additionally, the reference to âdisgusting thingsâ at Revelation 17:4 and 5 is reminiscent of the earlier warning to flee Jerusalem before the Roman attack in 70 CE (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14).
The Roman Empire oversaw various subordinate client kingdoms, each with its own âkingâ. Judea was itself one such client kingdom, under the jurisdiction of Herod, who is described as a king at Matthew 2:3 and Mark 6:14 using the same Greek term as at Revelation 17:2 (basileus, βιĎΚΝξὝĎ, Strongâs G935). Revelation 17:18 accurately describes âBabylon the Greatââthat is, ancient Romeâas a city with a kingdom over other kings.
No mystery, no nonsense.