text: what is the 'great whore of babylon'? what is the 'great whore of babylon'? i want to get a consensus. well, a whore is a woman who prostitutes herself for gain, like money or power. babylon has always been the center of pagan beliefs like false gods. babylon was also a city that was the head of a major, powerful kingdom.  taking these examples, the great whore of babylon could be a religious system that has great power over many people. by centering that power, it holds sway over many, even political power. and it plays the whore by accepting different beliefs and customs in order to gain more power.  i believe it will end up being a type of religious government that will dictate terms and conditions on how its people shall live.