What does idolatry appeal to even though it is in the dark spiritual realm?
Even though idolatry operates in the dark side of the spiritual realm, it still appeals to humanity's innate desire to worship something. Pagan worship also drew people into gross immorality, as temples became glorified houses of prostitution conducted in the name of religion.
Les explains that idolatry is basically dealing in the spiritual realm, even though it is the dark side of the spiritual. Yet idolatry still deals with man's innate desire to worship something. He also notes that pagan worship, especially in Paul's New Testament time, included gross immorality: almost every pagan temple, such as the temple to Diana in Acts, was a glorified house of prostitution in the name of religion. Pagan priests conscripted young ladies and forced them into prostitution under the name of religion. This is what God is finally coming back to. In Revelation, the woman represents the religious system, just as the beast represents the political system, and she is drunken with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. John wondered with great admiration at her wealth, pomp, circumstance, and power.