Yes, the woman's wealth and luxury symbolize the tremendous material riches of a unified, worldwide false religious system.
In Revelation 17:4, the woman is arrayed in purple and scarlet, decked with gold, precious stones, and pearls, which Les Feldick interprets as representing wealth. This wealth reflects the immense possessions amassed by religious hierarchies, and in the tribulation, all false religions will unite under this wealthy system.
Revelation 17:4 — This verse directly describes the woman's attire and golden cup, symbolizing wealth and luxury.
Revelation 17:4 (KJV) states: 'And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.' This verse plainly shows the woman's outward appearance of luxury and wealth. Her name, as written in verse 5, is 'MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH,' connecting her to ancient Babylon. Verse 6 says she is 'drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus,' indicating her persecution of true believers. The imagery is symbolic, portraying religious corruption and material excess.
Les Feldick teaches that the woman's rich clothing and ornaments symbolize the vast wealth of a worldwide false religious system. He points to real-world examples where large religions have impoverished followers while leaders accumulate immense riches, noting this pattern will culminate in the tribulation when all religions unite under one system. This religious system, referred to in the female gender, sits on a scarlet-colored beast and has been a persecutor of true believers. Her golden cup, though outwardly precious, contains abominations and spiritual fornication, not physical immorality. Les traces this system's roots to the Tower of Babel, where false worship began, and says it will crescendo in the final seven years.
The woman's clothing of purple and scarlet, gold, precious stones, and pearls symbolizes her tremendous wealth and outward splendor. Les Feldick emphasizes that this wealth is a hallmark of religious systems, where the hierarchy often accumulates vast riches while the followers remain poor. This imagery points to the immense material resources that false religious systems will possess.
The woman's name 'Babylon the Great' connects her to the Tower of Babel, which Les Feldick identifies as the origin of all false religion. In Clip 0, he explains that every false religion traces its roots to Babel, where false worship was introduced and the zodiac was used, adulterating God's original truth. This connection shows that the final religious system is a continuation of ancient Babylon's spiritual corruption.
The golden cup in the woman's hand is full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication. Les Feldick clarifies that this is not physical immorality but spiritual fornication—the corruption and adulteration of spiritual things that God detests. The cup may be outwardly golden and attractive, but its contents are spiritually filthy, symbolizing the corrupt nature of the false religious system.
Les Feldick teaches that during the final seven years of tribulation, all false religions of the world—whether Shinto, Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, Protestant, etc.—will come together under one great umbrella, forming this unified system. The woman's wealth and power will peak at this time, and she will persecute true believers, as seen in her being drunk with the blood of the saints. This system will ultimately be judged, as referenced in Revelation 18.
Roots in Babylon
Les connects the final false religious system to the Tower of Babel, showing it as the origin of all false religion and its association with the zodiac and occult.
Wealth of the Religious System
Les directly interprets the woman's purple, scarlet, gold, and pearls as symbolizing tremendous wealth, and he points to real-world religions where the hierarchy hoards riches while followers are poor.
Symbolism of the Woman
Les explains that the woman represents a religious system, referred to in the female gender, as is common in everyday speech about religious systems.
Persecutor of Saints
Les notes that the woman, as a religious system, has been the persecutor of true believers, being drunk with the blood of saints and martyrs.
Seven Heads and Mountains
Les connects the woman sitting on seven mountains to seven nations, aligning with Daniel's prophecy, and identifies the woman as the religious system.
What Does "Babylon the Great" Really Mean in Revelation 18?
But it's all the great commercial and cultural centers of the world that are included in that one word. Now let's come on down to verse 3 of Revelation chapter 18. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, her gross immorality.
Spiritual Fornication
Les clarifies that the 'great whore' and her fornication are not physical but spiritual, emphasizing the corruption of things God hates.
Crescendo in Last Seven Years
Les ties the false religious system back to ancient Babylon and says it will reach its peak during the tribulation, becoming the 'mother of harlots.'
Revelation 17:4: And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
This verse directly describes the woman's wealth and luxury, which is the focus of the question.
Revelation 17:5: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
This verse names the woman, connecting her to Babylon and indicating her spiritual corruption.
Revelation 17:6: And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
This verse shows the woman's persecution of believers, adding to her negative portrayal.
No, Les Feldick explains that the woman symbolizes a religious system, not a literal woman. He notes that we often use female pronouns for religious systems, and the imagery is symbolic of spiritual corruption.
The golden cup represents the outwardly appealing but spiritually corrupt practices of the false religious system. It is full of abominations and spiritual fornication, symbolizing the adulteration of true worship.
The woman is called 'Babylon the Great' because her origins trace back to the Tower of Babel, where false worship began. Les Feldick teaches that this final religious system is a continuation of that original rebellion against God.
Yes, Les Feldick teaches that during the tribulation, all false religions—including Shinto, Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, and Protestant—will come together under one system, fulfilling the imagery of the woman.
Watch the Teaching: Understanding the Tower of Babel: Genesis 9-11 Explained