THE GREAT HARLOT (REV 17-18) AND WIFE OF HARLOTRY (HOS 2)
A STUDY ON THE BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING OF A PEOPLE OF GOD IN CRISIS
Keywords:
Book of Revelation, Diakonia, Hosea, Israel, Jerusalem, Great Harlot, Mother Church, Mother Yahweh, People of God in Crisis, Pope Francis, Prophets, RomeAbstract
One of the most evident themes shared between the books of Hosea and Revelation is the theme of judgment towards a whoring people. An explicit reading would indicate Hosean judgment as directed towards Israel and those of Revelation to the city of Babylon. In the latter case, the scholars agree upon the identity of Babylon to be the city of Rome. However, both the books personify the accused as a harlot, a wanton woman. A close scrutiny of the theme of judgment in Hosea 2 and Revelation 17-18 establishes that the books have an especially close relationship with many phrases, themes, and theological concepts in common. One of the strongest thematic parallels is the personification of the reproached people as a whore. The thread that connects Hosea and John is their thought pattern of picturing the pride of their concerned city in terms of a wanton woman who is abound with her pride and haughtiness. The article is an attempt to read Hosea 2 into the interlude of Revelation (Rev 17-18). The expected outcome is to bring out the theological message of the two texts for a people of God in crisis.
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