The Great Harlot (also called Mystery Babylon The Great or the Whore Of Babylon), as mentioned in Revelation chapter 17, refers to the "great city which reigns over the kings of the earth", which in the Left Behind books refers to New Babylon in Iraq. Some Bible eschatology students also interpret this woman as being the one-world "anti-church" of Satan, which in the Left Behind books refers to Enigma Babylon One World Faith.
According to Scripture in Revelation chapters 17 and 18, the destruction of this woman who also represents a city is twofold, and the authors of the Left Behind books interpret this accordingly. As written in Revelation 17:16-17:
- "And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled."
This part took place in "Assassins", where the ten subpotentates murder Enigma Babylon spiritual leader Peter Mathews with sharp feathers from an ice sculpture at a private ceremony at the Global Gala, his body later consumed in cremation. Following his death, Enigma Babylon One World Faith folds and is replaced by Carpathianism.
The second part of this destruction takes place in Revelation chapter 18, when the "great city" is destroyed in the space of one hour. An angel appears and lights up the city, saying:
- "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury." (Rev 18:2-3)
And then another voice in heaven calls out, saying:
- "Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues." (Rev 18:4)
This part took place in "Armageddon", where two planes were brought to deliver the remaining believers out of New Babylon prior to its destruction by forces that were coming from the north and northeast.
The aftermath of its destruction upon those who were depending upon New Babylon's financial resources is mentioned in some detail in "Glorious Appearing".