Who (what) is the Whore of Babylon?
Source 1
"So, can the mystery of the whore of Babylon be solved? Yes, at least partially. The whore of Babylon is an evil world system, controlled by the Antichrist, during the last days before Jesus’ return. The whore of Babylon also has religious connotations – spiritual adultery with the beast being the focus of an ungodly, end-times religious system." - gotquestions.org
Source 2
According to David Hunt "the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon from Revelation 17–18." Hunt outlines arguments for how the bible proves that the Catholic Church is the "Whore." These reasons include the name, reference to harlots, seven hills and more.
Source 3
The Whore is meant to be the epitome of evil. Regardless of what it represents, the whore is the destroyer of the worl. It is what will lead mankind into darkness. Many source suggest that the whore represents a city, however many experts debate where that city exists or or did exist. Many sources as well seem to suggest that the Whore intends to destroy man by immoral culture.
Why does the symbol of the Whore of Babylon represent?
Source 1
Again, David Hunt claims "the Catholic Church is the Whore of Babylon from Revelation 17–18."
Source 2
"Judging by the criteria of biblical fundamentalism (literal words literally understood) it is certain that there is no mention of the Catholic Church in the book of Revelation as the Whore of Babylon. By contortions of interpretation (not biblical literalism) some groups and individuals equate the Whore in Revelation 17:9 with the Catholic Church since Rome is the famous city of seven hills and the Church's principal See is Rome. This position is untenable, both factually and from the only words of Scripture which tell us of the actual doctrine of the Antichrist, those of the apostle John in his letters.
There would seem to be two choices, either interpret Rev 17:9 absolutely literally or according to some interpretive key that is metaphorical, allegorical or otherwise non-literal. Lets look first at literal interpretation....
Obviously of the pagan imperial system situated on the Seven Hills, especially the Capitoline (the religious and political center) and the Palatine (the imperial palace). This pagan power persecuted the Church of Rome in Nero's day (64-67 AD), and in the mid-90s under Domitian was persecuting Christians throughout the Roman world. Domitian was considered by the people a re-incarnation of the evil, but well-liked, Nero (the head that lives again). While the antichrist Nero persecuted only the Christians of Rome, Domitian extended that persecution throughout the empire. Both are thus types of the final persecutor, the Antichrist." - ewtn.com
What does the Whore of Babylon represent in the context of the song?
Source 1
Source 2
Source 3
"Whore of Babylon" is sung directly after "Great Satan" as if there was meant to be a colon present. This only can indicate that "Satan" is being explained as the Whore of Babylon. If all sources support the theory the Wore of Babylon is evil encarnate, Conner Oberst is spot on with his notion that the Whore of Babylon and Satan represent the same symbol. Whether this metaphor agree's with expert theological analysis of the bible in it's entirety is unsupportable based on the evidence I have collected thus far, however, it is evident that both symbols essentially have the same meaning.
