Page 278 - Foundations

It is likely that Nimrod was the prototype for the courageous Chaldean monarch, and others sought
to emulate his fame through similar exploits. George Rawlinson reports that lion hunts were popular
among the Babylonian and Assyrian kings. The heroic image of a mighty hunter was certainly a
popular one among the ancient Chaldeans as the Epic of Gilgamesh demonstrates.

Gilgamesh Battling the Bull and the Lion

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the lead character is described as two thirds divine and one part man. This
glorification of a man into a deity parallels the history of Nimrod. Alexander Hislop in his book The
Two Babylons, published in 1858, traces the origin of the Babylonian mystery religion back to
Nimrod and his wife Semiramis. The subtitle to Hislop’s book is The Papal Worship Proved to be
the Worship of Nimrod and His Wife. If Hislop is correct (I believe he is), and Nimrod is the prototype
and origin of that idolatrous religion now recognized as Roman Catholicism, then Nimrod becomes
a character of great relevance to Christians today. The book of Revelation describes Babylon, the
Great Harlot, in the following way.

Revelation 17:4-6
And the woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and
pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality,
and upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER
OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." And I saw the woman drunk
with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Yahshua.

This description fits well with the character of Roman Catholicism. The Bishop’s and Cardinals of
the Roman church adorn themselves in purple and scarlet.