Why is “fornication” used to describe the actions of “Babylon the Great” in Revelation 18?

Question

For because of the wine of the anger of her fornication all the nations have fallen [victim], and the kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and the traveling merchants of the earth became rich due to the power of her shameless luxury.”—Revelation 18:3 (NWT)

I was wondering if anyone would be able to explain, in what way(s), "Babylon the Great" engaged in "Fornication"?

Answer 1

In layman's terms, fornication is often used as an allegory for idolatry. In the same way people are unfaithful to spouses by fornicating in the usual sense of the word, idolatry is "cheating on" God.

More at http://www.thewholetruthnow.com/2PORNEIA.htm and http://www.sabbathcovenant.com/doctrine/fornication_defined.htm

From the second link above:

In Revelation, we again see a clear link between the act of fornication and idolatry:

Revelation 2

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.... 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

John is clearly speaking out against the practice of committing the sexual act of idolatry and then eating meat sacrificed to idols in that act of worship.

If you do a word study on Fornication, you will see that it is condemned in context to Idolatry EVERY time. 100% of the references to fornication are in context to idolatry.

similarly, several times in Scripture, idolatry is described as "whoring after other gods" such as in

Judges 2:17 KJV

And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so.

Answer 2

The Church is called the Bride of Christ. Fornication indicates that the Church is not faithful to Christ, but it is promoting the worship of false gods.

Babylon the Great is a church that appears to the the True Church, but it is a counterfeit which is engaged in the promotion of false religions.

John Paul II, March 21, 2000: “May Saint John the Baptist protect Islam and all the people of Jordan"

There is a video on the topic with references available here