4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her sexual immorality,
clothed in purple and scarlet – as we mentioned in the introduction, the Great Harlot up to the time of the Reformation was the Catholic Church. The clothing of the Catholic Church is purple and scarlet. Bishops wear purple. Cardinals and the Pope wear scarlet.
adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls – anyone who has been to the Vatican can tell you about this.
having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations – the “golden cup” of Babylon is first found in Jer 51:7. An abomination is something that God hates. This expression is often used to describe pagan religious practices, especially when they are adopted by God’s chosen people. The mixture of pagan religious days with the true faith, the changing of God’s commandment, and the worship of a three headed god, are great abominations in the eyes of God.
The cup of communion, or remembrance of Christ’s death is the significant meaning here and throughout the Book of Revelation. The Apostle Paul told us “whosoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.” 1 Cor 11:27
Those who worship the beast, and his image and receive his mark, drink “the wine of her immorality” (Rev 14:8), and “the wine of the wrath of God” (Rev 14:19).