Dave Hunt's love and compassion for Roman Catholics, that they might be saved, is what motivated him to write this provocative book, A Woman Rides The Beast. It is published by Harvest House Publishers, Eugene Oregon, 97402, Copyright 1994, by Dave Hunt. This 544 page, carefully documented book is highly recommended for anyone trying to lead a Roman Catholic to a saving knowledge of Christ. It is also a disturbing wake up call for Roman Catholics who have never questioned the history of deception and controlling dogmas of their church. Any Catholic who is earnestly seeking the truth will no longer be deceived after reading this eye-opening book.

Following are excepts from A Woman Rides the Beast:

 "A woman rides the beast, and that woman is a city built on seven hills that reigns over the kings of the earth (Revelation 17:9, 18). The Catholic Encyclopedia states: 'It is within the city of Rome, called the city of seven hills, that the entire area of Vatican State proper is now confined.' There are, of course other cities such as Rio De Janeiro, that were also built on seven hills. Therefore John provides at least seven more characteristics to limit the identification to Rome alone. As we shall see, there is only one city on the earth which, in both historical and contemporary perspectives, passes every test John gives, including its identification as Mystery Babylon. That city is Rome, and more specifically, Vatican City.

"The first thing we are told about the woman is that she is a 'whore' (Revelation 17:1) that earthly kings 'have committed fornication' with her and that 'all the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.' Fornication and adultery are used in the Bible in both the physical and spiritual sense. Of Jerusalem, God said, 'How is the faithful become a harlot!' (Isaiah 1:21). Israel, whom God had set apart from all ot her peoples to be holy for His purposes, had entered into unholy alliances with the idol worshipping nations about her.

"The city therefore must claim a spiritual relationship with God. (Rome) claims to have been the worldwide headquarters of Christianity since its beginning and maintains that claim to this day. Her pope enthroned in Rome claims to be the exclusive representative of God, the vicar of Christ. Popes have fought with armies and navies in the name of Christ to build a huge kingdom. And to amass their earthly empire they have repeatedly engaged in spiritual fornication with emperors, kings, and princes. Claiming to be the bride of Christ, the Roman Catholic Church has been in bed with godless rulers through history.

"The incredible wealth of this woman caught John's attention next. She was dressed 'in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication' (Revelation 17:4). The woman's colors are literally still the colors of the Catholic clergy!

"The 'golden cup (chalice) in her hand' again identifies the woman with the Roman Catholic Church . . . which possesses many thousands of solid gold chalices kept in its churches around the world. Most of Rome's wealth has been acquired through the sale of salvation. Untold billions of dollars have been paid to her by those who thought they were purchasing heaven on the installment plan for themselves or loved ones. In addition to such perversions of the Gospel which have led hundreds of millions astray, there are further abominations of corrupt backing practices, laundering of drug money . . . and dealings with the Mafia. The Roman Catholic Church is by far the wealthiest institution on earth.

"The Roman Catholic Church fits the description 'mother of harlots and abominations' as precisely as she fits the others. Much of the cause can be traced to the unbiblical demands that her priests be celibates. Not only has celibacy made sinners of the clergy who engage in fornication, but it makes harlots out of those with whom they secretly cohabit. Pius II declared that Rome was 'the only city run by bastards' (sons of popes and cardinals).

"As for abominations, even Catholic historians admit that among the popes were some of the most degenerate and unconscionable ogres in all of history. Yet the name of each one of these unbelievably wicked popes, mass murderers, fornicators, robbers, warmongers . . . is emblazoned in honor of the Church's official list of popes.

"John next notices the woman is drunk . . . with 'the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus . . . ' (Revelation 17:6). Besides those victims of the Inquisition, there were Huguenots, Albigenses, Waldenses, and other Christians who were massacred, tortured, and burned at the stake by the hundreds of thousands simply because they refused to align themselves with the Roman Catholic Church and its corruption and heretical dogmas and practices. Out of conscience they tried to follow the teachings of Christ and the apostles independent of Rome, and for that crime they were maligned, hunted, imprisoned, tortured and slain.

"Finally, the angel reveals to John that the woman 'is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth' (Revelation 17:18). Is there such a city? Yes, and again only one: Vatican City. Popes crowned and deposed kings and emperors, exacting obedience by threatening them with excommunication. The Vatican is the only city which exchanges ambassadors with nations, and she does so with every major country on earth. Ambassadors come to the Vatican . . . not out of mere courtesy but because the pope is the most powerful ruler on earth today. Unlike any other city on earth, the Vatican is acknowledged as a sovereign state in its own right, separate from the nation of Italy surrounding it. There is no city upon earth, past or present, which meets all of these criteria except Catholic Rome and now Vatican City."