Published in 1857, this is a detailed and scholarly examination of the question of biblical prophecy and its relevance to the Roman Catholic Church. Christopher Wordsworth, nephew of the famous poet, makes a compelling argument for identifying the papacy with the Babylonian empire mentioned in the Book of Revelation. Although his views may offend some, Wordsworth's thorough research and thoughtful exposition make this an important work for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of biblical interpretation and world religions. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.