What I mean is that when we call out Rome as the Beast of Rev 13 there is little to no dispute that it at least referred to the ancient Roman empire. But when John wrote Revelation he was concerned that many of the Christ followers had been deceived by the propaganda of the empire. They had been or were in danger of being, seduced by the Great Prostitute (the goddess Roma). This concern is powerfully embodied in the heavenly cry, “Come out of her, my people” (Rev 18:4).It is ironic, then, when prophetic voices in the church today call out the present embodiment of empire they are met with the same sort of resistance.Could it be that we too have been seduced by the Beast and the Great Prostitute?