¹⁹ Note, for example, that the punishment for the prostitutes in Ezekiel’s prophecies came, not from Jehovah directly, but from the very nations with whom God’s disloyal people had committed spiritual immorality. Similarly, the world empire of false religion is condemned for committing such immorality with “the kings of the earth.” And from whom does her punishment come? We read that these political elements “will hate the prostitute and will make her devastated and naked, and they will eat up her flesh and completely burn her with fire.” Why will the governments of this world make such a surprising move? Because God will “put it into their hearts to carry out his thought.”​—Rev. 17:1-3, 15-17.

20. What shows that the judgment on Babylon will be final?

²⁰ So Jehovah will use the nations of this world to carry out his judgment against all false religion, including the many religions of Christendom.

21. The destruction of false religion marks the beginning of what period of time, and how will that period end?

²¹ When the governments of this world turn against Babylon the Great, they will be carrying out an execution of God’s judgment, a great event in the outworking of Jehovah’s purpose. This will mark the beginning of the great tribulation, a time of unprecedented turmoil. (Matt. 24:21)