728. Having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her licentiousness. This symbolizes the Roman Catholic religion derived from the sacred contents of the Word profaned, and from its goods and truths defiled by dreadful falsities.

A cup or chalice has the same symbolic meaning as wine, because it is the containing vessel, as may be seen in no. 672 above, and the wine of Babylon symbolizes the Roman Catholic religion in respect to its dreadful falsities (nos. 632, 635). Abominations symbolize profanations of whatever is holy, and the filthiness of her licentiousness symbolizes defilings of the Word's goodness and truth. Consequently, the woman's having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her licentiousness symbolizes the Roman Catholic religion consisting of the sacred contents of the Word profaned, and of its goods and truths defiled by dreadful falsities.

The words here are like those the Lord spoke to the scribes and Pharisees:

Woe to you..., hypocrites! For you make yourselves like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27)