I believe the vision of the woman, the city of Babylon, is a religious system. Her widespread trade is false religion.
Revelation uses common prophetic themes from the Old Testament.
I see her as the religion (prostitute) which rides the beast (empire)
That is correct,for she represents all the false religions of the world.
Babylon will never have physical dominion again,but her life was prolonged for a season and time,which means her ways are still on earth,and no system before the Roman Empire will have dominion.Babylon in Revelation is in spirit.
Babylon represents human religion,anything goes multiculturism.
Babylon rode on eagle's wings when king Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged the God of Israel,and proclaimed throughout his kingdom to acknowledge the God of Israel for He is the greatest god of the gods.
But when he died and his son took the throne he knew what his father believed,but went against it,and the wings were plucked,and then Babylon was known as the kingdom of man,which the beast kingdom in Revelation represents human religion,and the kingdom of man.
The beginning of the end.
1Ti 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
1Ti 4:3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1Ti 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
1Ti 4:5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
The new age movement interpretation of the Bible based on spiritual evolution through nature,and exalts people,and Jesus is not Lord and Savior,but a good teacher.
Forbid to marry for a man and a woman for population reduction,and command to abstain from meats,nature worship.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The new age movement is the future for this sinful world,and will develop in to a unified religious system,and any belief not compatible will not be tolerated,and a hate crime to try to convert someone to their belief,and will be the time the world will not endure the truth of the Bible but according to their own lusts,power through nature.
Whoever heads up the unified religious system,the spiritual leader,and headquarters,will represent mystery Babylon,and all religions will be interpreted according to the new age movement,which will make sense to the world for it is based on evolution,and people can still evolve.
The new age movement,unified religious system,will pave the way to the beast kingdom in Revelation,and the man of sin,New Age Christ,will convince the world that he harnessed the power of nature,obtained power,evolved,and will share this power with all who follow him,which he is of the occult,nature worship,witchcraft,and does not regard any god,but in his estate he will honor the God of forces,or the power of nature as his higher power.
Rev 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
The ten horns is the world split in to ten sections with a leader in each section,and the unified religious system will operate for three and one half years,and the man of sin will claim to be God,or highest authority,and they will get rid of the unified religious system for they have no need for her anymore.
The Roman Empire does not lose their dominion until God puts her down in which the Caucasian led nations come together,including America,which they will mingle themselves with the seed of men,so who could the spiritual leader,and headquarters be that heads it up.
Babylon is responsible for all that is slain on earth,for a person either belongs to the kingdom of God,or Babylon,the kingdom of man.