Andrea Hutchinson
As promised in last weeks study ch. 17 continues onto the introduction of the Prostitute, or of Babylon . Previous chapters have already declared Babylon’s fall. In Revelation 17 and 18, the fall of Babylon is carefully detailed. The three “great signs in heaven”—”a woman clothed with the sun” (12:1), “a great red dragon” (12:3) and “seven angels with seven plagues” (15:1)—are over. A new vision begins. To begin, one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls introduces this elaborate vision. The angel carries John “away in the Spirit into a wilderness” and promises to show John the punishment of the great prostitute with whom the kings of the earth committed adultery. The angels language and focus indicates that this vision extends beyond ch. 17.
Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast
17 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.” 3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.
The angel carries John, in the spirit, into a wilderness for this vision. There John sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The theme of the beast, seven heads and ten horns, we have seen in previous chapters, marking this passage a continuation of ch. 16, as promised.
Her (Babylon) judgment is assured at the outset. There is never any doubt regarding the fate and ultimate failure of the woman; Babylon.
The phrase “who sits by (or on, more accurately in other versions) many waters” is interpreted as “peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues” later in v.15. Again, we’ve seen this interpretation in previous chapters. The reference to “many waters” may also represent false religion that will dominate the world at this time.
She, Babylon, intoxicates kings and peoples. They are made drunk with the wine of her fornication: the idea of fornication often has strong associations throughout the Bible with idolatry. Although Babylon is called the harlot, vv 1,5,16 and in ch.19, her habitual fornication was introduced in ch. 14:8 as was her imminent judgement. Both the kings and the inhabitants of the earth are seduced into committing spiritual adultery with her. The indication is that she made them intoxicated with power, material possessions, false worship and pride. In 14:18 Babylon was judged harshly and with finality, by God in “the winepress of the fierceness of His wrath” 16:19, prior to this, the introduction of “Her”.
It is in this wilderness that the woman is seen sitting on the scarlet beast (12:3 and 13:1). The wilderness could be said to be a place of protection because the woman who gave birth to the child ruler fled there. It gives heed to the idea that Babylon, being in league with the dragon and the beast join the pursuit for the people of God. The scarlet beast is clearly identified as the beast of the sea – the Antichrist of 13:1, 5 and 6. The ten horns are interpreted in v.12 as ten kings, as we will soon read.
4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: Babylon the great the mother of prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth. 6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: “Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns.
The woman in John’s vision is dressed lavishly. Her dress is that of royalty. Though her appearance is regal, her “golden cup” is full of abominations and filthiness, speaking of idolatry and unclean acts that disgust God.
Mystery, Babylon The Great: This title is for Babylon; its spiritual (mystery) representation, which is the source (mother) of all idolatry (abominations) and spiritual adultery (harlots). However, based on the use of the word mystery in the next verse it would more likely read, “on her forehead a mysterious name was written”. “Mystery, Babylon The Great” seems to indicate that all spiritual harlotry and abominable acts in history are somehow the offspring of Babylon.
John saw that the woman was “drunk with the blood of God’s holy people”, the saints, and the Christian martyrs (Matt. 24:21), reveling in her persecution of God’s people. Her actions are all the more repugnant to the Lord, as are the acts of anyone who persecutes God’s people. Her hatred of Christianity is clearly portrayed in this vision. Being drunk on the blood of God’s holy people indicates a time of extraordinary slaughter.
Rarely does John express emotion at what he is shown. Thus far we have read of only three, including this one. He collapsed at the feet of the figure that appeared to him in 1:17 and was told, “do not be afraid.”. He wept bitterly 5:4-5 when “no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it” and was told, “do not weep”. Here he is greatly astonished at what he has just seen and the angel asks him “why are you astonished?” With each instance of emotional response John is calmed and corrected by the guiding angel.
The verse states that his astonishment was upon seeing the harlot drunk on the blood of God’s saints. The angel wakes John from his reverie with the question and the promise of the explanation for what he has seen. Oddly the interpretation focuses more on the beast than on the woman, who is explained almost as an afterthought.
8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
The beast carrying the woman is clearly connected with or simply is the beast of the sea in Rev. 13. The description of the beast who “once was, now is not, and yet will ascend and go to perdition” is a purposeful contrasting description or parody of God as the one “Who was, and is, and is to come.” in 4:8; 1:4 and 8.
“Was” likely indicates that the beast had been manifested in the past (Dan. 7).
“Now is not” suggests that the beast was not working his evil in John’s time.
“Will come up … and go to its destruction” indicates the beast’s eternal punishment and ruin.
“Those whose names have not been written in the book of Life …” Are clearly defined as the people of the world by the angel. This continued identification is key. John is to understand that the inhabitants of the world are not God’s holy people, but members of the other camp. These people have been deceived by the beast and by association damning their eternal destinies. All they see is the beast that once was reemerging.
9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while.
“A mind with wisdom …” It seems the angel is instructing John to pay close attention, indicating that this explanation is vital and needs a clear and steady mind. A mind open to God’s truth (1:3). The angel may be pointing to v.8 and the importance of understanding the beast’s identity. It may also refer to the verses above and the interpretation of the heads, the beast, the horns, and the woman.
The seven heads of the beast likely represent both seven mountains and seven kings. The word hills also means mountains in the Greek (14:1). Some understand this to refer to the seven hills along the Tiber River, a known designation of Rome. However, seven hills may also refer to successive world empires as mountains are symbols of earthly kingdoms or empires (Ps. 30:7; Jer. 51:25; Dan. 2:44,45). This view has five of the seven hills as past kingdoms, the sixth the Roman Empire and the seventh that has not yet come. This seventh will quickly be taken over by an eighth – and will become the state of the Antichrist 17:11.
The kings possibly refer to the Romans emperors, though this is unlikely because more than five emperors reigned before the writing of Revelation.
However, it is probably better to see the seven mountains as representing the seven kings and kingdoms described in Revelation 17:10. Many people find the connection between religious Babylon and the Roman church irresistible, yet it is flawed in the sense that there is no doubt that religious Babylon will incorporate a strong Roman element, but it will be much bigger than the Roman church.
Is it any wonder that the angel specified the need for wisdom. This passage is difficult.
11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
Is [himself also] the eighth. He (Antichrist) is of the seven in the sense that he shares characteristics with previous world empires, but his fate is clear; destruction, perdition in some translations. The beast will be destroyed.
12 “The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.
This passage alludes to a ten-nation confederation (as in the toes in Dan. 2:24-45).“They are ten kings[doms] which arise, at the end time; who, with the beast will make war against Christ. Though the passage clarifies they have not yet risen. A time of one hour is allotted to the ten kings (horns /nations?) (1:3; Dan. 2: 34,41,42). For that hour they will receive authority to rule alongside the beast. Yet we remember that in the previous verse that God in His just judgement has designated a time and the destruction of the beast, which cannot be changed with these events. The time frame for these events may coincide with 16:14, in which the preparations of the battle at Armageddon are described. The angel makes it clear that the vision concerns the future, not the present or even the near future.
13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast.
Whatever their exact identity, their actions are clear. They relinquish their power and authority they were given to the beast. They join with the Antichrist in the war against Christ, in the battle alluded to in the sixth and seventh bowls Rev. 16:12-21. Again, some understand the ten rulers to be emperors of the Roman Empire of John’s day. Others take 10 to be symbolic of nations aligned with the beast. Still others see a ten nation confederacy; possibly a revived latter day Roman Empire (Dan. 7:7, 19,20,23,24).
14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
The ten kings, aligned with the beast will wage war against Lamb, Christ. But the Lord of lords and the King of kings (19:16) will easily overcome them at His second coming (19:19-21). This wording in is contrast to 13:7, where the beast and his armies are permitted, by God, to wage war with the saints and overcome them.
The angel assures John again that “the Lamb will triumph … and with him will be his called, chose and faithful followers.” likely representing the Lord’s heavenly soldiers of 19:14. The vision prophesies the victory before the battle!
15 Then the angel said to me, “The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.
This tells us that the harlot’s influence is worldwide, through her connection to the beast. A truly one-world religion, though for only a short time.The interpretation of the harlot focuses on her relation to the beast: she is utterly connected to the beast and his government.
16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire.
This violence is thought to possibly take place at the mid-point of the tribulation period. Here, apostate religion discovers the true nature of the beast. Ultimately, the Antichrist will not tolerate any worship except of himself (2 These.2:3-4), and so the harlot is destroyed. “… and burn her with fire.” Once his power has been consolidated, the Antichrist no longer needs the help of religious Babylon. He will then work to dismantle and destroy her and her one-world religion.
This description is similar to God’s judgement on Babylon in 18:18 it would seem that the Lord, in His sovereignty, uses the Beast’s forces as His own instrument of His judgement of the Antichrist ch.18, before they are destroyed in the battle.
17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God’s words are fulfilled.
God directed the judgment against religious Babylon. God will sometimes use a wicked group, here the ten kings, to be an instrument of His judgment against another wicked group, here religious Babylon.
18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth.”
In John’s day, there was no doubt which city reigned over the kings of the earth. Rome was the political, economic, and religious center of the world of that time. Rome was the ready personification of Babylon – the world in rebellion against God – in John’s day.
Today, idolatry is just as strong, though more dispersed. Today, people attempt to identify which city in the world is most readily identified with the world system? Hollywood? Wall Street? Washington? Again, Revelation is not up for our interpretation or even our understanding. Yet. All will be revealed in God’s perfect timing.
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