Revelation 17: The Fall of Religious Babylon
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
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.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Revelation 17 offers a chilling vision of religious and political corruption during the tribulation period. Picking up from the description of God's wrath in Revelation 16, this chapter unveils a symbolic representation of the judgment of "religious Babylon," a powerful, ungodly system that deceives the world. While Revelation 18 will focus on Babylon's political and economic downfall, chapter 17 exposes its spiritual depravity.
The Great Prostitute
The chapter opens with an angel, one of those who poured out the bowls of God's wrath, inviting John to witness the judgment of the "great prostitute" (Revelation 17:1). This figure, often referred to as the "Whore of Babylon," is a central symbol in Revelation, representing spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. Just as sexual immorality represents a broken covenant in marriage, so spiritual adultery signifies a betrayal of God through false worship and allegiance to worldly values.
John is transported in a vision to a wilderness, where he sees a woman seated on a scarlet beast (Revelation 17:3). The woman is richly adorned, clothed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold, jewels, and pearls. This opulence symbolizes the allure and worldly support that this corrupt religious system enjoys. However, her beauty masks a sinister reality: she holds a golden cup filled with "abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality" (Revelation 17:4). This cup signifies the perversion and detestable practices that characterize this system.
Furthermore, the woman is described as "drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus" (Revelation 17:6). This horrifying image underscores the system's role in persecuting and killing believers. Wine and blood are often intertwined in biblical imagery, highlighting the woman's responsibility for the immense bloodshed among Christians. This woman embodies an apostate religious view that may emerge as a new system or a corruption of the truth, gaining worldwide influence during the tribulation. John, witnessing this vision, is overwhelmed with astonishment.
Tony Evans points out that the term "prostitute" is used metaphorically for those unfaithful to God, tracing the origin of such unfaithfulness back to Babylon in Genesis 11:1-9. Led by Nimrod, the people of Babylon rejected God's rule, placing humanity at the center of their civilization. Though God dispersed them, the spirit of Babylon continued through history in various empires that sought to replace God, such as Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon and the Roman Empire. Today, secularism and worldliness are children of this "mother of prostitutes."
The Beast and its Meaning
The angel, noticing John’s shock, offers to explain the mystery of the woman and the beast (Revelation 17:7). The beast is described in cryptic terms, suggesting it "was, and is not, and is about to come up from the bottomless pit and go to destruction" (Revelation 17:8). This alludes to the Antichrist, who, as described in Revelation 13, will receive a fatal wound only to be revived, increasing his following. This passage emphasizes that the Antichrist's ultimate destiny is destruction.
The seven heads of the beast are identified as seven mountains on which the woman sits, and also as seven kings (Revelation 17:9-10). Historically, Rome was known as the city built on seven hills. Therefore, many interpreters believe this signifies a revived Roman Empire led by the Antichrist. This empire will embody worldliness and rebellion against God, with the unfaithful woman representing these values. Five of the kings have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. This indicates that the Antichrist will depose some world leaders to consolidate his power, while allowing others to remain or rise to power.
The ten horns on the beast represent ten kings who "receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour" (Revelation 17:12). They will unite to give their power and authority to the beast (Revelation 17:13), forming an alliance under the Antichrist. These ten kings, representing ten nations within the revived Roman Empire, will ultimately make war against the Lamb, Jesus Christ, at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 17:14). However, the Lamb will triumph, for He is "Lord of lords and King of kings."
The Destruction of the Prostitute
The angel reveals that the beast and the ten horns will turn against the prostitute, hating her and making her desolate (Revelation 17:16). They will "eat her flesh and burn her up with fire." This signifies that the political powers, once supportive of the corrupt religious system, will ultimately destroy it. This destruction is divinely ordained, for "God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled" (Revelation 17:17).
The waters on which the prostitute sits represent "peoples and multitudes and nations and languages" (Revelation 17:15), indicating the widespread influence of this corrupt system. However, the image of the ten nations devouring the prostitute and burning her with fire serves as a reminder that the worldly system, which promises pleasure, will soon pass away. Those who embrace that system seek self-glorification and thrills. But in the end, their long-sought gratification will amount to nothing, and they will be given to the beast as his pawns.
The chapter concludes by identifying the woman as "the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth" (Revelation 17:18). This reinforces the idea that this corrupt religious system wields significant political and economic power, influencing the world's leaders.
A Sobering Reminder
Revelation 17 serves as a stark warning against spiritual compromise and the allure of worldly power. It reveals the deceptive nature of false religious systems and their ultimate demise. As Tony Evans emphasizes, these events could occur sooner than we think. The chaos in the Middle East and the increasing marginalization of God suggest that the stage may be set for the rise of the Antichrist. Therefore, Christians must remain vigilant and dedicate their energy to God's agenda, while unbelievers would be wise to confess Jesus as their Savior before it is too late. This chapter calls us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that we are not seduced by the "Babylonian" spirit of our age, but remain faithful to the one true God.
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
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.
For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Revelation 17 offers a chilling vision of religious and political corruption during the tribulation period. Picking up from the description of God's wrath in Revelation 16, this chapter unveils a symbolic representation of the judgment of "religious Babylon," a powerful, ungodly system that deceives the world. While Revelation 18 will focus on Babylon's political and economic downfall, chapter 17 exposes its spiritual depravity.
The Great Prostitute
The chapter opens with an angel, one of those who poured out the bowls of God's wrath, inviting John to witness the judgment of the "great prostitute" (Revelation 17:1). This figure, often referred to as the "Whore of Babylon," is a central symbol in Revelation, representing spiritual unfaithfulness and idolatry. Just as sexual immorality represents a broken covenant in marriage, so spiritual adultery signifies a betrayal of God through false worship and allegiance to worldly values.
John is transported in a vision to a wilderness, where he sees a woman seated on a scarlet beast (Revelation 17:3). The woman is richly adorned, clothed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold, jewels, and pearls. This opulence symbolizes the allure and worldly support that this corrupt religious system enjoys. However, her beauty masks a sinister reality: she holds a golden cup filled with "abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality" (Revelation 17:4). This cup signifies the perversion and detestable practices that characterize this system.
Furthermore, the woman is described as "drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus" (Revelation 17:6). This horrifying image underscores the system's role in persecuting and killing believers. Wine and blood are often intertwined in biblical imagery, highlighting the woman's responsibility for the immense bloodshed among Christians. This woman embodies an apostate religious view that may emerge as a new system or a corruption of the truth, gaining worldwide influence during the tribulation. John, witnessing this vision, is overwhelmed with astonishment.
Tony Evans points out that the term "prostitute" is used metaphorically for those unfaithful to God, tracing the origin of such unfaithfulness back to Babylon in Genesis 11:1-9. Led by Nimrod, the people of Babylon rejected God's rule, placing humanity at the center of their civilization. Though God dispersed them, the spirit of Babylon continued through history in various empires that sought to replace God, such as Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon and the Roman Empire. Today, secularism and worldliness are children of this "mother of prostitutes."
The Beast and its Meaning
The angel, noticing John’s shock, offers to explain the mystery of the woman and the beast (Revelation 17:7). The beast is described in cryptic terms, suggesting it "was, and is not, and is about to come up from the bottomless pit and go to destruction" (Revelation 17:8). This alludes to the Antichrist, who, as described in Revelation 13, will receive a fatal wound only to be revived, increasing his following. This passage emphasizes that the Antichrist's ultimate destiny is destruction.
The seven heads of the beast are identified as seven mountains on which the woman sits, and also as seven kings (Revelation 17:9-10). Historically, Rome was known as the city built on seven hills. Therefore, many interpreters believe this signifies a revived Roman Empire led by the Antichrist. This empire will embody worldliness and rebellion against God, with the unfaithful woman representing these values. Five of the kings have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain for only a little while. This indicates that the Antichrist will depose some world leaders to consolidate his power, while allowing others to remain or rise to power.
The ten horns on the beast represent ten kings who "receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour" (Revelation 17:12). They will unite to give their power and authority to the beast (Revelation 17:13), forming an alliance under the Antichrist. These ten kings, representing ten nations within the revived Roman Empire, will ultimately make war against the Lamb, Jesus Christ, at the battle of Armageddon (Revelation 17:14). However, the Lamb will triumph, for He is "Lord of lords and King of kings."
The Destruction of the Prostitute
The angel reveals that the beast and the ten horns will turn against the prostitute, hating her and making her desolate (Revelation 17:16). They will "eat her flesh and burn her up with fire." This signifies that the political powers, once supportive of the corrupt religious system, will ultimately destroy it. This destruction is divinely ordained, for "God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled" (Revelation 17:17).
The waters on which the prostitute sits represent "peoples and multitudes and nations and languages" (Revelation 17:15), indicating the widespread influence of this corrupt system. However, the image of the ten nations devouring the prostitute and burning her with fire serves as a reminder that the worldly system, which promises pleasure, will soon pass away. Those who embrace that system seek self-glorification and thrills. But in the end, their long-sought gratification will amount to nothing, and they will be given to the beast as his pawns.
The chapter concludes by identifying the woman as "the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth" (Revelation 17:18). This reinforces the idea that this corrupt religious system wields significant political and economic power, influencing the world's leaders.
A Sobering Reminder
Revelation 17 serves as a stark warning against spiritual compromise and the allure of worldly power. It reveals the deceptive nature of false religious systems and their ultimate demise. As Tony Evans emphasizes, these events could occur sooner than we think. The chaos in the Middle East and the increasing marginalization of God suggest that the stage may be set for the rise of the Antichrist. Therefore, Christians must remain vigilant and dedicate their energy to God's agenda, while unbelievers would be wise to confess Jesus as their Savior before it is too late. This chapter calls us to examine our own hearts, ensuring that we are not seduced by the "Babylonian" spirit of our age, but remain faithful to the one true God.