Untitled Sermon

(1) They followed other gods (17:7–12). (2) They rejected the ministries of the prophets who sought to enforce the covenant (17:13–14). (3) They rejected the covenant itself (17:15–17)

Edward E. Hindson; Elmer Towns

In the Bible this city increasingly came to symbolize the godless society, with its pretensions (Gen. 11), persecutions (Dan. 3), pleasures, sins and superstitions (Isa. 47:8–13), its riches and eventual doom (Rev. 17, 18)

Derek Kidner

What was, What is, What is to be

God wants His people to be overcomers (Rom. 12:21; 1 John 2:13–14; 4:4; 5:4–5; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7), and this comes when first we are worshipers.

Warren Wirsbee

Today's scripture can be confusing because of the imagery that is presented. Commentators have many different opinions as to what is referred to by the use of the image of a prostitute.

Throughout scripture Israel is referred to as the Bride of God, whenever they have rebelled and worshipped false gods it is referred to as fornication or consorting with a prostitute. Most are in agreement with this explanation. The question comes with who John is referring too in the text.

One school of thought is that it is prophetic and refers to the Roman Catholic Church. I don’t think that this is the correct idea in that it is too limiting in its scope and seems to be out of place when compared to other parts of John’s vision.

Another idea is that it refers to the Roman Empire. The idea of the seven hills . Rome was referred to as the city of the seven hills. the references to the five kings who were the sixth who was and the seventh who is to come. John says that this seventh will remain only for a little while and will be followed by one who is not a newcomer. The emperor Nero was greatly feared as a persecutor of Christians. There was a fear that he had not really died or that he would be resurrected and rule once again. This imagery of the great city referred to as the harlot and the return of Nero combined would be terrorizing for God’s people. It also represents rebellion against God.

Verses 12-14 introduce the ten horns or ten kings. This can take us back to Daniel 7:7. Daniel’s vision of ten kings is explained and named by kings that have come, reined, and been defeated. In John’s vision they come together with the anti-christ to declare war against the Lamb.

The harlot is named as the city Babylon

To understand Babylon I want to go back to Gen. 10 .8-10 where we read about Nimrod.

Nimrod before the Lord. He is the one credited with the tower of Babel.