A Harlot on her “Horse”

A Wilderness Vision (v.1-3a)

Revelation 17:1 “Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,”

This vision confirms that judgment will come upon the great prostitute. Showing Babylon as a harlot points to her seductive nature as she tries to lure the world away from Jesus. She has seated herself on many waters. This is an allusion to Jer 51:13, where Babylon is called the one who dwells “by many waters, rich in treasures.” And, as we will see, these waters also represent the people and nations that are ruled by Babylon.

Revelation 17:2 “with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.””

It is rather common in Scripture for sexual immorality to be a picture of spiritual infidelity. Why has she enticed world leaders so? The nations are loyal to Babylon because they believe her to provide economic security (see Beale’s lengthy discussion). This is confirmed by the parallels in Isaiah 23:17–18 (“At the end of seventy years, the Lord will visit Tyre, and she will return to her wages and will prostitute herself with all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. Her merchandise and her wages will be holy to the Lord. It will not be stored or hoarded, but her merchandise will supply abundant food and fine clothing for those who dwell before the Lord.”)

Revelation 17:3a “And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness,”

Carried…away in the Spirit is a colloquialism for being given a prophetic vision. Ezekiel 3:12; 11:24 both contain similar sentiments, and 2 Pet 1:21 provides a NT parallel instruction. John is carried into a wilderness, a place of “physical deprivation” (see Christ in His time of fasting in the wilderness, the Israelites wandering and only eating manna and quail, etc.) but spiritual protection (Rev12:6; 14). The wilderness provides ample detachment from the events, allowing John to safely observe what is taking place. Rev.12 and Rev.17 are the only places where the Greek word eremos (“wilderness”) is used. Here, John is able to see beyond the surface of Babylon’s allure, able to discern her true underlying ugliness. In true “law of retribution” fashion, John sees the persecution of the church (though she is protected) in the wilderness, and the downfall of her persecutor in the wilderness.

Don’t despise the desert. It’s here that God shows John such a deep and marvelous vision. It was in the desert that God protected the mother of Rev.12 when she was being harassed by the dragon. The desert wilderness is where Moses met with God and received the Word. Yet, we hate the desert. We run from it, and ask why God brought us here. Was it simply to let us die? No, it’s in the desert where all falsities are stripped away and God is our all in all, our portion, our lot. Don’t despise the desert.

The Babylonian Woman (v.3b-7)

Revelation 17:3b “and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.”

Babylon rides the beast from chapter 13 (the descriptions are almost identical), which is now described also as being scarlet. In one notable place, scarlet is used to describe the color of the sin of Israel (Isa.1:18). The blasphemous names refer to the beast’s false claims of sovereignty over all. The fact that the prostitute rides on the beast shows close association though maintaining distinction.

Revelation 17:4 “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.”

Why is the woman so alluring? She gives an appearance of godliness because she mimics some of the dress of the righteous woman in Prov.31:21-22. But she is a harlot, a seductress full of abominations and…sexual immorality. This woman is the antithesis of the righteous woman described by Paul in 1 Tim2:9-10. Although beauty is vain (Prov.31:30), this seems to be her aim as she seduces the earth. She is seductively appealing. According to Jeremiah 51:7 (“Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, making all the earth drunken; the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad.”), her golden cup…of abominations and…sexual immorality drive her lovers mad.

Revelation 17:5 “And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.””

Noting the fact that there are two ways a person can embrace, either following Jesus or following the beast, and also given the fact that allegiance is denoting by what is written on the forehead, it seems then that Babylon the great being written on the prostitutes forehead is synonymous with the mark of the beast from chapter 14.

Her description pictures the lust of the world seeking after physical (particularly sensual) pleasure and casting off godly restraint in the pursuit of any/all abominations.

Note the difference in the mother described here and the mother described in chapter 12. The first mother birthed a child who would provide righteousness and created the church while the second mother was a mother of prostitutes and…abominations — her goal is to lead people out of righteousness.

Revelation 17:6 “And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.”

Being drunk is to be overindulged, and the wine of her intoxication is the blood of the saints and the martyrs (witnesses) of Jesus. Babylon has waged war against the people of God, conquering them until she’s become intoxicated with the violence against them.

Allegiance to Jesus is what sparks this persecution. The blood that is spilled belongs to the martyrs (or witnesses) of Jesus.

So John marvels at this. It seems odd. It’s a term of near-worshipful admiration. How can John come so close to what could be understood as worship? The better question is what keeps John from actually embracing her seduction? As mentioned earlier, John is in the wilderness, a place of spiritual protection. And, he was led there in the Spirit. So, it is only through God’s gracious provision that John, and by extension all saints, do NOT bow to the harlot.

Revelation 17:7 “But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.”

John’s response to the vision of the woman was to marvel greatly. This draws a rhetorical question that is intended as a rebuke from the angel: Why do you marvel? John should not be fearful and perplexed (especially in light of everything he’s seen so far!). Even though the woman appears magnificent, the angel is about to unfold her destiny.

Let us not buy another one of the enemy’s greatest lies — that he’s not actually tempting and alluring. Cloaked in a shroud of quasi-holiness, Babylon whispered her seductive lies and led many astray. Much in the same way, we hear the call to compromise on the regular. It can be as simple as sanctified gossip…you know, pray for so-and-so. Or, it can be downright temptations to compromise and convince ourselves that what is good is bad and vice-versa.

A Message in Need of Wisdom (v.8-14)

Revelation 17:8 “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.”

The was/is not/will be nature of the beast very well could explain what was previously called the appearance of a mortal wound. Remember this led many to follow him, a point that is reiterated by the note here that the world will marvel at the beast. There is an irony here that could go unnoticed. The beast who rose up out of the abyss to wage war on the church and conquer it finally rises up only to be destroyed.

Revelation 17:9 “This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated;”

It is interesting that Rome, who had dominion over the earth’s kings (see v.18), sits on seven mountains. Mountains were common imagery in prophetic writings for places of power (Jer.51:24-25; Dan.2:35, 44-45).

While Rome very well could’ve been a near interpretation of the seven mountains, etc., Revelation continues to look forward to both historical embodiments and a final/far fulfillment. During John’s time, Rome would have been in view, and Rome’s seven hills likely informed the symbol. But, the implication stretches beyond John’s time.

Revelation 17:10“they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.”

There is quite a bit of discussion over the identity of the kings. Who are the fallen kings? Who is the current king? Who is the king yet to come? There are conflicting conclusions ranging from various Roman emperors to numerical symbols that simply point to worldly kingdoms, culminating in the beast. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter. He only remains a little while for he is going too destruction (v.8, 11).

It is plausible that the kingdoms that had fallen from John’s perspective were Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. That would make the current king Rome. The only question is, “Who will be the seventh?” Maybe the reason it seems difficult to discern is because there’s not a single kingdom to which the church should look, but for all systems who prop themselves up against God. Note that the prostitute rides on the beast as a whole, not on individual crowns/rulers. The seventh is the final fulfillment or the complete fulfillment of all Babylons. So, the message calls us to constant vigilance.

Revelation 17:11 “As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.”

The nature of the beast is somewhat disputed. Some say it refers to an “antichrist” type figure who comes after the seven kings, while others note that John’s language indicates that the beast is an essential, concentrated expression of the previous seven. Others contend that the eighth is an individual and specific ruler in the seventh. Regardless of how we understand this, the end is the same: destruction.

One might ask when was he and how is he currently not? This could be understood as the defeat of satan on the cross. How then is he currently not when we know that we should expect spiritual opposition and warfare? I think it’s okay to interpret this as a cyclical rising from the beast. Babylon has been cyclical throughout human history, as has the day of the Lord. It stands to reason that the beast is often defeated through the cross of Christ and the gospel of grace, but he never intends to stay that way. He is always a generation or a nation away from rising again to power.

Revelation 17:12 “And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.”

It only seems logical that these ten kings who each rule for only one hour should be taken symbolically. They are allies of the beast, so it’s probably to be taken as nations throughout history who align themselves with the enemy. They each receive authority to rule for one hour. It is a limited time, and relatively short.

Revelation 17:13 “These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.”

The devotion of the kings to the beast is continued. They hand over their power and authority to him. If they received their authority from the beast, then it makes sense that he would in turn demand their allegiance and require that authority to be given back.

Revelation 17:14 “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.””

For all of the symbolism and explanation, it culminates here in verse 14 — even though they make war on the Lamb, the Lamb will conquer them. Why? He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and the ones who belong to Him are called and chosen and faithful. This seems to answer the question or whether or not the call to persevere and overcome will be heeded and answered. Indeed it will, for those with the Lamb are called, chosen, and faithful!

The situation, John says, “calls for a mind of wisdom.” Wisdom is not the accumulation of knowledge, but rather, living in light of the knowledge God has granted us. Here, we get a glimpse into (as we have with Revelation as a whole) the end…the victory of the King of kings and Lord of lords. And, throughout this book, we’ve seen the call to do what? Persevered…overcome…remain steadfast through faithful obedience. So, living wisely in light of all of this, we stay the course. We pursue Christ with all that we have. Why? Because we know the outcome. We may not know the steps that bring us there, but we know the last chapter. Put it to use. Even if they take this world from us, Christ wins in the end!

Division at the Hand of God (v.15-18)

Revelation 17:15–16 “And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire,”

There is an allusion here to hated harlot of old: Jezebel. The parallels between Babylon and Jezzy are numerous…both heavily adorned or made up, both were queens, both used seduction to manipulate, both engaged in witchcraft, both were greedy for wealth, both persecuted God’s people. It keeps going. That would make the fact that her “people” turn on her to devour her an allusion to the fact hat Jezebel wasn’t laid to rest. Rather, she was devoured by dogs.

Revelation 17:17 “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.”

So God uses those aligned against Him to carry our His purposes. This happens in the book of Isaiah as God uses Babylon to judge unfaithful Israel before judging Babylon for their wickedness against Israel.

Revelation 17:18 “And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.””

Rome had dominion over the kings of the earth during the time of John’s writing. However, contextually it does no good in limiting our understanding. It only serves as a reminder that as it is, so shall it be with all who are united in rebellion against God.

Perhaps the most staggering of all the pictures painted is the allusion to Jezebel. “Why?”, you might ask. At least one of the churches in the opening seven letters were aligned with the spirit of Jezebel — Thyatira (Revelation 2:20 “But I have this against you, that you tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and seducing my servants to practice sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.”) There is a sobering reminder of the church’s need to cling tightly to the faith once-for-all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3). It is a reminder that at any given moment in the history of the church, there is the temptation to gather people who will tickle our itchy ears. There is even the temptation to couch in biblical terms, to float compromise under the pretext of love. Now, there’s a much deeper conversation as to how this fleshes itself out in particular circumstances, and we’re not floating down all those streams of discussion this morning. The thing I’m trying to emphasize is this: we have one faith, one baptism, one Spirit, and one rule, one standard — God’s Word. May we ever be found faithful to His truth.