Revelation 17: The Scarlet Duo

Introduced to the Harlot

Revelation 17:1–2 NKJV

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

vs. 1&2

She is known as the harlot, and her sin is called “fornication” — her evil influence extended to the whole world…reaching into the high places of the kings of the earth.

In Ch. 18 — we learn that the harlot is the representation of “the great city, Babylon.”

She represents a fallen world system…seduced by the lust and evil of satan…the kings of the earth commited acts of immorality.

Off to the Wilderness

Revelation 17:3–5 NKJV

So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH

Hope in Hard Times—The Final Curtain: Revelation Word and Phrase Study

“And he carried me away in the Spirit” This phrase is used to introduce John’s visions

“And he carried me away in the Spirit” This phrase is used to introduce John’s visions.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 17:3–5

to a desert where he saw the woman herself. She was sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names. The beast had 7 heads and 10 horns. The beast is an obvious reference to the world government

...to a desert where he saw the woman herself.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 17:3–5

The 10 horns are later defined (17:12) as 10 kings who had “not yet received a kingdom.” The 7 heads seem to refer to prominent rulers of the yet-future Roman Empire.

This beast we know to be the end-times Antichrist.

The woman was covered from head to toe in the opulence that the world lusts after.

The finest clothes.

The most expensive jewelry.

Hope in Hard Times—The Final Curtain: Revelation Word and Phrase Study

“on her forehead a name was written”

Hope in Hard Times—The Final Curtain: Revelation Word and Phrase Study

that Roman whores wore a band with either their own name or the name of their owner on their foreheads.

Hope in Hard Times—The Final Curtain: Revelation Word and Phrase Study

Babylon has its origin in the first civilization, started by Nimrod (Babel), which rebelled against God and was dispersed in Gen. 11. From this usage and from the fact that Babylon took the people of God (Judah) into exile, it became a synonym for an evil, imperial world power. In John’s day, this power was Rome

The Woman

vs. 6

Revelation 17:6 NKJV

I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary i. The Woman Seated on the Beast (17:1–6)

John saw this woman drunk with the blood of the saints, further described as ‘the martyrs’ (those who bore testimony)

Revelation: An Introduction and Commentary i. The Woman Seated on the Beast (17:1–6)

The harlot had slain not one or two of the saints, but a great number. This figure also implies that she enjoyed the process.

The harlot had slain not one or two of the saints, but a great number.

This figure also implies that she enjoyed the process.

Hope in Hard Times—The Final Curtain: Revelation Word and Phrase Study

This verse speaks of the persecution and martyrdom of believers

This verse speaks of the persecution and martyrdom of believers.

Hope in Hard Times—The Final Curtain: Revelation Word and Phrase Study

“I wondered greatly”

Hope in Hard Times—The Final Curtain: Revelation Word and Phrase Study

John was not admiring her, but he was utterly astonished at her actions.

John was not admiring her, but he was utterly astonished at her actions.