Revelation 17

Last week we looked in Revelation 16 at the pouring out of the 7 Bowls of God’s Wrath

On the earth and on the kingdom of the beast and on those in rebellion against God.

Tonight we will look at the judgment of the great prostitute

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, 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.” 

3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 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. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.

Our first question is: WHO IS THIS PROSTITUTE?

Welwyn Commentary: the world with all its seductions and charms, the world reserved for destruction. Note these quotations from Hendriksen. Babylon stands for 'that which allures, tempts, seduces and draws people away from God', and as such, 'it reminds us of pleasure-mad, arrogant, presumptuous Babylon of old'. Just think back to Nimrod's kingdom (Genesis 10:10) and the desire behind Babel that he built: 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves' (Genesis 11:4).

The Prostitute here is all about what we are told NOT to love in 1 John 2:15-16

15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Great prostitute seated on many waters: the world system that allures men away from God...and men from all over the world

With whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality: basically all kings and kingdoms have fallen to the prostitute’s allurement

The wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk

Scarlet beast full of blasphemous names; 7 heads and 10 horns: beast = ungodly governments, false religion...carried along, controlled by the red dragon...Satan

Woman arrayed in purple, adorned with gold and jewels and pearls: royalty? Adorned with all that allures (1 John 2:15-17)

Holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and impurities: what those who are allured and partake of her idolatry actually are taking in...

On forehead written a name of mystery: Babylon the Great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations

Saw woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the marytrs of Jesus: she...this rebellious, Satan-carried world system, is DRUNK with blood of the saints, the martyrs of Jesus.

That is, those who DO NOT commit immorality with her and run after what she offers and allures with become ENEMIES...most of all because SATAN, the great red dragon is behind the prostitute and always allures to kill, steal, and destroy.

When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 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. 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. 

John’s marveling could have included some admiration, but the angel sort of rebukes this. Any of us and all of us at times are allured by the world: the lust of flesh and eyes and pride of life.

The beast/Satan are all about imitation: v8: was, is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction just as God and Christ “is, was, and is to come the Almighty”

9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 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. 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. 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. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 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.”

This part of the chapter has had many, many interpretations over the centuries...especially the seven heads and kings and ten horns and kings...

Steve Wilmhurst writes this:

“Now commentators have had a field day with these verses. The commentaries are full of schemes involving lists of Roman emperors, world empires and so forth. And, on the wilder shores of interpretation, you might perhaps remember the suggestion back in the 1970s that the ten kings represent the European community, which at the time had only nine members. The idea was that when the tenth member joined, that would be a sign of the end. Not surprisingly, now that the EU has twenty-five members, you don't hear that suggestion any more!”

Rome may indeed be intended by the “Seven mountains on which the woman is seated” but not just or only physical Rome...but all the kings and kingdoms that have raised their heads against the living God and His Son.

Ultimately (v12) there will be a war by the earthly powers against the Lamb, but note, v14: “and the Lamb will conquer them”.

On Called, chosen, and faithful...Believers are those CALLED: through the gospel, by the Spirit, overcoming all resistance to faith (Romans 8:29-30); CHOSEN: elect according to the foreknowledge of God (1Peter 1:2-3); FAITHFUL: they have faith and they live it out in obedience to Christ (Ephesian 1:1)...

15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 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, 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. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”

NOTE the parody or evil imitation of the Great Commission in v15! The prostitute, or evil world system carried along by the dragon, Satan, rules over people around the world...all nations. Satan is after followers, disciples...he has been building a sort of “anti-church.” 

but notice next...in vv16-18:

These kingdoms that do evil, kill the saints...they turn on themselves! Just like God did in the OT, eg: Gideon against the Midianites...

Why? V17: for God has put it into their hearts to destroy them “until the words of God are fulfilled.”