Revelation 17

Translation

Then one of the seven angels who had the seven offering bowls came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here! I will show you the judgement of the Great Whore seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth fornicate, and those dwelling on earth are made drunk from the wine of her fornication.”

He brought me to the wilderness by the Spirit. I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast full of blasphemous names, which had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She had a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and the impurity of her fornication. On her forehead a mysterious name had been written: “Babylon the Great, the mother of whores and the abominations of the earth.” I saw the woman drunk from the blood of the saints and from the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.

I marveled, seeing her great marevelousness. The Angel said to me, “Why are you amazed? I myself will tell you the mystery of the woman and the beast carrying her that has seven heads and ten horns.

The beast you saw was and is not and is about to go up from the Abyss and go to destruction. Those who live on the earth will be amazed when they see the beast, that is those whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, because he was and is not and is to come. Here one needs wisdom: The seven heads are seven hills where the woman sits, and they are seven kings. Five have fallen, one still is, and the other has not yet come. When he comes he must remain a little while. The beast who was and is not is the eighth and is from the seven, and he goes away to destruction. The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not recieved a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings for one hour with the beast. They are of one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war with the little lamb, and the little lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, and those with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

Then he said to me, “The water you saw the whore sitting on is people, crowds, nations, and languages. The ten horns you saw and the beast will hate the whore and will make her desolate and naked. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. Because God has granted it to their hearts to execute his judgement, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are completed.

The Woman you saw is the great city that has a kingdom over the kingdoms of the earth.

Roma the “Lover”

“I marveled, seeing her great marvelousness.” ἐθαύμασα ἰδὼν αὐτὴν θαῦμα μέγα. “I was in awe because I saw her great awesomeness.” “I was amazed, seeing how amazing she was.”

It is hard not to be a little awe-struck by the wondrous and terrible things depicted in Revelation. And this is one passage that has certainly struck many with wonder. Who is this woman? Why is she on the beast? Why is she so finely dressed?

John depicts the goddess Roma, patron deity of Rome.

Vespasian’s sestertius (see bulletin), likely inspired by statues and art installations across Greco-Roman World.

Asia Minor especially enthralled by Dea Roma, the Goddess Roma, and worship of her

Coin’s depiction

Roma as goddess

Seated on seven hills

Foot touching Tiber River

Romulus and Remus suckling on she wolf, “lupa”

Dagger in hand on knee, symbol of military might

Heavenly reality

Roma as whore

Roma’s ‘secret name’, Amor

“Lupa”, i.e. “she-wolf”, also a derrogatory term for prostitutes

Seven hills, also represent seven kings

Five Fallen

Augustus

Tiberius

Gaius (Caligula)

Claudius

Nero

One Living (i.e. emperor when John wrote Revelation)

Vespasian (destroyed Jerusalem; 69-79 A.D.)

One to come and rule “only a little while”

Titus (reigned from 79-81 AD)

The beast who is “the eighth and one of the seven”

Likely Domitian, thought of as the “second Nero”

Also possible that seven kings are purely symbolic, 6th represents current period of roman history, seventh would be an age before final destruction of Rome

“Seated on Many waters”, allusion not only to Tiber, but to historical Babylon (Jer 51:12-13)

The New Revised Standard Version Chapter 51

Raise a standard against the walls of Babylon;

make the watch strong;

post sentinels;

prepare the ambushes;

for the LORD has both planned and done

what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.

13 You who live by mighty waters,

rich in treasures,

your end has come,

the thread of your life is cut.

Not dagger, but cup filled with sin

Rome lead people astray with idolatry

Rome lead people astray with promise of earthly pleasures

God’s revelation to John calls him to look beyond the veneer, glitz and glamour surrounding Rome to the ugly truth about this sinful city

Rome is foil to the heavenly city, i.e. New Jerusalem

Glittering Vices

Rome’s flash lead many astray. She promised great worldly goods that enticed the other nations

Status

clothed in scarlet

“Mother of whores”, the greatest of them all

Rome promised prestige, glory, and honor to those who bowed to Caesar

Wealth

clothed in purple

“gilded” with gold, precious stones, and pearls

Rome was wealthy and trade center of the world. Those bowing to the Empire were sure to gain great worldly wealth

Pleasure

Cup of abominations and impurities of fornication

Rome promised worldly delights: women, slaves, entertainment

Security

seated on the beast

coin’s sword imagery, “Pax Romana”

Rome promised safety and “peace” to those who accepted its rule

Judgement

On the Contrary, God warns that these worldly treasures will quickly fade away

The very kings Rome enticed with worldly goods will turn on her when she can no longer provide

Ten “horns” likely vassal-kingdoms under Roman rule. These will turn against Rome when she can not give them the status, wealth, pleasure, and security promised. I.e. when her cup runs dry

“Those who live by the sword die by the sword,” or “you reap what you sow”

Rome’s vices will ultimately lead to destruction

Rome, and all human empire, promises to be as a God for us, and to provide all we need

In the end, Rome is not the one who “Was, and Is, and Is to Come”, but rather the one who “Was and is not and is destined for destruction”

Why do you marvel?

Which leads us to the central question of this passage: Why do you marvel?