Revelation Chapter 17
The concept of Babylon
Revelation 16:19 and 14:8 have already declared Babylon’s fall. In Revelation 17 and 18, the fall of Babylon is carefully detailed.
Babylon is mentioned 287 times in the Scriptures, more than any other city except Jerusalem.
Babylon was a literal city on the Euphrates River. Genesis 11:1-10 shows that right after the flood, Babylon “was the seat of the civilization that expressed organized hostility to God.” (Tenney)
Babylon was later the capitol of the empire that cruelly conquered Judah. “Babylon, to them (the Jews), was the essence of all evil, the embodiment of cruelty, the foe of God’s people, and the lasting type of sin, carnality, lust and greed.” (Tenney)
To those familiar with the Old Testament, the name Babylon is associated with organized idolatry, blasphemy and the persecution of God’s people.
“In John’s day Rome epitomized all the antagonism and opposition to the Christian faith.” (Mounce)
In some ways, the city of Rome was the clearest fulfillment of the Babylon attitude. If we had to pick one city today that most exemplifies the world system, perhaps we would say that Los Angeles is the Babylon of today.
The concept of Babylon is greater than Revelation 17-18 and the Antichrist’s reign. Babylon was present in John’s day (typified by Rome), in our day, and throughout history, as the world system. But under the Antichrist, Babylon (in both its religious and commercial aspects) will have influence over the earth as never before.
(David Guzik)
Beginning in Revelation 17, John describes the Lamb’s step-by-step victory over “the beast” and his kingdom. In Revelation 17, the religious system is judged; in Revelation 18, the political and economic system fall victim. Finally, the Lord Himself returns to earth; judges Satan, “the beast,” and the false prophet (Rev. 19:19–20); and then establishes His kingdom.
One reason John used symbolism was so that his message would encourage believers in any period of church history. The true church is a pure virgin (Rev. 19:7–8; see also 2 Cor. 11:2), but the false religious system is a “harlot” who has abandoned the truth and prostituted herself for personal gain. In every age, there has been a “harlot” who has persecuted God’s people, and this will culminate in the last days in a worldwide apostate religious system.
Likewise, every age has featured a “Babylon,” a political and economic system that has sought to control people’s minds and destinies. Just as the contrast to the “harlot” is the pure bride, so the contrast to “Babylon” is the City of God, the New Jerusalem, the eternal home prepared for the Lamb’s wife (Rev. 21:9ff.). Each generation of believers must keep itself pure from the pollution of both the “harlot” and “Babylon.”
(Wiersbe)
(Rev 17:1-2) The judgment of the great prostitute
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here. I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality."
I will show you the judgment of the great Prostitute (Harlot): Her judgment is assured at the outset. There is never any doubt regarding the fate – and ultimate failure – of Babylon.
As a religious system, Babylon came into being long before Christianity, but in Satanic imitation it anticipated the coming true Messiah. According to religious history and legend, the Babylonian religion was founded by the wife of Nimrod (a great-grandson of Noah), named Semiramis. She was a high priestess of idol worship, and she gave birth to a son who she claimed was conceived miraculously. The son, named Tammuz, was considered a savior. Many ancient artifacts remain with the familiar motif of the mother Semiramis holding the savior-infant Tammuz, which predate Christianity. It was also said that Tammuz was killed by a wild beast and then miraculously brought back to life. Baal was the local, Canaanite name for the Babylonian Tammuz.
The Bible makes specific mention of some of the features of the classic religion of Babylon:
– Ezekiel protests against the ceremony of weeping for Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14)
– Jeremiah mentions the heathen practice of making cakes for the queen of heaven (Jeremiah 7:18) and offering incense to the queen of heaven (Jeremiah 44:17-19, 44:25)
Who sits on many waters: Here, Babylon sits on many waters; that is, she presides over many nations (compare with Revelation 17:15). She has a universal, international character.
This is unification of all false, idolatrous religion, with representatives from apostate Catholicism, Protestantism, as well as a smorgasbord of other religions of the world.
“The woman pictures false religion that will dominate the world in the tribulation period.” (Hocking)
Many people like to identify this great harlot with the Roman Catholic Church, but false religion is not limited to any one church.
“That Rome and the Romish system are involved, may readily be admitted; but that this is all, and that the sudden fall of Great Babylon is simply the fall of Romanism, or the utter destruction of the city of Rome, must be emphatically denied.” (Seiss)
(David Guzik)
Those who dwell in the earth were made drunken: Religious Babylon intoxicates kings and peoples. Karl Marx was partly right when he said, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.” He was partly right because empty religion is the opium of the masses.
Were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality (NKJV uses fornication instead of sexual immorality)
The idea of fornication often has strong associations throughout the Bible with idolatry. Since this is a well-accepted religious system, it is likely to appear as attractive and spiritual, though not necessarily moral.
(Rev 17:3-6) Mystery Babylon
He carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of the sexual immorality of the earth. And on her forehead a name was written, "MYSTERY, BABLYON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered with great amazement.
John was previously taken to heaven, and had seen the throne of God and many wonderful scenes, but now he is taken by an angel to a wilderness where he sees an evil woman sitting upon a scarlet colored animal. This woman was full of blasphemous names.
This animal is the great beast that is referenced in Revelation 13:1. This beast is the end time ruler known as the antichrist, and he will give this woman great power. The world began with the beautiful creation of God, but towards the end sin and darkness reign in its full glory.
On her forehead is written a name, "Mystery, Babylon the Great, The mother of the prostitutes and of the abominations of the earth."
This Mystery Babylon the Great is a mystery because it represents a religious system that encompasses all the false religions of the world. During the reign of the antichrist (the beast) there will be a religious world system. It may have the idea that all roads lead to heaven. It is a prostitute because it is spiritual adultery to worship anything other than the One True God. It is blasphemous, and it is a description of the woman.
There are many Bible commentators that apply this woman to the Roman Catholic Church, but this is much larger than the Roman Catholic Church. This encompasses all false religion.
John sees this woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. False religion has blood on its hands, it will be brought low, but until the return of Jesus Christ it will continue to deceive the nations and persecute the true Church of God.
In our day we have seen many evils carried out in the name of God. The deception is great, for Satan is that great deceiver, and he has many followers. Christians are killed daily around the world, and the increase of persecution in the United States is growing. Satan is called the prince of the power of the air, and is also called the God of this world. He has great control over the affairs of the world. He has placed many of his players in high positions, such as in government, education, and those who control the media. All these satanic players combined with the antichrist (beast) and this false religious system will deceive the world.
2 Thessalonians 2:9-10 says, “The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.”
(Greg Mason)
(Rev 17:7) Mystery of the woman, and the beast that carries her
The angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
John wondered, and I think we would also wonder. You see two great powers concerning the beast, and the woman. It would seem that the woman had power even over the beast, but we will soon see that the beast (the antichrist system) will destroy the woman (the religious system).
There have been many dictators and governments that have used religion to help gain control of the people. After control is gained they do away with the religious system, or greatly limit its influence. As we will see later this woman (religious world system) is completely destroyed.
(Greg Mason)
(Rev 17:8) This beast was, and is not, and shall be present
The beast that you saw was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go into destruction. Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present.
The angel first gives a detailed description of the beast in his general character. The beast is explained chronologically as that which was, is not, and is about to ascend from the abyss and go into perdition. “The bottomless pit” (Gr., abyssos, meaning “bottomless,” or “the abyss”) is the home of Satan and demons and indicates that the power of the political empire is satanic in its origin as is plainly stated in 13:4. The word perdition (Gr., apo„leia) means “destruction” or “utter destruction,” referring to eternal damnation. The power of the political empire in the last days is going to cause wonder as indicated in the questions in 13:4: “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” The overwhelming satanic power of the final political empire of the world will be most convincing to great masses of mankind.
There is a confusing similarity between the descriptions afforded Satan who was apparently described as the king over the demons in the abyss (9:11), “the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit” (11:7), the beast whose “deadly wound was healed” (13:3), and the beast of 17:8. The solution to this intricate problem is that there is an identification to some extent of Satan with the future world ruler and identification of the world ruler with his world government. Each of the three entities is described as a beast. Only Satan himself actually comes from the abyss. The world government which he promotes is entirely satanic in its power and to this extent is identified with Satan. It is the beast as the world government which is revived. The man who is the world ruler, however, has power and great authority given to him by Satan. The fact that Satan and the world ruler are referred to in such similar terms indicates their close relationship one to the other.
While many have attempted to demonstrate from this verse that the final world ruler is some resurrected being such as Judas Iscariot, Nero, or one of the more recent world rulers, it would seem preferable to regard the “eighth” beast as the political power of the world government rather than its human ruler. What is revived is imperial government, not an imperial ruler (cf. Rev. 13:3). That which seemingly went out of existence in history never to be revived is thus miraculously resuscitated at the end of the age.
(John Walvoord)
(Rev 17:9) The mind that has wisdom
Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
The seven mountains symbolize the even kingdoms and their kings, as explained in the next verse. Mountains often symbolize kingdoms in Scripture (Psalms 30:7; 68:15-16; Isaiah 2:2; 41:15; Jeremiah 51:25; Daniel 2:35, 44-45; Habakkuk 3:6,10; Zechariah 4:7).
These seven kingdoms are Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and that of the antichrist. False paganized religion influenced all these empires, and the woman was seated on them all.
(Ron Rhodes)
(Rev 17:10-11) There are seven kings, yet five have fallen
They are seven kings. Five have fallen, the one is, the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a little while.
The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction.
The seven heads are identified as seven rulers over seven kingdoms, five of which have fallen, one still exists, and one is yet to come.
At the time of John's writing, the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Medo-Persian, and Greek empires had fallen. Rome still existed in his day. The antichrist's kingdom was yet to come. (Ron Rhodes)
(Rev 17:12-15) Ten kings and the beast war against the Lamb
The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour. These have one mind, and they give their power and authority to the beast. These will war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and those who are with him are called chosen and faithful." He said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
These ten kings who don't yet have power will receive delegated authority under the antichrist during the tribulation. They will rule "for one hour" a short time, as we might expect because the reign of the antichrist will also be short-lived (Revelation 13:5).
These kings will be unanimously committed to serve under the antichrist.
In making war against Jesus Christ, they follow the lead of the antichrist, who has always been against Jesus Christ. This war against the Lamb will be waged at Armageddon. It will be a futile endeavor, for the Lamb is the Lord of lords and King of kings. He is sovereign over all things (see 1Timothy 6:15; Revelation 19:16; see also Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:3). None can defeat Him.
Water ("The waters that you saw") was a common symbol for people (Psalms 18:4,16; 124:4; Isaiah 8:7; Jeremiah 47:2). This imagery indicates that this single religious system will influence the entire world.
(Ron Rhodes)
(Rev 17:16) The prostitute burned with fire
The ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the prostitute, and will make her desolate, and will make her naked, and will eat her flesh, and will burn her utterly with fire.
This violence probably takes place at the mid-point of the tribulation period. Here, apostate religion discovers the true nature of the beast.
Ultimately, the Antichrist will not tolerate any worship except of himself: The son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Once his power has been consolidated, the Antichrist no longer needs the help of religious Babylon. He will then work to dismantle and destroy her and her one-world religion.
This has always been the goal of tyrants – and most politicians – to use religion for their purposes, then discard it.
(David Guzik)
(Rev 17:17) The ten kings give their kingdom to the beast
For God has put in their hearts to do what he has in mind, and to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
God directed the judgment against religious Babylon. God will sometimes use a wicked group (here, the ten kings) to be an instrument of His judgment against another wicked group (here, religious Babylon).
God will ordain the political support of these ten kings for the Antichrist. God will give the world just what it wants: godless religion and godless rulers.
(David Guzik)
(Rev 17:18) The woman is the great city who reigns
The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth."
In John’s day, there was no doubt which city reigns over the kings of the earth. Rome was the political, economic, and religious center of the world of that time.
But Babylon – in the sense of the world system – has always been that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. The question for Christians is, “Does it reign over me? Or am I the citizen of a better city, the Jerusalem above?” (Galatians 4:26)
Again, the association of this harlot – of religious Babylon – with Rome doesn’t mean that the Roman Catholic Church is identical to religious Babylon, though apostate Roman Catholics will definitely be a part of this great harlot.
Rather, Rome was the ready personification of Babylon – the world in rebellion against God – in John’s day. Today, idolatry is just as strong, but more dispersed. Today, which city in the world is most readily identified with the world system? Hollywood? Wall Street? Washington?
(David Guzik)