Chapter Seventeen
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER
1) To appreciate the importance of this chapter in interpreting the
book of Revelation
2) To note the significance of the fact that the beast "is not" when
the Revelation was given
3) To ascertain the identity of the great harlot and the scarlet beast
SUMMARY
This is a key chapter, for the mystery of the great harlot and the
beast is explained, and one's understanding of this chapter will affect
their interpretation of the rest of the book.
John is carried away into the wilderness where he is shown the great
harlot "Babylon", with whom the kings of the earth have committed
fornication and the inhabitants of the earth were drunk with the wine
of her fornication. She is seen sitting on a scarlet beast with seven
heads and ten horns. She is dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned
with gold, precious stones and pearls. In her hand is a gold cup full
of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. On her forehead
is written:
MYSTERY,
BABYLON THE GREAT,
THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH
Seeing the woman drunk with the blood of the saints (Old Testament
saints?) and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, John marvels with
great amazement (1-6).
The angel then proceeds to tell John the mystery of the woman and the
beast that carries her. He begins with the beast first, described as
one who "was, is not, and is about to come" (NASB). This beast will
ascend out of the bottomless pit (cf. Re 11:7) and go to perdition (cf.
Re 19:20). The seven heads of the beast represent seven mountains upon
which the woman sits. There are seven kings, five of whom have fallen,
one is, and the other has yet to come. The beast is then described as
the eighth king, though of the seven. The ten horns represent ten
kings who give their power and authority to the beast, make war against
the Lamb, and eventually turn on the harlot herself. The harlot is
finally described as that "great city" (cf. Re 11:8;14:8; 16:19) which
reigns over the kings of the earth (7-18).
As indicated in the introductory material, my understanding of this
book focuses on the fact that John is given this revelation at a time
when the beast "is not" (Re 17:8,11). Whatever explanation one gives
for the beast, it did not exist at the time of the Revelation! It had
existed, and was about to come, but at the time John was shown the
vision, it "is not".
One plausible explanation is that the seven (actually eight) kings
represent Roman emperors, starting with Augustus. This would make Nero
the fifth king, whose death in 68 A.D. left the empire in an uproar and
may be the "deadly wound" referred to Re 13:3,12,14. Discounting
Galba, Otho, and Vitellius whose insignificant reigns were short-lived
during the turmoil, the sixth king ("one is") would be Vespasian who
restored order to the empire. This would make Titus the seventh
emperor and Domitian the eighth. The beast that "was, and is not, and
will ascend" therefore depicts the persecuting Roman emperor, seen
first in the person of Nero (the beast who "was") and later in the
person of Domitian (the beast who "will ascend"). The "ten kings" who
gave their power and authority to the beast appear to be vassal kings
that supported the emperor in times of persecution.
The identity of the harlot is still an open question in my own mind.
Many understand her to represent the commercial and immoral spirit of
Rome (not the literal city itself, for she was never destroyed as
described in later chapters) which was instrumental in opposing the
people of God. There is much to be said for this view. Re 17:2,18;
18:3,9,11 certainly seem to fit Rome.
However, I lean toward the view that the harlot represents Jerusalem,
often supported in her persecution of the church by the Roman empire
but then destroyed herself by Rome in A.D. 70. It is interesting to
compare such verses as Re 17:6; 18:20,24; 19:2 with Jesus' statements
in Mt 23:31-39. As foretold by Jesus in both Matthew and Revelation,
God was about to avenge His apostles and prophets on this city "who
kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her" (Re 18:20; Mt
23:37).
While the identity of the beast, the kings, and the harlot might be
unclear in the minds of some, the outcome of the conflict described in
this chapter is certain. In what may be described as the theme of this
book, we are told that:
"These will make war with 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." (Re 17:14)
Comforting words indeed to those early Christians who were persecuted
by both the Roman emperor and unbelieving Jerusalem!
OUTLINE
I. THE SCARLET WOMAN AND THE SCARLET BEAST (1-6)
A. JOHN IS APPROACHED BY AN ANGEL (1-2)
1. One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls
2. Who offers to show him the judgment of the great harlot
a. Which sits on many waters
b. With whom kings of the earth have committed fornication
c. With whom inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the
wine of her fornication
B. JOHN IS SHOWN THE SCARLET WOMAN ON THE SCARLET BEAST (3-6)
1. He is carried away by the angel in the Spirit into the
wilderness
2. There he sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast
a. The scarlet beast
1) Full of names of blasphemy
2) Having seven heads and ten horns
b. The woman
1) Arrayed in purple and scarlet
2) Adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls
3) In her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the
filthiness of her fornication
4) On her forehead the name written:
a) MYSTERY
b) BABYLON THE GREAT
c) THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE
EARTH
5) Drunk with:
a) The blood of the saints
b) The blood of the martyrs of Jesus
3. He marveled with great amazement when he saw her
II. THE MYSTERY OF THE WOMAN AND BEAST EXPLAINED (7-18)
A. THE ANGEL OFFERS TO EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY (7)
1. Asking John why he marveled
2. Saying that he will tell him the mystery
a. Of the woman
b. Of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries
her
B. THE BEAST EXPLAINED (8-14)
1. The beast that John saw:
a. Was, is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and
go to perdition
b. Will be marveled by those by those whose names are not
written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the
world when they see it
2. The mind which has wisdom:
a. The seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman
sits
b. There are also seven kings
1) Five have fallen, one is, the other has yet to come
2) When the seventh comes, he must continue a short time
c. The beast that was, and is not, is himself the eighth
1) He is of the seven
2) He is going to perdition (destruction)
d. The ten horns are ten kings
1) Who have received no kingdom as yet
2) But receive authority for one hour with the beast
3) Who are of one mind, and give their power and authority
to the beast
e. These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will
overcome them
1) For He is Lord of lords and King of kings
2) Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful
C. THE WOMAN EXPLAINED (15-18)
1. The waters upon which she sits are peoples, multitudes,
nations and tongues
2. The ten horns (ten kings) on the beast
a. Will hate the harlot
1) Make her desolate
2) Eat her flesh and burn her with fire
b. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose
1) For them to be of one mind
2) To give their kingdom to the beast
-- Until the words of God are fulfilled
3. The woman John saw is that great city which reigns over the
kings of the earth
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