Babylon the great riding the beast
(REV. 17)
Art used by permission by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992
Click here to visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site

Chapters 17 and 18 are passages that also are the subject of much controversy and speculation and study. The beast is clearly identifiable from Rev. 13, but the woman is not. Some say she is an apostate religious system. Others identify her as a specific country, or coalition of countries. In considering these verses, I am also presenting here the viewpoints of various commentators - but that does not mean I find their arguments conclusive. Judge for yourself.

Rev 17:1-5 - 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." 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:

"The harlot - Babylon (the symbol of idolatry) whether a person or world system, stands in stark contrast to the Bride of Christ - unfaithful, evil, the darkness of man's government as visited only be demons and satanic infestation that play on man's carnal inclinations and eventually gain control through surrender of the flesh to demon spirits. This is symbolized in the term 'Babylon' and 'the harlot' - which are symbolic of the world system under the spirit of darkness. (Note 2 Cor. 4:4) Babylon reaches back to a system founded on the worship of demon deities or idols - as opposed to the worship of the Living God. Submitting one's life to something that is the creation of their own hands - carnal submission to something else than worship of God - they submit themselves to demon beings in all areas of their life, experiencing things that are unworthy and unholy. It started with the Tower of Babel, became a city - an entity committed to the way of the world dominated by harlotry and idolatry. People chose to make their life intimate with evil rather than the true God - indulged in ways other than God's. Contrasted to Babylon is the New Jerusalem. The Bride of Christ - populated by those who have kept themselves pure in anticipation of their Bridegroom so they stand in stark contrast to those who have promiscuously given their lives to the world system. Harlotry occurs when people succumb to the lust for power. Political power is very seductive. The 'halls of power' are very intoxicating, almost impossible for it not to be corruptive as there is so much demand for compromise - not necessarily moral, but just to 'get along' in a pluralistic culture. The whole world system is governed by a prevailing spirit that longs to rule and control - exemplified in the 'beast,' the Antichrist. A person involved in fornication compromises their body (and moral integrity) for the sake of gaining acceptance and control of someone's affection or dominant control for temporary sensual stimulation." [1] The "prevailing spirit" above is the spirit of witchcraft involved in the sin of Saul (1 Sam. 15:23). Compare the woman here with the woman of Rev. 12, who was being attacked by the dragon while this one is sitting on the beast of Rev. 13. She is adorned as a prostitute, gaudily dressed, spiritually enticing men to the Antichrist and destruction. She is the "Mother of Harlots" - remember the "mother-son" religions that started with Nimrod's wife back at the tower of Babel. Remember also that "harlot" was frequently used in the Old Testament to refer to the nation Israel (especially Hosea who God told to marry a harlot to symbolize His never-ending love for Israel even when she was unfaithful). But Babylon is called the "great harlot" and "Mother of Harlots." She has birthed others or is considered to be a "mother" by others like her and so is involved internationally with other powers. Note Jer. 51:11-24 - and especially Verses 7-11 and 13 in reference to her sitting on "many waters" and holding a "gold cup" with which she makes the inhabitants of the earth "drunk with the wine of her fornication," for the cup is "full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication." Here is "a world power that offers leadership and prosperity to the world for which everyone has come eagerly to participate in her culture." [2]

Rev 17:6-18 - And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered greatly. And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I shall tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. The beast that you saw was and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and to go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth will wonder, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come. Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while. And the beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction. And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings, who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose and they give their power and authority to the beast. These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful." And he said to me, "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues. And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate and naked, and will eat her flesh and will burn her up with fire. For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God should be fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth." "

Rev 18:1-5 - And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

Rev 18:6-10 - "Pay her back even as she has paid, and give back to her double according to her deeds; in the cup which she has mixed, mix twice as much for her. To the degree that she glorified herself and lived sensuously, to the same degree give her torment and mourning; for she says in her heart, 'I sit as a queen and I am not a widow, and will never see mourning.' For this reason in one day her plagues will come, pestilence and mourning and famine, and she will be burned up with fire; for the Lord God who judges her is strong. And the kings of the earth, who committed acts of immorality and lived sensuously with her, will weep and lament over her when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance because of the fear of her torment, saying,' Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For in one hour your judgment has come.'"

Rev 18:11-19 - And the merchants of the earth weep and mourn over her, because no one buys their cargoes any more; cargoes of gold and silver and precious stones and pearls and fine linen and purple and silk and scarlet, and every kind of citron wood and every article of ivory and every article made from very costly wood and bronze and iron and marble, and cinnamon and spice and incense and perfume and frankincense and wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat and cattle and sheep, and cargoes of horses and chariots and slaves and human lives. And the fruit you long for has gone from you, and all things that were luxurious and splendid have passed away from you and men will no longer find them. The merchants of these things, who became rich from her, will stand at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, saying,' Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls; for in one hour such great wealth has been laid waste!' And every shipmaster and every passenger and sailor, and as many as make their living by the sea, stood at a distance, and were crying out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying,' What city is like the great city?' And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!'

Rev 18:20-24 - "Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her." And a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer. And the sound of harpists and musicians and flute-players and trumpeters will not be heard in you any longer; and no craftsman of any craft will be found in you any longer; and the sound of a mill will not be heard in you any longer; and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery. And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth."

[1] Jack Hayford - Living Way Ministries
[2] R. C. Sproul - Ligonier Ministries
[3] Marvin J Rosenthal - "Zion's Hope"

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