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Revelation Chapter Seventeen

 

I. Content of the Chapter

 

The Great Harlot and A Scarlet Beast

I. The sign of a woman sitting on a scarlet beast (v.1-6)

II. The angel explained the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her (v.7-18)

  A. the origin and ending of the beast (v.7-8)

  B. the mystery of the seven heads and ten horns of the beast (v.9-13)

  C. the Lamb will overcome the beast (v.14)

  D. the beast and the harlot will break off relations finally (v.15-18)

 

II. Verse by Verse commentary

 

Rev. 17:1 “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

   YLT: “And there came one of the seven messengers who were having the seven vials and he spake with me saying to me `Come I will shew to thee the judgment of the great whore who is sitting upon the many waters ”

   Meaning of Words: “sit”: sit down ride; “harlot”: prostitute strumpet.

   Spiritual Meaning: Come I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters” “many waters” symbolizes peoples multitudes nations and tongues (See v.15). “Who sits on many waters” refers to placing oneself above various people in the world and receiving the adoration from various men and it has become the superstition. “The great harlot” symbolizes the Roman Catholic Church because she committed the spiritual fornication and mixed the holy things with abominations (See v.4; 2:20).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Our God is a jealous God and what He hates the most is that we have idols besides Him (See Exod. 20:4-5). The Roman Catholic Church has many idols of saints beyond the true God and they worship the idols. It is the spiritual fornication.

2) Though we believers do not worship the visible idols we may have many invisible idols in our hearts for example worshipping the spiritual giants. It indeed commits the spiritual fornication. No matter how spiritual the servants of God are we should never exalt them above what is written in the Bible (See 1Cor. 4:6).

 

Rev. 17:2 “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’”

   YLT: “with whom the kings of the earth did commit whoredom; and made drunk from the wine of her whoredom were those inhabiting the earth;'”

   Meaning of Words: “commit fornication”: practice idolatry indulge unlawful lust; “made drunk”: get drunk.

   Spiritual Meaning: “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication” In the church history the Roman Catholic Church cooperated with kings and rulers of various countries in the past dynasties closely and the Roman Catholicism tuned to be the state religion of various countries. It is fornication in the sight of God.

“And the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’” “The inhabitants of the earth” refers to the Catholics and the majority of them are almost superstitious and worldly. “The wine of here fornication” refers to various heretical doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Parts of them are spiritual parts of them worldly; parts of them are the faith of the New Testament parts of them are the ceremonies of the Old Testament. They deceive men easily and therefore they are the wine of the fornication. “Were made drunk with the wine of her fornication” indicates that the Roman Catholics are deceived by these heretical doctrines.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The so-called caesaropapism in the history is the fornication committed with the kings of the earth here. Believers should respect and be subject to the higher powers without a doubt (See Rom. 13:1) however we should never disobey the great principle of “obeying God” (See Acts. 4:19; 5:29).

2) Many Catholics have been deceived by their doctrines to a degree that they hold that it is right to worship the Virgin Mary and believe in many silly and superstitious things. It is the clear proof that they have been made drunk with the wine of fornication.

 

Rev. 17:3 “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.

   YLT: “and he carried me away to a wilderness in the Spirit and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-coloured beast full of names of evil-speaking having seven heads and ten horns ”

   Meaning of Words: “carry away”: bring send; “wilderness”: desert desolate wilderness; “full”: be full.

   Spiritual Meaning: “So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness.” “Wilderness” the world is the spiritual wilderness the desolate place without spiritual provision. “Into the wilderness” with the purpose of letting him see the Roman Catholic Church and it shows that the Catholic Church extremely lacked the provision of the spiritual living water.

And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast” “a woman” refers to the great harlot (See v.1) i.e. the Roman Catholic Church. “A scarlet beast” refers to antichrist and the political power on the earth utilized by him. “Sitting on a scarlet beast” on one hand the Roman Catholic Church utilized antichrist and the political power on the earth however on the other antichrist and the political power on the earth also utilized the Roman Catholic Church actually.

“Which was full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and ten horns” “seven heads” refers to seven mountains and seven kings (See v.9-10). “Ten horns” refers to ten kings (See v.12). “Names of blasphemy” refers to showing himself that he is God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The backsliding church lacks the provision of the spiritual living water and is desolate everywhere. The place where the truth is exalted will be blessed by God.

2) Concerning “caesaropapism” it seems that the church utilizes the political power on the earth but actually the church is utilized by the political power on the earth. The principle which we should obey is to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's (See Matt. 22:21). We should never identify the spiritual with the worldly and identify the heavenly with the earthly.

3) He whoever exalts himself intentionally always blasphemes God unconsciously. One thing that men of God should avoid the most is “showing himself that he is God”.

 

Rev. 17:4 “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.

   YLT: “and the woman was arrayed with purple and scarlet-colour and gilded with gold and precious stone and pearls having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and uncleanness of her whoredom ”

   Meaning of Words: “adorned”: be gilded; “abomination”: things related to idolatry; “filthiness”: uncleanness.

   Spiritual Meaning: “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet” “the woman” refers to the great harlot the Roman Catholic Church (See v.1). “Purple” refers to royalty (See John 19:2-3) and wealth (See Luke 16:19). The Roman Catholic Church once reigned for a period of time and she will rise again. And she is all rich. “Scarlet” in the Roman Catholic Church scarlet is regarded as the noblest and her cardinal of the highest class is in scarlet.

“And adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls” she shows off her rich on one hand (See 1Tim. 2:9) and on the other it indicates that she pretends to be spiritual because these three treasures are the materials for building the New Jerusalem (See 21:18-21).

“Having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” “in her hand a golden cup” indicates that the appearance is of God because gold symbolizes the disposition of God. “Full of abominations” indicates that her inner reality is full of idolatry heretical and the things of the devil. “The filthiness of her fornication” indicates that the Roman Catholic Church mixes up things of God and things of the devil the spiritual and the worldly the heavenly and the earthly. It is the filthiness of fornication in the sight of God.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The backsliding church is solemn and noble externally and she arouses the respect of men who do not know the inside information. And therefore she has attracted many followers. Today many big churches attract thousands upon thousands followers by the first-class eloquence buildings ways and other appearances.

2) Religious believers are always hypocritical. The outside of them is good however they are full of dirtiness and uncleanness within them (See Matt. 23:25-28). The spiritual estimation and evaluation do not depend on the outward but the inward (See Rom. 2:28-29).

 

Rev. 17:5 “And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

   YLT: “and upon her forehead was a name written: `Secret Babylon the Great the Mother of the Whores and the Abominations of the earth.'”

   Meaning of Words: “write”: grave describe; “mystery”: secret mysterious; “Babylon”: confusion the door of Baal.

   The Background: MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT” “BABYLON THE GREAT” (See 14:8; 16:19) originated from Babel (See Gen. 11:9) and it is the outcome that Satan stirred men to exalt themselves above God (See Gen. 11:1-9). It symbolizes that Satan counterfeited the building of God and it is the counterfeit (the cheap copy) of the heavenly Jerusalem built by God from ages and from generations with the purpose of confusing men of God that they may regard the false as true. Just as the church is the mystery of Christ (See Eph. 3:4-10) Babylon the great is the mystery of antichrist which is used by him to deceive the people of God. It is said that today the council building of European Union was designed according to the famous paint called “Babel” and there was a carved statue that a woman sat on a beast (See v.3) before the building. It shows that the mystery of iniquity does already work (See 2Thess. 2:7).

   Spiritual Meaning: “And on her forehead a name was written:” it means that one can clearly see who she is as long as his “mind” is bright.

MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT” it shows that she does not refer to the real city of Babylon but the mysterious city of Babylon or the spiritual meaning of the city of Babylon.

THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” “harlots of the earth” refers to the associations which were divided from the Roman Catholic Church but still imitated her ceremonies ways and doctrines such as the Anglican Church Lutheran Church etc.. “The abominations” refers to all the idols (See Deut. 7:25-26). “Mother” refers to the source.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The Roman Catholic Church and the associations and sects of Christianity similar to her committed the spiritual fornication obviously----they mixed the teachings of the Bible with men’s traditional ideas. Men with the spiritual insight will know that they have departed from the truth at a glance. However the minds of their clergymen and churchmen are blind and therefore they think that they worship God while they indeed have offended Him.

2) The word “Babylon the great” shows that the backsliding churches and groups are Satan’s copies of the heavenly Jerusalem. Satan builds the specious things----their appearance is similar to the true churches of God but actually they are the false churches of Satan.

 

Rev. 17:6 “I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her I marveled with great amazement.

   YLT: “And I saw the woman drunken from the blood of the saints and from the blood of the witnesses of Jesus and I did wonder -- having seen her -- with great wonder;”

   Meaning of Words: “marvel”: wonder.

   Spiritual Meaning: “I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” “Drunk with the blood” refers to agreeing or promoting the behavior of homicide confusedly. “The saints” refers to men who are separated by God including the Jews. “The martyrs of Jesus” refers to men who bear witness to Jesus Christ through their life and even are martyred for the Lord (See 2:13)

And when I saw her I marveled with great amazement” “marveled with great amazement” because the woman was of God and the church of Christ according to her status however she was against God and Christ according to her acts.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) It is inconceivable that those who are Christians nominally persecuted Christians and the Jews. However actually it is a common sight all through the ages that many Christians informed and betrayed Christians.

2) From the sign in this chapter we can foresee that antichrist will not come out of the unbelieving Gentiles in future but the backsliding churches. Probably those who persecuted believers and the Jews strongly are the European Union of the so-called “Christian countries”.

 

Rev. 17:7 “But the angel said to me Why did you marvel? 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.

   YLT: “and the messenger said to me `Wherefore didst thou wonder? I -- I will tell thee the secret of the woman and of the beast that [is] carrying her which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.”

   Meaning of Words: “carry”: lift bear take up.

   Literal Meaning: the first to sixth verses in this chapter refer to the vision that John had seen and the seventh to eighteenth verses refer to the angel’s explanation for the sign to John that he can understand the mystery of the woman and the beast.

 

Rev. 17:8 “The beast that you saw was and is not and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world when they see the beast that was and is not and yet is.

   YLT: “`The beast that thou didst see: it was and it is not; and it is about to come up out of the abyss and to go away to destruction and wonder shall those dwelling upon the earth whose names have not been written upon the scroll of the life from the foundation of the world beholding the beast that was and is not although it is.”

   Meaning of Words: “go to”: go forth lead; “perdition”: destruction ruin.

   Spiritual Meaning: “The beast that you saw was and is not” “the beast that you saw” refers to the scarlet beast on which the woman sat (See v.3) i.e. antichrist. “Was” indicates that it had already existed before John wrote this book. “And is not” indicates that it does not exist when John wrote this book.

“And will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition.” “Ascending out of the bottomless pit” indicates that the reason why it does not exist on the earth is that it was locked in the bottomless pit however it will be released temporarily. And therefore it shall ascend out of the bottomless pit. “And go to perdition” indicates that antichrist’s ending is to be cast into the lake of fire and perish (See 19:20; 20:10).

And those who dwell on the earth whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world” refers to unbelievers who are wiling to repent till death.

“Will marvel…when they see the beast that was and is not and yet is.” The reason why they will marvel is that they saw the deadly wound was healed and then they followed and worshipped it (See 13:3-4).

Many Bible exegetes had two interpretations of “the beast that was and is not and yet is”:

1) The first interpretation is that the seven heads of the beast are related to Caesars in the Roman Empire. When John wrote this book the first five Caesars had died (Julius Tiberius Caligula Claudius and Nero) and therefore it is “that was and is not”. The angle also explained that “five have fallen” (See v.10) later and “yet is” should refer to “the eighth” (See v.11)----when antichrist ascends out of the bottomless pit the soul of Nero the fifth Caesar shall find reincarnation in the corpse of the seventh. It is also the explanation of “one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded” (See 13:3).

2) The second explanation is that the seven heads of the beast are the political power that ruled the world and opposed the true God in the past and in future. When John wrote this book Egypt Assyria Babylon Media and Persia and Greece----the five great empire----in the history had fallen and therefore it is “that was” and “five have fallen” (See v.10). “One is” (See v.10) should refer to the Roman Empire and “the other has not yet come” (See v.10) refers to the European Union which appears in the last day. And it is the reappearance of the domain of the ancient Roman Empire and therefore it is “yet is”. “The eighth” (See v.11) probably indicates that the seven European Union countries make up a unified country and it is mainly made up by ten horns (ten countries).

Concerning the two above-mentioned interpretations the first one conforms to the principle of the Bible more and the reasons are as follows: 1) the woman sat on the beast (See v.3). Since the great harlot refers to the Roman Catholic Church which had nothing with Egypt Assyria Babylon Media and Persia Greece and other ancient empires. 2) The angle had explained that the seven heads were “seven kings” (See v.10). 3) One of the seven heads had been mortally wounded (See 13:3) and it is more reasonable to apply it to “man” than to “country or the political power”. 4) Antichrist refers to one person (See 13:18) and he himself is the eighth and is of the seventh (See v.11). And therefore the seventh should refer to man of the same kind.

 

Rev. 17:9Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

   YLT: “`Here [is] the mind that is having wisdom; the seven heads are seven mountains upon which the woman doth sit ”

   Meaning of Words: “mind”: intelligence understanding.

   Spiritual Meaning: Here is the mind which has wisdom:” it indicates that God desires us to use our bright mind to think over the mystery of antichrist that we can avoid being deceived by him.

The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits” “seven heads” refers to seven kings (See v.10) because the king is the head of the people. “Seven mountains” refers to the capital where the king is. The Roman Caesar’s capital is the city of Rome and it was known as “the city of seven mountains” in the history because it is located on seven mountains.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) God does not like us to be foolish or superstitious. We should think over everything and understand what the will of God is (See Eph. 5:17).

2) At the last day Christians should use the mind which has wisdom more understand the fact through thinking over the origin of antichrist and pray for the current situation more.

 

Rev. 17:10 “There are also seven kings. Five have fallen one is and the other has not yet come. And when he comes he must continue a short time.

   YLT: “and there are seven kings the five did fall and the one is the other did not yet come and when he may come it behoveth him to remain a little time;”

   Meaning of Words: “fall”: fall down bend over; “continue”: remain exist.

   Spiritual Meaning: “There are also seven kings. Five have fallen” when John wrote this book five of them had died and they were Julius Tiberius Caligula Claudius and Nero the five Caesars of the Roman Empire. They all showed themselves that they are God and therefore they had blasphemous names (See 13:1). In addition none of them had the natural death----they were killed or committed suicide. It also conforms to the meaning of “fall” (See Judg. 3:25; 2Sam. 1:10 25 27).

“One is and the other has not yet come.” “One is” refers to the sixth king. When John wrote this book Domitian the Roman Caesar was alive. He persecuted believers and by whom John the apostle was exiled to the island called Patmos. “The other has not yet come” refers to the seventh king i.e. “the beast which yet is” (See v.8)----antichrist who is the seventh and also the eighth (See v.11).

And when he comes he must continue a short time.” “Continue a short time” refers to continuing for a temporary time until the second coming of Christ----the public coming.

Please note that some Bible exegetes held that the Roman Caesars were not merely seven ones and there were twenty or thirty kings. How can they use several of them as representatives? There is one case similar to this condition. There were more than seven churches in Asia at that time however the Lord specially mentioned the seven churches of them as representatives (See 1:4 11). It shows that the Holy Spirit purposely mentioned several diabolical Caesars who showed themselves that they were God and all died an unnatural death to list them alongside antichrist.

Other exegetes held that the Hebrew spelling of Caesar Nero was abnormal and probably he is not the man the number of whose name is 666 (See 13:18). Concerning this question the so-called “number of man” may have another meaning and please see the note in 13:18.

 

Rev. 17:11 “The beast that was and is not is himself also the eighth and is of the seven and is going to perdition.

   YLT: “and the beast that was and is not he also is eighth and out of the seven he is and to destruction he doth go away.”

   Spiritual Meaning: “The beast that was and is not is himself also the eighth” “the beast” refers to antichrist and he is also the eighth. One person is both the seventh and the eighth showing that it is related to the false resurrection. Satan copied the Holy Trinity and he is also triune (See 13 the great fiery red dragon the beast rising up out of the sea the beast coming up out of the earth). In addition antichrist among them copied the true Christ’s death and resurrection----he used the track of finding reincarnation in another's corpse to counterfeit the resurrection in order to make the world marvel and attract them to follow him (See 13:3).

“And is of the seven and is going to perdition.” “And is of the seven” means that: 1) both of them are men however they showed themselves that they are God; 2) the ways are the same that they all persecuted the saints; 3) the endings are the same that they all go to perdition.

 

Rev. 17:12The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

   YLT: “`And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings who a kingdom did not yet receive but authority as kings the same hour do receive with the beast ”

   Meaning of Words: “receive”: obtain take.

   Spiritual Meaning: The ten horns which you saw are ten kings” “ten horns are ten kings” just as the seven heads are seven kings the ten horns are ten kings. However the seven kings appeared one by one and the ten kings appeared at the same time. “Ten” symbolizes the perfection of this life in the Bible and therefore it probably refers to all the heads of state that support antichrist.

“Who have received no kingdom as yet but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.” “Who have received no kingdom as yet” indicates that they haven’t received the political power. “One hour” refers to receiving the political power successively in a short time. “They receive authority with the beast” refers to rising with antichrist. “As kings” indicates that probably they are men who had the real power----the presidents the prime ministers and so on.

 

Rev. 17:13 “These are of one mind and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

   YLT: “these have one mind and their own power and authority to the beast they shall give over;”

   Meaning of Words: “of one mind”: having one mind having one will.

   Literal Meaning: it means that these heads of state reached a common consensus after negotiation that they supported the decision of antichrist unconditionally and listened to the dispatch and domination of antichrist.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Today all Christians stress on “oneness” however our intentions and actions are not as good as the cooperation of the world. It is indeed shameful especially the leaders of the church who are hostile to each other and do not contract with each other as long as they have a few differences in opinions and statements.

2) The one mind of Christians is not the mind or will of some person but the mind in Christ (See Phil. 2:5) and we are all subject to His authority and listen to His instructions.

 

Rev. 17:14 “These will make war with 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.’”

   YLT: “these with the Lamb shall make war and the Lamb shall overcome them because Lord of lords he is and King of kings and those with him are called and choice and stedfast.'”

   Meaning of Words: “chosen”: elect; “faithful”: believing trustful.

   Spiritual Meaning: “These will make war with the Lamb” “war” refers to the great war in Armageddon in the last day (See 14:19-20; 16:14 16; 19:11-21).

“And the Lamb will overcome them for He is Lord of lords and King of kings” “Lord of lords and King of kings” indicates that all the authority and power in the whole universe are of Him.

“And those who are with Him are called chosen and faithful.’” “Are called” refers to being called by the Lord. “Chosen” refers to being chosen by the Lord. “Faithful” refers to being faithful to the Lord’s calling and choice and joining the war.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) In the spiritual wars the power of antichrist and the world is always against the Lord Jesus Christ and believers. However we will overcome not by might nor by power but by His spirit as long as we are faithful to the Lord’s calling and choice (See Zech. 4:6).

2) The problem is that many are called but few are chosen (Matt. 22:14). And therefore we should enrich ourselves in the spiritual aspect while it is today.

 

Rev. 17:15 “Then he said to me "The waters which you saw where the harlot sits are peoples multitudes nations and tongues.

   YLT: “And he saith to me `The waters that thou didst see where the whore doth sit are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues;'”

   Meaning of Words: “people”: race; “tongue”: dialect language.

   Spiritual Meaning: “Then he said to me The waters which you saw where the harlot sits” “the harlot” refers to the Roman Catholic Church (See the note in v.1). “The waters” refers to her believers and churchmen.

“Are peoples multitudes nations and tongues” “peoples” refers to many races. “Multitudes” refers to the masses. “Nations” refers to many countries. “Tongues” refers to many languages.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Many people from different classes origins status follow the heretical evil sects blindly and fervently. It shows how fierce the work of the devil is that it blinds the hearts of men to make them lose the normal judgment.

2) Many believers misunderstand that it is right if there are many people. They believe that the church where there are many people must have the Lord’s blessing. Actually many people may follow in a confused manner and therefore it is not always right if there are many people.

 

Rev. 17:16 “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast these will hate the harlot make her desolate and naked eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

   YLT: “and the ten horns that thou didst see upon the beast these shall hate the whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and shall burn her in fire ”

   Meaning of Words: “hate”: detest abhor; “desolate”: lay waste bring to desolation.

   Spiritual Meaning: “And the ten horns which you saw on the beast these will hate the harlot” “the ten horns on the beast” refers to antichrist and rulers who support him. “Will hate the harlot” it indicates that the cooperation between politics and religion has a radical change suddenly and their partnership is quitted and they begin to attack each other.

“Make her desolate and naked eat her flesh and burn her with fire.” The separation of religion from politics deepens gradually: 1) “making her desolate” probably refers to depriving Vatican of its autonomy; 2) “naked” refers to exposing the ugly face of the Roman Catholic Church; 3) “eating her flesh” refers to plundering all the wealth of the Roman Catholic Church; 4) “burning her with fire” refers to rooting out the influence of the Roman Catholic Church completely.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Whoever is a friend of the evil shall be swallowed up by the evil finally. 

2) Whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God (See James. 4:4).

 

Rev. 17:17 “For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose to be of one mind and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.

   YLT: “for God did give into their hearts to do its mind and to make one mind and to give their kingdom to the beast till the sayings of God may be complete ”

   Meaning of Words: “hearts”: intentions; “mind”: opinion; “fulfill”: accomplish complete.

   Spiritual Meaning: “For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose” “their” refers to the ten kings represented by the ten horns (See v.12). “His purpose” indicates that the destruction of the Roman Catholic Church is the will of God that.

“To be of one mind and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled.” “The words of God” refers to God’s judgment to the Roman Catholic Church (See v.1; 2:22-23).

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes (Prov. 21:1).

2) God can use the wrath of men to fulfill His will (See Ps. 76:10). God can also use the kingdom of Assyria to attack the rebellious people of Israel (See Is. 10:5-6).

 

Rev. 17:18 “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.’”

   YLT: “and the woman that thou didst see is the great city that is having reign over the kings of the land.'”

   Meaning of Words: “reigning”: having a kingdom.

   Spiritual Meaning: “And the woman whom you saw” “the woman” refers to the Roman Catholic Church represented by the great harlot (See v.1-6).

“Is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth’” “great city” refers to Babylon the great (See v.5; 14:8; 16:19) and this verse formally connects the Roman Catholic Church with Babylon the great. Men think that the Roman Catholic Church is of God and Babylon the great is of the devil however in the sight of God the Roman Catholic Church is the outcome of the devil. He mixed up things that are half of the spirit and half of the letters the semi-heavenly and semi-earthly things and the things that are half of God and half of the devil to deceive men.

   Enlightenment in the Word:

1) Believer should have spiritual surpassing insight to discern things. We should not judge whether one thing is acceptable to God merely by its appearance and reason but its inner reality and source. 

2) It is a good thing that one worships and serves God fervently. However the muddled fervency always turns that one kills men will think that he does God service (See John. 16:2). It shows that the true knowledge of God and His knowledge is the prerequisite for the spiritual pursuit.

 

III. Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons

 

The Knowledge of the Roman Catholic Church

I. She sat on many waters (v.1 15)----there are many churchmen and believers in various countries of the world

II. She was the great harlot (v.1 5)----worshipping others besides God

III. She committed fornication with the kings of the earth (v.2)----advocating “caesaropapism”

IV. The inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication (v.2)----churchmen were superstitious about heretical doctrines and teachings

V. She sat on a scarlet beast (v.3)----acting in collusion with antichrist

VI. Her dress and adornment (v.4)----were extremely luxurious and wealthy

VII. She had in her hand a golden cup full of abominations (v.4)----the appearance was of God however the reality was idolatry

VIII. She was the mystery of Babylon the great (v.5 18)----the counterfeit building of Satan

IX. She is the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth (v.5)----the source of all the heretical evil sects of Christianity

X. She drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs (v.6)----persecuting the true saints and believers

XI. She sat on the seven mountains (v.9)----Rome was the general headquarters

XII. She shall be consumed by antichrist finally (v.16-17)----eating her own bitter fruits

 

── Caleb HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren