Read the Passage: Revelation 17

Reminder: The book of Revelation is structured around seven parallel sections, each describing the time between Jesus’ first and second comings. These sections can be delineated into chapters 1–3, 4–7, 8–11, 12–14, 15–16, 17–19, and 20–22.

Their Presence (17:1–6)

This sixth cycle of the telling of the story of history begins as one of the seven angels who had poured out a bowl judgment in Rev. 16 approached John and offered to show him the judgment of the great harlot, who is Babylon (cf. Rev. 17:5). In Scripture, prostitution frequently represents idolatry and apostasy. Furthermore, Babylon is the epitome of a worldly city and represents that which tempts, seduces, and draws peopled away from God. The general connection between harlotry and Babylon, then, is appropriate. Next, John sees a woman, who is Babylon, riding a scarlet beast, who is the beast from the sea of Rev. 13:1–4. Recall that the sea represents the secular nations of the earth and their governments (cf. Isa. 17:12). Thus, the beast that arises out of the sea depicts the persecuting power of Satan seen in the nations and governments of the world.

So, the beast that the harlot is riding depicts the persecuting power of Satan as seen in the nations of the world. John encounters this beast in the wilderness, for the radiant woman, who is the church (who is not to be confused with the harlot or scarlet woman of this chapter), had fled there in Rev. 12:14. The picture, then, is one of seduction, temptation, and persecution of the church by the world and in the world. Note that the woman and beast can actively persecute the church, or they can seduce and tempt the church via the idolatry of commerce, culture, entertainment, luxury, fame, power, the arts, and the like. Next, John sees, and is astonished by, the scarlet woman who is drunk by the blood of believers, of martyrs, and of Jesus (cf. Rev. 17:6). John’s bewilderment here, which the angel will address in Rev. 17:8f, is over the identity of the harlot who persecutes believers.

Their Identity (17:7–11)

In Rev. 17:7–18 John is taught the meaning of the scarlet woman and the beast he viewed in Rev. 17:1–6. As was the case with understanding the beast’s number in Rev. 13:18, so here John is reminded of the necessity of wisdom for understanding the vision. The seven heads of the beast stand for seven mountains, or secular kings, with seven representing the comprehensive reach of the beast. The picture of seven mountains is a reference to Rome, the city built on seven hills. After mentioning Babylon in Rev. 17:5, the reference to Rome here may be surprising; yet Rome was the center of anti-Christian sentiment for many of John’s original readers. Regarding the seven rulers, although some have been tempted to try and identify them in history, it seems the larger point here is to show that Satanic rule and persecution is worldwide in scope yet fixed in duration (cf. Rev. 17:10).

Their Power (17:12–18)

The ten horns, which John first noticed at Rev. 17:3, are also identified by the angel as kings. However, since they have no kingdom, they are best viewed as aspects of culture over and through which evil rules (perhaps becoming idols), such as art, education, commerce, government, sports, and so forth. The seven kings and ten kings emphasize the pervasiveness and effect of sin and Satan in the world. This is likely one of the reasons why John “marveled” (Rev. 17:6–7) and the inhabitants of the city of this world “will marvel” (Rev. 17:8). Indeed, throughout history, whenever a worldly king dies or an evil kingdom comes to an end, it is almost immediately replaced with an equally evil (if not worse) king or kingdom. Yet, by way of comfort, the angel twice reminds John that the worldly beast will eventually go “to perdition” (Rev. 17:8, 11) and that “the Lamb will overcome” (Rev. 17:14).

At Rev. 17:15 John learns that the waters he saw (cf. Rev. 17:1) are the peoples, nations, and multitudes of the world. Surprisingly, Rev. 17:16–17 reports division between the woman and the beast, with the woman being destroyed, which is what the angel promised to show John at Rev. 17:1. Recall that the woman is the harlot who tempts, seduces, and draws peopled away from God. The beast depicts the persecuting power of Satan seen in the nations and governments of the world. Since the woman and the beast usually work in concert, it is confusing to read of their enmity here. Yet, history testifies that within the turbulent waters of the world, kings, nations, and even empires constantly rise and fall. The churn of worldly powers is not usually the result of overt Christian revival, but is the result of internal strife, which is itself the hidden work of God (cf. Rev. 17:17).

Application Questions:

1. How do you deal with suffering and the effects of sin in the world? Are you comforted or concerned at the thought of Jesus’ return?
2. Why type of things does the world use to draw believers’ time and attention away from the church?
3. How can we distinguish between an immature believer, a backslidden believer, and a lost person in the church?
4. Given the pervasiveness of sin and evil in the world, how can believers maintain hope and be encouraged about the triumph of God’s kingdom?
5. What is the role of hope in the midst of trials and suffering? Are you comforted knowing that good will triumph over evil?