“Judgment of the Great Whore”
REVELATION 17:1-18
THEME: In highly metaphorical language the filthy religious prostitute and her judgment by the Lord Jesus are described. Be assured that God hears the prayers of his persecuted, justice is a divine priority, and martyrs will eventually be vindicated.
INTRODUCTION:
1. John describes the Lamb’s phased and progressive victory over "the beast" and his kingdom. Here the religious system is destroyed; then later the political and economic systems fall also (Rev 18). Afterwards, the Lord Jesus returns to earth; condemns Satan, "the beast" and the false prophet (Rev 19:19-20); and then establishes His kingdom.
2. John
has a vision of a “great whore” which is a “great city” seated on “seven mountains,” who rides “sit upon a scarlet
colored beast”—the Antichrist to power
and then she is destroyed by him. John first symbolically describes “the great whore” (Rev. 17:1–6) and goes on to
interpret the vision (Rev. 17:7–18), identifying the beast, his drive toward power, and his
subsequent turning on the “whore” when absolute power is his. (W. W. Wiersbe)
John revisits that destruction and deals in detail with the fall of Babylon.
MESSAGE:
I. The Great Whore Exposed (Rev. 17:1-6).
The scene begins with an invitation (Rev 17:1-2).
A. AN EXPOSING SUMMONS (Rev. 17:1-3a).
1.
From an Angel.
One of the angels asks john to come and see what God will do with "the beast's" worldwide religious system.
2.
To the Apostle.
John was invited to witness the punishment of the great prostitute, symbolizing the religious system of Babylon. Religious Babylon likely includes apostate Christendom, both Protestant and Catholic. It may well represent the ecumenical church. (W. W. Wiersbe)
3. About a Judgment.
A. Upon a System of Spiritual Impurity. Her corruption (Rev. 17:1-2, 4). The prostitute rules over "peoples and multitudes and nations and languages," indicating the global influence of this system.
B. Upon a System of Political Fraternity. Her compromise (Rev. 17:3): she has aligned herself with the godless political systems of this world. John learned that the kings of the earth had committed fornication with the woman; which means they had become a part of the religious system, which she symbolized (Rev.14:8). Prostitution often symbolizes idolatry or religious apostasy (Jer. 3:6–9; Ezek. 16:30ff.; 20:30; Hos. 4:15; 5:3; 6:10; 9:1). She has seduced political leaders with her compromise and intrigue. The world rulers will be absorbed into the empire of Satan’s false Christ.
C. Upon a System of Global Religion.
The harlot’s influence will extend beyond the world’s rulers to the rest of mankind (v. 15; 13:8,14). The many waters symbolize “peoples, multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (v. 15). Vast numbers of inhabitants of the earth have come under her evil influence and have been reduced to staggering misery. The imagery does not describe actual wine and sexual sin, but pictures the world’s people being swept up into the intoxication and sin of a false system of religion. (W. W. Wiersbe)
4.
Through the Spirit.
Following the invitation, John was carried away "in the spirit" into the wilderness. There he saw "the harlot" and wrote down the description of what he saw (Rev 17:3-6). Gen 2 speaks of a pure bride in a lovely garden; but by the Bible’s end, civilization has degenerated to an impure harlot in a wilderness! That is what sin does to the world.
B. AN EXPOSING SYMBOL (Rev. 17:3-6).
This description is critical and bursting at the seams with information and insight.
1. The Symbol of the Woman
She represents a seductive, corrupt religious and political system that opposes God, leading people into idolatry or ‘spiritual adultery’.
QUOTE: “Let's begin with the woman. Rev 17:18 makes clear that she is identified with a city that existed in John's day ("reigns" is present tense). This city is prosperous and powerful, but also idolatrous ("blasphemy") and dangerous. For one thing, it pollutes the nations with its filth and abomination (pictured by the golden wine cup); for another, it persecutes those who belong to the Lord (Rev 17:6). Power, wealth, pollution, persecution: these words summarize the "great harlot's" involvement on a worldwide scale.” — W.W. Wiersbe
A.
Her Place (Rev.
17:3)
According to Revelation 17:15, the prostitute rules over “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (languages), indicating the global influence of this system.
Her posture is important as she is seated upon “many waters” (Rev 17:1), and upon a “scarlet coloured beast” with seven heads and ten horns. John was greatly amazed and wondered with admiration when he saw the woman and “the beast.” But what did it all mean? Thankfully, the angel gave John (and all believers) the explanation of these symbols (Rev 17:7-18).
B.
Her Portrait (Rev. 17:4)
She is clothed in luxury, symbolizing wealth, arrogance,
and allure. The “golden
cup” holds “abominations and filthiness”—the idolatrous and sinful,
immoral behaviors of her “fornication”. So clad in luxury (purple and scarlet), she
holds a golden cup filled with spiritual adultery, idolatry, and corrupt
practices that entice the world, ultimately representing corrupt
religious-political power.
1.
She is utterly materialistic (Rev. 17:4a). The woman is dressed in
expensive garments, decorated with gold and precious stones. She is holding a
golden cup in her hand and is drunk with the blood of the saints. On her
forehead (see rev 13:16; 14:1) she wears a special name.
2.
She is corrupt, “abominations” (Rev. 17:4a)
(Greek: bdelugma—detestable/accursed
things) and "filthiness of her fornication" signify a mixture of
idolatrous worship, moral corruption, and deception offered to the kings of the
earth.
3. She says blasphemous things about God (Rev. 17:4b). All of this signify a mixture of idolatrous worship, moral corruption, and deception offered to the kings of the earth. Generally, she is a false religious system or a corrupt world power that lures inhabitants away from divine truth, leading to spiritual corruption (“fornication”). This imagery contrasts with the pure bride of Christ, symbolizing deep spiritual impurity disguised as attractive, divine favor.
C.
Her Prostitution (Rev. 17:5)
On her forehead the caption, “Mystery Babylon the great, mother of harlots and abominations of the earth” appears. This seems to indicate she has daughters who are also “harlots.” A harlot is a woman who fornicates or uses her body for financial, political, or profitable gain. It’s a system that is, at the same time, opulent and morally filthy.
QUOTE:
“The woman's name also involves
"mystery" (Rev 17:5). In the New Testament, a "mystery" is
a hidden truth that only the spiritually initiated can understand. To grasp one
of God's mysteries requires spiritual intelligence and discernment. In this
case, the mystery has to do with Babylon.
The city of Babylon was founded by Nimrod (Gen 10:8-11). The name Bab-el means "the gate of God." Ironically, the famous tower of Babel (Gen 11:1-9) was an idolatrous attempt by man to defy God. When the Lord sent judgment on the builders by making mankind's one language into many, the word bab-el came to mean "confusion." Later in history, Babylon became a great empire before finally falling to Media-Persia. But from the beginning of Nimrod's city in Gen 10, an insidious anti-God "Babylonian influence" has been felt throughout history.” —W.W. Wiersbe
QUOTE:
“The Bible is full of information about
Babylon as the source of false religion, the record beginning with the building
of the tower of Babel (Gen. 10-11). The name “Babel” suggests “confusion” (Gen.
11:9). Later the name was applied to the city of Babylon which itself has a
long history dating back to as early as 3,000 years before Christ. One of its
famous rulers was Hammurabi (1728-1686 b.c.).
After a period of decline Babylon again rose to great heights under
Nebuchadnezzar about 600 years before Christ. Nebuchadnezzar’s reign (605-562 b.c.) and the subsequent history of
Babylon is the background of the Book of Daniel.
Babylon was important not only politically
but also religiously. Nimrod, who founded Babylon (Gen. 10:8-12), had a wife
known as Semiramis who founded the secret religious rites of the Babylonian
mysteries, according to accounts outside the Bible. Semiramis had a son with an
alleged miraculous conception who was given the name Tammuz and in effect was a
false fulfillment of the promise of the seed of the woman given to Eve (Gen.
3:15).
Various religious practices were observed in connection with this false Babylonian religion, including recognition of the mother and child as God and of creating an order of virgins who became religious prostitutes. Tammuz, according to the tradition, was killed by a wild animal and then restored to life, a satanic anticipation and counterfeit of Christ’s resurrection. Scripture condemns this false religion repeatedly (Jer. 7:18; 44:17-19, 25; Ezek. 8:14). The worship of Baal is related to the worship of Tammuz.” —John MacArthur
D. Her Practices (Rev. 17:6)
She commits adultery with both potentates and people of this earth (Rev. 17:2). Four times in this chapter, the woman is called a 'harlot" (Rev 17:1,5,15-16); and her sin is called "fornication" (Rev 17:2,4). Her evil influence has extended to the whole world, reaching even into high places ("the kings of the earth"). She is idolatrous (Rev. 17:2; 18:3, 9), cruel (Rev. 17:6), and has murdered the martyrs of Christ.
QUOTE: “The woman is "the great harlot," but she is also "the mother of harlots." The Babylonian system has, in one way or another, given birth to all false religions. She has also seduced men into opposing God and persecuting His servants. ” W. W. Wiersbe
2.
The Symbol of the Beast (Rev. 17:3b)
This “scarlet” beast with “seven heads and ten horns” is a symbol of a satanic political system (like the Roman Empire or the antichrist kingdom) that supports this corrupted system of the ‘harlot’.
A. His Appearance (Rev. 17:3b)
1. Note What He is. “Beast”
2. Note What His Color Is. “Scarlet”
3. Note What His Communication Is.
QUOTE:
“As noted earlier, scarlet is the color
of Satan (Rev 12:3) and of sin (Isa 1:18). Scarlet was a popular color in Rome,
and both scarlet and purple were associated with rank and riches.
But the woman must not be separated from "the beast" that carries her.” —W. W. Wiersbe
B.
His Associations (Rev. 17:3b)
1. He Has Seven Heads
2. He Has Ten Horns
QUOTE: “The beast' has seven heads and ten horns. The seven heads symbolize seven mountains (Rev 17:9) and also seven kings or kingdoms (Rev 17:10), in keeping with Old Testament imagery (Ps 30:7; Dan 2:35). 1 have already suggested that the seven mountains can be interpreted geographically as the seven hills of Rome, but they may also be interpreted historically as seven kingdoms.” —W. W. Wiersbe
Finally, this passage portrays John’s vision of a “great whore” seated on a bloodred monster—the Antichrist, representing a corrupt, seductive global system—often called “Mystery, Babylon the Great”. It blends false religion, secular humanism, and political power to rebel against Almighty God, the Lord Jesus, and harass and oppress the real people of God.
This religious system is drunk with the “blood of the saints,” since they refuse to adopt the seductive immoral values that rival God, they are brutally persecuted and killed as true followers of Jesus. While it is incumbent upon us to exercise patience now, God will deal with the unfair, murderous, corrupt, decadent, unfaithful conditions of mere earthly religion led by Satan. Not merely because the righteous long for this so greatly, but because God is just in all His ways and His timing is always perfect. God will expose, confront, and obliterate global alliances of political and religious systems opposed to Him. Though such a system seems dominant and attractive, its inevitable destruction by Jesus Christ is clearly promised. Rest assured, saint of God, he will deal with the fakes in due time no matter how universal they may be.
The
Cry for Judgment & Vindication will be answered. “Judge and avenge
our blood”
Revelation 6:9-10, And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
The great question was not whether their enemies would be judged, but when. "How long, O Lord?" has been the cry of God's suffering people throughout the ages (see Ps 74:9-10; 79:5; 94:3-4; also Hab 1:2). The saints in heaven along with us know that God will eventually judge sin and establish righteousness in the earth, but we do not know God's exact schedule.
Psalm
74:9-10, We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there
among us any that knoweth how long. [10] O God, how long shall the
adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?
Psalm 94:3-4, Lord, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? [4] How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?
Careful, this is Not a Cry for Revenge.
It is not personal revenge that we must seek, but vindication of God's holiness and the establishment of God's justice. Every believer today who sincerely prays, "Thy kingdom come!" is echoing their petition.
Remember, Romans 12:19-21, Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. [20] Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. [21] Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. The Lord Jesus is fulfilling His kingdom role as the Administrator of justice in the earth!
QUOTE: “The greatest proof of Christianity for others is not how far a man can logically analyze his reasons for believing, but how far in practice he will stake his life on his belief.” -- T. S. Eliot
God
hears the prayers of his persecuted, justice is a divine priority, and martyrs
will eventually be vindicated.
