Bible Commentaries
Revelation 17

Verses 1-6

THE JUDGMENT OF BABYLON
BABYLON

One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." Revelation 17:1-2

Now the Lord begins to deal with one of the greatest mysteries of the Bible and of the earth. This, of course, is the mystery of Babylon. Babylon has been perhaps the greatest hindrance to the kingdom of God.

To understand this mystery we must first of all deal with the natural city called Babylon. This city flourished as one of the mighty world empires of ancient times. In fact, she was the first of the four great gentile world empires mentioned by Daniel the prophet. Daniel speaks of Babylon as the golden head of the world's political, economic and religious system. That system is still in place today.

The Babylonian Empire conquered Israel in 586 BC. The Babylonians destroyed the temple and led the Israelites off into captivity. So, just as Israel was the expression of true religion in the ancient world, Babylon became the expression of false religion. Thecity of Babylon soon fell to Cyrus the Persian in 539, and was later conquered by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. The natural city had almost entirely faded from prominence by the second century BC and soon lay in ruins.

Still Babylon as a spiritual city lives on.^(F1)She has vicariously found representation in other great cities, particularly in ancient Rome. Certainly one very big aspect of Babylon's personality continues today in the religious world. Babylon has become a spiritual symbol, a code word in the Bible for spiritual bondage and the defilement of holy things.

There are several places in scripture where the mysteries of Babylon are dealt with. Isaiah speaks much of this vast trans-historical system of evil. In Isaiah, chapter 13, he ties Babylon's judgment directly to the Day of the Lord (vs. 6-14). We can understand this section as dealing with the end of time, since the heavenly bodies are also pictured in turmoil (vs. 10 & 13). In Isaiah chapter 14, Babylon is closely identified with Satan himself (vs. 12-17). Later in Isaiah 47, the prophet deals with her in more detail. The prophet Jeremiah also speaks of her in chapters 50 & 51.

But the foundational principles of Babylon are best seen in the Book of Genesis. We see that Babylon was founded by Nimrod, the Hebrew root of whose name means "rebel." We learn more in the episode of the Tower of Babel spoken of in Genesis 11:1-9. Here it speaks of a tower on the plain of Shinar that was supposed to reach to heaven. This tower was built with brick and not with stone. In the Bible, brick seems to represent man's work, while stone represents God's work (Deuteronomy 27:6; Isaiah 65:3).

Man was attempting to make a name for himself, instead of allowing God to make a name for him. He was building a city to his own glory. How different this was from the spirit of Abraham who would later come on this scene and would look for a city with real foundations whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10).

We see in scripture that God put a quick end to this proud, new-world order. God simply scrambled the language of mankind, and in their confusion, these evil people ceased building the tower. But as we learn from the remainder of the Bible, the subject of Babylon was not finished. Babylon continued to distress God's true saints.

The Babylonian captivity officially ended seventy years after its beginning. However, the bulk of those Jews living in Babylon did not return to Israel until the nation was reestablished in the mid-twentieth century. Thus for many centuries Babylon continued to be the world center of exiled Judaism.

The judgment of Babylon represents God's final decree upon all that is false among his own people. After all, the Bible does say in 1 Peter 4:17, "For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?"

Verses 7-8

BABYLON'S SECRETS REVEALED

…I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. Revelation 17:7

There are two important dreams in the book of Daniel that shed immense light upon Babylon and therefore upon the Book of Revelation. Let us take a slight detour from our study and look at these dreams and visions more closely. We really cannot understand Revelation without comprehending these dreams.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had the first dream. The king saw an enormous, dazzling statue. It had a head of gold; chest and arms of silver, belly and thighs of bronze and legs of iron, with feet and toes partly of iron and partly of baked clay.

As the king watched, a rock was cut out without human hands. The rock crashed into the statue's feet smashing them. With that, the whole image came tumbling down and was turned to dust, which the wind blew away without leaving a trace (Daniel 2:31-35). It is of note that the rock then became a great mountain filling the whole earth.

Daniel then interpreted the dream. King Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon, was the head of gold. After him, an inferior kingdom would come [Media-Persia], and then one inferior still would rise and rule over the whole world [Greece]. Finally a fourth inferior kingdom would appear and be made mostly of iron. This kingdom would smash everything to pieces [Rome].

The feet of iron and clay, indicate that this kingdom will be divided and that it will be partly strong and partly weak. The two legs of this image seem clearly to represent the eastern and western divisions of the old Roman Empire. During the time of the weak kings that are pictured in the toes of this image, God will establish his kingdom that will never be destroyed (Daniel 2:36-45; Revelation 11:15). This will happen in the last days.

A similar revelation came as a dream to Daniel himself in the reign of Belshazzar, King of Babylon. Daniel dreamed of four great beasts coming up out of the sea (Daniel 7:1-28). The first beast was like a lion with wings of an eagle. It stood up like a man and even the heart of a man was given to it. The second beast was like a bear, and it was seen devouring much flesh. The third beast was like a leopard with wings of a bird. This beast had four heads and it was given great authority. The fourth beast was terrifying and powerful. It had ten horns and trampled the earth with its feet.

While Daniel was watching this beast, a little horn came up. This little horn had eyes like a man and a boastful mouth. As Daniel looked, the Ancient of Days with his heavenly court appeared and they were seated for judgment. Afterward the beast was slain and his body destroyed and thrown into the fire.

Daniel then saw one like the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven. This one was led into the presence of the Ancient of Days and was given authority and power over all peoples. Daniel saw that his dominion will never end, and his kingdom will not pass away (Daniel 7:27). This one is certainly Jesus the Messiah.

The prophet asked one of the heavenly beings what this dream meant and it was explained to him. The four beasts are four kingdoms that will arise in the earth. We see this corresponds very well to Nebuchadnezzar's dream. After these governments are cast down, the saints of the Most High will receive the kingdom.

Daniel wanted to know the mystery of the fourth kingdom, which was terrifying and different from the others. He also wanted to know the mystery of the little horn that waged war with the saints and began to defeat them.

The angel mentioned that the fourth kingdom will devour the whole earth and trample it down, especially during the time of the Antichrist. This evil one will oppress God's saints and change set laws and times. The saints will actually be handed over to him for a time, times and a half-time. Afterward, the heavenly court will sit and take his power away. Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all kingdoms will be given over to the saints of the Most High. This kingdom will be everlasting (Daniel 7:15-28).

When the dreams and their interpretations are compared with other visions of Daniel, we see clearly that the four beasts represent Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and Rome (cf. Daniel 8:19-22; 2:36-43). The last kingdom that so oppresses the earth is the Roman Empire, and the little horn, that arises to persecute the saints of God, comes from the remnants of this last kingdom. It is clear that this little horn is the Beast or Antichrist of Revelation.

Verses 9-10

TWO VISIONS RECONCILED

This calls for a mind of wisdom… Revelation 17:9

The dreams of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel are essentially the same. Daniel makes clear that the world will be ruled by these four empires until our present day; that these world governments will decline in their strength and depreciate in their value (Daniel 2:39); and that they will collapse at the same time (Daniel 2:35).

These two revelations of a man's image and of four beasts very well describe the present system of Gentile world government or the "times of the Gentiles" (Luke 21:24). While the system has a human quality about it, there is also a beastly quality. This beastly quality has manifested itself on several occasions in history, particularly in the recent Nazi Holocaust, where six million Jews were murdered. This beastly side of government will again become very evident in the last days.

The system will collapse as it is struck by the rock from the mountain [Zion]. In the meantime, all governments will be guided by the principles and value systems handed down from these four governments of Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece and Rome.

This is certainly the case with our present world. Not only do we operate with Babylonian principles, but we operate with Greek ones as well. An example of this is seen in the humanism that we have inherited directly from the Greeks. This very aggressive godless philosophy is presently dominating the power centers of our Western world. Even our schools are filled with it.

Certainly our world has been greatly influenced by the literature and learning of both Greece and Rome. Until the past century, a person was hardly considered educated without a strong background in the classics. Indeed the Roman Empire in a greatly weakened form survives until this day. How true it is that we are heirs of much that was Rome, particularly its system of law and government. I still find myself using Roman numerals to divide the main sections of certain of my works.

Verse 11

THE ANTI-MESSIAH
A LITTLE HORN

The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king… Revelation 17:11

In summary, we can say that out of the weakened Roman/Babylonian Empire of our day, a "little horn" will eventually arise speaking boastful words (Daniel 7:8). This one is known as the Beast or Antichrist.

How interesting, that a rock hewn out of the mountain will crash into this Babylonian image, including the Antichrist himself, and turn everything to powder (Daniel 2:23-45)! This is surely a picture of the Messiah and his government from Mount Zion (Isaiah 28:16; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 2:2).

However, Daniel makes it very clear that the "little horn" will wage war against God's saints or holy people and even defeat them until God intervenes. We should carefully note this in Daniel 7:21-22, "As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom."

Thus, it is obvious from Daniel that during the Tribulation, "The holy people will be delivered into his hands for a time, times and half a time" (Daniel 7:25). This again is the recurring period of approximately three and one-half years, or the duration of the Great Tribulation.

Verses 11-13

AN ANCIENT ANTICHRIST TYPE

The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. Revelation 17:11

In his eighth and eleventh chapters, Daniel gives more details about the Beast or Antichrist. He deals in these chapters with an important type of the Antichrist who appeared in the Greek Empire. This one arose after the time of Alexander the Great, and even before Rome became a world power. We know him from history as Antiochus Epiphanes. His nickname, "Epiphanes," meant "illustrious" in the Greek language. Daniel refers to this man as a "little horn" (Daniel 7:8 & 8:9).

The prophet Daniel describes for us the work of this antichrist type in Daniel 8:23-25. We see in this important passage that rebels must become completely wicked before his rise. We see that he will attack and partially defeat the Lord's people, but finally he will be overthrown with God's power.

We know from Jewish history that this particular madman did arrive on the scene, and that he created great havoc. He invaded Israel, defiled the sacred altar by sacrificing a pig upon it, and utterly forbade the practice of Judaism. Many were persecuted and were even martyred in his wake. All this occurred around 165 B.C.

Chapter eleven of Daniel gives us some additional color concerning this evil antichrist type. We see that he attacks the temple and sets up the "abomination of desolation." We also see that God's true saints will sternly resist him (Daniel 11:31 & 32).

The prophet further speaks of the great trials of these days. He speaks of God's saints being burned, captured and plundered (Daniel 11:33). This evil ruler will do as he pleases. He will greatly magnify himself and even speak against the true God (Daniel 11:36).

It was the valiant Maccabees who finally arose to withstand the antichrist type of their day. Ultimately they defeated this evil man and his program. They did so with the miraculous help of God. The Jewish festival of Hanukkah is celebrated each year as a memorial of this great victory. In New Testament times, this festival was known as the Feast of Dedication. We see in John's tenth chapter that Jesus joined in this celebration.

The account of this miraculous victory, as well as the awful suffering of God's people, can be read in the apocryphal books of 1 & 2 Maccabees. The Books of Maccabees are not in most Bibles, but they are available in some newer translations such as the New Revised Standard Version. The books were written "between the testaments," and were readily available to the early Christians in their Greek version of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint. No doubt the Apostle John, who wrote Revelation, was very familiarwith them.

Verse 14

OVERCOMERS

– and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers. Revelation 17:14b

Thus from the time of the Maccabees; from the New Testament times and from the days of the early church, we see how God expects his people to be overcomers. This is part of the mission and work of the church, to overcome the devil. Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18, "And I tell you – on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."

Thus, the church has a call to overcome the world. In another place Jesus promises his followers, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19). Many years after this statement was made, Paul laid down this same principle for the whole church by commanding, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:21).

At last, it would be appropriate for us to hear from John who wrote the book of Revelation. What did he think about the overcomers? In his little book of 1 John he has some important things to share about them. In 1 John 2:12 we read, "I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one." Thus, in John's own day there were overcomers already present in the church. In 1 John 4:4 he says to the church, "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." Then finally in 1 John 5:4, the aged apostle says, "for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."

With all this background in Daniel and other places we can now better understand the Beast and the deadly end-day struggle of the righteous against him. Now that we have some background on this Babylonian Beast and his beastly system of world government, let us return to our commentary on Revelation and notice some things about the woman sitting upon the beast. This woman is called "Mystery Babylon."

Verse 14

DEJAVU

"They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings – " Revelation 17:14a

We can know from Daniel that the events of Revelation and of the end-times will closely parallel the events that happened in the days of the Maccabees. We see in Daniel 8 that the prophet's vision concerns the time of the end (cf. Daniel 8:17 & 26b). Both events speak of awful persecution facing the saints, and even of a falling away from the faith. This is also reflected in the New Testament (cf. 1 Timothy 4:1). History tells us that during the time of the Maccabees many Jewish people turned away from the faith.

Paul, no doubt with this picture in mind, challenges us to take up the armor of God as we prepare for the evil day (Ephesians 6:13). Obviously, God is still looking for end-day people like the valiant Maccabees, who will stand against the evil one.

Although suffering is not a popular theme in the western church today, such suffering is a legacy bequeathed us from Christ himself. The scripture says, "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him…" (Phil. 1:29). So, suffering is God's gift to us. The scripture also says in 2 Timothy 2:12, "if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us."

Several of the earliest church fathers comment upon this awful time of tribulation coming upon the church at the end of the age. Hermas (c. AD 150) says, "Happy are you who endure the great tribulation that is coming. And happy are they who will not deny their own life." ^(F2) Hippolytus (c. AD 200) speaks of the tyrant who will " – reign and persecute the church, which flees from city to city, and seeks concealment in the wilderness among the mountains." ^(F3) Irenaeus (c. AD 180) says, "For this is the last contest of the righteous, in which they are crowned with incorruption – when they overcome."^(F4)

Verses 15-17

THE MYSTERY WOMAN

Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages." Revelation 17:15

Thus, the Babylonian system has a spiritual side that is closely intertwined with its political side. John is now allowed to see this spiritual side of Babylon in some detail. Let us quickly review chapter 17 of Revelation to get a full picture of this mystery woman.

John is here shown the great prostitute, and he is told of her ensuing punishment. She is guilty of intoxicating the world and its leaders with her adulteries (17:2). John sees that the prostitute is sitting on the scarlet colored beast, representing the Gentile world governmental system that we have discussed. We note that the beast itself is covered with blasphemous names. This beastly form of world government is closely allied with Satan and his system. John says, "…I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns" (17:3).

The ten horns immediately identify the beast with the one we have just discussed in Daniel (Daniel 7:7). The horns also speak of his counterfeit power. The woman represents false Christianity, and to some degree, perhaps even false Judaism (1 Peter 5:13; Isaiah 1:21). She has come to be conveyed by a depraved world governmental system that had its beginnings with ancient Babylon.

We notice how this phony bride of Christ is able to cling to the defiled world governmental system and be carried along by it. She has done this for centuries. This really should not surprise us since she herself is also defiled.

This woman is dressed in royal colors of purple and scarlet and she glitters with gold (17:4). All this is outwardly impressive and speaks of her great wealth and glory. She also holds a cup made of gold, which perhaps should speak of the divine, but upon close inspection we find the cup is filled with adulteries and other detestable things.

Verse 18

MOTHER OF HARLOTS

The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth. Revelation 17:18.

As we remember from earlier, John further describes the mystery woman, "The name written on her forehead was a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH" (17:5).

Here we see that Babylon is the mother, or the source of much of the world's evil and spiritual pollution. The woman is not only defiled with adulteries, but is also drunk on the blood of the saints (17:6). John is almost overwhelmed with his vision of her. This phony bride and her corrupt political system, together persecute the true bride, and stand against the coming kingdom of God.

As to the beast that the woman is riding, and particularly to the Antichrist himself, John adds, "The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss and go to his destruction…" (17:8). We understand by this that the Beast or Antichrist existed before John's time; was not present in his day; but will be restored in the end-day. This Beast with its blasphemous names will draw away those who are not written in the Lamb's book of life. The whole world will be astonished at it. This Beast is nothing less than the incarnation of satanic evil.^(F5)

John then gives us even more information about this Beast upon which the woman sits. The seven heads of the system correspond to seven hills, which is undoubtedly a reference to Rome and the Roman system (17:9). We saw in Daniel that the Beast does indeed spring from the Roman Empire. Many earlier Christian commentators were certain that Babylon was the Roman Catholic Church. However, today we need to realize that Babylon is bigger than Catholicism or any Christian group. The spirit of Babylon indeed touches all churches and denominations to some degree.

We are told that the heads of this system also represent seven important antichrist-type kings. John tells us, "They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction" (17:10-11).

With this riddle, we realize that history holds several antichrist-type kings. Five of these types had already passed in John's day, while one was ruling in his time [likely Domitian]. There was still one to come. The eighth king has existed before but will come again, or be miraculously raised up in the form of Antichrist. Perhaps he existed before in the very person of Antiochus Epiphanes. Obviously, there are still some things hidden about this mysterious person.

When Antichrist arises we are told that the ten horns, or ten kings of the greatly weakened Roman Empire, will join with him and make war against the Lamb (17:12). Interpreters are fond of identifying these kings with European nations. However, Europe made up scarcely half of the Roman Empire. These kings could just as easily come from other areas that Rome once controlled; areas like Babylonia, Syria, Turkey, Israel, Egypt or North Africa.

We see that with the Lamb, and apparently fighting at his side, are his "called, chosen and faithful followers" (17:14). This is likely a reference to the 144,000 overcomers that we met earlier, or the "new man" of Ephesians, chapters 2 and 3.

As the scripture makes plain in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, the saints will not fight in the natural, for, "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." Also, our great battle is always against our own flesh. We see this battle in Colossians 3:5, "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."

At this point we see that the beast with his allies will turn in rage against the prostitute and destroy her (17:16-17). Thus in the end-days, the very political system that has long supported the prostitute will become her sudden foe, bringing about her end. Thus the political system of the Beast will turn against polluted and government supported Christianity, bringing about its quick and total demise.^(F6)