Revelation
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Revelation 17
Revelation 17
Commentary · verses 1-18
1And there came one of the seven angels that had the seven bowls, and spake with me, saying, Come hither, I will show thee the judgment of the great harlot that sitteth upon many waters; 2with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and they that dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her fornication.
1And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
Commentary · verses 1-2
One of the angels of the bowls talked with John and showed him the judgment of the great harlot (represented man's religions, all of them) that sits on many waters (peoples, nations, languages, races, etc. from Revelation 17:15). This was the false world religion.
3And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting upon a scarlet-colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
3So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
Commentary · verse 3
The beast system here was the same as in Revelation 13.
4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations, even the unclean things of her fornication,
4And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
Commentary · verse 4
This description of the woman upon the beast has been stated to be the Catholic Church because of the colors purple and scarlet. Whether it will be or not, this woman represented a false world religion that would associate itself with the beast system: seven heads and ten horns.
5and upon her forehead a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
5And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
Commentary · verse 5
She is the mother of harlots. She represented all fornication; all idolatry; all giving of one's self to an image.
6And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I wondered with a great wonder.
6And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
Commentary · verse 6
She was drunk with blood of saints and martyrs of Jesus.
7And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou wonder? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and the ten horns.
7And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
Commentary · verse 7
The angel told John the mystery of the woman. Again, when "mystery" was mentioned in the Bible, it was given to believers to understand the mystery. God did not want believers to celebrate not knowing the mystery.
Doctrines on this passage
8The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and is about to come up out of the abyss, and to go into perdition. And they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, they whose name hath not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast, how that he was, and is not, and shall come.
8The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Commentary · verse 8
The beast is Satan's system that was critically wounded during John's time by Jesus' resurrection. During John's time this system "is not," this system during John's time and today has no actual power. It works by deception. We have to choose to embrace it and let it into us. However, during the second half of the Tribulation, it will be given the ability to physically overcome believers. Unbelievers will wonder and be deceived during the Tribulation.
9Here is the mind that hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth:
9And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
Commentary · verse 9
Some believe the capital of this world religion will be in a city that has seven mountains/hills. Rome is built on seven hills, which is why some people point to the Catholic Church. However, there are other prominent cities built on seven hills including: Athens, Istanbul, Jerusalem, and Moscow.
10and they are seven kings; the five are fallen, the one is, the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a little while.
10And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
Commentary · verse 10
During John's time, the first five kingdoms were gone: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The sixth kingdom was the one that existed during John's time: Rome. The seventh kingdom is the one that will exist during the time of the Tribulation. This kingdom will only exist for a little while relative to the years that the previous kingdoms were in authority.
11And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goeth into perdition.
11And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
Commentary · verse 11
The seventh kingdom is in charge for a little while and the eighth king (the Antichrist) comes from the seventh kingdom, before he goes to perdition.
12And the ten horns that thou sawest are ten kings, who have received no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings, with the beast, for one hour.
13These have one mind, and they give their power and authority unto the beast.
12And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
Commentary · verses 12-13
The seventh kingdom consists of ten kings that have authority for one hour (a little while), and then give it to the beast (Antichrist). Just as John the Baptist's purpose was to facilitate Jesus' Ministry (and took a little while), it looks as if the purpose of the seventh kingdom is to facilitate the Antichrist's authority.
14These shall war against the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them, for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings; and they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful.
14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
Commentary · verse 14
The ten kings will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them at the battle of Armageddon which ends the Tribulation.
15And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the harlot sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
15And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
Commentary · verse 15
This explained the meaning of "waters" in the first verse of this chapter: Revelation 17:1. The false religion would be used by the Antichrist to unite all the people during the first half of the Tribulation. This false religion itself was deceived: believing that it was doing something good because everyone was being united under its belief system while not realizing, like a harlot, she was being used for fornication...used to cause people to commit idolatry.
16And the ten horns which thou sawest, and the beast, these shall hate the harlot, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and shall burn her utterly with fire.
16And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
Commentary · verse 16
It appears the seventh and eighth kings will use the world religion for the first half of the Tribulation. However, at the midpoint, the Antichrist takes over the temple and declares every other religion false, especially the world religion represented by the harlot.
17For God did put in their hearts to do his mind, and to come to one mind, and to give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God should be accomplished.
18And the woman whom thou sawest is the great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.
Commentary · verses 17-18
The woman represented a great city. During John's time, the great city that reigned over all other kingdoms was Rome. Again, another reason people point to the Catholic Church. The events of this chapter are denoted by the "17" and the arrow. The events of the next chapter are denoted by the "18." Notice, there are years between the two chapters.
This chapter was informational and gave a big picture perspective of the history of the false religion mentioned in Chapter 13.