There has been a lot of debate about who the harlot of Babylon is. Some sources say it's Rome. Others say it's the United States. Others say it's the Catholic church. Others say it's a system under the Antichrist's control. As we explore this chapter, we'll be given clues as to who this woman represents.
One of the angels who had the seven bowls talks with John saying to him, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornications. So, John is carried away in the spirit into the wilderness. And he sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and ten horns. Who does this sound like? The same beast we were introduced to in Revelation 13, the beast of the sea, the Antichrist. 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. At first glance, this woman looks beautiful like royalty. But at closer look, we can see she's got a cup of poison and isn't what she seems. On her forehead was written Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth. And John sees the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when John sees her, he marveled with great amazement. As we can see, this woman and the beast are connected.
After the angel asks John why he marveled, he tells him the mystery of the woman and of the beast that has the seven heads and ten horns.
The scarlet beast is believed to represent the one world government that will be established by the Antichrist. The woman is the false religion system that will turn many away from Christ. This system will be responsible for the deaths of millions of Christians through martyrdom. The seven heads represent seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth and is of the seven and is going to perdition(destruction). The ten horns represent ten kings that don't have a kingdom yet but are clearly under the Antichrist because they receive authority for an hour as kings of the beast. They are of one mind and give their power and authority to the beast. These are the kings that will lead Armageddon and make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And those who are with Him are called chosen and faithful. The angel says to John, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits are peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues." So, this evil system will be over all the peoples of the earth.
The ten horns on the beast will hate the harlot and leave her desolate and naked, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purposes, to be of one mind and to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are fulfilled. And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.
Sometimes, God will use other people to fulfill His purpose. Sometimes it's very painful, but it's necessary. Many times, God wants us to make the decision to destroy something destructive, but because we won't, He'll use those closest to us to carry out His will. Often, they do it in a way that hurts, but in the end, it's for our good.
