Revelation 17:1-6, 15, “1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me,[1] "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, 2with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication." 3So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. 4The 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.[2] 5And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.
15Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples. multitudes, nations, and tongues.”
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me this would immediately take one to understand the connective ness of this vision with the seven plagues (16:1-21). It is precisely for this reason that the flow of Revelation is stopped yet the sequence of events is not stopped as we saw in the introduction here. Yet we shall return to the rest of the story in chapters 19-22, so these two chapters 17 and 18 then take us back to show us what came of these judgments. The great harlot is not an actual prostitute but a symbolic prostitute. This term for harlot is meant as a metaphor of all the false religion, spiritual defection, idolatry, and religious apostasy. Scripture reveals that Nineveh (Nah 3:1,4), Tyre (Isa 23:15-17), and sadly, Jerusalem (Isa 1:21) are examples of cities that committed spiritual fornication.
John’s appeal then is to expose the aspects of the system, or the harlot city of Babylon through showing that her authority, alliances, apparel, abominations and accusations are satanic.
The authority of the Harlot
Revelation 17:1b, 15, “who sits on many waters. Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages.”
The harlot sits in a position of authority which demonstrates for us its sovereignty as a king who would sit on the throne on many waters, which points to the fact that in ancient times not to mention Babylon. Through Babylon ran a river the Euphrates. Jeremiah 51:13 shows that ancient Babylon as “you who dwell by many waters” which is also the same as her future counterpart here. That Babylon then sits on many waters as it did before goes to show that in the future tribulation time Babylon will further be built along the Euphrates in Babylon which is in Iraq. If this then doesn’t show you that the things transpiring in Iraq are important then you need a serious wake up call, because the coming of the Messiah nears everyday nearer and nearer, which is why we are to look forward and set our eyes upon the coming of Messiah for His sheep at the sound of the trumpet the Rapture will occur, and then the beginning of the Tribulation which will culminate in Messiah’s return. Then what we see is that the destruction of the final false religion will destroy the authority of the harlot, who wants in and of itself the glory of Messiah who is the rightful heir to the King of David who will reign forever and ever, and establish His millennial Kingdom despite that very same false religion which at its core deny the existence of God, which today, is prevelant through the denial still of God’s existence, even though God is still directly involved in the affairs of providing for the means of the survival of all humanity through the supply of natural resources, food, housing and clothing. Everything in all facets of life is in the hands of an all knowing sovereign God who reaches out His hand of mercy extending it to all and withholding His judgment that humanity might not experience judgment, yet His love as revealed through the Cross, so that they would come into a personal living relationship and not instead be thrown into the lake of fire to suffer forever eternal condemnation but experience eternal life, and the water which streams forth inside from knowing Messiah through the gift of eternal life.
The Alliance of the Harlot
Revelation 17:2-3, “2With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."
3Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.”
The kings of the earth refers to the spread of the harlot’s influence. In contrast to the heavenly government which will be established during the Millennial reign of Christ is here in direct contrast to the earthly government which Satan establishes which is in direct contrast to the heavenly government of Christ. This then shows that those who are in earthly government positions at this highest levels will be influenced greatly by the spiritual fornication of the harlot. The phrase committed adultery is a form of the Greek verb pornaeu from which we get sexual immorality. This then describes the interaction of the prostitute who is a harlot who leads the kings of the earth astray from the realization of the establishment of the Millennial heavenly government which Christ shall establish. In comparison it is as Augustine book called the city of God, yet it is the City of God then against the City of Satan. It boils down to the fact humanity wishes to worship itself instead of God, because they love to worship their works rather than the reason for the works which is Christ, which stands in direct contrary to the heavenly government which Christ will establish during His millennial kingdom. So then this is in direct conflict with the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom, because what Satan establishes here is an earthly kingdom atypical of the worldwide kingdom there before, but this one will be on a worldwide massive religious scale, as is happening now which wishes to supersede the throne of God the Father, which in turn the result would be that God the Father would be dethroned and Satan would rule forever. So really it is the city of God verses the city of Satan that is here in conflict.
The symbolism of spiritual adultery then is used in the Old Testament describes for us Israel’s apostasy from Jehovah (Ezek 16, 23), but here this is nothing more than inappropriate because the unredeemed rulers and the nations they represent do not know God and are never pictured as His wife. Beckwarth points out that the reference to the desert is a commonplace of visionary literature, since solitary places were typical locations for seers to have visions. Moreover, elsewhere John places himself on earth (1:9-10, on sea and earth (10:8), in heaven (4:1), on the seashore (13:1), and on a mountaintop (21:9-10) when he receives his visions. There seems to be no great signifance to the different locations except variety. (So I. T. Beckwith, Apocalypse, 692).
“Sitting on a scarlet beast” points out to the fact of the description of Antichrist (13:1-,4; 14:9; 16:10). This then points to the fact that the Apostle John There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.” What we see then is the fact that the beast and the woman will exist coequally for a time, that in a religious sense it shall, but then it will become the kingdom totally of Antichrist.
Scarlet is the color associated in Scripture with luxury (2nd Samuel 1:24), splendor and royalty. Yet also it is the color associated with sin in Isaiah 1:18), and the hue of blood. Yet it is also the means by which Antichrist will be a splendorous, royal, sinful, blood beast full of blasphemous names (13:1). What we then see is that arrogantly Satan will pronounce himself king over the world something he has wished to do since he fell from heaven, and now that wish of his shall come true as he will be the pseudo king of the world. Yet this taking of the names will not only blasphemy God by what he claims but also by what he says. Antichrist “will speak out against the Most High…. And will speak monstrous things against the god of gods” (Daniel 7:25; 11:36).
This demonic scarlet beast is described as having seven heads and ten horns showing the extent of the alliances of the harlot. Seven heads are as veres 9-10 describe, “seven mountains on which the woman sits, and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while”. These then represent for us seven mountains, which are seven past, present and future governments. The ten horns then represent ten kings (vs.12), who will rule as subordinates to Antichrist (v.13).
The harlot’s alliance then will be elaborate but her deadly embrace will encompass all facets of those who are unrepentant. Kings, and rulers will be ruled by antichrist down to common people and all will be forced in an austatious display of a one world church the world has ever seen, church and state will then be united under the leadership of Antichrist as never before in the annals of human history.
The Apparel of the Harlot
Revelation 17:4a, “4The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls,”
It is a known fact that prostitutes dress to dazzle and amaze those with whom they will participate in their wares. This here is a metaphorical of Babylon as a harlot who dresses herself up to attract all sorts of attention away from the fact that they are false and untrue. John saw her arrayed in purple and scarlet the very colors of royalty, prosperity, nobility, and wealth. (Judges 8:26; Est 8:15; Lam 4:5; Ezek 23:6; Daniel 5:7, 16,29). Yet she is adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls portrays for us the fact that as a prostitute she is very successful in her attractiveness (Proverbs 7:10), yet as with anyone who is excellent at anything this prostitute has become extremely wealthy. This then points to the significant fact the ultimately the apparel of the prostitute is what leads the kings astray for she offers what humans desire most, money, power and fame. It is those same things if not kept in check lead those with those things to worship those things instead of Christ.
The Abominations of the Harlot
Revelation 17:4b-5, “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.[1] 5And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
As with prostitutes who wish to take everything from their victims so also will the harlot make her victims drunk as did Ancient Babylon. “Babylon has been a golden cup in the hands of the Lord, intoxicating all the earth. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are going mad” (Jeremiah 51:7). Yet the harlot’s a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication. To this Donald Grey Barnhouse wrote: It is also highly significant that the abominations and the filthiness should be spoken of as coming from a golden cup. “Babylon hath been a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, that made all the earth druken: the nations have drunken of her wine; therefore the nations are mad” (Jer 51:7). To those who are acquainted with the history of ancient religions this significance is heightened by comparisons with the rites of the pagan religious mysteries. A French scholar, Salverte, writing on the occult Sciences, tells of the drinking in connection with these demon ceremonies. “To drink of mysterious beverages, “he says, “was indispensable on the part of all who sought initiation in these mysteries. These mysterious beverages were composed of wine, honey, water, and flour, with various other ingredients used locally. From the nature of the ingredients avowedly used, and from the nature of others not avowed, but certainly, used, there can be no doubt that they were of an intoxicating nature; and till the aspirants had come under their power, till their understandings had been dimmed, and their passions excited by the medicated draught, they were not only duly prepared for what they were either to hear or see.” (Revelation: An expository Commentary [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1971], 324).
It is significant that all idolatry is abominable to God (1 Kings 14:22-24; 2 Kings 21:1-9; Ezek 20:30-33). It is precisely this reason why Antichrist’s false religion will be the worst ever in human history. It then shows us that Babylon’s sins will be “piled up as high as heaven” (18:5), bringing then her destruction. It was customary in ancient times for prostiutes to identify themselves in the Roman world, and the harlot Babylon had on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT is used here to identify it with Babylon which would then show us that this does not refer to a geographical location, and also that this is not ancient Bayblon being shown, but the Babylon of John’s day which would be the rebuilt Babylon Rome, yet in the first sense this vision can’t be applied to any actual city, because it is typical of a system not of a city in and of itself. This Babylon is the symbol of all wordly resistance to God, and is described as the Great given its far reaching impact. Yet it is also THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH in the sense that its influence is so vast. Babylon then will be the source of all the false idolatrous religion that stands contrary to the Message of the Cross and will in the end times be called THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH an appropriate term given the fact that harlotry in scripture often symbolizes idolatry (Judges 2:17; 8:27, 33; 1 Chron 5:25; @ Chron 21:11; Jer 3:6, 8-9 Ezek 16:30-31, 36). Then for us Babylon is the satanic city that spawned the system which in turn corrupted the whole world with false religion whose foundation is based upon works, which then in turn leads us to see that during the Tribulation it shall again lead the world astray through its agents-Satan, Antichrist and the False Prophet. This then proves that the abominations of the harlot will corrupt the entire world except those who have firmly placed their lives upon the work of Christ and been saved.
The accusation of the harlot
Revelation 17:6, “6I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.”
This woman is not drunk with the wine of the world, what she is drunk with is the blood of all those who have given sacrificially for faith in Messiah. She is drunk with the blood of the martyrs, which runs in contrast with an early church father who wrote that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church. Yet this is not in the back of the mind of the Apostle John who here mentions that this woman is drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. This reference is a vivid expression commonly used in the ancient world to depict a murderous lust for violence. Macarthuar points out, “Some commentators see saints and witnesses of Jesus as two distinct groups, the former being the Old Testament saints and the latter the New Testament saints. More likely, however, the two descriptions refer to the same group and describe God’s people throughout history.” This then leads us to see that the important point is that false religion, unlike true religion based around Christ is represented by the harlot not Christ, which makes the harlot a murder. This harlot has killed millions of believers throughout the ages, and the history of the church has demonstrated that liberal Christianity has always persecuted biblical Christianity. It was for this reason in and of itself that those who hold to the true faith as found in God’s Word, and not in man’s opinions that the truth was spread and the world was turned upside down, and the Gospel of Christ was spread resulting in people turning away from sin; instead of towards it as it is in this present age. This vision was so shocking that John then wondered greatly that is he was confused shocked and astonished, yet frightened by the ghastly vision of such a contrastingly magnificent figure of the woman and such a deadly intent.
The explanation of the harlot
Revelation 17:7-14,18, “7 But the angel said to me, "Why did you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns. 8The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.[1] 9"Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. 10There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time. 11The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition. 12"The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. 13These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. 14These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." 18And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."
The angel here is about to reveal to John the meaning of this vision so as to cause him to no longer wonder about its meaning, The mystery of the woman (vv.18 and of the beast that carries here (vv.8-17). Woman is representative of false religious system while the beast was the Antichrist whose reference lies in seven heads…ten horns indicates (v.3; 13:1). John must have missed the previous revelation to him that the whole world would worship antichrist in 13:4,8, 12. John must have missed is the understanding of the woman and the beast that carries here.
In Revelation 17-18 this angel is referring to Babylon along the Euphrates which denies then that intreptation of the great city as anything other than Babylon along the Euphrates. Macarthur rightly points out, “Those allusions can be seen by comparing 17:1 with Jeremiah 51:3; 17:2,4 with Jeremiah 51:7; 18:7 with Isaiah 47:5; 18:2 with Isaiah 13:21 and Jeremiah 51:8; 18:4 with Jeremiah 50:8 and 51:6, 45; 18:5 with Jeremiah 51:9; 18:6 with Jeremiah 50:15 and 51:24; 18:21 with Jeremiah 51:63-64. The description of Babylon’s destruction (18:10, 18,21) also suggests that an actual city is in view. Thus, a rebuilt city of Babylon will be closely identified with antichrist’s world empire, perhaps as its capital city. That city will be the center of his kingdom, the extent of which will be the whole earth.”
This then shows us the Old Testament predications of Babylon’s destruction (Isa 13:1-14:27; Jer 50-51) also identifying now the city as Babylon the Euphrates as established previously. Yet this only gives us a partial understanding into this for Babylon’s destruction was only partially fulfilled when Medes and Persians sacked the ancient city of Babylon. Yet this shows that the partially fulfilled prophecies as a rule can also have a near and far fulfillment. Henry Morris points out, “Babylon, indeed, will be permanently destroyed, as recorded in the very next chapter (18:21), but this has not happened yet. The prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah also refer to this future destruction, not merely to Babylon’s present day condition, as is evident from the following considerations, among others: 1) the destruction will take place in the time that the stars and sun are darkened (Isaiah 13:1,9,10). 2) the city will become as desolate as Sodom and Gommorah, burned completely, with no remains whatsoever (Isaiah 13:19; Jer 50:40). 3) It shall become desolate forever, with neither man nor beast entering it any more (Isaiah 13:20; Jeremiah 51:62). 4) It will be a time of judgment not only for Babylon, but for all nations (Isaiah 13:11-13; Jere 51:49). 5) Its destruction will be followed by universal rest and peace (Isaiah 14:7,8). 6) Its destruction is directly associated also with the casting of Lucifer into Sheol (Isaiah 14:12-15). 7) Babylon’s stones will never be used in future construction elsewhere, whereas the present-day ruins of Babylon have been frequently plundered and reused in later constructions (Jeremiah 51:26). (The Revelation Record [Wheaton, Ill.:” Tyndale, 1983], 348).
Morris again points out that, “The site of modern Babylon is strategically located at the crossroads of Asia, Europe and Africa, and is not far from the Persian Gulf, It is also near the world’s richest oil fields and has virtually unlimited water supply from the Euphrates. Those considerations led the famed history Arnold Toynbee to produce that Babylon would be an ideal site for an important political and cultural center (Morris, Revelation Record 349).
Today we have already seen very clearly who the beast is, which we now turn our attention to further to explain John’s confusion so that we can further understand why he was confused. Scripture portrays the beast as an intellectual genius (Dan 7:8); an outstanding orator (Daniel 7:20; a military leader without parallel in human history (Dan 7:20); a shrewd, calculating, manipulating politician (Dan 8:25; 11:21); and the ultimate religious charlatan (2 Thess 2:4). The angel briefly reviews the detailed description of him given in 13:1-10.
Antichrist’s faked death and resurrection then leads one to see was, and is not and is about to come again as relating to the false prophet use that alleged miracle to deceive the entire world into worshiping Antichrist (13:14). This lean leads us to see that the Antichrist’s political an economic empire will coexist with the false religious system headed by the false prophet. Yet the faked resurrection Antichrist, will then be indwelt by a powerful demon out of the abyss (which is where all demons are incarcerated 9:11; 11:7; 20:1, 3; Luke 8:31).
It is precisely this point that John wishes to make for us that the destruction of the final false religious system will take place approximately halfway through the Tribulation, which then points to the fact that Antichrist will be the indisputed leader of the imperial government of which he will then be the head. Yet as with all world empires in reaching their apex, they are really reaching their downfall, which then shows the end of his destiny will be sparked by the insane desire to thwart the coming of Christ and His kingdom. This then in reality shows that Antichrist will be soon crushed and eternally condemned into the lake of fire (19:20; 20:10). Yet this also will be the appropriate place for “son of destruction” (2 Thess 2:3), who dared in his insolent pride to copy the sin of Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12-14), just so that he can challenge the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord’s despite the fact that Antichrist, Satan and the False prophet will in the end lose at the expense of being thrown into the lake of fire.
It should then not shock us that those who are unbelievers who dwell on the earth whose names are not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, because the elect are recorded in the book of life in (3:5; 20:15; 21:27; Phil 4:3). Yet it will be those who are deceived to the point of rejecting pardon and accepting the Antichist who will then be amazed and astonished by Antichrist (2 Thess 2:9-10) which will result in the amazement leading to the return to life after receiving a fatal wound (13:3-4), which in effect will lead only the elect to not fall for the Antichrist’s deception (Matthew 24:24).
Here is the mind which has wisdom points to the fact that we must come with spiritiual wisdom and not with worldly understanding. The angel points then to the fact that in order to correct understand the message of this chapter and the next one has to abide in Messiah. This shows that this is a very hard and complex aspect of this vision which requires much wisdom and insight into spiritual things to understand it, but even so may only be fully comprehended when the actual event occurs.
This though cannot be Rome mentioned even in the sense that the city much like rome will be built upon seven hills nor the woman as the Catholic church. This would make the meaning of this chapter much too narrow, and limit the scope of its meaning; although for some that is not a hard thing to do, supposedly, although in reality to set a specific city or church to the understanding of this chapter is wrong. James Allen points out, “When the woman sits on the many waters (v.1) this must be taken as metaphorical since it is interpreted in v.15; when the woman sits upon ‘a scarlet colored beast’ this again is symbolic; thus when she sits upon the ‘seven mountains’ this too must be figurative” (James Allen, What the Bible teaches: Revelation [Kilmarnock, Scotland” John Ritchie Ltd., 997], 424). This view then would stand in contrast to those who have established Rome as Babylon even as we discussed John in the present sense has Rome in view, but not in the future sense of the biblical meaning of Babylon would then be impossible in this sense for Rome to be in view because if the meaning of the seven mountains were that obvious then there would be an obvious geographical reference to Rome.
This then also must mean that all speculation as to who seven kings are is meaningless. Mountains are meant metaphorically in Scripture to represent rule or power (Psalm 30:7; Isa 2:2; Jer 51:25; Daniel 2:35). Here they also represent seven world empires embodied in their rulers. John is told by the angel that Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. This then points to the fact that history has shown us that five Gentile empires have fallen during this time. There can be no mistake about which five those are: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. It is also obvious which one existed at that time, which was Rome. The one yet to come is the Antichrist world empire, the final empire. Morris points out, “Through none of these empires ever actually ruled the whole world, each was the greatest kingdom of its own time, particularly in reference to the land and people of Israel and these kingdoms’ opposition to the proclamation of God’s Word and the accomplishment of His purposes in the world… These of course have not been the only kingdoms that have bee at enmity with God and His purposes. In this category could also be placed such kingdoms such as Syria, Edom, Moab, Midian, and many others, but none of these were empires of great size and influence. On the other hand, there were other great and powerful empires in the ancient world-China, India, and the Incas, for example-but these had only peripheral contact with the Word of God and the chosen people. There were only six kingdoms that both criteria up to the time of Christ and the apostles. Furthermore, all six of these were not only legitimate heirs of political Babel but also of religious Babel as well. Babylonia, Egypt, Assyria, Persia, Greece, and Rome were all strongholds of the world religion of evolutionary pantheism and idolatrous polytheism. Thus, they appropriately are represented as six heads on the great beast that supports the harlot. (Morris, Revelation Record, 337.
The empire of Antichrist unlike the others is in direct conflict with the kingdom of Christ. The Kingdom of Christ will reign forever and ever and the kingdom of Satan will in effect not rule at all. It shall rule only in part, because the reality is that this kingdom of Satan’s is merely remaining there for a little while (12:12). Yet the time limit on Antichrist’s kingdom is forty two months (13:5, which is also the second half of the Tribulation). Perhaps then we can suggest that Antichrist’s empire will be divided into ten administrative regions, which would make these ten kings then ruling under him. This then would prove that one hour is a figure of speech, merely pointing to the fact of the master’s short lived empire.
The agenda of the ten kings such as that of Satan and Antichrist will be to wage war against the Lamb at the battle of Armageddon which we examined in Revelation 16:13-14,16. John further describes this battle in Revelation 19, but notes that the Lamb overcome them. This battle will in reality be a slaughter as the Lamb the rightful heir to the Throne of David defeats the forces of Satan and the world for that matter because He is the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings (19:16; Deut 10:17; 1 Tim 6:5). With Christ at His return will be those who are the called and chosen, and faithful which can only be a reference to believers (19:14; Matthew 22:14). This also leads us to see that only those who are eternally elect can be chosen in the Son which further shows us that they had to be before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4); the called who are summoned in time by the Father to repentance and faith that saves (John 6:44); and faithful in the sense that they demonstrate the true saving faith that comes from the eternal life which is wrought through the blood atonement of Messiah who is in the rightful heir of the throne of King David who helps all believers to endure by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). Messiah will crush his enemies without effort against the greatest army ever assembled in the annals of human history gathered with his elect and the holy angels (Matthew 24:3—31; 2nd Thess 1:7)
The extermination of the harlot
Revelation 17:16-17, “16And the ten horns which you saw on[1] the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.”
Antichrist’s alliance then with the false system will not last. The ten horns who rule under Antichrist are shown then to hate the world. Those who use you will always use you and manipulate you till they don’t need you and then discard you, which is exactly what Antichrist empowered at this time by Satan himself will do with the religious system that opposes the Messiah. As with all false teachers the desire for Antichrist is merely to be worshipped and revered in the place of God. It is exactly for this same reason that he will turn on the harlot and make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. The system will be so irrevocably destroyed that they will then be no remnant of it around as it shall be destroyed by such an extreme use of violence so as to remove all vestiges of its reign.
Yet for John in spite of all this it is still 17For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose, to be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.” It is precisely God who put this desire in the hearts of the ten horns and it is still God who is sovereign over all of His creation. God’s power then is aimed at the destruction of the city and for John then shows the demise and downfall not only of the present Rome of which he lived under, but also the future Babylon who would be ruled by an even greater tyrant then Domitian who was atypical of the final antichrist. It is still the one world unification government so sought by the humanists that finally arrives only to be directly opposed by Christ as it always was. All the words of God would refer to every prophecy in direct relation to Christ’s return and the setting up of His kingdom being fulfilled.
God hates false religion because it contaminates the reality of His presence truth as found in His Word, and as shown throughout the lives of those who are faithful unto Him. Yet it is also every form of false religion that God hates that seeks to steal glory from Himself (Isaiah 42:8). This is at the heart of the satanic world system and the false gospel of which we are presently under today by the system of works that the world has accepted which runs in direct conflict with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is why in reality we in this present age fact the same struggle as the Apostle John did, the battle for the heavenly city and the earthly city. The present reality then is that the false religions of the world wish to take glory away from Christ, but merely by doing so prepare themselves for the destruction of the final false religion that opposes the coming of Messiah as the rightful heir to the throne of King David and the establishment of the Millennial reign of Messiah. Antichrist’s religious empire will be judged and destroyed. In Revelation 18 then what will be judged is the political and economic aspects of that evil world empire that opposes the Messiah.
Pastor Jenkins
