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NASB | Revelation 17:18 "The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth." |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 17:18 "The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over and dominates and controls the kings and the political leaders of the earth." |
Subject: Who is the great harlot in Rev. 17? |
Bible Note: Yes, Steve, I agree that Rev. 17:18 is not exactly referencing the Roman Catholic Church here, but it is used as symbolism. Here is an excerpt from an online commentary found at www.blueletterbible.org: "David Guzik Study Guide for Revelation Chapter 17 (Part 1 of 3) Revelation 17 - The Fall of Religious Babylon A. The concept of Babylon 1. Revelation 16:19 and 14:8 have already declared Babylon's fall; in chapters 17 and 18, that fall is carefully detailed 2. Babylon is mentioned 287 times in the Scriptures; more than any other city except Jerusalem a. Babylon was a literal city on the Euphrates river; right after the flood, Babylon "was the seat of the civilization that expressed organized hostility to God." (Tenney) [Genesis 11:1-10] b. Babylon was later the capitol of the empire which cruelly conquered Judah: "Babylon, to them (the Jews), was the essence of all evil, the embodiment of cruelty, the foe of God's people, and the lasting type of sin, carnality, lust and greed." (Tenney) c. To those familiar with the Old Testament, the name Babylon is associated with organized idolatry, blasphemy and the persecution of God's people i. "In John's day Rome epitomized all the antagonism and opposition to the Christian faith" (Mounce); in some ways, the city of Rome was the clearest fulfillment of the "Babylon" attitude. If we had to pick one city today that most exemplifies the world system, perhaps we would say that Los Angeles is the "Babylon" of today! 3. The concept of Babylon is greater than chapters 17 and 18 and the Antichrist's reign; Babylon was present in John's day (typified by Rome), in our day, and throughout history, as the "world system" a. But under the Antichrist, Babylon (in both its religious and commercial aspects) will hold sway over the earth as never before B. The great harlot (religious Babylon) is described 1. (1-2) Described by the angel a. Her judgment is assured at the outset; there is never any doubt regarding the fate - and ultimate failure - of Babylon b. Here, Babylon sits on many waters; that is, she presides over many nations (compare with verse 15); she has a universal, international character i. This is a unification of all false, idolatrous religion; with representatives from apostate Catholicism, Protestantism, as well as a smorgasbord of other religions of the world ii. "The woman pictures false religion that will dominate the world in the tribulation period" (Hocking); false religion is not limited to any one church! c. The inhabitants of the earth were made drunk: religious Babylon intoxicates kings and peoples. Karl Marx was partly right when he said that "religion is the opiate of the masses"; he was partly right because empty religion is the opium of the masses d. They are made drunk on the wine of her fornication; the idea of fornication often has strong associations throughout the Bible with idolatry; but we remember that this will be a "religious" system, and so it will likely appear as attractive and spiritual, though not necessarily moral 2. (3-6) What John saw a. John is carried away into the wilderness; the desolate nature of the wilderness is an appropriate setting for a vision of judgment b. The harlot rides the same beast (seven heads and ten horns) which was previously seen in Revelation 13:1 - the Antichrist and his dictatorship i. Her association with blasphemy and the dragon's beast are clearly seen from God's perspective; but to the people of the earth she will look quite religious, having the "faith" everybody wants c. She is clothed with emblems of luxury (purple . . . gold and precious stones) and government (scarlet); yet she offers idolatry (abominations) and impurity (filthiness of her fornication) in this sumptuous setting i. Purple and scarlet were colors of splendor and magnificence; the dyes to make them were rare and costly ii. "We find in the course of church history that one of the deadliest marks of ecclesiastical corruption is the lust for temporal power" (Barnhouse); purple and scarlet were the colors of rulers, whether economic or political d. The name on her forehead identifies her in more ways than one; Roman prostitutes frequently wore a head-band with their name engraved upon it i. None the less, "In spite of all her glamour she is nothing but a prostitute" (Johnson) e. There is a stark contrast between the woman of chapter 12 (representing Israel, God's people), and this woman (representing idolatrous, false religion) f. This title is not for literal Babylon; but its spiritual (mystery) representation, which is the source (mother) of all idolatry (abominations) and spiritual adultery (harlots) (Part 1 of 3) |