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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: From www.blueletterbible.org: "David Guzik Study Guide for Revelation Chapter 17 (Part 3 of 3) Revelation 17 - The Fall of Religious Babylon i. This seventh will quickly be taken over by an eighth - and will become the state of the Antichrist (verse 11) c. There are problems with this viewpoint as well (so some have taken the seven as symbolic); this plainly is a difficult verse! 5. (11) The beast (Antichrist) is clearly identified as the eighth king a. He is of the seven in the sense that he shares characteristics with all previous world empires; but his fate is clear (perdition means destruction) 6. (12-15) Ten kings to come, allies of the Antichrist a. This probably alludes to a ten-nation confederation (as in the toes of the Daniel 2:24-45 image), or some take ten as a symbolic number i. "They are ten kingdoms which shall arise out of the fourth great kingdom there: ten European powers, which in the last time, in concert with and subjugation to the antichristian power, shall make war against Christ. In the precise number and form here indicated, they have not yet arisen. . . . What changes in Europe may bring them into the required tale and form, it is not for us to say." (Alford, 1866) b. Many have seen the European Economic Community as the potential fulfillment of this; perhaps, but now there are more than ten nations in this revived European power, and more on the way i. There is little doubt of the credentials of the EEC to claim itself a successor to the ancient Roman Empire; the EEC started in 1957, when six European nations met to talk about combining their nuclear, coal, and economic resources. The met together in Rome, and signed the treaty of Rome - the beginnings of the present EEC. In many places in Europe, the EEC flag is just as prominent as any national flag ii. We could still say what Alford said in 1866: "In the precise number and form here indicated, they have not yet arisen. . . . What changes in Europe may bring them into the required tale and form, it is not for us to say." But it will happen c. Whoever they are, their actions are clear: they ally with the Antichrist in the war against Christ, in the battle alluded to in the sixth and seventh bowls (16:12-21) d. The harlot presides over peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues; this tells us that the harlot's influence is world-wide, through her connection to the beast. This will be a truly one-world religion 7. The interpretation of the harlot focuses on her relation to the beast: she is utterly connected to the beast and his government a. Sound unthinkable? Throughout history, religion (not true Christianity) has often been the willing servant and supporter of tyrants D. The great harlot is judged 1. (16) Antichrist's allies turn on the great harlot a. This violence probably takes place at the mid-point of the tribulation period; here, apostate religion discovers the true nature of the beast i. Ultimately, the Antichrist will not tolerate any worship except of himself: The son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4) b. Once his power has been consolidated, the Antichrist no longer needs the help of religious Babylon - and works to dismantle and destroy her and her one-world religion c. This has always been the goal of tyrants (and most politicians!): to use religion for their purposes, then discard it 2. (17) John is reminded that God's hand is the One ultimately directing all this a. God has put it into their hearts: God has directed the judgment against religious Babylon; and God will sometimes use a wicked group (here, the ten kings) to be an instrument of His judgment against another wicked group (here, religious Babylon) b. God has ordained the political support of these ten kings for the Antichrist; in doing so, God is giving the world exactly what it wants: godless religion and rulers 3. (18) The great harlot is identified with Rome a. In John's day, there was no doubt which city reigns over the kings of the earth - Rome was the political, economic, and religious center of the world in John's day b. Again, the association of this harlot - of religious Babylon - with Rome doesn't mean that the Roman Catholic Church is identical to religious Babylon, though apostate Roman Catholics will definitely be a part of this great harlot c. Rather, Rome was the ready personification of Babylon (the world in rebellion against God) in John's day. Today, idolatry is just as strong, but more dispersed; today, which city in the world is most readily identified with the world system? Hollywood? Wall Street? Washington?" (Part 3 of 3) |