Now we’re ready to start chapter 17. This is another parenthetical passage inserted here to explain the difference between literal and mystical Babylon. The destruction of literal Babylon under the 7th bowl judgment (16:19b) is described in detail in chapter 18. But chapter 17 talks about the destruction of “Mystery Babylon The Great, Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth” (17:5) and the “scarlet beast” (17:3) that carries her. As we will see when we work our way through this passage, the timing of this passage is actually the middle of the tribulation period when the 10 kings give their power to the Antichrist, turn on the great whore and destroy her, so the beast worship of Revelation 13:15 can be established. So, let’s get started, this may take some time to unravel.
“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, Come and I will show you the judgment of the great whore who sits on many waters. She is the one with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication and the inhabitants of the earth have been intoxicated with the wine of her fornication. And he carried me away in the Spirit to the desert where I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names, and he had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet and covered with gold, precious stones and pearls. And she held a golden cup in her hand that was filled with abominable things and the filth of her fornication.” (Verses 1-4)
So here we have a beginning description of both the whore and the beast she rides. But first a reminder that this “angel” is one of the redeemed saints that God uses to carry out his last judgment series, as explained in Lesson 45. And, as is usually the case in these parenthetical passages, we have to pay particular attention to the symbolic language. In its use here, the word “whore” refers to religious fornication or idolatry. The same word (zanah in the OT, porne in the NT) is often translated “harlot”, depending on the translation. “Fornication” (taznuth in the OT, porneia in the NT) is used to describe idolatry; but in the case of the OT Babylonian cults, the fornication can be both symbolic and literal as sexual perversion was always prevalent (look at Isaiah 57:3-13, Jeremiah 3:2-9, Ezekiel 20:30-32, Hosea 4:12-19).
It’s clear, even from this surface examination of the subject that the whore in Revelation 17 is the man-made, idolatrous, religious system that has existed throughout mankind’s history. To be accurate it started in Genesis 4:26. In verse 25 we see that Adam “knew” his wife (again) and she bore a son named Seth (which means, substitute). In Eve’s mind he was given to her as a replacement for Able, who had been murdered by his brother, Cain. Then verse 26 tells us Seth eventually had a son named Enos and the last part of verse 26 says (when properly translated), “then men began to call their gods by the name of Jehovah”. It seems as though Seth and his son (actually grandpa Adam was still around, too) came up with the brilliant idea of ascribing the character and nature of God to inanimate objects. As I’ve explained before in different places, when ascribed to God “name” in both the OT and NT is an idiom or word picture that is used to describe both His character (who He is) and His nature (what He does).
Now, let me make myself perfectly clear. This is the beginning of religion. The fundamental, bedrock philosophy behind religion is man’s attempt to define God and his relationship with God by his own terms and conditions. What men did then has (in the least) influenced and (at the most) deceived every succeeding generation in regards to their view of God and what He requires. And it will continue to do so throughout all eternity (I’ll explain that when we get to our lessons on the eternal earth). The phrase above from verse 2, “the inhabitants of the earth have been intoxicated with the wine of her fornication” describes this ongoing, religious deception. I’ll have more to say about this later.
In verse 3 John has a vision and sees the “woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names, and he had seven heads and ten horns”. OK, now we need to identify this “beast”. But, we have to wait until we get to verse 7 when the angel promises to explain the mystery of the woman and the beast. So, for now let’s turn our attention back to the “woman”.
Verse 4 tells us two important things about her. First, she is “clothed in purple and scarlet”. These two colors are used to illustrate the two overwhelming characteristics of religion. The color purple represents royalty. In this case it represents the dominion or authority religious leaders exert over their followers. As I have explained in other places, one of the purposes of man-made religion is to control people through a false authority. Religious leaders have always usurped the authority of God and made it their own, to use for their own advantage. And when you control people, you control their wealth. Hence, the further description of the woman, that she is “covered with gold, precious stones and pearls”.
The other color is scarlet, used to symbolize her sin (as in Isaiah 1:18). And so, again in verse 4, she holds a “golden cup in her hand that was filled with abominable things and the filth of her fornication”. The “abominable things” is from the noun bdelugma from the verb bdelusso, meaning, “to turn away in disgust”. You can find the equivalent
To’evah in the OT, used to describe something morally disgusting (idolatry, homosexuality, other forms of sexual perversion, human sacrifice, occult activities, dishonest business practices, just to name a few). Probably the most notable passage is Proverbs 6:16-19 that lists 7 things that are “abominable” to the Lord.
Then, as we go back to the text in Revelation 17 we see: “And on her forehead was this name written, Mystery Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots And Abominations Of The Earth. And I saw she was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her I was utterly amazed and astonished”. (Verses 5-6)
This description of the woman leaves no doubt that she represents religion. “Mystery Babylon identifies her with the ancient Babylonian cult established by Nimrod and his evil queen Semiramis. A partial description of this is found starting in Genesis 10:8-10 and then in Genesis 11:1-9. If you research Hislop’s “The Two Babylons” you’ll find extensive information, well documented, that describes how Nimrod and Semiramis crafted a religion that spawned the idolatrous, perverted cults that have dominated the world’s religions down to this day. Many of the “abominations” found in this cult can be identified today, even in so-called “Christian” groups. The worship of images, saints (most of whom were not saints at all, but simply false, religious leaders of some repute), relics, private confessions to priests, penances, scourgings, pilgrimages and various pagan festivals that eventually became “Christian” traditions or holidays such as Lent, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day (which led to Father’s Day), and more, you get the idea.
She is the “Mother Of Harlots”, which identifies Babylon as the source of all religious systems in the world. This includes not only the perversions found in Judaism that were added by men to the OT revelation God had given them, but the “Christian” religions and all the different groups and denominations that followed, as well. Then, if you do a detailed study comparing the other major religions of the world such as Buddhism, Confucianism, Islam, etc., you’ll find definite similarities to the original Babylonian cult (understandable, when you take into account the events of Genesis 11:7-9).
And then she is the mother of “Abominations Of The Earth”. The original Babylonian cult is the source or beginning of all that has been disgusting in the sight of God. It was never the intention of God that there be any such thing as religion. There is absolutely nothing, let me repeat, NOTHING, in the Scriptures that give any instruction for the formation of anything we see today. It doesn’t matter what you call it. “Christian” groups justify their existence because they include the name of Christ. Yet where in Scripture do you find instruction to establish the Roman Catholic Church, or any of the other denominations (Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Assemblies of God, non-denominational, etc)?
From the very beginning of mankind, His instruction was for men to have an individual, personal, submitted and obedient relationship with Him. It did not involve thousands of groups that chose to define their beliefs and practices by what they thought or what they wanted. And that is exactly what has happened over time. Otherwise, how do you explain the existence of all the different religions and branches of those religions that we have today? When we get to our study of the Millennium, we’ll see Christ abolishing religion. And what will He require? It is clear that it will be the individual, personal worship (that does not include the singing silly songs designed to tug at the emotions), absent the trappings of religion.
Then in verse 6 the woman “was drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus”. Religion has been responsible for the deaths of not only the saints, but members of false religions throughout the Ages. Foxe’s “Book of Martyrs”, no doubt, chronicles the deaths of many true believers. However, it is also clear that many of those deemed to be martyrs for Jesus were, in reality, martyrs for their religion. Nevertheless, it is clear that religion has been responsible for the deaths of many throughout the ages, simply because they did not agree with a particular group and their doctrine.
The Jews killed Gentile unbelievers. The various empires of the OT dominated by Babylonian cults killed Jews. The Romans killed Christians and Jews. The Mohammedans (Islam) killed Christians and the Christians killed Mohammedans. And the Roman Catholics have killed non-Catholics all over the world for hundreds of years. During the tribulation religion (principally Islam) will kill many true believers and other religious people, as well. Then, during the last half of the tribulation when beast worship is required, many more will die. Many of these will be true martyrs of Jesus (Revelation 15:2, 20:4), but I think many will be martyrs for their religion.
This brings us to the last statement of verse 6, “And when I saw her I was utterly amazed and astonished”. Why was John amazed and astonished? Look at the context of time. I think John was looking forward and saw the extent of the carnage religion had caused through the ages and realized in almost disbelief that untold millions of people had died at the hands of religion – all in the name of God!
In the next lesson we’ll look at the beast that carries the woman.