Revelation 17:1-18

Revelation chapter 17 is part of what will occur after the opening of the seventh (7) seal of the book in heaven by the little-lamb which is representing the Lord Jesus Christ (Revelation 8:1). The seventh seal includes the implementation of judgments under seven trumpets (Revelation 8:7 - 14:20) including seven bowls as part of the seventh trumpet blowing (Revelation 15:1 - 18:24). The seventh trumpet with its seven bowls occur during the time of the great pressure of the completing together of the age - and will be followed by the Lord Jesus Christ's return on earth as recorded in Revelation chapter 19.

The details written in Revelation 16:1 - 18:24 pertain to effects or events taking place on earth as a result-of and corresponding-to the previous events which took place in heaven (Revelation 15:1-8). It records the implementation of the third woe on earth following the 7th angel blowing his trumpet in Revelation 11:15.

Revelation chapters 17 and 18 provide additional details regarding the interaction and fall of the wild-animal and Babylon referred to in Revelation 14:8 and 16:19.

Revelation 17:1 and 2:

^17:1And one from the seven angels, the (angels) having the seven bowls, came and he uttered-forth with me saying, "Come-this-way, I will point-out to you the judgment of the female-fornicator, the great (female-fornicator), the (female-fornicator) sitting-down on many waters ^.2with whom the kings of the earth fornicated, and the (people) dwelling-down (on) the earth were made-drunk out-from the wine of her fornication."

John writes: And one from the seven angels, emphatically and specifically the angels having the seven bowls (7 broad and flat vials; refer to Revelation 15:7 and chapter 16), came and he spoke in company and association with me saying...

• "Come-this-way (come here to this place or point-in-time),
• I will point-out (indicate, as pointing with my finger) to you (John)
• the judgment (the pronounced decision, the sentence passed, the decision made or arrived-at issuing from the judging process - God's judgment)
  • of the female-fornicator (literally this word means: a prostitute, one who sells herself to partake in sexual relations with another in order to receive payment for it, she sells herself and does what the other says so as to receive a reward from her ‘partner’ - this is the description of her behavior and effect),
    • emphatically and specifically the large female-fornicator,
    • the female-fornicator who is presently sitting down on many waters (much, a lot of waters; refer to verse 15 below)
  • in company and association with this female-fornicator
    • the kings of the earth fornicated (those who reign as kings ruling certain portions of the earth/land committed fornication with her; in this context it is not referring to physical fornication which is wrongful sexual activity/relations, committing pornographic actions – but this is referring to the spiritual aspect of their behavior, they were being intimate with the devil and the things of the devil which is described in more detail below; refer also to Revelation 16:12-14 and 16),
  • and the people dwelling-down on the earth (those permanently dwelling, inhabiting, settled-down on the earth where their house is; refer to Revelation 13:8)
    • were caused to become drunk (intoxicated, affected by having drunk the sweet mulled wine made for a feast - referring here to the effects on the people, behaving in such a manner as not to be in control of their minds and bodies so that they are not alert or receptive to how God would want them to behave)
    • out-from the wine (this is a figure of speech called a metaphor, which is a declaration that one thing is or represents another thing; what this female-fornicator gave to the people to drink is referred to as "wine" to emphasize and illustrate by demonstration exactly what is meant - it affects the one who drinks it in some manner)
    • of her fornication (her performance of being intimate with the devil and the things of the devil; refer to Revelation 12:12 and 14:8)."

These people were selling themselves, figuratively speaking, opening themselves up to receiving information, etc, from the world and devil-spirit influences. They would be spiritually fornicating with idols while they may be physically having sexual relations at the meetings as a form of sacrifice in order to gain spiritual favor from their "god" - this spiritual favor would be the payment they would ask in return for their "service to god"!

[Reference: Leviticus 20:1-5; Numbers 25:1; I Chronicles 5:25; Psalm chapter 2, 106:39; Isaiah 1:20 and 21; Jeremiah 3:6 and chapter 51; Hosea 4:10; Micah 1:7; Matthew 17:25; Acts 4:26; I Corinthians 6:15 and 16, 10:6-10; Revelation 2:14 and 20, 6:15, 9:20 and 21, 14:8, 16:19.]

Verses 3-6:

^.3And he carried me away into a desert-place in spirit. And I saw a woman sitting-down on a crimson wild-animal (with) names being-full of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns; ^.4and the woman used-to-be having been clothed² (with) purple and crimson and having been made-golden² with gold and honorable stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand being-full of abominations and the unclean-things of her fornication, ^.5and on her forehead a name having been written², a mystery: Babylon the great - (which is) the mother of the female-fornicators and of the abominations of the earth. ^.6And I saw the woman being drunk out-from the blood of the holy-people and out-from the blood of the witnesses of Jesus; and I marveled having seen her great marvel.

And the angel (referred to in verse 1 above) carried me (bore, brought John) away...

• into a desert-place (a desolate place, a wilderness)

...in spirit (within the sphere of action of spirit; "in spirit" refers to the time when John was receiving information via his holy spirit-life - not by reading a book or some other form of learning - nor did his holy spirit leave his physical body; refer to Revelation 1:10 and 4:2).

And I perceived (knew with my mind)...

• a woman (this Greek word could be translated "wife" depending on the context - here it is referring to the city, as explained in verse 18 below)
  • sitting down on (in this context referring to her occupying an official position being supported-by and in support-of that-which she is sitting on, as a "seat" in government or ruling assembly to control, manage, or manipulate any decisions made and implemented, etc)
    • a crimson wild-animal (a savage beast of prey which is not tamed by mankind and colored crimson, as wearing an outer-garment or cloak outside all other clothes that is a deep scarlet or purplish red indicating a position of high rank, luxury, and blood; this is the same "beast" referred to in Revelation 11:7 and 13:1, as explained in verses 8 and 11 below)
    • with names (to designate and describe its distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, quality, workings, etc)
    • being-full (stuffed as a loaded ship with freight)
    • of/with blasphemy (calumniation, evil speech, the action of treating God and others with lack of Godly reverential-respect; refer to Revelation 13:1),
    • having (even though the Greek noun translated "wild-animal" is neuter, this verb is masculine - as having an intimate relationship with the woman - it holds in its possession the combination of all the power, attributes, etc, of the following individual parts)
    • seven heads (figuratively referring to its having 7 positions or functions of being the chief or principal part from which to enforce its instruction and directive, as explained in verses 9 and 10 below; also refer to Revelation 12:3 and 13:1)
    • and ten horns (each one of the 10 connoting a radiance of strength and power to overcome plus courage in the face of attack, as explained in verse 12 below; also refer to Revelation 12:3 and 13:1);
• and the woman used to be (she was continuing to exist during a past time, historically)
  • in the state of
  • having been clothed and continuing clothed (already having an outer-garment thrown or cast around her as a vesture, wrap, or covering) with/in
    • purple (a reddish/purple dye made from a certain mussel found on the Mediterranean coasts - purple cloth was prized by the people of that day and time because clothes or robes made with it were usually worn by people of rank and wealth, such as kings)
    • and crimson (as verse 3 above)
  • and having been made golden and continuing golden (gilded, overlaid) with/in
    • gold
    • and honorable stones (esteemed of value, held in honor, deemed of worthy price, prized)
    • and pearls (beautiful and costly),
• having a golden cup (holding a cup made of/with gold, overlaid or covered with gold) in her hand
  • being-full of (stuffed as a loaded ship with freight)
    • abominations (things or activities that are abhorrent, disgusting, loathsome, stinking, detestable, revolting objects embodying idolatry and uncleanness)
    • and the unclean-things (things or activities that are not free from mixture of that-which is against the only true God, mixed with something else, having impurity from God's viewpoint mixed with them)
    • of her fornication (as verses 1 and 2 above),
• and on her forehead (the area between/above the eyes - visible to everyone looking at the face)
  • a name that was written and continues written (to designate and describe her distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, quality, workings, etc),
  • a mystery (the true meaning of this name was kept a secret; a "mystery/secret" contains the details that are known and can be understood by those involved in it and by those to whom it has been revealed, it is not inexplicable to those involved in it; the Lord Jesus Christ is now revealing this information to John as we read in this chapter):
    • Babylon the great (the center of idolatry exercising the devil's lie and power; refer to Revelation 14:8 and 16:19) -
    • which is
    • the mother (the one who gives birth to her children)
      • of the female-fornicators (the children perform the same activities as the mother in verses 1 and 2 above)
      • and of the abominations (the idolatrous disgusting activities, etc; as verse 4 above)
      • of the earth (the planet earth where mankind should live worshipping and serving the only true God instead of the idols usurping the place of/for God in their activities, etc).

Idolatry began with/by the devil as recorded in Genesis chapter 3. Following the flood recorded in Genesis chapter 8, God's people were to worship and serve Him without any contamination caused by the devil (satan, dragon) and the angels (evil spirits) who rejected the only true God (refer to Genesis chapter 6 and II Peter 2:4-6). However, many of mankind decided to rebel against God and instead they chose to obey the devil again in his method of idolatry using his evil spirits and their spiritual powers via their corruption of the meaning of the stars and constellations regarding the promised savior of mankind (refer to Genesis chapters 10 and 11). This reinforced the devil's quest for rulership both in the spirit and in the physical realms. Refer also to Revelation chapter 12 and 14:8.

John continues: And I perceived (knew with my mind) the woman being actively drunk (she was not caused to become drunk by another but she voluntarily drinks becoming drunk; refer to verse 2 above)...

• out-from the blood of the holy-people (originating by reason of the shed blood of the sanctified people, causing their death, killing God's people)
• and out-from the blood of the witnesses of Jesus (originating by reason of the shed blood of those who attested to information pertaining-to and proceeding-from Jesus);

...and I marveled (I was astonished, I looked on with wonder and amazement) after I perceived...

• her great marvel (the large astonishment, wonder and amazement caused by the woman).

[Reference: Genesis 10:8-12, 11:1-9; Leviticus 18:6-30; Deuteronomy 7:25, 18:9-12; Judges 8:26; II Samuel 1:24; II Chronicles 15:8, 34:33, 36:14; Esther 8:15; Proverbs 9:13-18; Isaiah 1:18, 2:8; Jeremiah 2:7-13, 7:18, 16:10-21, 44:22-30, 51:7; Ezekiel 8:14, 20:8, 33:29; Daniel 2:41-43, 7:21, 11:31-39, 12:11; Matthew 24:15, 27:28; John 8:44, 19:2-5; Acts 1:8, 2:32, 16:14; I Corinthians 3:12; II Corinthians 11:14; Galatians 4:21-30; Ephesians 5:5; II Thessalonians 2:4 and 7; Hebrews 9:19, 12:1; Revelation 1:2, 9 and 10, 2:13, 14 and 20-24, 6:9, 11:3 and 7, 12:11 and 17, 13:7 and 16, 14:8, 16:6, 13 and 19, 18:16 and 24, 19:10, 20:4. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

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Revelation Chapter 18