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The identity of the woman is found in Rev 17:1-6, 15, and 18. The identity of the woman is seen in her authority, appearance, and association. This identity is directly tied to the historical city of Babylon, and its religious influence on the world.
The woman is identified as the great city that rules over the kings of the earth, a symbol often associated with Rome. Revelation 17, one of the more intensely symbolic chapters of the Book of Revelation, presents John’s vision of a great prostitute, known as Babylon, who commits spiritual adultery with the kings of the earth.
- A. The Concept of Babylon.
- B. The Great Harlot (Religious Babylon) Is described.
- C. The Great Harlot Is interpreted.
- D. The Great Harlot Is judged.
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. Genesis 11:1-10shows that right after the flood, Babylon “was the seat of the civilization that expressed organized hostility to God.” (Tenney) b. Babylon was later the capitol of the empire that 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,...
1. (1-2) Described by the angel.
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” a. I will show you the judgment of the great harlot: Her judgmentis assured at the outset. There is never any doubt regarding the fate – and ultimate failure – of Babylon. i. As a reli...
2. (3-6) What John saw.
So 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. 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. And on her forehead a name was written: Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth. I sa...
1. (7) The angel tells John that the harlot will be explained to him.
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. a. I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her: The focus of the explanation is on the beast. It appeared that the harlot ruled (rode) the Antichrist’s system, but he is the dynamic factor, using her as tyrants have always used religion – as a mere tool to accomplish their purposes.
2. (8) The beast carrying the woman is plainly connected with the beast of Revelation 13.
The 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.
3. (9) Seven mountains associated with the beast.
“Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits. a. The seven heads are seven mountains: Many quickly associate the seven mountainswith Rome and the Papacy, because Rome is well known as the city on seven hills. Yet literally, the Greek word means mountains, not hills. i. Many commentators – especially those who see all of Revelation fulfilled in history – regard the seven mountainsas an irrefutable connection with Rome. Clarke is a good example...
1. (16) Antichrist’s allies turn on the great harlot.
And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire. a. These will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire: 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 an...
2. (17) God’s hand ultimately directs all this.
For 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. a. God has put it into their hearts: God directed the judgment against religious Babylon. 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. To be of one mind, and to give their kingdom to the beast: God will ordain the political suppo...
3. (18) The great harlot is identified with Rome.
And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.” a. That great city: 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 of that time. i. But Babylon – in the sense of the world system – has always been that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth. The question for Christians is, “Does it reign over me? Or am I the citizen of a better city, the J...
The woman was arrayed: The woman 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.
Aug 31, 2023 · In the book of Revelation, we have two women: Jezebel or the harlot as a symbol of Babylon (Rev 2:20, 17:1-18:24), vs, the pure woman as a symbol of God’s faithful people the bride of the Lamb (Rev 12:1-17, 19:7, 21:9).
It is fair to say that Babylon is a massive theme in scripture being referenced 260 times. Both Isaiah and Jeremiah have entire prophetic chapters concerning Babylon and her fall (Isa 13, 14, 47, Jer 50, 51) .
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In the past twenty plus years a rich scholarly conversation has developed around the relationship of David and the women in his life, inviting us to approach their role in a number of different ways, using a variety of lenses: political, literary, feminist, and artistic.
