01.17. CHAPTER 17.
CHAPTER 17.
Revelation 17:1-2. “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials [bowls], and talked with me, saying unto me, ‘Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.’”
Compare Revelation 21:9 : “And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials [bowls] full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, ‘Come hither; I will show thee the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’”
We have here the contrast shown between the true, faithful, spiritual Church, the bride of the Lamb, and the false, carnal, and apostate system, the harlot companion of the beast: the beauty, glory, and eternal blessedness of the one, and the true character and final judgment of the other.
One great advantage of the study of the Book of Revelation is, that it shows us the final form and full development of principles, slow in their progress, and insidious in their operation; and God’s judgment and retribution upon them.
We are apt to consider present appearances and present advantages, but it is well to know and ponder the issues and the end.
Revelation 17:1-18 and Revelation 18:1-24 give us not only the full development, but the final judgment, of Babylon the Great.
According to 2 Corinthians 11:2, the Church is represented as espoused to one husband, to be presented as a chaste virgin to Christ. She early- lost her first love, and was corrupted from her simplicity; but Christ loved the Church, and gave Himself for it. He is now sanctifying and cleansing it with the washing of water by the word, and will ultimately present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing (Ephesians 5:26-27).
Before the coming of the day of Jehovah, when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven, taking vengeance, two things are predicted—the apostasy of the professing Church, and the manifestation of the wicked or lawless one (2 Thessalonians 2:8-9). So long as the Holy Ghost the Comforter remains with the Church on earth, this apostasy is prevented, and the manifestation of the lawless one is hindered (2 Thessalonians 2:7); but when true believers in whom the Spirit of God dwells—the living and remaining ones—are caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:17), the outward shell of professing Christianity will be left on the earth, having indeed the form of godliness, but destitute of its living power. The purport of this chapter, and the signs of our times, seem to indicate that the outward form of Christianity during the first three years and a half of Antichrist’s reign will be Babylonish in its character, glorious in its worldly splendour; but the great apostasy or utter fall from the Church’s first position will take place at the commencement of the last three years and a half. At this period, Antichrist having set himself up as God in the temple of God, and utterly denied both the Father and the Son, that worldly system which hitherto had borne the outward name and profession of Christianity will deny its allegiance to Christ and become the harlot of the beast. This is the great apostasy, and this is the great whore. Her sitting upon many waters, as explained in Revelation 17:15, indicates the widespread prevalence of her influence and power. In the Old Testament Israel is figuratively represented as the wife of Jehovah, and Israel’s connection with idolatry was regarded as spiritual adultery. In the New Testament the Church is represented as espoused unto Christ. The prostitution of Christianity to secular ends, and the Church’s allegiance rendered to any other authority than that of Christ, is spiritual fornication. The union of the carnal and the spiritual, the human with the Divine, the earthly and the heavenly, —the combination of that which is attractive and fascinating to the carnal mind, appealing to the senses and passions of the natural heart, with that which is spiritual and of Divine origin, the false with the true, the truth which is of God combined with the delusion which cometh from the evil one—this is the wine of Babylon’s fornication.
Revelation 17:3. “So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit [sitting] upon a scarlet coloured beast [wild beast], full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.”
Compare this with Revelation 21:10 : “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God.” When the Spirit of God would show the true Church in her future excellency, He leads the soul upward to contemplate her in her heavenly and Divine glory; but when He would exhibit that which falsely professes the name of Christ in her ultimate future, it is “into the wilderness” —a scene of spiritual destitution. The woman represents apostate Christianity. The “scarlet coloured beast” is emblematic of the Roman Empire in its final form; scarlet being the emblem of earthly royal authority and dignity. “Full of names of blasphemy;” for he that is at the head of the empire blasphemes the God of heaven, and those that compose his kingdom worship him, and the dragon who gives him his power (Revelation 13:4-8). The seven heads and ten horns are more fully described hereafter.
Revelation 17:4. “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked [gilded] with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.”
Scarlet is the emblem of human and earthly dignity; purple, the combination of scarlet and blue, is emblematic of authority, which unites the heavenly and spiritual with that which is earthly and carnal. False doctrine is for the most part a corruption of Divine truth—error overlaid with a thin layer of truth, like base metal gilded. The “precious stones and pearls” are emblematic of spiritual truths, and of those wondrous revelations of the Church’s position and prospects made known in the sacred Scriptures, but corrupted by the false apostate system. The cup which she holds in her hand is of gold, which is the emblem of that which is Divine, for the false Church will possess and use for her own purposes those ordinances which are of Divine origin —baptism, the Lord’s Supper, ministry, and worship; all these she employs, but not for the communication of spiritual and Divine truth and blessing, but prostituted to the basest of purposes, and used to the diffusion of the most pernicious doctrines.
Revelation 17:5. “And upon her forehead was a name written, ‘Mystery, Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.’” The Babylon of the prophecies is the literal city; the Babylon of the Revelation is symbolic. There is a mystery, a depth of hidden meaning here, presented in a symbolic aspect. The Babylon of these chapters represents to us the corruption of Christianity, not only in its progress, but in its final form. She is “the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.” Those evils which have characterised the different forms of corrupt ecclesiastical systems, from the commencement of the Christian dispensation, are traced up to her, in whom all are embodied and will be carried out to the full. The daughters have long appeared on the stage, and we are familiar with many of them, but the mother has not yet come forth.
Revelation 17:6. “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs [witnesses] of Jesus.” From the beginning false ecclesiastical systems have been intolerant and persecuting in proportion to their possession of power. During the first three years and a half of Antichrist’s reign he will be occupied with the establishment of his empire—he appears to tolerate all religions; but during the last three years and a half, or time of the great tribulation, when he puts to death all who will not submit to his blasphemous assumptions, Babylon the Great will be his most efficient ally; possessing almost unlimited power, her bloodthirstiness will then be satiated to the full.
“And when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration [wonder].”
Revelation 17:7. “And the angel said unto me, ‘Wherefore didst thou marvel [wonder]? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast [wild beast] that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.’” When religion assumes a form of external worldly splendour, there is much that is fascinating to the natural mind. What is needed to counteract its enticement is the knowledge or discovery of the mystery of iniquity—the depths of depravity which are hidden beneath this attractive yet delusive exterior; the true principles of the system, whether ecclesiastical or political, which lie at the foundation.
Revelation 17:8. “‘The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall [is about to] ascend out of the bottomless pit [abyss], and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written [have? not been written] in [on] the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast [wild beast] that was, and is not, and yet is.’” The wild beast is the Roman Empire in its last form. There was a time when, in the estimate of God, it assumed the same character as it will at the close. This, probably, was the case for a brief period, when Satan, having entered into Judas Iscariot, combined the Romish, Jewish, priestly, and democratic powers against the Son of God, and crucified the Lord of glory. This, according to Acts 4:25-28, was the first fulfilment of Psalms 2:1-3, but there will be a future accomplishment in the last days. The beast that John saw in vision as to its essential characteristics had its existence for a brief period at the time of the crucifixion, yet at the time that John wrote it was “not”—it did not then exist in this character—but in the last days it “shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition;” that is, Satan will enter into Antichrist as he entered into Judas, and theend will be swift perdition.
Such will be the magnificence and power of the empire that it will be the subject of world-wide astonishment, except on the part of those who, being predestinated unto eternal life, have the teaching of God’s Holy Spirit, enabling them to discover its real, Satanic, and evil character.
Though the beast has not yet been manifested in its final form, yet in the estimate of God all its essential principles are in existence, for Satan is even now the god of this world; thus it is “the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.”
Revelation 17:9-10. “And here’s the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth. And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.’”
These “seven heads” or “mountains” may be taken to represent seven established forms of governmental power, headed up in one individual, as for example—
First, the Babylonian Empire, headed up in Nebuchadnezzar—the gold.
Second, the Medeo-Persian in Darius—silver.
Third, the Grecian in Alexander—brass.
Fourth, the Roman under the Caesars—iron.
Fifth, imperial and republican combined—iron mixed with miry clay
Sixth, that form which existed when John wrote.
Seventh, the empire under Antichrist during the first three years and a half, combining the various forms of government—the perfection of human wisdom in the science of rule. See Revelation 13:2, and Daniel 2:45.
Revelation 17:11. “‘And the beast [wild beast] that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.’”
During the last three years and a half of Antichrist’s reign, the kingdom will assume its eighth and final form. Then authority will no longer be from God, coming down from above, for the punishment of evildoers and the reward of them that do well; nor even human authority proceeding from the people for the establishment and fulfilment of human will. It will be Satanic and infernal, arising from the bottomless pit, for the dragon will give the beast “his power, and his throne, and great authority;” and all this for the repression of good and the encouragement of evil. When things have assumed this form, then the righteous judgment of God will be near at hand, and the retribution will be fearful and full.
Revelation 17:12. “‘ And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power [authority] as kings one hour with the beast [wild beast].’” The empire of the wild beast in its last form will consist of ten kingdoms under ten kings, corresponding with the feet and toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s image—partly monarchical and partly democratic, represented by iron mixed with miry clay (Daniel 2:41-43).
Revelation 17:13. “‘These have one mind [or purpose], and shall give [deliver up] their power and strength [authority] unto the beast [wild beast].’”
These ten kings in purpose and in politics are united, and together accept the headship of the Antichrist, represented by the little horn in Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 7:8, Daniel 7:20-24).
Revelation 17:14. “‘These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for He is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with Him are called, and chosen, and faithful.’”
See Revelation 19:19-21. When the Son of Man comes to establish His kingdom, He first executes judgment on those that oppose Him, taking out of His kingdom all things which offend, and them that do iniquity (Matthew 13:41).
Revelation 17:15-17. “And he saith unto me, ‘The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil His will [mind, or purpose], and to agree [to make one mind], and give their kingdom unto the beast [wild beast], until the words of God shall be fulfilled.’” The false religious system represented by Babylon will obtain extensive popularity and widespread influence. The empire of the beast will be overthrown by the Son of Man Himself at His appearing; but previous to this, great Babylon will come to her end, through the united hostility of the ten kings against her, headed by Antichrist himself, to whom they give their power. So long as superstition, upheld by outward grandeur and priestly assumption, bears sway over the popular mind, there may be outward tranquillity; but when the hollowness of superstition is discovered, and the base and infernal wickedness of this false ecclesiastical system is found out, the natural heart and mind revolts against the whole imposition with uncontrollable disgust and fury. The buildings will be demolished, the vestments desecrated, those seeking to uphold her will be killed, and the pomp and glory given to the devouring flame.
Thus God will employ human agency for the performance of His will and the fulfilment of His word.
Revelation 17:18. “‘And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth [hath a kingdom] over the kings of the earth.’” When John wrote, pagan, imperial Rome was the mistress of the world. In subsequent ages, papal Rome has sought to assume and maintain this position, and not without success; to this end her energies have been, and still are, perseveringly and unscrupulously applied, and the signs of the times appear to indicate a prospect of success in the futuie to her ambitious designs greater than any before attained. The metropolis of the empire of the beast may be in some future, literal Babylon, to be erected with Babel speed in the land of Shinar, where the ancient prophecies may find their full accomplishment; but Rome appears to be the city identified with mystic Babylon.
Mystic Babylon, the harlot associate of the beast, represents apostate Christianity in its final form under the combined emblems of a woman and a city; just as the true Church, the bride of the Lamb, is shown in Revelation 21:1-27 and Revelation 22:1-21 as the holy city, new Jerusalem, where many of the figures employed are taken from ancient Jerusalem, and from the Jerusalem of the Millennial age. See Isaiah 60:1-22 :
So, also, the language applied to mystic Babylon corresponds with the prophecies concerning ancient Babylon, and to the historic facts of papal Rome.