Revelation 17
The Great Prostitute
1. Sits on many waters
2. Kings of earth commit adultery with her
3. Inhabitants of earth intoxicated by her adulteries
4. She was in the desert
5. She was sitting on a scarlet beast
6. She was dressed in purple, scarlet, gold, stones & pearls
7. She held a golden cup filled with abominable things
8. She is described as the mother of prostitutes and abominations
9. She was drunk with the blood of the saints
10. Sits on seven hills
11. She will be hated by the beast and 10 kings
12. She will be brought to ruin, left naked, eaten & burnt
BABYLON = BABYLON (futurists)
Strengths of this view:
Babylon certainly is a key city in history. From Nimrod to Nebuchadnezzar to modern day Iraq, Babylon seems to be a geographical focal point for major world events. Many futurists believe that the city will be rebuilt during the tribulation and serve as the antichrists world capital. Indeed, there have been some rebuilding plans in recent history.
Weaknesses of this view:
This view doesn’t seem to interact with the symbolism provided in this chapter. It is more a ‘poetic’ view than a ‘Scriptural’ view. In fact, it may be both anti-Scriptural (Isaiah 13:19-20) and impossible (Uranium Pollution). It is, however, likely that the ‘strengths’ of this view explain WHY Babylon was chosen as the symbol in Revelation 17.
BABYLON = FALSE RELIGION (historicists, futurists)
Strengths of this view:
Babylon began as a center for ‘humanist’ religion. Many trace this mindset into the Catholic Church and its supposed ‘works-based’ salvation. This seems to fit with some of the symbols involved: The adultery, the integration with government, the apparel, the persecution, etc. It is a fair assumption than any future anti-Christ would have to, for a while (and despite his hatred), hold hands with religion.
Weaknesses of this view:
False religion doesn’t really have a home city. This view includes at least a 2,000-year gap between the 6th and 7th kings (heads). Some would find it hard to argue that false religion is presently ruling over the kings of earth.
BABYLON = JERUSALEM (preterists)
Strengths of this view:
Only the fall of Jerusalem occurred within the time frame of Revelation’s prophecy (must shortly take place). Jerusalem had already been called: The great city, Sodom and Egypt (11:8). The division of the city into 3 parts (16:19) fits Jerusalem best (Ezekiel 5). Only Jerusalem can be described as a harlot since only Jerusalem had been in a covenant relationship with God. No city other than Jerusalem could be charged with the blood of the prophets, saints & apostles (17:6, 18:20+24). This seems to be a fulfillment of Ezekiel 16:37-41.
Weaknesses of this view:
The woman is said to sit on seven hills, but this certainly seems to fit better with Rome than with Jerusalem. Some would find it an uphill battle to argue that Jerusalem ever ruled over the kings of the earth.
BABYLON = ANCIENT ROME (preterists, spiritualists)
Strengths of this view:
The Roman Empire was certainly large enough to account for the broader verses (2, 15, 18) in this chapter. Rome had long been called the city on seven hills. Ancient Rome was a major persecutor of the early church. The massive Roman Empire did eventually cave in on the city.
Weakness of this view:
It is difficult to see why God would consider Rome a prostitute since they had never been in covenant relationship with Him. The fall of Rome didn’t occur until over 400 years later, hardly ‘soon’. It seems odd to some to separate the city from the empire in such a profound way (beauty & beast).
BABYLON = REVIVED ROMANISM (futurists, spiritualists)
Strengths of this view:
If you’ve already decided the context is the future 7-year tribulation, there is certainly no need to speculate about ancient Jerusalem or Rome. The city of Rome clearly is in view (7 hills). No one can argue the possibility that the future city will influence the future empire towards Romanism and fulfill this prophecy.
Weaknesses of this view:
This includes at least a 2,000-year gap somewhere in chapter 17. The biggest strength of this view (that it cannot be proven wrong) is also its biggest weakness (it cannot, yet, be compared to the evidence). It is difficult to discern why the beast would be opposed to Romanism.
The Beast
1. A scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names
2. Had 7 heads and 10 horns
a. 7 heads are: 7 hills on which the woman sits, 7 kings (5 fallen, 1 is, 1 yet to come- for a little while)
b. 10 horns are: 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom. Will receive authority for 1 hour along with the beast. Have 1 purpose. Will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the lamb. They will lose. Will hate the prostitute. They will: bring her to ruin, leave her naked, eat & burn her
3. Once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss to destruction
4. Is an 8th king, belonging to the 7
5. Will hate the prostitute
1. Sits on many waters
2. Kings of earth commit adultery with her
3. Inhabitants of earth intoxicated by her adulteries
4. She was in the desert
5. She was sitting on a scarlet beast
6. She was dressed in purple, scarlet, gold, stones & pearls
7. She held a golden cup filled with abominable things
8. She is described as the mother of prostitutes and abominations
9. She was drunk with the blood of the saints
10. Sits on seven hills
11. She will be hated by the beast and 10 kings
12. She will be brought to ruin, left naked, eaten & burnt
BABYLON = BABYLON (futurists)
Strengths of this view:
Babylon certainly is a key city in history. From Nimrod to Nebuchadnezzar to modern day Iraq, Babylon seems to be a geographical focal point for major world events. Many futurists believe that the city will be rebuilt during the tribulation and serve as the antichrists world capital. Indeed, there have been some rebuilding plans in recent history.
Weaknesses of this view:
This view doesn’t seem to interact with the symbolism provided in this chapter. It is more a ‘poetic’ view than a ‘Scriptural’ view. In fact, it may be both anti-Scriptural (Isaiah 13:19-20) and impossible (Uranium Pollution). It is, however, likely that the ‘strengths’ of this view explain WHY Babylon was chosen as the symbol in Revelation 17.
BABYLON = FALSE RELIGION (historicists, futurists)
Strengths of this view:
Babylon began as a center for ‘humanist’ religion. Many trace this mindset into the Catholic Church and its supposed ‘works-based’ salvation. This seems to fit with some of the symbols involved: The adultery, the integration with government, the apparel, the persecution, etc. It is a fair assumption than any future anti-Christ would have to, for a while (and despite his hatred), hold hands with religion.
Weaknesses of this view:
False religion doesn’t really have a home city. This view includes at least a 2,000-year gap between the 6th and 7th kings (heads). Some would find it hard to argue that false religion is presently ruling over the kings of earth.
BABYLON = JERUSALEM (preterists)
Strengths of this view:
Only the fall of Jerusalem occurred within the time frame of Revelation’s prophecy (must shortly take place). Jerusalem had already been called: The great city, Sodom and Egypt (11:8). The division of the city into 3 parts (16:19) fits Jerusalem best (Ezekiel 5). Only Jerusalem can be described as a harlot since only Jerusalem had been in a covenant relationship with God. No city other than Jerusalem could be charged with the blood of the prophets, saints & apostles (17:6, 18:20+24). This seems to be a fulfillment of Ezekiel 16:37-41.
Weaknesses of this view:
The woman is said to sit on seven hills, but this certainly seems to fit better with Rome than with Jerusalem. Some would find it an uphill battle to argue that Jerusalem ever ruled over the kings of the earth.
BABYLON = ANCIENT ROME (preterists, spiritualists)
Strengths of this view:
The Roman Empire was certainly large enough to account for the broader verses (2, 15, 18) in this chapter. Rome had long been called the city on seven hills. Ancient Rome was a major persecutor of the early church. The massive Roman Empire did eventually cave in on the city.
Weakness of this view:
It is difficult to see why God would consider Rome a prostitute since they had never been in covenant relationship with Him. The fall of Rome didn’t occur until over 400 years later, hardly ‘soon’. It seems odd to some to separate the city from the empire in such a profound way (beauty & beast).
BABYLON = REVIVED ROMANISM (futurists, spiritualists)
Strengths of this view:
If you’ve already decided the context is the future 7-year tribulation, there is certainly no need to speculate about ancient Jerusalem or Rome. The city of Rome clearly is in view (7 hills). No one can argue the possibility that the future city will influence the future empire towards Romanism and fulfill this prophecy.
Weaknesses of this view:
This includes at least a 2,000-year gap somewhere in chapter 17. The biggest strength of this view (that it cannot be proven wrong) is also its biggest weakness (it cannot, yet, be compared to the evidence). It is difficult to discern why the beast would be opposed to Romanism.
The Beast
1. A scarlet beast covered with blasphemous names
2. Had 7 heads and 10 horns
a. 7 heads are: 7 hills on which the woman sits, 7 kings (5 fallen, 1 is, 1 yet to come- for a little while)
b. 10 horns are: 10 kings who have not yet received a kingdom. Will receive authority for 1 hour along with the beast. Have 1 purpose. Will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the lamb. They will lose. Will hate the prostitute. They will: bring her to ruin, leave her naked, eat & burn her
3. Once was, now is not, and will come up out of the Abyss to destruction
4. Is an 8th king, belonging to the 7
5. Will hate the prostitute
posted by matthew at 9:58 PM
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