Revelation Ch. 17
The Prostitute on the Beast

There are 3 women pictured in revelation. Chapter 12 has the expectant mother about to give birth. She is protected by God and bears children who are faithful to him. In Ch. 19 a second woman will be pictured, as the bride of the lamb. Both of these are beautiful and God blessed pictures.

The woman we will study tonight is in now way a beautiful picture! She is a harlot…immoral and evil. She is the picture embodied of the ungodly nature of the Roman Empire!

Let’s read the text:

V1- Who does this woman/prostitute represent? Once again, in this context, she is the Roman Empire. What do you think it means by she “sits on many waters? It simply refers to Rome essentially being in control of the world! At this time---they really were. Later in the chapter he describes the waters as all the people, multitudes, nations and languages……. At the time this was written it could ONLY refer to the ROMANS!!!!!

V2- This verse is powerful. Most political leaders of the world had committed political, religious and economic prostitution with Rome, in return for her pleasures and rewards they received from this association. Many had fallen prey to Rome’s seduction. They truly were a prostitute.

V3- According to the description she is sitting on the beast from the sea (Rome the persecutor). SO we see here that Rome’s persecution and immoral nature go hand in hand!!!! **note- SCARLET WAS A SYMBOL OF LUXURY AND SPLENDOR……

V4- What is the significance of how the woman looks? On the outside she looks beautiful and attractive. Her attire suggests the finer things of life…..Rome was very beautiful on the outside!!!

V5- Yikes……how would you like to have these words written on your tombstone?????? This is the woman’s ID badge! She is the mother of prostitutes and all abominations of the earth!!! Harsh judgment huh??

V6-7- What a significant verse. This verse alone solidifies that the woman is Rome…HOW??? It says she is drunk on the blood of the saints!!!!! She is overindulged in blood of Christians! Why was John greatly astonished when he saw her? I am not really sure. I am sure, it was quite a sight to see, think about it!! We have no clue what he was expecting to see, but he wasn’t prepared for a drunken prostitute dressed in splendor, riding bareback on a big ugly beast in the wilderness!!!
The Angel sees John’s bewilderment, and understands, as it is a crazy vision to take in. So John is given an explanation.

V8-11- What is important here is what happens to the woman, the beasts and its’ followers. They are all severely judged as we will see in Ch. 19.
Any idea what the whole 7 heads for 7 hills thing is all about?
Rome was always literally known to be built upon 7 hills. It is still recognized today in modern times! It was famous for this…..this beast is WITHOUT A DOUBT Rome!
What are the 7 kings???? I doubt this is literal though many interpretations make efforts to name the 7 emperors this effects. I think that in staying true to the theme of how this was written; the number “7” represents the totality of the power personified in the Emperor. The rest of the saying “five have fallen, other not yet to come…..” is MOST LIKELY referring to a very prevalent myth of the time known as “Nero Redivius”. This myth stated that Nero had in fact NOT died but had fled to Parthia where he was rebuilding an army to come back and take over and once again be established as Emperor! John may be using knowledge of that time to say that another emperor, similar to Nero, was still going to rule.
And regardless………..ALL SEE DESTRUCTION!
****So whether he was speaking symbolically or has someone specific in mind…..the end result is the same!!

V12-14- Any clue on what the rest is talking about…ten horns kings etc???? he is referring to the “vassal kings and rulers” who at the time ruled certain areas throughout the Roman Empire. They were similar to city-states. They received all authority from Rome and the Emperor, and only enjoyed their power for a short time (hence.. “ONE HOUR”). They have but one goal”: to obey the empire!
They have one mind…or unity in their goals!!!! Even though they are separately ruled areas…they serve the same goal and master!
And they will be involved with the fight between good and evil! And they will be defeated by Jesus!!!! ALL OF ROMES” PROVINCES ARE FALLING!!!!

V15-18- Here he describes what the waters (verse 1) are. It refers to many people. This was a major weakness of Rome! They could never really unify EVERYONE because of their vast span. They could conquer and control by force but they quite cemented the kingdom in oneness.
What a picture of evil’s inherent self destruction! It says that God was in control, that he “put it in their hearts to do his purposes”…how cool! How do you think this happened? Who knows…throughout the Bible God uses men for his purposes. He turned nations to fighting within itself (Judges 7), he used nations to bring judgment on another (II Chron 20, Jerem 5), etc……… He is in control! He does the same thing today….I wonder what he is doing to us now that we do NOT recognize????