Revelation 17

Revelation 17 presents a symbolic vision that portrays a woman named Babylon, depicted as a great harlot, who influences and controls the kings of the earth. This chapter is part of a series of visions given to John that reveal the judgment of God upon corrupt world systems and the ultimate victory of Christ. The woman and the beast she rides symbolize an alliance of political power and false religion, illustrating the pervasive corruption and idolatry that oppose God’s kingdom.

Revelation 17:1-3 (NKJV)
1 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,
2 with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”
3 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.

This passage reveals the judgment of the great harlot, representing the religious aspect of the Papacy, while the beast she rides represents its political power. One of the seven angels who had the seven last plagues shows John this vision, saying the harlot “sits on many waters,” meaning she has global religious influence over peoples, nations, and rulers (Revelation 17:15).

She has committed fornication with the kings of the earth, meaning she has used secular governments to enforce her authority. This mirrors how the Papacy historically united with political rulers to dominate religious affairs, blending church and state. The inhabitants of the earth are drunk with the wine of her fornication, symbolizing the false doctrines she has spread, deceiving the nations into following her religious system instead of true biblical worship.

John is then carried in the Spirit into the wilderness and sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. The harlot (woman) represents the Roman Catholic Church as a religious power, while the scarlet beast represents the Papacy’s political authority. The fact that she is riding the beast shows that for a time, the Catholic religious system is controlling its political power to influence world events. However, later in the chapter, this relationship will collapse as the political forces (the beast) turn against the religious system (the harlot) and bring about its destruction (Revelation 17:16-17).

The scarlet color of the beast represents sin, corruption, and persecution, reflecting the history of religious oppression under the Papacy. This vision sets the stage for understanding how the Papacy, both in its religious and political aspects, will rise to global power once more, deceiving the world before its final downfall.

Revelation 17:4 (NKJV)
4 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.

This describes the appearance of the harlot, revealing her wealth, corruption, and deception. She is clothed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls, signifying great wealth and royal status. These colors—purple and scarlet—are traditionally associated with royalty and religious authority, reflecting the ceremonial colors of high-ranking officials in the Roman Catholic Church. Her external beauty hides her true nature, as she is a corrupt system that has deceived the world.

She holds a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication, symbolizing her false doctrines, deceptive teachings, and spiritual corruption. The cup being golden suggests that her deceptions appear attractive and holy, but inside they are filled with spiritual poison, leading people away from truth. This parallels Jeremiah 51:7, where Babylon is described as a golden cup in God’s hand that made the nations drunk, representing confusion and false worship.

This verse further confirms that the harlot represents the religious aspect of the Papacy, appearing glorious and righteous on the outside while spreading spiritual corruption. She has used wealth, power, and false teachings to deceive the world, forming alliances with political rulers and leading many into apostasy. This sets the stage for her final exposure and judgment as Revelation 17 continues.

Revelation 17:5 (NKJV)
5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

This verse reveals the true identity of the harlot, exposing her as the religious aspect of the Papacy—the Roman Catholic Church—leading the world into spiritual confusion and false worship. The title on her forehead, “Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth,” signifies that she is deeply deceptive, appearing holy while spreading corruption. Babylon represents a state of confusion and apostasy, and the harlot is its leading religious institution, influencing nations through false doctrines and alliances with political powers. The phrase “Mother of Harlots” indicates that apostate Protestantism and other compromised religious movements are her daughters, having inherited her false teachings, such as Sunday worship and the immortality of the soul. The “Abominations of the Earth” refer to idolatry, persecution, and enforced religious control, as seen throughout history when the Papacy used political power to suppress God’s truth. This verse confirms that Babylon is a worldwide system of false worship, with the Roman Catholic Church at its center, uniting with other apostate churches and political forces in the final deception before its ultimate downfall.

Revelation 17:6 (NKJV)
6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

This verse describes the harlot’s violent history, revealing her role in persecuting God’s faithful people. John sees her drunk with the blood of the saints and the blood of the martyrs of Jesus, showing that she has actively shed the blood of those who remained loyal to God’s truth. This symbolizes not only physical persecution but also spiritual oppression, where false religious authority has sought to silence true worshippers. Historically, the Papal system used political power to persecute Bible-believing Christians, leading to the deaths of millions during the Dark Ages and the Inquisition. The fact that she is “drunk” with their blood suggests that she takes pleasure in her oppressive actions, showing no remorse for the suffering she has caused. When John sees this vision, he marvels with great amazement, likely because this system presents itself as a Christian institution yet has been responsible for the greatest acts of persecution against God’s true followers. This verse confirms that the harlot is a corrupt religious system that has used its power to oppress and destroy those who refuse to submit to its authority, and it will face divine judgment for its crimes.

Revelation 17:7-8 (NKJV)
7 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 ten horns.
8 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.

This passage reveals the mystery of the harlot and the beast, explaining the rise, fall, revival, and ultimate destruction of this religious-political power. The angel tells John that the beast “was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition,” describing its historical and prophetic phases. This refers to the Papacy, which ruled as a church-state power for 1,260 years (538–1798 AD), lost its political authority when Napoleon’s army captured the Pope in 1798, but is prophesied to rise again before its final destruction. The phrase “ascends out of the bottomless pit” signifies that this revival is driven by satanic deception, as the beast regains its influence to enforce religious laws worldwide. Since 1929, with the Lateran Treaty, the Vatican has regained political status, and today, its influence over world leaders and religious movements is steadily increasing. However, the full fulfillment of its ascension will occur when it regains global control and enforces false worship (Revelation 13:15-17). The world will “marvel” at its resurgence, believing its power to be unstoppable, yet it is destined for destruction. The phrase “will go to perdition” means that after this system reaches its peak influence, it will face divine judgment and complete destruction at Christ’s return (Revelation 19:20). This passage warns that although the Papacy will rise again to deceive the world, its final fate is already determined—it will be judged and destroyed, never to rise again.

Revelation 17:9-11 (NKJV)
9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

This passage explains the identity of the beast and its connection to world empires through the symbolism of seven heads, revealing its historical and prophetic significance. The angel tells John that "the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits," referring to Rome, historically known as the city of seven hills, confirming the Papacy’s connection to this prophecy. The seven heads also represent seven kings (or kingdoms), five of which had already fallen by John’s time, one was currently in power, and one was yet to come for a short time.

These seven kings symbolize successive world empires that have opposed God’s people: (1) Egypt, (2) Assyria, (3) Babylon, (4) Medo-Persia, and (5) Greece had already fallen; (6) Rome was ruling during John’s time; and (7) Papal Rome would rise after the fall of pagan Rome. The seventh kingdom, Papal Rome, ruled as a church-state power for 1,260 years (538–1798 AD) before its temporary downfall when the Pope was taken captive.

Verse 11 describes an eighth king, which is of the seven, and goes to perdition. This means that the Papal system, after losing its power in 1798, will rise again in a revived form, becoming a global religious-political force once more. The final restoration of this system will bring back the same persecuting power it exercised in the past, enforcing false worship upon the world (Revelation 13:15-17). However, its revival will be short-lived because it is destined for destruction, as it "goes to perdition"—meaning it will face divine judgment and complete eradication at Christ’s return (Revelation 19:20). This passage confirms that the final conflict will involve the resurgence of Papal Rome’s influence, leading to the last great deception before its ultimate downfall.

Revelation 17:12-14 (NKJV)
12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.
13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.
14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

This passage explains the role of ten kings (or kingdoms) in the final crisis, showing how global political powers will unite with the beast system to wage war against Christ and His people. The angel tells John that "the ten horns... are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour with the beast." These ten kings symbolize world leaders or nations that will unite under the beast’s authority for a short period in the end times. Their temporary rule (“one hour”) indicates a brief but decisive moment when political powers fully align with the Papacy to enforce false worship and persecution.

These kings "are of one mind" and "give their power and authority to the beast," meaning they will submit to the religious-political system of Babylon, helping enforce its oppressive laws. This mirrors Revelation 13:15-17, where a global system enforces the mark of the beast and persecutes those who remain faithful to God. However, despite their unity, they will ultimately war against Christ ("the Lamb")—not in a physical battle, but in a final spiritual conflict where they oppose God's truth and His faithful people.

Yet, their rebellion will fail because "the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings." Christ's victory is assured, and His faithful people, described as "called, chosen, and faithful," will stand with Him, remaining loyal despite the persecution. This passage confirms that though global political and religious powers will unite against God’s people in the last days, their rule will be short-lived, and Christ will ultimately destroy them at His Second Coming (Revelation 19:19-21).

Revelation 17:15 (NKJV)
15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.”

This verse explains the global influence of the harlot, revealing that the "waters" she sits on represent "peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues," meaning her power extends over diverse populations worldwide. This confirms that Babylon is not limited to one region, like Europe, but is a global system of false worship that has controlled and deceived many nations throughout history. While the Papal system originated in Europe and held dominance over European rulers for centuries, its influence has since expanded worldwide, working with political and religious leaders from every continent. In prophecy, water symbolizes densely populated areas (Isaiah 17:12-13, Jeremiah 51:13), contrasting with the second beast of Revelation 13:11, which arises from the earth (a less populated region, representing the United States). This verse confirms that Babylon’s reach is worldwide, influencing both political and religious powers, but her dominion will eventually collapse when those same nations turn against her (Revelation 17:16-17).

Revelation 17:16-17 (NKJV)
16 “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.
17 For God has put it in 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.”

This passage describes the turning point in Babylon’s power, where the same political forces that once supported her—the ten horns (representing world nations or political powers)—will turn against her and bring about her destruction. These ten horns, which are on the beast (the political aspect of the Papacy), represent global leaders who temporarily unite with the Papacy to enforce its authority (Revelation 17:12-13). However, their loyalty is short-lived, as they “hate the harlot,” make her desolate, strip her of power, and burn her with fire, meaning they will reject and violently overthrow the Papal religious system they once upheld.

This parallels historical events, such as the French Revolution, when France—a key supporter of the Papacy—turned against it and removed its power in 1798. However, in the last days, this will happen on a global scale, with world political leaders realizing they have been deceived and revolting against Babylon’s religious authority. These ten horns could represent a coalition of leading global powers, possibly including the UN, EU, G7, BRICS nations, and other world superpowers that align with the Papacy for a time before turning against it.

Verse 17 confirms that this is all part of God’s divine plan: “For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose.” Though these nations act of their own will, God is using them to bring about Babylon’s final downfall. This passage highlights that the Papacy’s power is not permanent—it relies on political alliances, and when those alliances break, its authority will collapse, leading to its final destruction before Christ’s return.

Revelation 17:18 (NKJV)
18 “And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

The final verse confirms that the woman (the religious aspect of the Papacy—the Roman Catholic Church) is “the great city which reigns over the kings of the earth,” meaning she has exercised religious authority over world leaders throughout history. This aligns with the Vatican’s influence over monarchs, governments, and global affairs, using its religious position to shape political decisions. While Babylon is a broader system of false worship, the woman is its most dominant force, controlling the system through her spiritual authority. Just as ancient Rome ruled over nations politically, the Vatican has ruled religiously, guiding kings and rulers through alliances and church-state unions. However, her reign is not permanent—as Revelation 18 describes, the same political powers that once supported her will turn against her, leading to her complete destruction as part of Babylon’s final fall.