Chapter 17 represents Babylon as a religious system and city. Babylon had its beginning in Genesis 10:10 with its attempt at the building of the tower of Babel. In verses 1-2, we are introduced to Babylon as being “the great whore” or “harlot” that sitteth upon many waters (v. 1). This church is not genuine and is unfaithful to the Lord; thus, church is labeled a harlot! The “great harlot”, the religious Babylon, will remain on earth after the rapture of the church and will “sit upon many waters” (have great influence over peoples, multitudes and nations, Revelation 17:15).
According to verse 2, there will be an unholy alliance between this apostate church (Babylon) and kings of the earth. This apostate church will exert much power during the first three and one-half years of the Tribulation Period. The Apostle John further describes in his vision “a woman that sat upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns” (v. 3). What a frightful scene we have before us! The wild beast has been previously identified as the Anti-Christ (Revelation 13:1, the beast of the sea). This wild beast will be ruling over the restored Roman Empire. The woman is definitely identified as a city (Revelation 17:9), and many biblical scholars suggest Rome is the city, for this city sits on seven hills. Rome is said to be the religious capital of the world. This woman, the harlot, represents a religious system that will be revealed during the first part of the Great Tribulation Period after the genuine church (Acts chapter 2 until the Rapture) has been taken up from the earth.
In verse 4, John describes the woman (symbolic of Rome) as arrayed with splendor. She was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, for purple was the predominate color of Roman imperialism. In verse 5, Babylon is called the “Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth”, for Babylon is the fountain head of all false religion. Babylon is the mother of false religion, and will have its operation in Rome, the city of seven hill (v. 9).
This apostate church, operating in Rome, will be successful in persecuting believers during the Tribulation Period and this vision that John sees caused him to wonder (vv. 6-7). It is explained to John that a beast will ascend from the abyss (bottomless pit) (v. 8). The beast (Anti-Christ) is referred to here and he rises to power during the middle of the Tribulation Period (the last three and one-half years). The events in verses 1-7 will take place before the Anti-Christ’s rise to power. Rome is known as the city of seven hills (seven mountains) and the seven kings have been interpreted by some biblical scholars as a selective list of Roman emperors (vv. 9-10). Others have suggested that they refer to various forms of government in the Roman Empire. The beast that is to come during the tribulation period is said to be the eighth, and his doom is sure (v. 11).
In verses 12-14, the beast (Anti-Christ) will wield tremendous power over the ten kings (Ten-nation federation), who will join the beast (Anti-Christ) in an effort to make war against the Lamb (Jesus Christ). According to verse 15, the apostate church will be composed of many people; it will be truly an ecumenical church! In verse 16, the apostate church is destroyed by the ten kings (horns) headed by the Anti-Christ. When the ten kings joined forces to do the biddings of the Anti-Christ, they were in reality accomplishing the purpose of God (v. 17). In verse 18, the woman has been identified as Rome (v. 9), for Rome will be the religious and political hub of the world during the Tribulation Period.
May God Bless!
Dr. Johnny Calvin Smith
