The Book of Revelation: Chapter 17
Scripture References:
Introduction: The Most Difficult Chapter
We have been making our way steadily through the book of Revelation together, and last week we covered Chapter 16 with its seven final bowl judgments poured out on a rebellious world. Tonight we step into what may be the most challenging chapter in the entire book.
When we first started this study, I made the statement: "If the plain sense of the text makes sense, seek no other sense." That principle has served us well. But here in Chapter 17, the plain sense of the text simply does not make sense on its own. That means we have to do what? Seek other sense, and we find it by comparing Scripture to Scripture. God never contradicts Himself, and there is always another passage somewhere that sheds light on a difficult one.
There are also some things in this chapter that we simply do not know for certain, and it is pointless to speculate. Rather than getting lost in what we cannot nail down, let's anchor ourselves to what we do know. Chapter 17 gives us a symbolic vision of two figures: the "Great Harlot" and the "Beast." Together they reveal the corrupt systems of this world that oppose God and His kingdom. For simplicity's sake, we can break this chapter into three sections.
1. The Corruption of the World's System (Verses 1–6)
The woman at the center of this vision is called the "great harlot." She represents the corrupt world system (Babylon) driven by immorality, idolatry, and opposition to God. Every false religion in history has its root in Babylon. To understand the full weight of this image, consider the contrast: the true church is a pure virgin, adorned for her Bridegroom (Revelation 19:7–8). The false religious system is a harlot who has abandoned the truth and prostituted herself for personal gain.
Verse 1 tells us this harlot sits on many waters. We do not have to guess what that means; verse 15 tells us plainly: "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues." This godless, false religious system has impacted millions of people from the beginning of time all the way to the end. Think about that for a moment. The reach of spiritual corruption is staggering.
Verse 2 tells us the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her. Political leaders and governments have always aligned with corruption for the sake of power and wealth, and they always will. Notice also the language about the inhabitants of the earth being "made drunk" with the wine of her fornication. The prophet Jeremiah captured this same picture centuries earlier in Jeremiah 51:7, describing Babylon as a golden cup that made all the earth drunk and the nations deranged. The pattern is ancient and unbroken.
Verse 3 introduces a familiar figure, the same scarlet beast we encountered in Revelation 13:1, with seven heads and ten horns. One shift worth noting: in verse 1, the harlot was sitting on many waters, but here in verse 3 she is sitting on the beast. This tells us something important. The world's corrupt system seduces all peoples, but she advances her agenda with the power of Satan himself behind her.
Verse 4 describes the woman's attire: arrayed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls, holding a golden cup. Purple represented rank and wealth in the ancient world. Scarlet is the color of Satan (Revelation 12:3) and is also associated with sin itself: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18). With her royal dress, fine jewelry, and gilded cup, this prostitute has seduced people beyond measure throughout all of history.
Verse 5 makes God's perspective unmistakable. Even though this system looked impressive and alluring, even though it accumulated wealth and influence on a global scale, God stamps it for what it truly is: an abomination.
And verse 6 strips away any remaining illusion of beauty. This harlot who appeared so dazzling is now revealed as a staggering drunk, with the blood of the saints dripping from her mouth. What appeared beautiful is hideous. Her desire all along was the destruction of God's people. That is the world's system at its core; it is out to destroy everything that stands for God and His kingdom.
2. The Temporary Power of Evil (Verses 7–14)
When John witnesses all of this, he is left astonished. But the angel steps in and says, essentially, "Let me explain this to you." And beginning in verse 7, we get some interpretation.
Verse 8 reminds us of the power of the Antichrist, pointing back to the beast of Chapter 13.
Verses 9–11 are, without question, among the most difficult verses in the entire book of Revelation. Verse 9 tells us the seven heads represent seven mountains or hills on which the woman sits. Many theologians connect these seven mountains to Rome, which has been known since ancient times as the "City on Seven Hills." While that connection is certainly possible and even plausible (especially given how Roman Catholicism continues to grow faster today than at any point in the last century) it is not certain. What we can say is that Rome appears to be a significant player in end times events.
What is even more important, however, is the reference to seven kings in verse 10. Attempts to make these seven kings correspond to specific Roman emperors do not hold together. A more likely interpretation is that these are seven world empires. By the time John was receiving this vision, five great kingdoms had already risen and fallen in Israel's history: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The kingdom that "is" would be Rome, the dominant power in John's day. And the one "that has not yet come" is the future kingdom of the Antichrist.
In case you were not already "kinged out" at that point, verses 12–14 introduce ten more. These ten kings have not yet received their kingdoms, but they will receive authority alongside the Antichrist for a brief time ("one hour," which simply means a short season). They are of one mind, united in their purpose, and they will give all of their power and authority to the beast.
What is the purpose of all these nations and kingdoms coming together? To form the foundation of the great army that will rise against the Lamb. This is the same gathering we saw in Chapter 16 and will see again in Chapter 19: the Battle of Armageddon.
But verse 14 settles it: they cannot stand against the Lamb. They simply chose the wrong opponent. The beast and his entire kingdom embark on what amounts to a suicide mission. They come after the Lamb and quickly discover that the Lamb is also the Lion, the omnipotent Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
And here is something worth pausing over. Verse 14 ends with this: "and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." Flip ahead to Revelation 19:14 for a preview: "And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." That is us. The redeemed will accompany the King of Kings as He comes. We will not need to do anything except watch it happen in glory. We are on the winning side.
3. God's Ultimate Judgment and Victory (Verses 15–18)
The final section of Chapter 17 brings us to the end of spiritual Babylon.
At the beginning of the chapter, the harlot was riding the beast; they appeared to be in partnership. But by verse 16, the relationship has collapsed completely. The beast and the ten kings turn on the harlot, making her desolate, stripping her, consuming her flesh, and burning her with fire. The Antichrist apparently has no intention of sharing power. He is probably thinking, "I am the Antichrist; she should be carrying me around." Under the beast's direction, the ten kings destroy her, and the Antichrist assumes total, unchallenged authority. We will see more of this downfall, particularly the political and economic collapse of Babylon, in Chapter 18.
But do not miss verse 17. It is the theological anchor of the entire chapter: "For God has put it into 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."
Friends, do not forget this. God is in full control. He uses even the wicked to accomplish His divine purposes. The beast, the ten kings, the destruction of the harlot, none of it catches God off guard. None of it operates outside of His sovereign plan. Though evil appears to be winning, God's victory is certain.
Closing Thoughts
Chapter 17 is heavy. It is full of symbolism, gray areas, and things we simply do not know with certainty. But the things we do know are more than enough to walk away encouraged.
We know that the corrupt systems of this world, no matter how beautiful, powerful, or seductive they appear, are under God's judgment. We know that the Antichrist and every king and nation that aligns against the Lamb will be overcome. We know that those who are in Christ are called, chosen, and faithful. And we know that not one event in the end times unfolds outside the sovereign hand of God.
Evil looks like it is winning. It has always looked that way from where we stand. But God's Word cannot fail. His purposes cannot be thwarted. And the Lamb who appears to have been slain will stand at the end of history as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
May that truth carry you through the week.
All for Him,
Pastor Dustin
- Revelation 17 — the vision of the Great Harlot and the Beast, revealing the corrupt systems of the world that oppose God and His kingdom.
- Revelation 13:1 — The first appearance of the scarlet beast with seven heads and ten horns; the same beast John encounters again in Chapter 17.
- Revelation 12:3 — The fiery red dragon, connecting the scarlet color of both the dragon and the beast to the nature of Satan.
- Revelation 19:7-8 — The true church described as a pure bride adorned for her Bridegroom, in stark contrast to the harlot of Chapter 17.
- Revelation 19:14 — The armies of heaven, clothed in fine linen, following Christ on white horses — the same "called, chosen, and faithful" referenced in Revelation 17:14.
- Jeremiah 51:7 — The prophet Jeremiah describes Babylon as a golden cup in the Lord's hand that made all the nations drunk — a vivid parallel to the harlot's golden cup in Revelation 17.
- Isaiah 1:18 — "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow" — the color scarlet connected to sin, the same color of the beast and the harlot's clothing.
Introduction: The Most Difficult Chapter
We have been making our way steadily through the book of Revelation together, and last week we covered Chapter 16 with its seven final bowl judgments poured out on a rebellious world. Tonight we step into what may be the most challenging chapter in the entire book.
When we first started this study, I made the statement: "If the plain sense of the text makes sense, seek no other sense." That principle has served us well. But here in Chapter 17, the plain sense of the text simply does not make sense on its own. That means we have to do what? Seek other sense, and we find it by comparing Scripture to Scripture. God never contradicts Himself, and there is always another passage somewhere that sheds light on a difficult one.
There are also some things in this chapter that we simply do not know for certain, and it is pointless to speculate. Rather than getting lost in what we cannot nail down, let's anchor ourselves to what we do know. Chapter 17 gives us a symbolic vision of two figures: the "Great Harlot" and the "Beast." Together they reveal the corrupt systems of this world that oppose God and His kingdom. For simplicity's sake, we can break this chapter into three sections.
1. The Corruption of the World's System (Verses 1–6)
The woman at the center of this vision is called the "great harlot." She represents the corrupt world system (Babylon) driven by immorality, idolatry, and opposition to God. Every false religion in history has its root in Babylon. To understand the full weight of this image, consider the contrast: the true church is a pure virgin, adorned for her Bridegroom (Revelation 19:7–8). The false religious system is a harlot who has abandoned the truth and prostituted herself for personal gain.
Verse 1 tells us this harlot sits on many waters. We do not have to guess what that means; verse 15 tells us plainly: "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues." This godless, false religious system has impacted millions of people from the beginning of time all the way to the end. Think about that for a moment. The reach of spiritual corruption is staggering.
Verse 2 tells us the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her. Political leaders and governments have always aligned with corruption for the sake of power and wealth, and they always will. Notice also the language about the inhabitants of the earth being "made drunk" with the wine of her fornication. The prophet Jeremiah captured this same picture centuries earlier in Jeremiah 51:7, describing Babylon as a golden cup that made all the earth drunk and the nations deranged. The pattern is ancient and unbroken.
Verse 3 introduces a familiar figure, the same scarlet beast we encountered in Revelation 13:1, with seven heads and ten horns. One shift worth noting: in verse 1, the harlot was sitting on many waters, but here in verse 3 she is sitting on the beast. This tells us something important. The world's corrupt system seduces all peoples, but she advances her agenda with the power of Satan himself behind her.
Verse 4 describes the woman's attire: arrayed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls, holding a golden cup. Purple represented rank and wealth in the ancient world. Scarlet is the color of Satan (Revelation 12:3) and is also associated with sin itself: "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow" (Isaiah 1:18). With her royal dress, fine jewelry, and gilded cup, this prostitute has seduced people beyond measure throughout all of history.
Verse 5 makes God's perspective unmistakable. Even though this system looked impressive and alluring, even though it accumulated wealth and influence on a global scale, God stamps it for what it truly is: an abomination.
And verse 6 strips away any remaining illusion of beauty. This harlot who appeared so dazzling is now revealed as a staggering drunk, with the blood of the saints dripping from her mouth. What appeared beautiful is hideous. Her desire all along was the destruction of God's people. That is the world's system at its core; it is out to destroy everything that stands for God and His kingdom.
2. The Temporary Power of Evil (Verses 7–14)
When John witnesses all of this, he is left astonished. But the angel steps in and says, essentially, "Let me explain this to you." And beginning in verse 7, we get some interpretation.
Verse 8 reminds us of the power of the Antichrist, pointing back to the beast of Chapter 13.
Verses 9–11 are, without question, among the most difficult verses in the entire book of Revelation. Verse 9 tells us the seven heads represent seven mountains or hills on which the woman sits. Many theologians connect these seven mountains to Rome, which has been known since ancient times as the "City on Seven Hills." While that connection is certainly possible and even plausible (especially given how Roman Catholicism continues to grow faster today than at any point in the last century) it is not certain. What we can say is that Rome appears to be a significant player in end times events.
What is even more important, however, is the reference to seven kings in verse 10. Attempts to make these seven kings correspond to specific Roman emperors do not hold together. A more likely interpretation is that these are seven world empires. By the time John was receiving this vision, five great kingdoms had already risen and fallen in Israel's history: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece. The kingdom that "is" would be Rome, the dominant power in John's day. And the one "that has not yet come" is the future kingdom of the Antichrist.
In case you were not already "kinged out" at that point, verses 12–14 introduce ten more. These ten kings have not yet received their kingdoms, but they will receive authority alongside the Antichrist for a brief time ("one hour," which simply means a short season). They are of one mind, united in their purpose, and they will give all of their power and authority to the beast.
What is the purpose of all these nations and kingdoms coming together? To form the foundation of the great army that will rise against the Lamb. This is the same gathering we saw in Chapter 16 and will see again in Chapter 19: the Battle of Armageddon.
But verse 14 settles it: they cannot stand against the Lamb. They simply chose the wrong opponent. The beast and his entire kingdom embark on what amounts to a suicide mission. They come after the Lamb and quickly discover that the Lamb is also the Lion, the omnipotent Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
And here is something worth pausing over. Verse 14 ends with this: "and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful." Flip ahead to Revelation 19:14 for a preview: "And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses." That is us. The redeemed will accompany the King of Kings as He comes. We will not need to do anything except watch it happen in glory. We are on the winning side.
3. God's Ultimate Judgment and Victory (Verses 15–18)
The final section of Chapter 17 brings us to the end of spiritual Babylon.
At the beginning of the chapter, the harlot was riding the beast; they appeared to be in partnership. But by verse 16, the relationship has collapsed completely. The beast and the ten kings turn on the harlot, making her desolate, stripping her, consuming her flesh, and burning her with fire. The Antichrist apparently has no intention of sharing power. He is probably thinking, "I am the Antichrist; she should be carrying me around." Under the beast's direction, the ten kings destroy her, and the Antichrist assumes total, unchallenged authority. We will see more of this downfall, particularly the political and economic collapse of Babylon, in Chapter 18.
But do not miss verse 17. It is the theological anchor of the entire chapter: "For God has put it into 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."
Friends, do not forget this. God is in full control. He uses even the wicked to accomplish His divine purposes. The beast, the ten kings, the destruction of the harlot, none of it catches God off guard. None of it operates outside of His sovereign plan. Though evil appears to be winning, God's victory is certain.
Closing Thoughts
Chapter 17 is heavy. It is full of symbolism, gray areas, and things we simply do not know with certainty. But the things we do know are more than enough to walk away encouraged.
We know that the corrupt systems of this world, no matter how beautiful, powerful, or seductive they appear, are under God's judgment. We know that the Antichrist and every king and nation that aligns against the Lamb will be overcome. We know that those who are in Christ are called, chosen, and faithful. And we know that not one event in the end times unfolds outside the sovereign hand of God.
Evil looks like it is winning. It has always looked that way from where we stand. But God's Word cannot fail. His purposes cannot be thwarted. And the Lamb who appears to have been slain will stand at the end of history as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
May that truth carry you through the week.
All for Him,
Pastor Dustin
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