Revelation 17: The Judgment of Babylon the Great Harlot
The Great Prostitute and the Beast
Chapter with Audio
17 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” 3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. 5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.” 6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. 9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; 10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. 11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction. 12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. 13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages. 16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire, 17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled. 18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.”
Chapter Analysis
Revelation 17: The Woman, The Beast, And The Fall Of Babylon
The Great Harlot On Many Waters
📖 Revelation 17:1–6
¹ One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and told John he would show him the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.
² The kings of the earth committed fornication with her, and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
³ John was carried away in the Spirit into the wilderness, where he saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast full of blasphemous names. The beast had seven heads and ten horns.
⁴ The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.
⁵ On her forehead was written a name: Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and of the Abominations of the Earth.
⁶ John saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When he saw her, he marveled greatly.
🔹 The Truth
Babylon is pictured as a corrupt woman who seduces kings and nations.
Her outward beauty hides abomination, spiritual adultery, and rebellion against God.
She is drunk with the blood of the saints, showing her hatred of God’s people.
🔹 The Promise
God sees the corruption and bloodshed of Babylon and will judge her.
✅ Conclusion
Revelation 17 reveals Babylon as a beautiful but deadly system of spiritual corruption, worldly power, and persecution.
The Mystery Of The Woman And The Beast
📖 Revelation 17:7–11
⁷ The angel asked John why he marveled and said he would explain the mystery of the woman and the beast that carries her, which has seven heads and ten horns.
⁸ The beast that John saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to destruction. Those who dwell on the earth, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, will marvel when they see the beast.
⁹ This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.
¹⁰ They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. When he comes, he must continue a short time.
¹¹ The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to destruction.
🔹 The Truth
The beast is connected with earthly kingdoms and satanic power.
Those whose names are not written in the Book of Life marvel at the beast.
The beast’s rise is terrifying, but his end is destruction.
🔹 The Promise
The beast is not eternal. He is going to destruction.
✅ Conclusion
The mystery shows that Satan’s kingdoms may rise and impress the world, but their end is already determined by God.
The Ten Kings And The Lamb
📖 Revelation 17:12–14
¹² The ten horns are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority for one hour with the beast.
¹³ These kings are of one mind and give their power and authority to the beast.
¹⁴ They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.
🔹 The Truth
The kings of the earth unite under the beast against the Lamb.
Their authority is brief and temporary.
The Lamb overcomes because He is Lord of lords and King of kings.
🔹 The Promise
Those who are with the Lamb are called, chosen, and faithful.
✅ Conclusion
The rulers of the earth may gather against Christ, but they cannot defeat Him. The Lamb wins.
The Waters And The Judgment Of The Harlot
📖 Revelation 17:15–18
¹⁵ The angel explained that the waters where the harlot sits are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
¹⁶ The ten horns and the beast will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
¹⁷ God 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.
¹⁸ The woman John saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.
🔹 The Truth
Babylon influences peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.
The beast and kings who used her will turn against her and destroy her.
Even the actions of wicked rulers are under God’s sovereign purpose.
🔹 The Promise
The words of God will be fulfilled.
✅ Conclusion
Babylon’s downfall shows that sinful alliances cannot last. God uses even rebellious powers to bring His purposes to completion.
Summary Conclusion
Revelation 17 reveals Babylon as a corrupt spiritual and worldly system that seduces nations, persecutes the saints, and joins itself to the beast. Yet Babylon’s glory is temporary. The kings who once served her turn against her, and the beast himself is going to destruction. Above all, the Lamb overcomes because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. Those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.
Final Questions For You
- What does Babylon teach us about the danger of worldly religion and spiritual corruption?
- Why is it important that the beast is described as going to destruction?
- How does the truth that the Lamb is Lord of lords and King of kings strengthen believers today?