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The Prostitute and the Beast
Of the prostitute, Babylon:
"Other commentators interpret Babylon principally in political, cultural, or commercial terms, a representative of the antiGod systems of man in any age. Ladd considers Babylon to be the symbol of human civilization with all its pomp and circumstance, organized in opposition to God, and Tenney agrees:
The great harlot represents more than one city and more than one era of history.… To the reader it would convey the sum total of pagan culture, social, intellectual, and commercial, that had opposed and oppressed the people of God from time immemorial.… The term seems to include more than any one city or civilization, though the actual city of Babylon, and perhaps Rome also, were the best examples of it in their day.
Ryrie writes:
The name is used for more than a city in these chapters; it also stands for a system. This is much the same as the way Americans speak of Wall Street or Madison Avenue. They are actual streets, but they also stand for the financial and advertising enterprises.
Mounce identifies Babylon as “a dominant world system based on seduction for personal gain over against the righteous demands of a persecuted minority … the final intensified expression of worldly power”:
Every great center of power which has prostituted its wealth and influence restores to life the spirit of Babylon, which will provide the social, religious, and political base for the last attempt of Antichrist to establish his kingdom." [1]
Of the beast:
"The scarlet beast (v. 3), it is generally agreed, is the same beast that arose from the sea in chapter 13." [2]
"Most...equate these ten horns with the ten toes of the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2) and the ten horns on the fourth beast that Daniel saw rising from the sea (Daniel 7). They are confederate with the beast (v. 13) and will ultimately be made to make war with the Lamb (v. 14) at the Battle of Armageddon (cf. 19:17–21). This war, of course, will be won by the Lamb, since He alone is the victorious Lord of lords and King of kings (v. 14). Ryrie writes: “Christ’s titles, ‘King of kings’ and ‘Lord of lords,’ are especially significant in light of the lordship the beast will assume over these kings.”
The waters (v. 15) upon which the harlot sat are next defined as peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues." [3]
Confusing stuff to be sure, but as we press forward, we're coming to the undeniable point of Revelation: whether you're a futurist or not, whether you understand a lot of the symbolism and prophecy or none of it, Jesus wins. Those that set themselves against Him will ultimately be defeated and He will claim His rightful throne and authority!
The Prostitute and the Beast
Of the prostitute, Babylon:
"Other commentators interpret Babylon principally in political, cultural, or commercial terms, a representative of the antiGod systems of man in any age. Ladd considers Babylon to be the symbol of human civilization with all its pomp and circumstance, organized in opposition to God, and Tenney agrees:
The great harlot represents more than one city and more than one era of history.… To the reader it would convey the sum total of pagan culture, social, intellectual, and commercial, that had opposed and oppressed the people of God from time immemorial.… The term seems to include more than any one city or civilization, though the actual city of Babylon, and perhaps Rome also, were the best examples of it in their day.
Ryrie writes:
The name is used for more than a city in these chapters; it also stands for a system. This is much the same as the way Americans speak of Wall Street or Madison Avenue. They are actual streets, but they also stand for the financial and advertising enterprises.
Mounce identifies Babylon as “a dominant world system based on seduction for personal gain over against the righteous demands of a persecuted minority … the final intensified expression of worldly power”:
Every great center of power which has prostituted its wealth and influence restores to life the spirit of Babylon, which will provide the social, religious, and political base for the last attempt of Antichrist to establish his kingdom." [1]
Of the beast:
"The scarlet beast (v. 3), it is generally agreed, is the same beast that arose from the sea in chapter 13." [2]
"Most...equate these ten horns with the ten toes of the image in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2) and the ten horns on the fourth beast that Daniel saw rising from the sea (Daniel 7). They are confederate with the beast (v. 13) and will ultimately be made to make war with the Lamb (v. 14) at the Battle of Armageddon (cf. 19:17–21). This war, of course, will be won by the Lamb, since He alone is the victorious Lord of lords and King of kings (v. 14). Ryrie writes: “Christ’s titles, ‘King of kings’ and ‘Lord of lords,’ are especially significant in light of the lordship the beast will assume over these kings.”
The waters (v. 15) upon which the harlot sat are next defined as peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues." [3]
Confusing stuff to be sure, but as we press forward, we're coming to the undeniable point of Revelation: whether you're a futurist or not, whether you understand a lot of the symbolism and prophecy or none of it, Jesus wins. Those that set themselves against Him will ultimately be defeated and He will claim His rightful throne and authority!
[1] Steve Gregg, Revelation, Four Views: A Parallel Commentary (Nashville, TN: T. Nelson Publishers, 1997), Re 17:1–6.
[2] Re 17:1–6.
[3] Re 17:12–18.
[2] Re 17:1–6.
[3] Re 17:12–18.
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