Wednesday, August 20 – Revelation 17, 18

1. What did John see when the Spirit took him to the wilderness? (Revelation 17:3)

2. What was the woman drunk on? (Revelation 17:6)6)

3. What do the waters symbolize in prophecy? (Revelation 17:15)

In Revelation 17 and 18, John receives a vision of the judgment of the great city, Babylon, during the seventh plague. Revelation 16:9 describes it this way: “The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.” (Rev. 16:19)

“Babylon” in prophecy represents the counterfeit religious system opposing God. This alternative “salvation” system began with Babel, later became the Babylon of the Chaldeans, and is finally the end-time apostate church that forms the image of the beast in Revelation 13.

Genesis states: “Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth…” (Gen. 11:9)

The nations committed spiritual adultery with Babylon, and she intoxicated them with her false doctrines. As Hosea declared: “My people consult their wooden idol, and their diviner’s rod speaks to them, for a spirit of prostitution has led them astray…” (Hos. 4:12)

At the seventh angel’s final cup judgment, John witnesses the fall of Babylon the Great. Her wealth stands in stark contrast to Christ’s humility (“…Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” – Matt. 8:20). The grandeur, size, and luxury of cathedrals are a stark contrast to the modesty of the early church’s meeting places.

Let us observe that the woman is seated on the beast. This represents the church exerting control over political power, the church dominating the government. In this vision, it symbolizes the union of church and state. This is important to remember in order to understand the prophecy later on.

Besides her unfaithfulness, why does she endure God’s judgments? “I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” (Revelation 17:6). Babylon uses her political power to persecute God’s people.

Regarding the expression, “that was, and is not, and yet is” in Revelation 17:8, the Andrews Bible Commentary states:

“This phrase is, above all, a parody of the divine name… ‘the one who was, and is, and is to come’ (Rev. 4:8)… It shows that the sea-beast has gone through three phases: (1) It ‘was,’ existing in the past; (2) It ‘is not,’ after its mortal wound (13:3); (3) Finally, it ‘will be’ when the wound is healed (13:12), revived in satanic fury.” Andrews Bible Commentary, Rev. 17:8

The time will come at the very end when, because of God’s judgments in the plagues, the great harlot will lose the political support of the nations, in other words, she will lose the beast she is riding. (Revelation 17:16–17)

This split between the “beast” (political power) and the “woman” (the false church) is caused by God and is similar to the drying up of the Euphrates River during the sixth plague, Revelation 16:12.

In Revelation 18, a mighty angel announces the fall of Babylon and urges God’s people to come out so they won’t share in her sins or receive her plagues. The rulers and merchants mourn her downfall, not only politically but financially as well. Babylon, once adorned in splendor, is destroyed because: “In her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth.” (Rev. 18:24)

Let these words settle in your heart as a word of assurance:

“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 the called and chosen and faithful.” (Rev. 17:14)

May the Lord grant you a blessed day as you stand firm for truth, remain watchful in times of spiritual challenge, and stay faithful amid trials.