In each blog, I often reference many different topics that I've already covered (or will soon cover), and maybe you've missed. Please review my blogs to read more...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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The Great Prostitute and the Beast
For the purpose of this study, I intend to leave out the particulars of the beast. The beast has been covered and identified in other blogs. The focus of this study is primarily the woman.
Before digging in, let me explicitly state up front that I do not hold any preterist beliefs... neither partial preterism nor full preterism. The reason I mention this is because most believe that only a preterist would claim the woman to be Jerusalem per the historical destruction of AD 70.
I am firmly "premillennial" which means that I believe that there will be a literal 1,000 year period that will occur after Jesus returns to earth (known as His second coming). I am also "dispensational" in that I believe that God's promises to the Jewish people will come to pass in the future and that He is not done with them, as a people yet. I also firmly believe in the inspiration and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures as written in their original language.
You may want to grab your Bible and follow along. These two parts will be somewhat long, but I wanted to keep the individual chapters (Revelation 17 & 18) separate from one another and each chapter in a single blog.
There are so many different ideas floating around concerning the identity of the woman that I want to make sure these two blogs were thorough.
By the time you get done with these two blogs, there should be no doubt in your mind as to the identity of the woman and you'll easily be able to dismiss the multitude of all other explanations as we answer Scripture - with Scripture.
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Revelation 17
Rev 17:1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot [G4204 – porne, figuratively an idolater, prostitute] who sits on many waters [peoples, multitudes, nations, tongues; Rev 17:15],
The seven bowl judgments (plagues, Rev 15:1) are the final stages of God’s wrath:
Rev 15:1 … which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
The angel is about to show John the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.
This judgment is an ongoing theme throughout Scripture and deals specifically with the Jewish people and their unfaithfulness to the covenant of their Husband, Jehovah.
Jer 2:20 For long ago I broke your [Israel] yoke and tore off your bonds; but you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every high hill and under every green tree you have lain down as a harlot.
Hos 4:12 My people [Israel] consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them; for a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, and they have played the harlot, departing from their God.
There are only two other cities, outside of Jerusalem that are referred to as "harlots" in Scripture, and both of them broke a covenant: [1] Tyre (1 Ki 5:1-12; Amo 1:9; Isa 23:15-18) and [2] Ninevah (Jonah 3; Nah 3:1-4).
Both of these cities are referred to as harlots as they were at one time in a covenant relationship with God and later became faithless, returning to idolatry.
For those who would claim that Jerusalem could never be presented as a harlot, I give you Jesus' own Words concerning the Judaism in view here in the Revelation:
Rev 2:9 … the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Rev 3:9 'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
Idolatry is very much alive with the Churches of the seven letters that begin the Revelation. Satan, Jezebel, Balaam, Balak, and the Nicolaitans are specifically mentioned within these Churches.
God, Himself has referred to national Israel as a harlot many times in Scripture, and below we shall see this as we answer Scripture with Scripture.
Jer 5:2 And although they [Jerusalem] say, 'As the LORD lives,' Surely they swear falsely.
Israel/Jerusalem IS the harlot
The Greek word [G4204 – porne] used above in Rev 17:1 is equivalent to the Hebrew word [H2181 – zanah]. Texts from the OT below are from LXX search results on G4204 (see Isa 57; Jer 2-3; Jer 5; Eze 16; Eze 23; Hos 4).
Isa 1:21 How the faithful city [Jerusalem, Isa 1:1] has become a harlot [G4204 – porne], She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, but now murderers.
Jer 3:1-5 God says, "If a husband divorces [Jer 3:8] his wife [G1135 – gune] [Eze 16:32] and she goes from him and belongs to another man, will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; yet you turn to Me," declares the LORD. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them like an Arab in the desert, and you have polluted a land with your harlotry and with your wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no spring rain.
Yet you had a harlot's forehead [stubbornness, unashamed]; you refused to be ashamed. Have you not just now called to Me, 'My Father, You are the friend of my youth? 'Will He be angry forever? Will He be indignant to the end?' Behold, you have spoken and have done evil things, and you have had your way."
Eze 16:34 Thus you [Jerusalem, Eze 16:3] are different from those women in your harlotries, in that NO ONE plays the harlot as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different.
Eze 23:30 'These things will be done to you [Oholibah = Jerusalem] because you have played the harlot with the nations, because you have defiled yourself with their idols.
There is only one harlot that God is most concerned with, all throughout Scripture and it is His wife – national Israel. There is "no one that plays the harlot as she does" (Eze 16:34).
She is the great harlot. Jerusalem is the "mother of harlots"... the greatest of all harlots in God's eyes. Jerusalem is the epicenter, the heart of national Israel.
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Rev 17:2 with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality [G4203 – porneuo, figuratively practiced idolatry, prostitution], and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk [G3184 – methuo, intoxicated] with the wine of her immorality [G4202 – porneia, figuratively idolatry]."
[1] The kings of the earth committed acts of idolatry with her.
From the Rev 17:1 notes above we can clearly see how Jerusalem, the harlot spread her idolatry among all nations surrounding her.
Jer 2:3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; evil came upon them, declares the LORD.
[2] Those who dwell on the earth became intoxicated by those idolatrous acts.
We see in Rev 17:4 the woman has a cup. In this cup is the wine of her idolatry of which those who dwell on the earth were "made drunk".
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Rev 17:3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness [G2048 – eremos, desert, desolate]; and I saw a woman [G1135 – gune, woman, specifically a wife] sitting [G2521 – kathemenen, “to manage and guide the beast” (Vincent)] on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
[G1135 - gune] Probably from the base of G1096; a woman; specifically a wife: - wife, woman.
Notice above this is not "the" woman, nor to be confused with "the woman" of Rev 12:1-6.
John saw "a" woman (without the article as in "the woman"). Meaning, if he wrote "the woman" we might have expected to have already be introduced to her, as if this particular woman had been previously mentioned. This woman has not been mentioned yet.
Some will attempt to disqualify national Israel because they are not geographically located in a desert because John says "into a wilderness", or "desert".
I've mentioned this in other blogs, but will do so again here. We are clearly told that the Revelation is a Book of signs (Rev 1:1)... there is much symbolic language within the Revelation. See my blog Book of Life for a detailed explanation.
Sometimes, people either over-Spiritualize or take things to the opposite extreme and over-the-top literal. In this particular case - it matters not... Jerusalem will become literally and Spiritually "desolate" [G2048 - eremos]. The "abomination of desolation" is called as much because the abomination desolates...
[G2048 - eremos] Of uncertain affinity; lonesome, that is, (by implication) waste (usually as a noun, G5561 being implied): - desert, desolate, solitary, wilderness.
Apostate Israel is often attached to the Greek word eremos all throughout Scripture. There is no "sandy, barren, geographical desert location" needed as a qualifier for identification of the woman. Scripture tells us several times that God will bring complete desolation to Jerusalem.
Beyond that, Scripture itself uses "desert" as part of her description so if someone wants to argue that as a technicality, this is not the only place that uses this Hebrew word to describe her:
Isa 51:3 Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, and her desert [H6160 - arabah] like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and sound of a melody.
[H6160 - arabah] From H6150 (in the sense of sterility); a desert; especially (with the article prefixed) the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan and its continuation to the Red Sea: - Arabah, champaign, desert, evening, heaven, plain, wilderness. See also H1026.
[3] The woman, specifically a wife [?] sitting on – "to manage and guide the beast" [says Vincent]. All other dictionaries refer to “sitting” as “dwelling” among but we also clearly see that she is being carried by the beast (Rev 17:7) – she is riding it.
The beast and the woman briefly co-exist in partnership as the beast "carries her". Antichrist and Israel will jointly agree to a covenant – the false covenant of Daniel’s 70th week. We will see below that the woman is hated by the ten kings (horns) and the beast that carries her, and they cause the woman to become "desolate and naked".
(Note: The Textus Receptus doesn't include the Greek article "kai" including the beast in the hatred for the harlot... in other words, only the ten horns hate the harlot in this passage according to the KJV. It doesn't matter - we know the Antichrist hates Israel.)
The seven heads are seven mountains (Rev 17:9) which are seven kings (Rev 17:10).
There’s no need to go looking for a geographical "city on seven hills" as some have attempted. We’re not talking about geographical "hills" and every other occurrence within the Revelation of the Greek word [G3735 – oros] is translated as "mountain".
A "mountain" is often used symbolically of power and kings/kingdoms throughout Scripture. The angel clearly describes what we are discussing: "seven kings".
The ten horns are ten momentary ("one hour") kings, who "have not yet received a kingdom", whose "one purpose" is to deliver their power and authority to the beast (Rev 17:12-14). From the ten horns another "little horn" will arise (Dan 7:8) after them and subdue three of the horns (Dan 7:24).
This "little horn" is Antichrist (Dan 7:25-28).
[4] This beast is the fourth beast of Dan 7:7.
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Rev 17:4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality,
[5] The woman is clothed splendidly – purple, scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearl jewelry.
I won't go into detail, as this blog will be long enough as it is, but there are noticeable differences between the way God dresses the woman, and how the woman dresses herself. You'll also notice the color "blue" missing from the Revelation description (see Num 15:38-40). Just keep this in mind as you study on your own.
Eze 16:10-14 I [Jehovah] also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you," declares the Lord GOD.
Jer 4:30 And you, O desolate one, what will you do? Although you dress in scarlet, although you decorate yourself with ornaments of gold, although you enlarge your eyes with paint, in vain you make yourself beautiful. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.
Purple and scarlet were the colors chosen by God for the priests and they were adorned with gold and precious stones as was the Temple. (Exo 25; Exo 28; Exo 35; Exo 36).
It’s also interesting to note that historian Josephus described the curtain of the Jewish Temple (approximately 85’ tall x 24’ wide) as a "Babylonian" curtain:
But then this house, as it was divided into two parts, the inner part was lower than the appearance of the outer, and had golden doors of fifty-five cubits altitude, and sixteen in breadth; but before these doors there was a veil of equal largeness with the doors. It was a Babylonian curtain, embroidered with blue, and fine linen, and scarlet, and purple, and of a contexture that was truly wonderful. (Flavius Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 5.5.4)
The attire of the priests continued on into Jesus’ day as evidenced by the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
Luk 16:19 Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.
The "rich man" is representative of religious Judaism and the Pharisees to which Jesus was specifically speaking (Luke 16:14). "Lazarus" represents the Gentile nations.
[6] The woman has a gold cup in her hand full of idolatrous abominations.
Eze 23:30-34 These things will be done to you [Oholibah =Jerusalem] because you have played the harlot with the nations, because you have defiled yourself with their idols. You have walked in the way of your sister [Oholah the elder = Samaria]; therefore I will give her cup into your hand. Thus says the Lord GOD, 'You will drink your sister's cup, which is deep and wide. You will be laughed at and held in derision; it contains much. You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of horror and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria. You will drink it and drain it. Then you will gnaw its fragments and tear your breasts; for I have spoken,' declares the Lord GOD.
These abominations are those that God is concerned with. Israel took everything God had given them, and turned those gifts into idolatrous abominations:
Jer 2:7 I brought you into the fruitful land to eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, and My inheritance you made an abomination.
Many have pointed to the verse below from Jeremiah but notice the differences from the cup of Rev 17:4.
Jer 51:7 Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the LORD, intoxicating all the earth. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are going mad.
Babylon IS the golden cup in Gods hand. The cup is of the "wine of wrath" of God… not a cup filled with idolatrous abominations. Babylon’s destruction is the theme of Jeremiah 51 and Babylon is the "golden cup" in God’s hand... "for this is the LORD’s time of vengeance" (Jer 51:6).
Again, it matters not - Jerusalem is Spiritual Babylon... Babylon the great.
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Rev 17:5 and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
[7] The woman has a name written across her forehead.
This is in stark contrast to God’s original intentions for Israel and is evidenced by His command for the forehead of the High Priest:
Exo 28:36-38 You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal, 'Holy to the LORD.' "You shall fasten it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the turban.
It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
Jer 3:3 … yet you [Israel] had a harlot's forehead [stubborn]; you refused to be ashamed.
I wouldn't put too much value on the two quotes below in blue, but they are interesting:
As was customary with harlots, who had their names inscribed on a ticket. Seneca, addressing a wanton priestess, “Nomen tuum pependit a fronte,” thy name hung from thy forehead. See Juvenal, Satire vi., 123 sqq., of the profligate Messalina, “having falsely assumed the ticket of Lycisca.” (
(epi to metōpon autēs onoma gegrammenon). Roman harlots wore a label with their names on their brows (Seneca, Rhet. I. 2. 7; Juvenal VI. 122f.), and so here. In Rev 19:16 Christ has a name on his garments and on his thigh, while in Rev 14:1; Rev 22:4 the redeemed have the name of God on their foreheads. There is undoubtedly a contrast between this woman here and the woman in chapter Rev 12. (
[7a] The word "mystery" informs us the name is not to be taken literally. Such as in literal Babylon. It is to be taken Spiritually. Some will argue that "mystery" is part of the name versus those that argue that the name is to be interpreted spiritually.
To those, I would ask - "what difference does it make?"
Her name is either a "mystery" or her name is "Mystery Babylon the great"... either way, it speaks to Spiritual Babylon... not literal Babylon.
[7b] Babylon the great.
[7c] The mother of harlots.
Jer 3:1 God says, "If a husband divorces his wife and she goes from him and belongs to another man, will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; yet you turn to Me," declares the LORD.
Does a mother have daughters?
Eze 16:48 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, Sodom, your [Jerusalem's] sister and her daughters have not done as you [Jerusalem] and your daughters have done.
Eze 16:55 Your [Jerusalem's] sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to their former state, and you with your daughters will also return to your former state.
The focus is upon apostate Israel, and Jehovah’s means of bringing them to repentance. The only true idolatry is idolatry against Jehovah committed by Israel. National Israel is the divorced woman, and mother of all harlots. Throughout Scripture, we often read references referring to "the daughters"... even Jesus Himself.
[7d] The mother of the abominations of the earth.
Jerusalem has made all others "appear righteous" when compared to herself… even Sodom (Eze 16:48).
Eze 16:51-52 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half of your [Jerusalem] sins, for you have multiplied your abominations more than they. Thus you have made your sisters appear righteous by all your abominations which you have committed. Also bear your disgrace in that you have made judgment favorable for your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. Yes, be also ashamed and bear your disgrace, in that you made your sisters appear righteous.
The cup of "horror and desolation" (Eze 23:30-34) was given to Jerusalem. It is this cup "having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality" (Rev 17:4) from where the abominations are spoken of.
By the way, the True Church of Christ also has a "mother":
Gal 4:26 But the Jerusalem above [the heavenly Jerusalem, Heb 12:22] is free; she is our mother.
The New Jerusalem will eventually be ushered in and old Jerusalem will never be heard from again. During the Millennial reign Jerusalem will not even be called Jerusalem any longer.
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Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.
[8] John perceives the woman as intoxicated with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.
Jesus told us:
Luk 13:33-35 Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it CANNOT BE that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'
Mat 23:31 So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
Mat 23:34-35 Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of ALL the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah [From A to Z], the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Notice above - Abel was not a prophet or any other... Jesus is saying, from A to Z - they will be guilty of ALL righteous blood.
This is why we read in the next chapter:
Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.
[9] When John saw her he was amazed and filled with astonishment.
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Rev 17:7 And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
[10] The angel prepares to explain the mystery per John’s astonishment.
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Below, the angel explains the details of the beast. These details have been covered in my other blogs so I won't go into much detail below until we return to the woman's description.
Rev 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.
See other blogs for "was, is not, and will come" concerning the beast.
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
CLICK HERE! for an index to previous blogs.
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The Great Prostitute and the Beast
For the purpose of this study, I intend to leave out the particulars of the beast. The beast has been covered and identified in other blogs. The focus of this study is primarily the woman.
Before digging in, let me explicitly state up front that I do not hold any preterist beliefs... neither partial preterism nor full preterism. The reason I mention this is because most believe that only a preterist would claim the woman to be Jerusalem per the historical destruction of AD 70.
I am firmly "premillennial" which means that I believe that there will be a literal 1,000 year period that will occur after Jesus returns to earth (known as His second coming). I am also "dispensational" in that I believe that God's promises to the Jewish people will come to pass in the future and that He is not done with them, as a people yet. I also firmly believe in the inspiration and infallibility of the Holy Scriptures as written in their original language.
You may want to grab your Bible and follow along. These two parts will be somewhat long, but I wanted to keep the individual chapters (Revelation 17 & 18) separate from one another and each chapter in a single blog.
There are so many different ideas floating around concerning the identity of the woman that I want to make sure these two blogs were thorough.
By the time you get done with these two blogs, there should be no doubt in your mind as to the identity of the woman and you'll easily be able to dismiss the multitude of all other explanations as we answer Scripture - with Scripture.
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Revelation 17
Rev 17:1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and spoke with me, saying, "Come here, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot [G4204 – porne, figuratively an idolater, prostitute] who sits on many waters [peoples, multitudes, nations, tongues; Rev 17:15],
The seven bowl judgments (plagues, Rev 15:1) are the final stages of God’s wrath:
Rev 15:1 … which are the last, because in them the wrath of God is finished.
The angel is about to show John the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters.
This judgment is an ongoing theme throughout Scripture and deals specifically with the Jewish people and their unfaithfulness to the covenant of their Husband, Jehovah.
Jer 2:20 For long ago I broke your [Israel] yoke and tore off your bonds; but you said, 'I will not serve!' For on every high hill and under every green tree you have lain down as a harlot.
Hos 4:12 My people [Israel] consult their wooden idol, and their diviner's wand informs them; for a spirit of harlotry has led them astray, and they have played the harlot, departing from their God.
There are only two other cities, outside of Jerusalem that are referred to as "harlots" in Scripture, and both of them broke a covenant: [1] Tyre (1 Ki 5:1-12; Amo 1:9; Isa 23:15-18) and [2] Ninevah (Jonah 3; Nah 3:1-4).
Both of these cities are referred to as harlots as they were at one time in a covenant relationship with God and later became faithless, returning to idolatry.
For those who would claim that Jerusalem could never be presented as a harlot, I give you Jesus' own Words concerning the Judaism in view here in the Revelation:
Rev 2:9 … the blasphemy by those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.
Rev 3:9 'Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
Idolatry is very much alive with the Churches of the seven letters that begin the Revelation. Satan, Jezebel, Balaam, Balak, and the Nicolaitans are specifically mentioned within these Churches.
God, Himself has referred to national Israel as a harlot many times in Scripture, and below we shall see this as we answer Scripture with Scripture.
Jer 5:2 And although they [Jerusalem] say, 'As the LORD lives,' Surely they swear falsely.
Israel/Jerusalem IS the harlot
The Greek word [G4204 – porne] used above in Rev 17:1 is equivalent to the Hebrew word [H2181 – zanah]. Texts from the OT below are from LXX search results on G4204 (see Isa 57; Jer 2-3; Jer 5; Eze 16; Eze 23; Hos 4).
Isa 1:21 How the faithful city [Jerusalem, Isa 1:1] has become a harlot [G4204 – porne], She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, but now murderers.
Jer 3:1-5 God says, "If a husband divorces [Jer 3:8] his wife [G1135 – gune] [Eze 16:32] and she goes from him and belongs to another man, will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; yet you turn to Me," declares the LORD. Lift up your eyes to the bare heights and see; where have you not been violated? By the roads you have sat for them like an Arab in the desert, and you have polluted a land with your harlotry and with your wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and there has been no spring rain.
Yet you had a harlot's forehead [stubbornness, unashamed]; you refused to be ashamed. Have you not just now called to Me, 'My Father, You are the friend of my youth? 'Will He be angry forever? Will He be indignant to the end?' Behold, you have spoken and have done evil things, and you have had your way."
Eze 16:34 Thus you [Jerusalem, Eze 16:3] are different from those women in your harlotries, in that NO ONE plays the harlot as you do, because you give money and no money is given you; thus you are different.
Eze 23:30 'These things will be done to you [Oholibah = Jerusalem] because you have played the harlot with the nations, because you have defiled yourself with their idols.
There is only one harlot that God is most concerned with, all throughout Scripture and it is His wife – national Israel. There is "no one that plays the harlot as she does" (Eze 16:34).
She is the great harlot. Jerusalem is the "mother of harlots"... the greatest of all harlots in God's eyes. Jerusalem is the epicenter, the heart of national Israel.
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Rev 17:2 with whom the kings of the earth committed acts of immorality [G4203 – porneuo, figuratively practiced idolatry, prostitution], and those who dwell on the earth were made drunk [G3184 – methuo, intoxicated] with the wine of her immorality [G4202 – porneia, figuratively idolatry]."
[1] The kings of the earth committed acts of idolatry with her.
From the Rev 17:1 notes above we can clearly see how Jerusalem, the harlot spread her idolatry among all nations surrounding her.
Jer 2:3 Israel was holy to the LORD, the first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; evil came upon them, declares the LORD.
[2] Those who dwell on the earth became intoxicated by those idolatrous acts.
We see in Rev 17:4 the woman has a cup. In this cup is the wine of her idolatry of which those who dwell on the earth were "made drunk".
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Rev 17:3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness [G2048 – eremos, desert, desolate]; and I saw a woman [G1135 – gune, woman, specifically a wife] sitting [G2521 – kathemenen, “to manage and guide the beast” (Vincent)] on a scarlet beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.
[G1135 - gune] Probably from the base of G1096; a woman; specifically a wife: - wife, woman.
Notice above this is not "the" woman, nor to be confused with "the woman" of Rev 12:1-6.
John saw "a" woman (without the article as in "the woman"). Meaning, if he wrote "the woman" we might have expected to have already be introduced to her, as if this particular woman had been previously mentioned. This woman has not been mentioned yet.
Some will attempt to disqualify national Israel because they are not geographically located in a desert because John says "into a wilderness", or "desert".
I've mentioned this in other blogs, but will do so again here. We are clearly told that the Revelation is a Book of signs (Rev 1:1)... there is much symbolic language within the Revelation. See my blog Book of Life for a detailed explanation.
Sometimes, people either over-Spiritualize or take things to the opposite extreme and over-the-top literal. In this particular case - it matters not... Jerusalem will become literally and Spiritually "desolate" [G2048 - eremos]. The "abomination of desolation" is called as much because the abomination desolates...
[G2048 - eremos] Of uncertain affinity; lonesome, that is, (by implication) waste (usually as a noun, G5561 being implied): - desert, desolate, solitary, wilderness.
Apostate Israel is often attached to the Greek word eremos all throughout Scripture. There is no "sandy, barren, geographical desert location" needed as a qualifier for identification of the woman. Scripture tells us several times that God will bring complete desolation to Jerusalem.
Beyond that, Scripture itself uses "desert" as part of her description so if someone wants to argue that as a technicality, this is not the only place that uses this Hebrew word to describe her:
Isa 51:3 Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, and her desert [H6160 - arabah] like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and sound of a melody.
[H6160 - arabah] From H6150 (in the sense of sterility); a desert; especially (with the article prefixed) the (generally) sterile valley of the Jordan and its continuation to the Red Sea: - Arabah, champaign, desert, evening, heaven, plain, wilderness. See also H1026.
[3] The woman, specifically a wife [?] sitting on – "to manage and guide the beast" [says Vincent]. All other dictionaries refer to “sitting” as “dwelling” among but we also clearly see that she is being carried by the beast (Rev 17:7) – she is riding it.
The beast and the woman briefly co-exist in partnership as the beast "carries her". Antichrist and Israel will jointly agree to a covenant – the false covenant of Daniel’s 70th week. We will see below that the woman is hated by the ten kings (horns) and the beast that carries her, and they cause the woman to become "desolate and naked".
(Note: The Textus Receptus doesn't include the Greek article "kai" including the beast in the hatred for the harlot... in other words, only the ten horns hate the harlot in this passage according to the KJV. It doesn't matter - we know the Antichrist hates Israel.)
The seven heads are seven mountains (Rev 17:9) which are seven kings (Rev 17:10).
There’s no need to go looking for a geographical "city on seven hills" as some have attempted. We’re not talking about geographical "hills" and every other occurrence within the Revelation of the Greek word [G3735 – oros] is translated as "mountain".
A "mountain" is often used symbolically of power and kings/kingdoms throughout Scripture. The angel clearly describes what we are discussing: "seven kings".
The ten horns are ten momentary ("one hour") kings, who "have not yet received a kingdom", whose "one purpose" is to deliver their power and authority to the beast (Rev 17:12-14). From the ten horns another "little horn" will arise (Dan 7:8) after them and subdue three of the horns (Dan 7:24).
This "little horn" is Antichrist (Dan 7:25-28).
[4] This beast is the fourth beast of Dan 7:7.
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Rev 17:4 The woman was clothed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality,
[5] The woman is clothed splendidly – purple, scarlet, adorned with gold, jewels, and pearl jewelry.
I won't go into detail, as this blog will be long enough as it is, but there are noticeable differences between the way God dresses the woman, and how the woman dresses herself. You'll also notice the color "blue" missing from the Revelation description (see Num 15:38-40). Just keep this in mind as you study on your own.
Eze 16:10-14 I [Jehovah] also clothed you with embroidered cloth and put sandals of porpoise skin on your feet; and I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your hands and a necklace around your neck. I also put a ring in your nostril, earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head.
Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your dress was of fine linen, silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour, honey and oil; so you were exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. Then your fame went forth among the nations on account of your beauty, for it was perfect because of My splendor which I bestowed on you," declares the Lord GOD.
Jer 4:30 And you, O desolate one, what will you do? Although you dress in scarlet, although you decorate yourself with ornaments of gold, although you enlarge your eyes with paint, in vain you make yourself beautiful. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.
Purple and scarlet were the colors chosen by God for the priests and they were adorned with gold and precious stones as was the Temple. (Exo 25; Exo 28; Exo 35; Exo 36).
It’s also interesting to note that historian Josephus described the curtain of the Jewish Temple (approximately 85’ tall x 24’ wide) as a "Babylonian" curtain:
But then this house, as it was divided into two parts, the inner part was lower than the appearance of the outer, and had golden doors of fifty-five cubits altitude, and sixteen in breadth; but before these doors there was a veil of equal largeness with the doors. It was a Babylonian curtain, embroidered with blue, and fine linen, and scarlet, and purple, and of a contexture that was truly wonderful. (Flavius Josephus, Wars of the Jews, 5.5.4)
The attire of the priests continued on into Jesus’ day as evidenced by the parable of the rich man and Lazarus.
Luk 16:19 Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.
The "rich man" is representative of religious Judaism and the Pharisees to which Jesus was specifically speaking (Luke 16:14). "Lazarus" represents the Gentile nations.
[6] The woman has a gold cup in her hand full of idolatrous abominations.
Eze 23:30-34 These things will be done to you [Oholibah =Jerusalem] because you have played the harlot with the nations, because you have defiled yourself with their idols. You have walked in the way of your sister [Oholah the elder = Samaria]; therefore I will give her cup into your hand. Thus says the Lord GOD, 'You will drink your sister's cup, which is deep and wide. You will be laughed at and held in derision; it contains much. You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow, the cup of horror and desolation, the cup of your sister Samaria. You will drink it and drain it. Then you will gnaw its fragments and tear your breasts; for I have spoken,' declares the Lord GOD.
These abominations are those that God is concerned with. Israel took everything God had given them, and turned those gifts into idolatrous abominations:
Jer 2:7 I brought you into the fruitful land to eat its fruit and its good things. But you came and defiled My land, and My inheritance you made an abomination.
Many have pointed to the verse below from Jeremiah but notice the differences from the cup of Rev 17:4.
Jer 51:7 Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the LORD, intoxicating all the earth. The nations have drunk of her wine; therefore the nations are going mad.
Babylon IS the golden cup in Gods hand. The cup is of the "wine of wrath" of God… not a cup filled with idolatrous abominations. Babylon’s destruction is the theme of Jeremiah 51 and Babylon is the "golden cup" in God’s hand... "for this is the LORD’s time of vengeance" (Jer 51:6).
Again, it matters not - Jerusalem is Spiritual Babylon... Babylon the great.
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Rev 17:5 and on her forehead a name was written, a mystery, "BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH."
[7] The woman has a name written across her forehead.
This is in stark contrast to God’s original intentions for Israel and is evidenced by His command for the forehead of the High Priest:
Exo 28:36-38 You shall also make a plate of pure gold and shall engrave on it, like the engravings of a seal, 'Holy to the LORD.' "You shall fasten it on a blue cord, and it shall be on the turban; it shall be at the front of the turban.
It shall be on Aaron's forehead, and Aaron shall take away the iniquity of the holy things which the sons of Israel consecrate, with regard to all their holy gifts; and it shall always be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
Jer 3:3 … yet you [Israel] had a harlot's forehead [stubborn]; you refused to be ashamed.
I wouldn't put too much value on the two quotes below in blue, but they are interesting:
As was customary with harlots, who had their names inscribed on a ticket. Seneca, addressing a wanton priestess, “Nomen tuum pependit a fronte,” thy name hung from thy forehead. See Juvenal, Satire vi., 123 sqq., of the profligate Messalina, “having falsely assumed the ticket of Lycisca.” (
(epi to metōpon autēs onoma gegrammenon). Roman harlots wore a label with their names on their brows (Seneca, Rhet. I. 2. 7; Juvenal VI. 122f.), and so here. In Rev 19:16 Christ has a name on his garments and on his thigh, while in Rev 14:1; Rev 22:4 the redeemed have the name of God on their foreheads. There is undoubtedly a contrast between this woman here and the woman in chapter Rev 12. (
[7a] The word "mystery" informs us the name is not to be taken literally. Such as in literal Babylon. It is to be taken Spiritually. Some will argue that "mystery" is part of the name versus those that argue that the name is to be interpreted spiritually.
To those, I would ask - "what difference does it make?"
Her name is either a "mystery" or her name is "Mystery Babylon the great"... either way, it speaks to Spiritual Babylon... not literal Babylon.
[7b] Babylon the great.
[7c] The mother of harlots.
Jer 3:1 God says, "If a husband divorces his wife and she goes from him and belongs to another man, will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; yet you turn to Me," declares the LORD.
Does a mother have daughters?
Eze 16:48 As I live, declares the Lord GOD, Sodom, your [Jerusalem's] sister and her daughters have not done as you [Jerusalem] and your daughters have done.
Eze 16:55 Your [Jerusalem's] sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will return to their former state, and you with your daughters will also return to your former state.
The focus is upon apostate Israel, and Jehovah’s means of bringing them to repentance. The only true idolatry is idolatry against Jehovah committed by Israel. National Israel is the divorced woman, and mother of all harlots. Throughout Scripture, we often read references referring to "the daughters"... even Jesus Himself.
[7d] The mother of the abominations of the earth.
Jerusalem has made all others "appear righteous" when compared to herself… even Sodom (Eze 16:48).
Eze 16:51-52 Furthermore, Samaria did not commit half of your [Jerusalem] sins, for you have multiplied your abominations more than they. Thus you have made your sisters appear righteous by all your abominations which you have committed. Also bear your disgrace in that you have made judgment favorable for your sisters. Because of your sins in which you acted more abominably than they, they are more in the right than you. Yes, be also ashamed and bear your disgrace, in that you made your sisters appear righteous.
The cup of "horror and desolation" (Eze 23:30-34) was given to Jerusalem. It is this cup "having in her hand a gold cup full of abominations and of the unclean things of her immorality" (Rev 17:4) from where the abominations are spoken of.
By the way, the True Church of Christ also has a "mother":
Gal 4:26 But the Jerusalem above [the heavenly Jerusalem, Heb 12:22] is free; she is our mother.
The New Jerusalem will eventually be ushered in and old Jerusalem will never be heard from again. During the Millennial reign Jerusalem will not even be called Jerusalem any longer.
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Rev 17:6 And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered greatly.
[8] John perceives the woman as intoxicated with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the witnesses of Jesus.
Jesus told us:
Luk 13:33-35 Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it CANNOT BE that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it! Behold, your house is left to you desolate; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, 'BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!'
Mat 23:31 So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
Mat 23:34-35 Therefore, behold, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city, so that upon you may fall the guilt of ALL the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah [From A to Z], the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
Notice above - Abel was not a prophet or any other... Jesus is saying, from A to Z - they will be guilty of ALL righteous blood.
This is why we read in the next chapter:
Rev 18:20 Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her.
[9] When John saw her he was amazed and filled with astonishment.
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Rev 17:7 And the angel said to me, "Why do you wonder? I will tell you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, which has the seven heads and the ten horns.
[10] The angel prepares to explain the mystery per John’s astonishment.
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Below, the angel explains the details of the beast. These details have been covered in my other blogs so I won't go into much detail below until we return to the woman's description.
Rev 17:8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.
See other blogs for "was, is not, and will come" concerning the beast.
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Rev 17:9 Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains [G3735 – oros] on which the woman sits,
[11] The heads of the beast are seven mountains.
The seven mountains have been discussed above and in other blogs.
[12] The woman sits on the seven mountains.
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Rev 17:10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.
[13] The woman sits on seven mountains which are seven kings.
[14] When "he" comes, he must remain a little while.
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Rev 17:11 The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.
[15] The beast which was, and is not is one of the original seven. When he comes again, he will be counted as the eighth.
This is covered in my other blogs.
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Rev 17:12-14 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.
See other blogs for more detail on these ten kings with "one purpose".
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Rev 17:15 And he said to me, The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
The angel explains the meaning of "waters" from verse 1 above.
Rev 17:9 Here is the mind which has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains [G3735 – oros] on which the woman sits,
[11] The heads of the beast are seven mountains.
The seven mountains have been discussed above and in other blogs.
[12] The woman sits on the seven mountains.
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Rev 17:10 and they are seven kings; five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; and when he comes, he must remain a little while.
[13] The woman sits on seven mountains which are seven kings.
[14] When "he" comes, he must remain a little while.
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Rev 17:11 The beast which was and is not, is himself also an eighth and is one of the seven, and he goes to destruction.
[15] The beast which was, and is not is one of the original seven. When he comes again, he will be counted as the eighth.
This is covered in my other blogs.
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Rev 17:12-14 The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they receive authority as kings with the beast for one hour. These have one purpose, and they give their power and authority to the beast. These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.
See other blogs for more detail on these ten kings with "one purpose".
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Rev 17:15 And he said to me, The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.
The angel explains the meaning of "waters" from verse 1 above.
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Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate [G2049 – eremos, lay waste, ruin, strip of treasures], and naked [G1131 – gumnos], and will eat her flesh [Jer 5:17] and will burn [G2618 – katakaio, to burn down to the ground, wholly consume] her up with fire.
[16] These ten kings, who make war with Jesus at the Battle of Armageddon, will hate the woman.
[17] The ten kings will make her desolate and naked.
[18] The ten kings will exhibit extreme hostility.
Jer 5:17 They will devour your harvest and your food; they will devour your sons and your daughters; they will devour your flocks and your herds; they will devour your vines and your fig trees; they will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.
Eze 16:39-41 I will also give you into the hands of your lovers, and they will tear down your shrines, demolish your high places, strip you of your clothing, take away your jewels, and will leave you naked and bare. They will incite a crowd against you and they will stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords. They will burn your houses with fire and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women.
Then I will stop you from playing the harlot, and you will also no longer pay your lovers. (see all of Ezekial 16)
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Rev 17:17 For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the Words of God will be fulfilled.
[19] God is the cause of this hatred and judgment… "He put it in their hearts" for a common purpose (His purpose). See my other blogs, specifically on the olam ebah (see Ezekial 16).
[20] The ten kings give their authority and power over to the beast...
[21] ... until God’s Words be fulfilled.
The angel is done explaining the beast, and now moves on into the details of the woman.
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Rev 17:18 The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns [he echousa basileian – the one having a kingdom] over the kings of the earth.
[22] The woman is "the great city"...
Here in Rev 17:18 John seems to set "the great city" forth in this passage with the assumption that we should already know who this great city is as he has already told us who "the great city" is… and we should – from Rev 11:8.
Rev 11:8 sets a powerful precedent for the term "the great city" before we come to Revelation 17-18. No matter how shocking it may be to some readers it is indisputable.
Jerusalem is "the great city".
Other than the verse above, five times in the Revelation we find the phrase "the great city".
[A] Rev 11:8 And their [two witnesses] dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically [G4153 – pneumatikos, spiritually] is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
Most would agree that the two witnesses (two "olive trees" (Rev 11:4) - Zec 4:2-3; Zec 4:11-14) give their testimony in Jerusalem and die in Jerusalem.
The "great city" of Rev 11:8 cannot be mistaken for any other than Jerusalem as that is where Jesus was crucified.
God has referred to Jerusalem as Sodom before (Isa 1:10; Jer 23:14) but not Egypt. The comparison is drawn to underscore the sin, and ancient downfall of both Sodom and Egypt.
It should also be pointed out that if John can use "Egypt" to symbolically represent Jerusalem without Scriptural precedence, then he can also use "Babylon" metaphorically, without precedence, as it is clear that Jerusalem is being painted in a very negative light.
[B] Rev 16:19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations [G1484 – ethnos] fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.
The seventh bowl judgment is poured out and "it is done" (Rev 16:17). A great earthquake occurs. The world has not seen an earthquake of this magnitude (Rev 16:18). Every island flees away, mountains are no longer found, and one hundred pound hailstones fall. God recalls His promise of wrath.
The contrast between "the great city" and "the cities of the nations" is clearly drawn.
Is "the great city" merely one of "the cities of the nations [G1484]" or are they to be distinguished?
The Greek phrase used is: “ai poleis ton ethnon”. “the | cities | of-the | nations”.
How else might this be translated? “the cities of the Gentiles”.
[G1484 – ethnos] a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan): - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
How much more definition can John give us? We know the identity of "the great city" – it is Jerusalem, and John later refers to it metaphorically as Babylon the great.
Also note from above in Rev 17:18, what other "great city" could reign over the cities of the Gentiles and not be Gentile itself if the distinction between the two is clear?
Moving on, all cities of the nations are flattened save one. Here would be a good spot to point out an additional piece of information:
Rev 14:20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses' bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.
While not referred to explicitly as "the great city" we can clearly see "a city" set apart once again. Which city is it?
Rev 14:8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality."
Almost all agree that the winepress is trodden outside of Jerusalem, but they stubbornly won’t admit that Jerusalem is referred to by John as "Babylon the great" in the context of the previous verse (Rev 14:8).
While the "cities of the nations" all fell, the "great city" has been divided into three parts.
Why three parts?
Ezekial prophesies the desolation of Jerusalem by thirds because of their idolatry (Eze 5:11):
Eze 5:1-5 As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword; take and use it as a barber's razor on your head and beard. Then take scales for weighing and divide the hair. One third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. Take also a few in number from them and bind them in the edges of your robes. Take again some of them and throw them into the fire and burn them in the fire; from it a fire will spread to all the house of Israel.
Thus says the Lord GOD, 'This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations, with lands around her.
Eze 5:9 'And because of all your abominations, I will do among you what I have not done, and the like of which I will never do again.
Eze 6:12 He who is far off will [1] die by the plague, and he who is near will [2] fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged will [3] die by the famine. Thus will I spend My wrath on them.
[C] Rev 18:16 saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;
We’ve discussed the attire of Israel’s priests and the Temple above.
[D] Rev 18:19 And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!'
Here we arrive at what some consider the most difficult part of "the great city" description. Some have thrown Jerusalem completely out of the equation based solely on the economic mourning as described in these verses. "Forget everything we just learned" because of the sea trade and economic power and influence attributed to "the great city".
This cannot possibly be Jerusalem… or can it?
It can, and IS unmistakably Jerusalem.
See Part 2 - Woman and Beast – Revelation 18
[E] Rev 18:21 Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.
Jerusalem as it's currently known will never be the same by the time Daniel's 70th Week is complete. Yes, national Israel will be restored, but idolatry will no longer be a part of them. They will repent and accept their Messiah by the time this is over.
Blind, idolatrous, apostate Jerusalem will never be heard from again.
During the Millennial Reign Jerusalem will not only be renamed (Eze 48:35; Jer 3:17; Jer 33:16), but will also have a new location including the Temple (Eze 40-48). This is not to be confused with "New Jerusalem" (Rev 21) which comes down from Heaven after the Millennial Reign.
[23] … which "has a kingdom over the kings of the earth".
What other Kingdom "over the kings of the earth" would we choose?
Jerusalem is the "exultation of the whole earth" and God’s chosen capital over the earth from where Jesus will reign over the kings of the earth (Rev 1:5-6). What other "great city" could possibly be in view?
Psa 48:1-5 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His Holy Mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy [H4885 – masos, exultation, joy, rejoicing] of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King. God, in her palaces, Has made Himself known as a stronghold. For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together. They saw it, then they were amazed; they were terrified, they fled in alarm. (see all of Psalm 48)
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Apostate Israel is the woman who rides the beast. Jerusalem will never see restoration until Jesus returns at the conclusion of Daniel's 70th Week:
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy Holy city, to [1] finish the transgression, and to [2] make an end of sins, and to [3] make reconciliation for iniquity, and to [4] bring in everlasting righteousness, and to [5] seal up the vision and [6] prophecy, and to [7] anoint the most Holy.
Moving on to Part 2 - Woman and Beast - Revelation 18
Rev 17:16 And the ten horns which you saw, and the beast, these will hate the harlot and will make her desolate [G2049 – eremos, lay waste, ruin, strip of treasures], and naked [G1131 – gumnos], and will eat her flesh [Jer 5:17] and will burn [G2618 – katakaio, to burn down to the ground, wholly consume] her up with fire.
[16] These ten kings, who make war with Jesus at the Battle of Armageddon, will hate the woman.
[17] The ten kings will make her desolate and naked.
[18] The ten kings will exhibit extreme hostility.
Jer 5:17 They will devour your harvest and your food; they will devour your sons and your daughters; they will devour your flocks and your herds; they will devour your vines and your fig trees; they will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.
Eze 16:39-41 I will also give you into the hands of your lovers, and they will tear down your shrines, demolish your high places, strip you of your clothing, take away your jewels, and will leave you naked and bare. They will incite a crowd against you and they will stone you and cut you to pieces with their swords. They will burn your houses with fire and execute judgments on you in the sight of many women.
Then I will stop you from playing the harlot, and you will also no longer pay your lovers. (see all of Ezekial 16)
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Rev 17:17 For God has put it in their hearts to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the Words of God will be fulfilled.
[19] God is the cause of this hatred and judgment… "He put it in their hearts" for a common purpose (His purpose). See my other blogs, specifically on the olam ebah (see Ezekial 16).
[20] The ten kings give their authority and power over to the beast...
[21] ... until God’s Words be fulfilled.
The angel is done explaining the beast, and now moves on into the details of the woman.
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Rev 17:18 The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns [he echousa basileian – the one having a kingdom] over the kings of the earth.
[22] The woman is "the great city"...
Here in Rev 17:18 John seems to set "the great city" forth in this passage with the assumption that we should already know who this great city is as he has already told us who "the great city" is… and we should – from Rev 11:8.
Rev 11:8 sets a powerful precedent for the term "the great city" before we come to Revelation 17-18. No matter how shocking it may be to some readers it is indisputable.
Jerusalem is "the great city".
Other than the verse above, five times in the Revelation we find the phrase "the great city".
[A] Rev 11:8 And their [two witnesses] dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which mystically [G4153 – pneumatikos, spiritually] is called Sodom and Egypt, where also their Lord was crucified.
Most would agree that the two witnesses (two "olive trees" (Rev 11:4) - Zec 4:2-3; Zec 4:11-14) give their testimony in Jerusalem and die in Jerusalem.
The "great city" of Rev 11:8 cannot be mistaken for any other than Jerusalem as that is where Jesus was crucified.
God has referred to Jerusalem as Sodom before (Isa 1:10; Jer 23:14) but not Egypt. The comparison is drawn to underscore the sin, and ancient downfall of both Sodom and Egypt.
It should also be pointed out that if John can use "Egypt" to symbolically represent Jerusalem without Scriptural precedence, then he can also use "Babylon" metaphorically, without precedence, as it is clear that Jerusalem is being painted in a very negative light.
[B] Rev 16:19 The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations [G1484 – ethnos] fell. Babylon the great was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of His fierce wrath.
The seventh bowl judgment is poured out and "it is done" (Rev 16:17). A great earthquake occurs. The world has not seen an earthquake of this magnitude (Rev 16:18). Every island flees away, mountains are no longer found, and one hundred pound hailstones fall. God recalls His promise of wrath.
The contrast between "the great city" and "the cities of the nations" is clearly drawn.
Is "the great city" merely one of "the cities of the nations [G1484]" or are they to be distinguished?
The Greek phrase used is: “ai poleis ton ethnon”. “the | cities | of-the | nations”.
How else might this be translated? “the cities of the Gentiles”.
[G1484 – ethnos] a race (as of the same habit), that is, a tribe; specifically a foreign (non-Jewish) one (usually by implication pagan): - Gentile, heathen, nation, people.
How much more definition can John give us? We know the identity of "the great city" – it is Jerusalem, and John later refers to it metaphorically as Babylon the great.
Also note from above in Rev 17:18, what other "great city" could reign over the cities of the Gentiles and not be Gentile itself if the distinction between the two is clear?
Moving on, all cities of the nations are flattened save one. Here would be a good spot to point out an additional piece of information:
Rev 14:20 And the wine press was trodden outside the city, and blood came out from the wine press, up to the horses' bridles, for a distance of two hundred miles.
While not referred to explicitly as "the great city" we can clearly see "a city" set apart once again. Which city is it?
Rev 14:8 And another angel, a second one, followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who has made all the nations drink of the wine of the passion of her immorality."
Almost all agree that the winepress is trodden outside of Jerusalem, but they stubbornly won’t admit that Jerusalem is referred to by John as "Babylon the great" in the context of the previous verse (Rev 14:8).
While the "cities of the nations" all fell, the "great city" has been divided into three parts.
Why three parts?
Ezekial prophesies the desolation of Jerusalem by thirds because of their idolatry (Eze 5:11):
Eze 5:1-5 As for you, son of man, take a sharp sword; take and use it as a barber's razor on your head and beard. Then take scales for weighing and divide the hair. One third you shall burn in the fire at the center of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. Then you shall take one third and strike it with the sword all around the city, and one third you shall scatter to the wind; and I will unsheathe a sword behind them. Take also a few in number from them and bind them in the edges of your robes. Take again some of them and throw them into the fire and burn them in the fire; from it a fire will spread to all the house of Israel.
Thus says the Lord GOD, 'This is Jerusalem; I have set her at the center of the nations, with lands around her.
Eze 5:9 'And because of all your abominations, I will do among you what I have not done, and the like of which I will never do again.
Eze 6:12 He who is far off will [1] die by the plague, and he who is near will [2] fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged will [3] die by the famine. Thus will I spend My wrath on them.
[C] Rev 18:16 saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, she who was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls;
We’ve discussed the attire of Israel’s priests and the Temple above.
[D] Rev 18:19 And they threw dust on their heads and were crying out, weeping and mourning, saying, 'Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour she has been laid waste!'
Here we arrive at what some consider the most difficult part of "the great city" description. Some have thrown Jerusalem completely out of the equation based solely on the economic mourning as described in these verses. "Forget everything we just learned" because of the sea trade and economic power and influence attributed to "the great city".
This cannot possibly be Jerusalem… or can it?
It can, and IS unmistakably Jerusalem.
See Part 2 - Woman and Beast – Revelation 18
[E] Rev 18:21 Then a strong angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "So will Babylon, the great city, be thrown down with violence, and will not be found any longer.
Jerusalem as it's currently known will never be the same by the time Daniel's 70th Week is complete. Yes, national Israel will be restored, but idolatry will no longer be a part of them. They will repent and accept their Messiah by the time this is over.
Blind, idolatrous, apostate Jerusalem will never be heard from again.
During the Millennial Reign Jerusalem will not only be renamed (Eze 48:35; Jer 3:17; Jer 33:16), but will also have a new location including the Temple (Eze 40-48). This is not to be confused with "New Jerusalem" (Rev 21) which comes down from Heaven after the Millennial Reign.
[23] … which "has a kingdom over the kings of the earth".
What other Kingdom "over the kings of the earth" would we choose?
Jerusalem is the "exultation of the whole earth" and God’s chosen capital over the earth from where Jesus will reign over the kings of the earth (Rev 1:5-6). What other "great city" could possibly be in view?
Psa 48:1-5 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God, His Holy Mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy [H4885 – masos, exultation, joy, rejoicing] of the whole earth, is Mount Zion in the far north, the city of the great King. God, in her palaces, Has made Himself known as a stronghold. For, lo, the kings assembled themselves, they passed by together. They saw it, then they were amazed; they were terrified, they fled in alarm. (see all of Psalm 48)
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Apostate Israel is the woman who rides the beast. Jerusalem will never see restoration until Jesus returns at the conclusion of Daniel's 70th Week:
Dan 9:24 Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy Holy city, to [1] finish the transgression, and to [2] make an end of sins, and to [3] make reconciliation for iniquity, and to [4] bring in everlasting righteousness, and to [5] seal up the vision and [6] prophecy, and to [7] anoint the most Holy.
Moving on to Part 2 - Woman and Beast - Revelation 18
Some of these excerpts are from my personal notes copied from 30+ years of studying... some of these notes are direct copies of various sources - I do not claim to have authored every word of this... it's just a mass collection I've tucked away over the years for my own personal studies... I didn't consider a bibliography at the time I directly copied small excerpts from various authors. Also, any emphasis (underlines, bold text, all CAPS, etc.) noted above was only meant to capture my personal attention as I studied...
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