Revelation chapter Seventeen Breakdown

1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, “Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.”

John has a conversation with one of the Bowl carrying angels. He instructs John to follow him to see the judgement of Mystery Babylon. We also can see Mystery Babylon is somehow connected with many kings of the earth and these kings commit “fornication” with her. Also, the people of the earth are “made drunk” with the “wine” of her “fornication”. Therefore we can immediately take way the idea whatever is going on between the great city of Babylon and the kings of the earth produce something all the inhabitants of the earth either want or continually use and causes them to be in a sort of stupor.

Jeremiah 51:6-8

Flee from the midst of Babylon, And every one save his life! Do not be cut off in her iniquity, For this is the time of the Lord’s vengeance; He shall recompense her. Babylon was a golden cup in the Lord’s hand, That made all the earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; Therefore the nations are deranged.  Babylon has suddenly fallen and been destroyed. Wail for her! Take balm for her pain; Perhaps she may be healed.

This passage from Jeremiah, has been associated with the original Babylon, however, I do not believe this to be the case. If we really break down what is being stated here, we clearly see it is the “day of the Lord” and similar terminology being use. For example we see the nations drink her wine, causing them to become deranged.

3 So he carried me away in the Spirit into the wilderness. And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

John is taken to the desert in his spirit. The woman is somehow controlling the beast we have previously read about. My understanding is the woman is one of the leading cities of the antichrist kingdom.

Isaiah 1:18

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

She is riding a beast full of sin and blasphemy.

4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication.

Judges 8:26

Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was one thousand seven hundred shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks.

Something I find very interesting is the linkage between Midian and the whore of Babylon. Midian is located in modern day Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries in the world. They are an Islamic country, and we see Midian kings wore the crescent ornaments. The whore is adorned in purple and scarlet, and Midian kings wore purple as well.

5 And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

This is very interesting. We can see this is not an actual woman, but a metaphor. This “woman” is called Babylon. She is also known as the “mother of harlots” and the “abominations of the earth”. To really think about this we can take a few things away. First, this city must be similar to ancient 

Babylon. Second, it must have a connection to the first prostitute, whether that be an actual prostitute or the first “god” to lure men away from YHWH. Third, there is a link between this city and the horrors going on in the world.

Now consider what has already been stated concerning Islam. The Muslims today are behind most of the terrorism in the world today.

6 I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement.

Now here is something very concerning. This woman, who is a great city, is literally linked to killing the people of YHWH. We know from world news today, Islam is killing record numbers of believers today. That is, they are killing those who keep the Law of God, such as the Jews, as well as those who hold fast to the testimony of Yeshua, such as Christians.

7 But the angel said to me, “Why did you marvel? 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.

The angel tells John he is about to reveal to him what the vision was all about. This should take the guessing completely out of the situation.

8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

The beast used to be, at the time of John was not, but will be again. It comes out of the bottomless pit, which is the ocean. It is clear here it is not the whole world who marvel at the beast, but only those whose names are not written in the Book of Life.

9 “Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

The beast has seven mountains. These mountains are kingdoms. So, the woman, or city, is the head of the seven kingdoms.

Isaiah 2:2

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.

10 There are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, and the other has not yet come. And when he comes, he must continue a short time.

To reiterate, the angel says there are seven kings. Kings rule kingdoms and he says, five have already fallen. One was currently in John’s day. One will come later. If these are kingdoms we should be able to reveal what these kingdoms are. 

1. Egypt

2. Assyria

3. Babylon

4. Medo-Persia

5. Greece

6. Rome

These are the world power kingdoms. Rome was in power during John’s day. Knowing this we can determine who the seventh was. It was the Islamic empire. One thing the first four all have in common with the seventh is they are all the same people group, who make up what we know as Islam today. They were the next big world power which split with the Roman Empire on the Eastern side and was known as the Byzantium Empire.

11 The beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

Now this beast was at one time a world power, then was not, but will be again. This kingdom is one of the previous seven, or a combination of them.

12 “The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

Now, one of the main reasons I stated the beast is a nation or kingdom is because the horns of the beast are described as kings. These ten kings will be granted power as kings once the beast is fully recognized.

13 These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

All ten of these kings have the same mindset. I believe this also plays into my understanding of the beast being the combined Muslim nations. They all have one religion which is also its law, Sharia.

14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.”

These ten kingdoms will fight against Yeshua, the Messiah. Yeshua will defeat them.

15 Then he said to me, “The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

The many waters in which the city of Babylon sits are many nations. Babylon will have some amount of power in many nations across the world.

16 And the ten horns which you saw on the beast, these will hate the harlot, make her desolate and naked, eat her flesh and burn her with fire.

Isaiah 47:1-3

“Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; Sit on the ground without a throne, O daughter of the Chaldeans! For you shall no more be called Tender and delicate. Take the millstones and grind meal. Remove your veil, Take off the skirt, Uncover the thigh, Pass through the rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, Yes, your shame will be seen; I will take vengeance, And I will not arbitrate with a man.”

The ten kings will hate this city. Even though they are all part of the same kingdom. This is why I believe the harlot is directly associated with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is an Islamic nation, like all its surrounding nations. However, this particular Muslim country sells crude oil to many nations around the world. Iran despises them for doing so. There has also been reports of Iran planning to send nuclear bombs against Saudi Arabia once they obtain them. This would make sense considering the ten kings plan to burn this great city with fire. Oil is extremely flammable.

Notice, Isaiah is referring to the “daughter of Babylon”, which simply means this city is an offspring of the original. Offspring look and act in a similar fashion as their parent. 

17 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.

This is all part of YHWH’s plan. These kings are supposed to destroy the city.

18 And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth.”

Having the power of oil prices hanging over the heads of many of the first world nations is extremely important. This would definitely allow them to have a say in many aspects of what the country does politically as well as culturally.