What is the explanation of Revelation 17?

Answer 1

Revelation 17:1-5 The great whore that sitteth upon many waters"

The great whore has "committed fornication" with all the kings on earth. Everyone else is "drunk with the wine of her fornication." She sits on a scarlet colored beast with the usual 7 heads and 10 horns. She carries a cup full of the "filthiness of her abominations" and has a big sign on her forehead saying: "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth." You'll know her when you see her.

Can also be found in the Book of Mormon : 1 Nephi 14:11

17:8 "The beast that was, and is not, and yet is."

The Watchtower says that "the beast that was, and is not, and yet is" referred to in this verse is the United Nations. It was the League of Nations which disappeared, only to once again rise as the UN. (See Pay Attention to Daniel's Prophecy, p.

17:14 "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for ... they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

Christians will fight in the war between Jesus and those allied with the beast

(17:16-17)

"They shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire."

(Are they going to eat her first and then burn her?) Many people find Revelation to be confusing and even scary. But according to Revelation 1:3, "Happy is he who reads aloud and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and who observe the things written in it; for the appointed time is near."

So the book of Revelation is not only meant to be understood, but it can bring us happiness. The prophecy in Revelation is for the "appointed time," or what the Bible calls the "last days."

Revelation chapter 17 is a prophecy that features a harlot (or whore) called "Babylon the Great." There are kings with which she commits fornication (immoral relations) with. Also mentioned are "traveling merchants" (those engaged in commercial activity), and a scarlet colored wild beast that the harlot rides.

Who is the great harlot in Revelation 17:1,2? Some say Rome. But this could not be the case. Rome was a political power. This harlot commits fornication with the kings of the earth, and this evidently includes the kings of Rome. Besides, after her destruction, "the kings of the earth" are said to mourn her passing. Therefore, she cannot be a political power. (Revelation 18:9, 10) Additionally, since she is mourned also by the world's merchants, she could not picture big business. (Revelation 18:15, 16) We read, however, that 'by her spiritistic practice all the nations were misled.' (Revelation 18:23) This makes it clear that the great harlot must be a worldwide religious entity.

In fact, if she is to mislead all the nations, she must represent the entire world empire of false religion. Many of the very doctrines found in the ancient city of Babylon's religions can be found in the religions throughout the Earth. Babylon the Great is the world empire of false religion.

She is described as a harlot, because she tries to have an alliance with the world's governments, the "kings of the Earth." She continues to meddle in political affairs. This is considered harlotry and immoral by God, because she claims to be God's bride. Being "in bed" so to speak with the kings of the earth amounts to spiritual adultery.

For this, she will be destroyed by God. What instrument will God use to destroy her? He will use the very thing that she is figuratively trying to ride, the scarlet-colored wild beast.

That "beast" is described for us in Revelation 17:9,10. Here it tells us that it symbolizes a composite political entity, comprising of kingdoms that are current world powers, and others that were at one time world powers, but possibly only remnants of which are still in existence. Verse 11 tells us that in fact, this beast is itself an eighth king that springs from the other kings, or world powers. This accurately describes the United Nations which is made up of elements of all these previously mentioned kingdoms, and "springs from" or gets it's power from these kings.

According to verses 15,16, this wild beast will soon turn on Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion and destroy her completely.

Answer: It is highly unlikely that John, the Apostle of Jesus in the 1st century was commenting on the United Nations or League of Nations. More likely he was commenting of events and those things that were relevant to his own time, that is of the Roman Empire. The whore is likely to deal with something that John knew about (ie. he didn't know about the United Nations). Many people interpret the whore of Babylon as pagan Rome or Jerusalem. Babylon was the code name for Rome, according to the New Testament. Both centers were on hills and had persecuted the saints of the Christian church. I favor the pagan Rome explanation, as the Roman Empire had many Roman Emperors and kings.

Another Thought:

Here is something to think about. In Revelation 17 it says that Babylon is guilty of "fornication" against God. Now that word fornication means to "commit adultery" against God. Think about that very carefully.

Who can commit adultery against a man? ONLY a woman who is married to him. In the same way, it is only those who are "married" to Christ Jesus that can commit adultery (fornication) against Him. In other words, CHRISTIANS!

Those of other religions cannot commit adultery against God, because they are not "married" to Him. So Babylon the Great must be a professing Christian church that has turned away from God's truth and gone after Pagan gods.