Revelation 17 portrays another representation of those things that had been revealed before concerning the wickedness and ruin of antichrist. It also describes the coming judgment of God on the religious system that has enslaved the human race in superstitious darkness for centuries.
This antichrist had been before represented as a beast, and is now described as a great harlot. And here, I. The apostle is invited to see this vile woman (v. 1, v. 2). II. He tells us what an appearance she made (v. 3-6). III. The mystery of it is explained to him (v. 7-12). And, IV. Her ruin foretold (v. 13, etc.).
Revelation chapter 17 identifies this woman as a “harlot” (verse 1) “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication” (verse 2). The great prostitute represents the seductiveness of the governmental system that uses immoral means to gain its own pleasure.
The woman of this chapter is described as being “arrayed [dressed] 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” (verse 4).
The point behind being dressed in purple and scarlet is that the woman appears to be a woman of wealth and authority. This color of clothing complements her also wearing gold, precious stones and pearls and her use of a golden cup. The contrast to this beautifully impressive exterior is that her cup is filled with “abominations and the filthiness of her fornication” (verse 4). In other words, she deceives many by her appearance. Although she looks beautiful and has the trappings of wealth, luxury and authority, her actions are an abomination to God.
Additionally, we are told that this woman is responsible for the deaths of the faithful “martyrs of Jesus” (Revelation 17:6) and that this woman “is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth” (verse 18).
The woman's drunkenness shows her pleasure in her evil accomplishments and her false feeling of triumph over the church. Persecution of Christians is not a thing of the past, nowadays still many believers around the world know that being a Christian represents a death sentence. Believers who live in places free of persecution must not forget to pray their brothers and sisters in Christ in those difficult parts of the world.
Many have taken this to mean that the woman represents the capital city of Antichrist's kingdom, but this cannot be, for Antichrist himself rules over the kings of the earth.
If then, the woman is not the Antichrist, what other possible explanation can we have for such unanimous world dominance? The only answer is the one system before which all kings, dictators, and nations have been forced to bow down throughout history, that is, the Babylonian religion of idolatry. One cannot go anywhere in the world without being confronted with some semblance of the idolatry.
No system in the world's history has enslaved more people than this awful religion. It should not take us by surprise that this prostitute woman, the religious system, is referred to as a city. When used symbolically, a woman is always intended throughout the Scripture to signify a spiritual or religious movement. If a good woman, it is "Jehovah's wife" or "the bride of Christ". If an evil woman, such as "a prostitute," it represents the evil religious system of idolatry.
Since the woman who rides the beast gets her authority from the beast, the Holy Spirit uses this description to show how religious Babylon and governmental Babylon are so intertwined they are presented together. However, they are destroyed at different times. The prostitute (religious Babylon), is destroyed by the "beast and the kings of the earth," who "hate the prostitute" and kill her.
An unholy alliance is an uneasy alliance because each partner puts its own interest first.
This clears the way for Antichrist to fulfill the lifetime dream of Satan to get people to worship him. She is destroyed in the middle of the Tribulation; Babylon the governmental system will be destroyed at the end, when commercial, political Babylon is destroyed (Rev. 18). With "Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Prostitutes" out of the way, "all inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast, all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).
For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled.- Revelation 17:17
No matter what happens, we must trust that God is still in charge, that God overrules all the plans and intrigues of the evil one, and that God's plans will prevail and happen exactly just as He says.
We must remember that God even uses people opposed to Him as tools to bring His will forth. Our hope as His children is that although He allows evil to permeate this present world, the new earth will never know sin! Glory to His name!
Have a blessed weekend! xx
'till next time!!
Angie