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Revelation 17
1 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 prostitute who sits on many waters, 2 with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and those who dwell in the earth were made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality."
One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls
I like to look for clues that might indicate which of the 7 angels this might be. It would seem that it should have something to do with the content found in this chapter and relate to it somehow.
The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image. (Revelation 16:2)
The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain, and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn't repent of their works. (Revelation 16:10-11)
At this point I think it is likely this last one, for the throne of the beast is very relevant to the contrast between this woman ensconced on her ‘throne’ atop the multi-faceted beast manipulating people all over the world, and the other throne that is quite the opposite found in various places in Revelation.
Come here. I will show you the judgment
Next time we will take a closer look at the close parallel between the two verses we are looking at here, and the three that follow. But first we remind ourselves of the true meaning of judgment to avoid confusion about how heaven views what is transpiring here.
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. (John 3:19)
The entire book of Revelation is all about the light of truth about God becoming ever clearer in the face of increasing resistance from darkness, lies, violence and masterful deceivers. Keep in mind that this and following chapters unpack what was summarized in the previous 3 chapters, and involves the reactions of what was long shrouded in darkness when exposed by the light of truth.
After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation, power, and glory belong to our God: for true and righteous are his judgments. For he has judged the great prostitute, who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality, and he has avenged the blood of his servants at her hand." (Revelation 19:1-2)
the great prostitute
We recently examined in depth the phrase Babylon the Great as the metaphor of a city. Here we find a corollary to that metaphor in the Great Prostitute as seen from heaven’s view things. Later in this chapter we learn the two are in reality one and the same entity.
The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:18)
Again, we have explored this subject of the harlot/prostitute at great depth in recent studies, particularly in the messages of 3 angels in chapter 14. Yet in this chapter we will be given concentrated details about both the ID as well as the activities and character of this infamous enemy of God.
Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent. She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house. Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner. So she caught him, and kissed him.
With an impudent face she said to him: "Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. This day I have paid my vows. Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you. I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving. For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey. He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon."
With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him. (Proverbs 7:10-21)
The entire chapter 16 in Ezekiel (and also 23) relays a vivid metaphor of a prostituted people very much like what is described in this chapter, only with even more lurid details. Here are a few excerpts.
Your renown went forth among the nations for your beauty; for it was perfect, through my majesty which I had put on you, says the Lord Yahweh. But you did trust in your beauty, and played the prostitute because of your renown, and poured out your prostitution on everyone who passed by; his it was. (Ezekiel 16:14-15)
See how this parallels with the former glory described of this former woman of God in Revelation 12, here exploiting her gifts to enhance her ability to manipulate and subjugate others under her spell.
A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth. Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. (Revelation 12:1-3)
Moreover you have taken your sons and your daughters, whom you have borne to me, and these have you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your prostitution a small matter, that you have slain my children, and delivered them up, in causing them to pass through the fire to them? In all your abominations and your prostitution you have not remembered the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, and was weltering in your blood. (Ezekiel 16:20-22)
The description of the days of her youth are quite opposite as outlined in the first verses of this chapter.
You have played the prostitute also with the Assyrians, because you were insatiable; yes, you have played the prostitute with them, and yet you weren't satisfied. You have moreover multiplied your prostitution to the land of merchants, to Chaldea; and yet you weren't satisfied with this.
How weak is your heart, says the Lord Yahweh, seeing you do all these things, the work of an impudent prostitute; in that you build your vaulted place at the head of every way, and make your lofty place in every street, and have not been as a prostitute, in that you scorn pay.
A wife who commits adultery! who takes strangers instead of her husband! They give gifts to all prostitutes; but you give your gifts to all your lovers, and bribe them, that they may come to you on every side for your prostitution. You are different from other women in your prostitution, in that none follows you to play the prostitute; and whereas you give hire, and no hire is given to you, therefore you are different. (Ezekiel 16:28-34)
Not only God, the jilted Husband who rescued this entity left abandoned at birth, then chose her as His bride and showered her with lavish gifts of favor and love – not only is He in amazement at the level of depravity she plunges into, but all other prostitutes feel revulsion and refuse to follow her lead, viewing her as strange and loathsome.
I will judge you, as women who break wedlock and shed blood are judged; and I will bring on you the blood of wrath and jealousy. I will also give you into their hand, and they shall throw down your vaulted place, and break down your lofty places; and they shall strip you of your clothes, and take your beautiful jewels; and they shall leave you naked and bare. (Ezekiel 16:38-39)
This all plays out similarly later in this current chapter in Revelation.
I believe it is important to here identify the core meaning of what defines a prostitute. An article I read recently by David Ryser explained a core principle that resonates with everything I have been learning about the big picture and the principles involved. Here is a quote from the core of what I learned from his article that happened during a class he was teaching.
I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this: Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise.
Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old – barely out of diapers – and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, “An enterprise. That’s a business.” After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha’s raised hand, “Yes, Martha.” She asked such a simple question, “A business? But isn’t it supposed to be a body?” I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, “Yes.” She continued, “But when a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?”
[https://www.testimonypress.org/the-question-that-changed-my-life/]
As I have reviewed many of the Scriptures related to prostitution, I noticed that it almost always involves commercial exchange and exploitation. It also often involves worship of false gods in place of Yahweh worship. In other words, what prostitutes true worship (which really is about simply reflecting the glory of God by freely receiving from Him to freely share with others), is what happens to religion when elements of Satan’s counterfeit kingdom of commerce infects our thinking and emotions. We turn to inferior sources from which we attempt to find fulfillment and identity, yet we can never find lasting satisfaction. In short, once we exchange The Truth for The Lie, the rest is a downward spiral and is vividly outlined in the last half of Romans 1.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions... (Romans 1:22-26)
who sits on many waters
He carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored animal, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3)
He said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages. (Revelation 17:15)
Here we see a convolution of symbols that is not accidental. She sits on many waters which is defined as peoples, nations etc. At the same time she sits on the scarlet multi-headed beast who likewise is obsessed with controlling all the peoples of the earth as we studied in chapter 13. What this appears to indicate is that she styles herself as having intimate control over this wild creature as they conspire and collude together as to how to maximize their agendas for authoritarian control over all who dwell on the earth.
The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. (Revelation 12:15-16)
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won't be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas; though the waters of it roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.
There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High. God is in her midst. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn. The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice, and the earth melted. Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah. (Psalms 46:1-7)
The floods have lifted up, Yahweh, the floods have lifted up their voice. The floods lift up their waves. Above the voices of many waters, the mighty breakers of the sea, Yahweh on high is mighty. (Psalms 93:3-4)
Ah, the uproar of many peoples, who roar like the roaring of the seas; and the rushing of nations, that rush like the rushing of mighty waters! The nations will rush like the rushing of many waters: but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far off, and will be chased like the chaff of the mountains before the wind, and like the whirling dust before the storm. (Isaiah 17:12-13)
I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near, says Yahweh; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked. (Isaiah 57:19-21)
Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon, make the watch strong, set the watchmen, prepare the ambushes; for Yahweh has both purposed and done that which he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon. You who dwell on many waters, abundant in treasures, your end is come, the measure of your covetousness. (Jeremiah 51:12-13)
The ships of Tarshish were your caravans for your merchandise: and you were replenished, and made very glorious in the heart of the seas. Your rowers have brought you into great waters: the east wind has broken you in the heart of the seas. Your riches, and your wares, your merchandise, your mariners, and your pilots, your repairers of ship seams, and the dealers in your merchandise, and all your men of war, who are in you, with all your company which is in the midst of you, shall fall into the heart of the seas in the day of your ruin. (Ezekiel 27:25-27)
When your wares went forth out of the seas, you filled many peoples; you did enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of your riches and of your merchandise. In the time that you were broken by the seas in the depths of the waters, your merchandise and all your company did fall in the midst of you. (Ezekiel 27:33-34)
Son of man, tell the prince of Tyre, Thus says the Lord Yahweh: Because your heart is lifted up, and you have said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet you are man, and not God, though you did set your heart as the heart of God-- (Ezekiel 28:2)
This woman sits on this beast as her throne. In symbology of prophecy she mimics the posture and even asserts authority to be like the One who introduced in chapters 4-5 as seated on the throne of heaven. She also shares the disposition of the original dragon who aspires to displace or at least equal the Almighty by sitting in a strategic location at the pinnacle of authority in heaven.
You said in your heart, "I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! (Isaiah 14:13)
Compare this to the angel’s explanation of the meaning of the seven heads later in this chapter.
Here is the mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sits. (Revelation 17:9)
Another compelling aspect to explore is the symbol of waters describing what she sits on. She is said to sit on waters, though when John looks he sees her sitting on a 7-headed beast/dragon. Later these waters are defined as peoples as we have unpacked above. Yet what is important to contrast is how the passages describing the kind of waters representing the wicked differ from the waters described in the activities of heaven.
Before the throne was something like a sea of glass, similar to crystal. In the midst of the throne, and around the throne were four living creatures full of eyes before and behind. (Revelation 4:6)
This positions the throne where God sits surrounded by or sitting on an amazing, glassy smooth sea.
...for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shepherds them, and leads them to springs of waters of life. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. (Revelation 7:17)
Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (Psalms 23:1-3)
I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. (Revelation 14:1-3)
I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty! Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations. Who wouldn't fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you only are holy. For all the nations will come and worship before you. For your righteous acts have been revealed." (Revelation 15:2-4)
This is about saving God’s reputation, adding their testimony to that of God’s Christ for His salvation.
He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, (Revelation 22:1)
In all these references we can see how the waters symbolizing those connected with heaven are untroubled, making these waters able to reflect God’s glory. Now let’s see how God deals with the other kind of waters that are ever troubled like restless seas that cannot know peace.
I will signal for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them; and they will increase as they have increased. I will sow them among the peoples; and they will remember me in far countries; and they will live with their children, and will return. I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and there won't be room enough for them. He will pass through the sea of affliction, and will strike the waves in the sea, and all the depths of the Nile will dry up; and the pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the scepter of Egypt will depart. I will strengthen them in Yahweh; and they will walk up and down in his name," says Yahweh. (Zechariah 10:8-12)
Behold, a violent storm came up on the sea, so much that the boat was covered with the waves, but he was asleep. They came to him, and woke him up, saying, "Save us, Lord! We are dying!" He said to them, "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?" Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there was a great calm. (Matthew 8:24-26)
with whom the kings of the earth
The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. (Revelation 6:15)
I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go forth to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty. (Revelation 16:13-14)
The woman whom you saw is the great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth. (Revelation 17:18)
For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality, the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from the abundance of her luxury. (Revelation 18:3)
The kings of the earth, who committed sexual immorality and lived wantonly with her, will weep and wail over her, when they look at the smoke of her burning, (Revelation 18:9)
I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19:19)
Revelation foresees a class system divided between those lording it over others, and the rest of the populace. The kings of the earth represent those advancing their political agenda of total control over the masses, while the weakened and mesmerized majority of people are called all those who dwell on the earth. These have been enslaved by their emotions, conditioned to pursue immediate gratification, and be submissive to the demands of the leaders from fear, threats and coercion. Both of these classes live according to the flesh, the law of sin and death, the manipulative system of earning and deserving, rewards and punishments. At the same time this woman representing apostate religion, asserts spiritual authority mingled with political manipulation to benefit at the expense of the masses.
He said to them, "The kings of the nations lord it over them, and those who have authority over them are called 'benefactors.'" (Luke 22:25)
committed sexual immorality
To summarize what we have learned about this previously, this describes an amalgamating arrangement that employs political enforcement by manipulative religious entities that coerce the conscience of people and denies their freedoms, compelling them to conform to the agendas of corrupt power brokers operating in both religion and politics.
those who dwell in the earth
This is a key phrase referring to all who have a settled mindset like the world and live according to the flesh, the ways of commerce, law and hierarchy. This is in contrast to those who dwell in heaven.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-- his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 NIV)
made drunken with the wine of her sexual immorality
Both the powerful elite along with those they lord it over, all are living in the flesh. They become intoxicated by the seduction of power to unite the world under the guise of whatever cause is promoted as beneficial to achieve order and peace, yet serving the agenda of those in both political and religious power for their own advantage.
