Revelation 17:7

Revelation 17:6 - 18

The Harlot overthrown

Last time, our conclusion of the study of Revelation ended with this passage:

(Rev 17:6 KJV) And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

(Rev 17:6 NKJV) 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. (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.

We must not allow ourselves to be caught up in powers that we see, regardless of their power, prestige, or religious influence.

(Rev 17:7-8 NKJV) 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. {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 that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition.

(Rev 13:2-4 NKJV) Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. {3} And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. {4} So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

Part of it is very understandable, but the problem I have is with people worshipping the state of Germany: “and they worshiped the beast,”

(Rev 17:9 NKJV) "Here is the mind which has wisdom: The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sits.

Rome is built on seven hills. Classical writers speak of “the city of seven hills.”

(Rev 17:10 NKJV) "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.

I equate kings with kingdoms: Five kingdoms had been over the Children of Israel.

(Rev 17:11 NKJV) "And the beast that was, and is not, is himself also the eighth, and is of the seven, and is going to perdition.

“is of the seven,” Again, makes me think of Rome since Rome is of the seven already mentioned.

(Rev 17:12 NKJV) "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.

“for one hour as kings with the beast.” I take the one hour to be an indefinite time, but a very short time, apparently at the end of time as we know it.

(Rev 17:13) "These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast.

(Dan 2:40-44 NKJV) "And the fourth kingdom [Rome] shall be as strong as iron, inasmuch as iron breaks in pieces and shatters everything; and like iron that crushes, that kingdom will break in pieces and crush all the others. {41} "Whereas you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter's clay and partly of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; yet the strength of the iron shall be in it, just as you saw the iron mixed with ceramic clay. {42} "And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly fragile. {43} "As you saw iron mixed with ceramic clay, they will mingle with the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, just as iron does not mix with clay. {44} "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

“The beast.” Is a name for the anti-Christ and these ten kings are in full cooperation with the anti-Christ. – they will give their power and authority to the beast.

(Rev 17:14 NKJV) "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."

(Rev 19:19 NKJV) And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.

(Rev 16:13-16 NKJV) And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. {14} For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. {15} "Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame." {16} And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon.

(Rev 17:15 NKJV) Then he said to me, "The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

We’ve touched on this verse earlier, indicating that the harlot is over peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues.

(Rev 17:16 NKJV) "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.

The ten horns (the ten kings with their kingdoms) will destroy the harlot.

(Rev 17:17 NKJV) "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.

"For God has put it into their hearts to fulfill His purpose,” Just as God used heathen kingdoms in the Old Testament to punish Israel, He will use these ten kingdoms to destroy the “harlot.”

(Rev 17:18 NKJV) "And the woman whom you saw is that great city which reigns over the kings of the earth."

“the woman whom you saw is that great city” – Rome, which is synonymous with the Roman Catholic Church, is the only city which is both political and religious.

“Which reigns over the kings of the earth.” What other city reigns over kings of the earth? The great powere of Rome is shown in various ways.

“King Henry quarreled with the Pope and declared that, as bishop of Rome, the Pope had no more authority in England than any other foreign bishop. In 1534, the Act of Supremacy made the kind head of the national church of England.”—World Book Encyclopedia – under Church of England.