Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Revelation 17
Revelation 17:14They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
This verse highlights the central conflict of the chapter, showing that while the world unites against Christ, He is the supreme authority who cannot be defeated.Revelation 17:17for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
This explains that even when earthly rulers act in their own interest, God is the one directing the ultimate outcome of history to fulfill His word.Revelation 17:5And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.”
The title on the woman's forehead identifies her as the source of the world's spiritual corruption and the target of God's coming judgment.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Vision of Corrupt Power
John is invited by one of the angels who held the seven bowls of judgment to witness the downfall of a great prostitute. He is carried away in the Spirit into a wilderness, a place often associated with testing and revelation. There, he sees a woman sitting on a scarlet beast, which is covered in names that insult God and possesses seven heads and ten horns. This vision follows the intense plagues described in chapter 16, showing the specific reason for the world's collapse.
The Mystery of the Beast Revealed
The angel notices John's amazement and begins to explain the mystery behind the symbols. He identifies the beast as a series of kingdoms and the woman as a great city that rules over the earth. The scene shifts from a display of terrifying wealth and violence to a promise of Christ's victory over these powers. Finally, the angel reveals that the very forces supporting the woman will eventually turn on her and destroy her.
Understanding the Vision of Babylon
In Revelation 17:1-6, John is taken into the desert to see a woman who represents everything that lures people away from God. She is dressed in luxury but is spiritually empty and violent toward those who follow Jesus. This sets the stage for the angel's detailed explanation of what these strange symbols mean for the world.
The Woman and the Beast (Revelation 17:1-6)
1 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters,
2 with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.”
3 And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.
4 The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality.
5 And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth's abominations.”
6 And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. When I saw her, I marveled greatly.
Commentary:
John sees a wealthy, corrupt woman riding a beast, symbolizing the world's opposition to God.
The Mystery Explained (Revelation 17:7-11)
7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her.
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.
9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated;
10 they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while.
11 As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but it belongs to the seven, and it goes to destruction.
Commentary:
The angel explains that the beast represents a cycle of earthly kingdoms that oppose God.
The War Against the Lamb (Revelation 17:12-14)
12 And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast.
13 These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast.
14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
Commentary:
Earthly rulers unite to fight Jesus, but He is the ultimate King who conquers them.
The Self-Destruction of Evil (Revelation 17:15-18)
15 And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
16 And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire,
17 for God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by being of one mind and handing over their royal power to the beast, until the words of God are fulfilled.
18 And the woman that you saw is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.
Commentary:
The corrupt powers eventually destroy each other as God fulfills His purpose.
Spiritual Truths in a World of Chaos
The Seduction of Worldliness
The woman is dressed in purple and gold, representing how the world's systems use beauty and wealth to hide their inner corruption. This theme warns us not to be 'drunk' with the values of a society that rejects God, as those things are temporary and deceptive.
The Sovereignty of God
Even when kings unite to fight God, verse 17 tells us that God is the one directing the flow of history. He is never surprised by evil. He uses the very actions of the wicked to bring about His own righteous ends and fulfill His words.
The Lamb's Absolute Victory
No matter how many heads or horns the beast has, the Lamb wins because of who He is. This theme encourages believers to stay 'called, chosen, and faithful' because they are on the winning side of history, regardless of how things look in the moment.
Applying the Vision to Our Lives
Revelation 17:4 describes a cup full of impurities that looks golden on the outside. You can apply this by looking past the 'gold and jewels' of modern success or cultural trends to see if a lifestyle or system aligns with God's truth or leads you away from Him.
In verse 14, these words describe those who stand with Jesus during the conflict. You can live this out by staying committed to your faith and your values even when the culture around you seems to be moving in a different, more popular direction that opposes God.
Verse 17 reminds us that God is in control of the 'mind' of the nations and their rulers. Instead of living in fear of political or social shifts, you can trust that God is working out His plan to eventually set all things right and bring justice to the earth.
The Lamb Conquers Every Earthly Power
Revelation 17 reveals that the glamorous and powerful systems of this world are actually hollow and destined for judgment. While evil may appear organized and unstoppable, it is ultimately under God's sovereign hand and will eventually consume itself. The message is a call to loyalty: do not be seduced by the world's wealth, but stand with the Lamb, who is the true King of kings.
What This Means for Us Today
We are invited to look past the temporary glitter of the world and see the eternal victory of Christ. By choosing to be faithful to the Lamb, we find a security that no earthly kingdom or wealth can provide.
- Where am I tempted to trust in wealth or status more than in God's promises?
- How can I show the 'faithfulness' mentioned in verse 14 in my daily decisions?
- What 'cup' am I drinking from - the world's promises of happiness or God's eternal truth?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter describes the seven bowls of God's wrath which lead directly into the judgment of the prostitute.
The narrative continues with a detailed lament over the final fall and destruction of Babylon the Great.
Connections Across Scripture
Contains the original vision of the four beasts and the ten horns, providing the symbolic background for John's vision.
A prophetic oracle against ancient Babylon that uses similar language of a 'golden cup' and 'many waters.'
Discussion Questions
- Why is the woman described as 'drunk with the blood of the saints' rather than as a political enemy?
- How does the title 'King of kings' change the way you view earthly leaders and their temporary power?
- Why does evil eventually turn on itself, as seen in verse 16, and what does that tell us about the nature of sin?