1 AND there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:
2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 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.
7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.
8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
9 And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.
10 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.
11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.
12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.
13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.
14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.
16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.
17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.
18 And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth

1And there came one of the seuen Angels, which had the seuen vials, and talked with me, saying vnto mee, Come hither, I will shew vnto thee the iudgement of the great Whore, that sitteth vpon many waters:

2With whom the kings of the earth haue committed fornication, and the inhabiters of the earth haue beene made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

3So he caried me away in the Spirit into the wildernesse: and I saw a woman sit vpō a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, hauing seuen heads, and ten hornes.

4And the woman was arayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stone & pearles, hauing a golden cup in her hand, full of abominations and filthinesse of her fornication.

5And vpon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon The Great, The Mother Of Harlots, And Abominations Of The Earth.

6And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Iesus: and when I saw her, I wondred with great admiration.

7And the Angel saide vnto mee, Wherefore didst thou marueile? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carieth her, which hath the seuen heads, and ten hornes.

8The beast that thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit, and goe into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, (whose names were not written in the booke of life from the foundation of the world) when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

9And here is the mind which hath wisedome. The seuen heads are seuen mountaines, on which the woman sitteth.

10And there are seuen Kings, fiue are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come: and when he commeth, he must continue a short space.

11And the beast that was, and is not, euen he is the eighth, & is of the seuen, and goeth into perdition.

12And the tenne hornes which thou sawest, are ten kings, which haue receiued no kingdom as yet: but receiue power as kings one houre with the beast.

13These haue one minde, and shall giue their power and strength vnto the beast.

14These shal make warre with the Lambe, and the Lambe shal ouercome them: For he is Lord of Lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him, are called, & chosen, and faithfull.

15And he saith vnto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

16And the ten hornes which thou sawest vpon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate, and naked, and shall eate her flesh, and burne her with fire.

17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and giue their kingdome vnto the beast, vntil the words of God shall be fulfilled.

18And the woman which thou sawest, is that great Citie which reigneth ouer the kings of the earth.

 

1 Then one of the seven angels who were holding the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come here. I will show you the judgment on the great harlot who lives near the many waters. 2 The kings of the earth have had intercourse with her, and the inhabitants of the earth became drunk on the wine of her harlotry." 3 Then he carried me away in spirit to a deserted place where I saw a woman seated on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was wearing purple and scarlet and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She held in her hand a gold cup that was filled with the abominable and sordid deeds of her harlotry. 5 On her forehead was written a name, which is a mystery, "Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth." 6 I saw that the woman was drunk on the blood of the holy ones and on the blood of the witnesses to Jesus. When I saw her I was greatly amazed. 7 The angel said to me, "Why are you amazed? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that carries her, the beast with the seven heads and the ten horns. 8 The beast that you saw existed once but now exists no longer. It will come up from the abyss and is headed for destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world shall be amazed when they see the beast, because it existed once but exists no longer, and yet it will come again. 9 Here is a clue for one who has wisdom. The seven heads represent seven hills upon which the woman sits. They also represent seven kings: 10 five have already fallen, one still lives, and the last has not yet come, and when he comes he must remain only a short while. 11 The beast that existed once but exists no longer is an eighth king, but really belongs to the seven and is headed for destruction. 12 The ten horns that you saw represent ten kings who have not yet been crowned; they will receive royal authority along with the beast for one hour. 13 They are of one mind and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will fight with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and king of kings, and those with him are called, chosen, and faithful." 15 Then he said to me, "The waters that you saw where the harlot lives represent large numbers of peoples, nations, and tongues. 16 The ten horns that you saw and the beast will hate the harlot; they will leave her desolate and naked; they will eat her flesh and consume her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their minds to carry out his purpose and to make them come to an agreement to give their kingdom to the beast until the words of God are accomplished. 18 The woman whom you saw represents the great city that has sovereignty over the kings of the earth."

Doom of Religious Babylon

Babylon is not Rome as many of us have been taught. At the time John wrote there was still a city at Babylon with a substantial colony of Jews. The Babylonian Talmud was written there about 500 AD. There was a church there, 1 Pet. 5:13, but some say Peter was afraid to call it Rome. Timidity is out of character for Peter.  Paul wasn’t afraid to say Rome, and certainly John spoke the truth without fear. That was why he was in exile.
v 1. Much of Revelation is not in chronological order, so this angel may not yet have dumped his bowl of judgment. However, let us assume the angels have dumped their bowls, and one, probably the seventh, told John to come see the extraordinary judgment on he great harlot. She represents the apostate church, made up of apostate Protestantism, Catholicism, cults, apostate Judaism and the great pagan religions of the world. The waters on which she sits are described in v15 as people, indicating the woman will have world wide control. Jer. 51:7 and Isa. 47:7 were written about Babylonian people of their day, but with also a future fulfillment. If Babylon is called a whore,  it is because her idolatries had led many people to forsake God for idols, which is spiritual adultery.
v 2. Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon is not in view here, but Nimrod’s kingdom which became the source and pit of evil rebellion against God. With the confusion of tongues, not only known Biblical truths, but Nimrod’s religious system were scattered to all parts of the world. False religions of every race stem from “drinking the wine” of Babel, resulting in the apostate church. The rulers of the world join with this woman using the apostate church to unite and control the people. The church in turn uses them for political preference and power.
v 3. John is translated in the spirit to another time and place to observe the whole history of Babylon’s corruption. John had previously seen the beast with seven heads and ten horns like the dragon. This dragon of chapter 17 is said to be the eighth with seven kings preceding him. The beast on which the woman rides is symbolic of the succession of dictatorial world governments empowered by Satan. The primary meaning of the beast here is political Babylon controlled by the dragon.
The woman sat upon the beast which was upon the waters, which symbolize the various nations, v 15. She is identified as Babylon the great in mystery form, v 5. The dragon empowers the beast, who empowers the woman, who makes the beast look beautiful, so he can more easily control. Harlot Babylon is a contrast  in type to chaste Jerusalem. The scarlet colored beast is obviously Antichrist, and  represents political Babylon and the whore is religious Babylon.  In this context, the beast allows the woman to sit on him as a state church because of the advantage it gives him in his rise to power in the first half of the Tribulation. The church in turn puts up with his blasphemy because of the political and military help it receives. These two, the political and the religious system, do not like each other, but they hang together for their personal gain.
v 4. Beautifully arrayed, the harlot seduces men to turn from God and enjoy her pleasure. Compare Prov. 5:3-5. Religious Babylon riding on political Babylon impresses people with costly temples, statues, temple prostitution in the name of gods and goddesses. This system established by Nimrod adapts to time. In our day, the purple and scarlet are the colors of Roman imperialism and the Roman Catholic Church. No one knows the total wealth of that church, even without the apostates of the wealthy Laodicean Church of chapter 3 that has united with it. The golden cup is the false gospel and spiritual adultery of the professing believers who are unfaithful to God. This is why as in the O.T. the Jewish nation was also called an adulteress. Even many Catholics recognize their church in this passage. I understand  they point to a time past, but this is united in one apostate church future.
v 5. In some ancient places harlots displayed their name covertly on there face or clothing, but this harlot displays her name boldly on her forehead. Several translations separate the word Mystery from her title because it describes her title. It may have been a mystery to John, but especially it is a mystery because of all the religious rites of Babylonianism that are incorporated in it. It originated with Nimrod at Babel and was carried into the Roman church. It includes the sign of the cross for Tammuz, keeping the public ignorant, and confessions, which puts every one under the control of the leader (black mail).  However, she is not limited to the Catholic Church. She is the mother of all harlots of the world, all the false religions, evolution, occult etc. This mystery form of Babylon has infected all nations and most religions.
v 6. This bloodthirsty aspect was true of Rome for centuries, and has been seen in communism and is rampant in Muslim societies throughout the world today. But this apostate religion will drip with blood of believers when the  Holy Spirit is no longer restraining. This explains John’s  “admiration”. which we would call awe or amazement.
v 7, The angel gives John a gentle rebuke, then explains. (The Church, the Bride of Christ was a past mystery not mentioned.) Here, Mystery Babylon, or all false religions, is the bride of Anti Christ, the beast that carries her. This is important information.
v 8. Satan does not control the keys of (authority over) the bottomless pit. Only Christ does. It is not Scripturally possible for the beast to be a resurrected individual. This is a man, the Antichrist. Ascending from the bottomless pit has to do with the Antichrist being Satan incarnate.The man is symbolic of the despotic world kingdom energized by Satan. Things to  Come, p335, “Rev. 17:8 does not teach that the head of the empire arose out of the abyss, but rather that the empire itself was brought about from the abyss or by Satan”.
Some would say this has a dual meaning of the Roman empire being, then practically diminishing, then to be restored in the 10 nation confederacy. However, as we saw earlier, Rome continues without reviving, but it is Babylon that revives. Obviously there is some type of apparent death and resurrection of the Antichrist. Whatever is real or fake, people will think Satan actually resurrected the Antichrist and will worship them, So it can be applied to either the man or the empire, that “he was, is not, and yet is”. Perhaps was is before he appeared to die, dead, when he is not, then apparently restored he is, but after judgment he will go into perdition.
Unsaved have never had their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, (see 20:15 notes) and they will will be amazed at the apparent revival of the beast. Believers are not surprised at the revival of the beast or of Babylon, because they have read this very portion written by John.
v 9. All believers have the privilege of wisdom the world does not have. (That does not mean believers must agree on all texts.) Many, including myself, have taught that the seven heads are the seven hills on which the Roman Catholic Church sits, but that is wrong. It sit all over the world, many cities have seven hills, and Rome has more than seven. A hill is not a mountain, and that word is used here. The seven mountains are seven kings, one of them being the beast in this chapter.
v 10. There are seven kings or literally kingdoms. The five fallen are 1, Egypt, 2, Assyria, 3, Babylon, 4, Medo-Persia, and 5, Greece. 6. The one in existence in John’s day was Rome. 7. The seventh head, or kingdom arising after John’s day exists only a ”short space”, about the first 42 months of the seven year treaty. This would coincide with the western alliance, which may include some but not all of NATO.
v 11. This beast, kingdom of the Antichrist, arises from the seven horns of the beast who appeared to die, yet lived, and his kingdom has never completely died. He has all the characteristics of the seven from Babel to Rome, and are Babylon in mystery form. In OT prophesies the Antichrist is identified with all six of the ancient empires. Babylon will be resurrected as a great city, but has existed in mystery form ever since Nimrod. All the seven kingdoms will thrive in the Millennium except Babylon, Isa. 13:19. The Antichrist, will be condemned of the Lord to perdition.
v 12. These 10 horns are the ten nation confederacy that was not yet in existence. Their one hour with the Antichrist at their head can be any definite time or moment, not 60 minutes. Their time to accomplish their purpose is 3 1/2 years.  Initially the beast’s kingdom will just be one of the ten.
v 13. The confederacy has one purpose, to do the bidding of the Antichrist. They start as equals, three offer some resistance, but finally all submit arms and authority to the beast, being leader. He must have very persuasive ways. Final push for him was the apparent dying then living. On his restoration, he killed the two witnesses that no one else could, (Their 42 months were up) so all worshiped him.
v 14. Thus verse looks ahead to when the Antichrist is obsessed with his victories and thinks he can even conquer the Lamb. He mobilizes all the armies of the earth, but the Lamb also has armies of saints in robes of white, who are called, chosen and faithful. (Probably those who received no reward will also be able to be in this army.) Of course Christ is the victor, the saints are cheer leaders.
v 15. Verse 15 looks back to verse 1, where the water is now described as all nationalities and dialects under the worldwide control of the apostate church. They have been deceived by Satan: The True Church of believers of course will have been caught away at the Rapture. Some think 2 Thess. 2:3,4 have to do with believers being caught away before the Tribulation, not just a falling away of people into sin. However, the word for “falling away” is apostasia, meaning rebellion.
v 16. After believers leave at  the Rapture, church and state unite and she is in her glory. The beast realizes he can use religion as a tool, and with his miracles etc. he sways people to himself. The beast and false prophet no longer want this humanistic religion as a rival to their own power, and others have grown weary of this religious culture. The confederacy, with Antichrist the head, not only breaks covenant with the Jews, but rises against the apostate church. It has had too much power, and they have despised it all along. Men are content to worship the beast, except religious leaders who want prestige and power. They will then be annihilated and organized religion totally destroyed. Religion’s wealth is turned over to the state in order that Satan and the Antichrist can be worshiped. This consumes the corrupt religious system like a fire.
v 17. God had put this in the heart of the Satanic trinity, and He used them to destroy the corrupt system that had deceived men for centuries, just as he used nations to punish nations. He was also using this as a tool to draw all men together for the great battle.
v 18. The angel explained to John that the woman was that great city, whose name she wore so boldly, Babylon the Great. As a system, religious Babylon began at Babel, from whence it permeated every nation of earth. It has been so entwined with political Babylon, that when one falls, the other must soon. Political Babylon is a city, Rev. 18:10, 21, no matter what commentators say. 1. Destruction will take place at the time the the stars and sun are darkened, Isa. 13:1,9,10; 2 Become desolate as Sodom and Gomorra burned with no remains, Isa. 13:19; Jer. 50:40; 3. Become desolate forever with neither man or beast there, Isa. 13:20; Jer. 51:62;  4. Time of judgment for Babylon as well as all nations;  5. It’s destruction will be followed by universal rest and peace, Isa. 14:7,8;   6. It’s destruction is directly related to the casting of Lucifer into Sheol, Isa. 14. 12-15;     7. Babylon’s stones (bricks) will never be used in construction, but thousands of them are used, many in later constructions, Jer. 51:26. There was a near and far fulfillment. This will require the restoration of Babylon. Babylon is an ideal place for world planners, and this can happen  almost “overnight” when the instability of today is removed by a world government, perhaps the world capitol. By mid tribulation it will be thriving.
Religious Babylon will be destroyed at the end of three and one half years, or the middle of the Tribulation. Political, or  commercial Babylon at the close of the Tribulation. See chapter 18.
Summary:  Combined Roman - Apostate Church, 17:1-9, was carried,  by the ten nations world rulers for mutual power and benefit, v 7, but they hate her, and in 17:10-18, viscously destroy her, v 16, and give their worship to Satan and Antichrist, 13:4, at the end of three and one half years.

Revelation 17-20 Summary

Revelation is Doom of Religious Babylon
17:1 &15 Whore is spiritual adultery of all Apostates.
v 2. Not Nebuchadnezzar’s Babylon, Nimrod;s kingdom
v 3. Woman is mystery form of religious Babylon. She sits on beast, Antichrist, political Babylon as State Church. They don’t like each other but work together for own gain. Wealth ot Catholic, Laodacean and all cults is unknown. 
v 6, Bloodthirsty religions of old Rome, Muslim, others.
v 7. The Bride of Christ had been a Mystery, Col. 1:26/
v 8. Beast is a man, Antichrist, indwelt by Satan, whose kingdom is from the pit. Some say deceit of Rev. 13:14. Better, it was not Rome that revives, it still is, but Babylon.
v 9. Not 7 hills of Rome but 7 kingdoms. 5 Fallen, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia and Greece. The one is in John’s day, Rome. Last to come is Antichrist’s. Beast’s kingdom arises from seventh horn. All have existed in mystery form, and all be in Millennium but Babylon.
v 12, A 10 nation Western Confederacy lives a short time.
v 14. Deceives himself-others, that he can defeat Christ 
v 16-18 The ten nations under Antichrist turn against  both the Jews and the Apostate Church.
v 18. Religious Babylon is destroyed in three and a half years. Political Babylon, city, is destroyed at end of Trib.

Revelation 18 describes Doom of Political, Commercial Babylon
18:1. Bright, powerful angel maybe same as in 14:8 where the fall is sudden. Isaiah 13:19-22 and Jer. 50;39,40 have not yet been fulfilled in total destruction.
v 4,5. Believers are called out as Noah, Lot & Rapture.
v 6-24 Read or describe devastation and other’s grief.

Revelation 19 The Great Hallelujahs
v 1-4 or 7 Seventh of 7  Psalms of Praise, beginning with Ps. 140 -145.
v 7,8. The Bride is now a wife, but honor goes to Christ
v 9. Again John is to write.
v 10. Worship only God, not angels
v 11 and 14. Not necessarily white horses in or created to be in heaven. In 2 Kings 12 and Ps. 68:17, 104:4, chariots of the Lord are angels. We may be carried by angels.
v 15. Sword of mouth may be His words.
v 16. Could be no mistaken identity.
v. 17,18. Gruesome carrion feast
v 19,20. Beast and False Prophet to lake of fire.

Revelation 20
v 1-3. Satan bound 1000 years
v 4. Believers reign with Christ 1000 years
v 5. Unsaved dead still in Sheol 1000 years
v 7-9. Satan released, deceives many unsaved for a second battle of Gog and Magog and the world.
v 10-14. All unsaved dead resurrected, stand before Great White Throne and judged according to their works before being cast into lake of fire.