Revelation 17: The Downfall of the Scarlet Beast

Revelation 17:1: “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters.'”

In Revelation 17:1, an important Greek word that enhances our understanding of the passage is “πόρνη” (porne), which translates to “prostitute” or “harlot.” This term is used to describe the “great prostitute” who sits on many waters.

The word “porne” carries connotations of spiritual and moral corruption, symbolizing a powerful entity, often interpreted as a city or religious system, that leads people away from true worship of God into idolatry and immorality.

The verse states, “One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, ‘Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute (πόρνη), who sits by many waters.'”

The use of “porne” is crucial because it frames the vision in terms of unfaithfulness and corruption, painting a vivid picture of the entity’s relationship with the world. It emphasizes the severity of the entity’s influence and the gravity of its eventual judgment, providing a strong metaphor for apostasy and moral decay that the original audience would have understood deeply.

This verse sets the stage for a new vision that John will witness. The “great prostitute” represents a significant source of moral and spiritual corruption, and “sits by many waters” suggests her influence is widespread across various nations and peoples.

In modern times, we see this happening worldwide. The world has become more centered on humanism and atheism than on believing in the one true God of Israel. There also seems to be an increase in animosity towards those who identify as religious or believers in God.

Revelation 17:2: “With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

The Greek phrase “ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς” (epi tēs gēs), translated as “of the earth,” helps us grasp the scope of the prostitute’s influence. The verse reads, “With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

This phrase highlights the global nature of her corrupting power, indicating that her immoral influence extends to all the rulers and peoples of the world. The imagery of adultery underscores the idea of spiritual unfaithfulness and the abandonment of true worship for idolatrous practices.

The metaphor of intoxication suggests a seductive and overwhelming influence that leads people into moral and spiritual decay. The verse paints a picture of widespread corruption and deception, emphasizing the profound and far-reaching impact of the great prostitute’s actions.

The concept of spiritual unfaithfulness and the seductive influence of corrupt powers is addressed in various places throughout the Bible. Here are some specific verses that warn about these themes:

Old Testament

1. Jeremiah 51:7
   • “Babylon was a gold cup in the Lord’s hand; she made the whole earth drunk. The nations drank her wine; therefore they have now gone mad.”
2. Isaiah 1:21
   • “See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her—but now murderers!”
3. Ezekiel 16:15
   • “But you trusted in your beauty and used your fame to become a prostitute. You lavished your favors on anyone who passed by and your beauty became his.”

New Testament

1. 1 John 2:15-16
   • “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
2. James 4:4
   • “You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
3. 2 Peter 2:1-3
   • “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”

These verses collectively warn against spiritual adultery, the seductive nature of worldly and corrupt influences, and the dire consequences of turning away from God. They echo the themes presented in Revelation 17 about the great prostitute and her influence over the kings and inhabitants of the earth.

How then, do we get prepared for this great deception? What counsel do we need from the Lord regarding being in the world but not of the world? It is of my opinion that spiritual disciplines is the same yesterday as today, and forevermore.

While technology and culture changes, God doesn’t change. He is immutable. Therefore, the same ways to serve the living God are true today. We must read His word, pray daily, commune with fellow believers, and share the gospel to the whole world.

In fact, while the world seems darker now than ever before, the potential to reach more people for the gospel has grown exponentially. Just think about the use of the internet. Right now I am able to create this blog post and it can travel throughout the entire globe within seconds. Anyone can read this article and gain insight and understanding.

That is why it’s crucial for us to use technology for good and do our best to fight against Satan the harlot. He is doing everything to corrupt and lead people astray, and we must do everything to stand with God in these last days. Continue to be bold, share your love for the Lord, and do all of this with meekness and respect. For Jesus makes it clear: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Revelation 17:3:”Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns.”

John is taken to a wilderness, a symbolic place of desolation and judgment. There, he sees the woman (the great prostitute) sitting on a scarlet beast. The beast, adorned with blasphemous names and having seven heads and ten horns, symbolizes a powerful, anti-God political entity or empire.

The Greek word “ἐρημός” (erēmos), translated as “wilderness” or “desert,” holds significant importance in understanding the context of the passage. The word “erēmos” refers to a desolate or uninhabited place, often associated with spiritual desolation, judgment, or revelation.

Its usage here underscores the symbolic nature of the vision, suggesting that what John is about to witness holds profound implications for the spiritual state of those depicted and the impending judgment upon them. Additionally, the wilderness setting may evoke parallels with Old Testament narratives of divine encounters and testing in the wilderness, further emphasizing the spiritual significance of the vision.

Revelation 17:3, where John is carried away in the Spirit into a wilderness, finds resonance in various passages throughout the Bible. Ezekiel 20:35-36 speaks of God’s refining of His people in the wilderness, setting the stage for understanding it as a place of purification and judgment.

The parallel between John’s experience and Jesus being led into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil in Matthew 4:1 suggests a connection between spiritual testing and revelation. Hosea 2:14-15 portrays the wilderness as a site of restoration and redemption, despite its initial desolation.

Additionally, Exodus 24:18 describes Moses encountering God on Mount Sinai, providing a precedent for divine revelation in the wilderness. Isaiah 40:3-5 further expands the significance of the wilderness, presenting it as a place of preparation and revelation for God’s purposes, where obstacles are removed, and paths are straightened for the Lord’s arrival. These cross-references collectively illuminate the spiritual significance of the wilderness setting in Revelation 17:3, portraying it as a space of judgment, purification, preparation, and divine encounter.

It’s imperative in these last days that we put on the full armor of God. The world needs us to become that beacon of light, to point them to the simple truths of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.

The world thinks that in order to know God they must correct their own vices alone. That in order to reach enlightenment, they must look within themselves and bear personal responsibility for their actions. While this is partially truth that we must repent of our sins and keep ourselves accountable, the ultimate one who can help us is Jesus.

Jesus is our solid rock and foundation. We need the Holy Spirit to repent of our sins. We need God’s power and mighty right hand to deliver us from our own vices and sins. We can’t look within the self, because the heart is desperately wicked. Apart from God’s sovereign grace, there is no way for us to become morally upright.

That’s the essence of the gospel. We are sinners, need to repent, and trust in what Jesus did for us by dying in our place. He became our substitute. He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we might receive the righteousness of God. This is critically important if we want to show others about having a relationship with Jesus. It’s not about cleaning ourselves up to get to God; instead, it’s coming as we are and letting Jesus heal our wounds and scars. That’s it!