Revelation 17:1-2; The Great Whore (2)

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Revelation 17:1-2 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: 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. 

Since the angel never uses there term “adultery” – a more restricted term implying a previous marital relationship – in connection with the woman, she need not be representative of apostate Israel or the apostate church. Pornes can include moicheia, because it is broader. So this woman represent all false religion of all time, including those who apostatize from the revealed religion of Christianity.

This harlot will be the object of future judgment. Her religious corruption comes into view repeatedly in porneias v2, porneias v4, ton pornon v5, porne v15, and pornen v16. Seven times this chapter uses words from this family that denote whoredom. The emphasis in chapters 18 and 19 too (Revelation 18:3, twice; 18:9; 19:2). Her existence is a travesty of the worship of the true God.

Revelation 17:2 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. 

Revelation 17:4 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: 

Revelation 17:5 And upon her forehead wasa name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 

Revelation 17:15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. 

Revelation 17:16 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. 

[Robert L. Thomas, Revelation 8-22 – An Exegetical Commentary, Moody, 1995, 283]