Sorting Through Revelation: Chapter 17

The great whore described in Revelation 17.

From the time that I was a child, I was taught that the great whore in Revelation 17 symbolized false religion, and the fact that she was drunk with the blood of the saints represented how false religions persecute Christianity. Some have theorized that this great whore in Revelation 17 symbolizes the Catholic Church (because of the way the Catholic Church persecuted non-Catholics in centuries past) while others theorize that the great whore represents Islam and its Jihad against non-Muslims and "the people of the book."

While scripture often uses a woman to symbolize a religious movement (the woman in the ephah in Zechariah 5, the woman that hid leaven in three measures of meal in Matthew 13:33), Revelation 17:18 says that the woman John saw (the great whore) is "that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth."

The ABA Sunday School Adult Lesson Commentary states "The angel's description of the woman as 'that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth' (verse 18) is a lead-in to the account of the destruction of Babylon, which is related in (Revelation) Chapter 18." The commentary goes on to state that the false religion system reigned over the kings of the earth because of the wealth and influence it controlled.

The destruction comes, then, when the kings decide they've had enough of the false religion's influence and confiscate the property and imprison or kill the leaders of the religion. While all of this seems fairly logical, I'm not sure it really hits the nail on the head (and I'm not sure anyone can, there is a reason one of her titles is "MYSTERY.")

Going back to the hermeneutics rule that women in scripture represent religion or religious movements, and including the fact that the angel in Revelation 17 specifically designates the great whore as representing "that great city (Babylon)," one has to conclude that the great whore is, in fact, the city of Babylon, with it's wealth, influence, prestige, attractiveness, and with its heavy religious influence.

Babylon the great will be a prosperous city, despite the death and destruction that takes place during the tribulation leading up to God's wrath. It will be the seat of the Anti-Christ, which means that it will be the most influential city on earth at the time. The power and influence of being the Anti-Christ's seat will undoubtedly contribute to the prosperity of the city, but the city will be more than just a futuristic New York City, Washington, London or Tokyo. It will be a city of power, prosperity, and religious movements, most notably that of the false prophet.

All of these traits are captured with the picture of the great whore. She is riding on the back of the beast (influence), she is very attractive (prosperity, John marvelled at her) and she is a woman, symbolic of religion. In the end time, Babylon will be THE hub of false religion.

Zechariah 5:6-11 says:

This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, this is their resemblance through all the earth. And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, this is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof. Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings, for they had wings like the wings of a stork, and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I unto the angel that talked with me, whither do these bear the ephah? And he said to me, to build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.

The woman in the ephah, as well as the two women with stork's wings represent wickedness, which is often synonymous with false religion. The two women with stork's wings bear the other woman in the ephah to the land of Shinar to build it (wickedness and false religion) a house there.

The restored palace at Babylon, photo taken in 2003.

The land of Shinar is Babylon, modern day Iraq. To fulfill this prophecy, I believe that the city of Babylon will be rebuilt in Iraq... either by someone literally rebuilding on its ruins like Saddam Hussein started, or by a city like Baghdad becoming a revitalized prosperous city. I don't believe the city of Rome will become "Babylon."

This revitalized Babylon (which might become prosperous as the international community becomes involved in rebuilding it following the Iraq war, plus economic opportunity could give way to commercial development) will become the hub for false religion.

So, in the final days of Babylon, it's not just the world capital, or the world trade center, but it is also the religious center of the world. The false religious roots in the city will run as deep, if not deeper than any of the city's other traits.

So why, if the great whore represents the city of Babylon, power, prosperity and religion, would the kings of the earth devour her, seeing how they made a fortune off her (Revelation 18)? Simple. Revelation 17:17 says God will put it into their hearts to fulfill his will. Also, they may think that by conquering her, they can take over her power, wealth and influence, and rid themselves of the religion.

Ironic, huh? God overthrows Babylon, and uses the kings and people of the earth who took advantage of her wealth and power to do so. It will be done quickly and with much violence, but the battle isn't over yet. The kings, Anti-Christ and false prophet re-emerge in Chapter 19 to make war with the Lamb.

Now this is the way I am interpreting this passage, and I have found that no matter how long Bible scholars study Revelation, they all come up with a different interpretation. Which means that of all the men that have studied this their entire lives, most, if not all, will be incorrect in some of their interpretations and conclusions.

Which is why, knowing that I will likely fall into the "missed the interpretation" category in some respect, I welcome well thought out responses to my posting on this passage, so that I may have my iron sharpened and learn a little bit. What do you say?