Revelation 17:1-6
In verse 1, an Angel/Christian is talking with John about showing him what is going to happen in the judgment of the great whore that sits upon many waters.
In the Western view of this prophecy, these next two chapters often reference the Roman Catholic Church, the United States, the new world order, Jerusalem, etc…
However, the Eastern view of this prophecy, which I subscribe to, will give us another location that a thorough examination of Old Testament prophecies seem to reveal as a most likely candidate of the whore described in this chapter.
Rome does sit on the western coastline of Italy next to the Tyrrhenian Sea. However, that does not fit the description of “many waters.”
So as we venture into this unusually controversial discussion concerning the whore that sits on a beast and the fall of Babylon, we will make our approach with an Eastern mindset and let’s see if we have a good fit.
Verse 2 indicates that some type of intimate relations between this mystery woman “Babylon” and the rulers of nations will exist.
Notice that the hook in the noses of the inhabitants of the earth is the wine of her fornication. We need to take sex out of the discussion to help us understand what is being said here.
The word fornication is being used as symbolism for a perverse relationship established on a lust for what this Babylon has to offer that so many want and need.
Throughout the Old Testament there are references of Israel becoming harlots in their worship of other gods and committing fornication’s that would anger God. In James 4:4 the words adulterers and adulteresses are used to depict the relationship of Christians with the worldly influences.
It is not difficult to see in today’s world of political ruthlessness that leaders wash each others backs or jump into bed with those that they want relations with or favors from. (Again, examples of symbolism’s used in today’s world of corruption).
With this in mind the use of the words ‘fornication and wine’ symbolize the corruption that takes place between the peoples of the earth and the woman on a beast in this chapter.
Then what could be so intoxicating about this particular wine? The wine represents the world’s lust and need for “OIL!” Wine can be intoxicating and addicting.
Years ago in Downtown Denver Colorado before all the renovations, there were some streets called the “wino district.” I was quite familiar with this area when I worked for the local Newspaper Company and drove the streets collecting the money from the news boxes located around the city. I saw firsthand the ravages of wine addiction!
The world is addicted to oil just as these “winos” were addicted to wine and they would do whatever it took to feed their addiction. As we all know, everything in life and the economy depends on oil. Oil dependency is a constant discussion and/or our independence from it by producing our own, in the Halls of Congress.
Verse 3 helps in our understanding of the wine. John is carried away into the wilderness or a desert place to observe this woman sitting on a scarlet colored beast. Where in the world are desert countries that produce oil? Wine production is not even remotely viewed as something that drives the world’s economy, but oil is!
Note the description of the beast from our previous discussion of the seven headed beast full of blasphemies. (Review chapters 12 and 13 for this understanding).
In verse 4 the woman is arrayed in purple and scarlet color, decked with gold, precious stones and pearls, (a sign of royalty). She is holding a cup full of abominations and the filthiness of her fornication’s, (again, a reference to the actions that take place behind the scenes of governments).
Verse 5 reveals the name of this woman as “Mystery Babylon.” Apparently this woman represents something very evil and despicable to the Kingdom of God as we note the many references to blasphemy, fornication and harlotry.
Verse 6 shows this woman drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus; the blood representing persecution and murder which is another example of symbolism. It is not difficult to picture this when we turn on the News stations of our TV and witness how much of this is happening in Islamic Countries.
John looked upon all this with wonder. The King James Version used the word admiration. It is safe to believe that John could not have admired something that represented the slaughter of Christianity since he is an Apostle and a leader of The Church. He was just amazed at what he was witnessing just as we would be if we were taken 2000 years into the future!
