Extracts and comments from Revelation Chapters 17 & 19
(a)And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, "Come hither; I will show unto thee the judgement of the great (a)whore that sitteth upon many waters:
17.2
(b)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".
(a) Here is detail about to be given of the judgement, by God, of the great whore, mentioned in Chp. 16. The Interlinear translates “harlot”, (Str. No. 4204), which is the feminine of a group of words from 4202 to 4205, all concerned with pornography (Greek “PORNE”), and prostitution.
Whoredom in its original manifestations at Babylon was rejection of The One True God, by Nimrod and his mother. It developed into many kinds of perversities, but particularly sexual. (See Chp. 13), which were (and are) used in pagan idol (Satan) worship.
(b) The kings have been (and are) obeisant to this entity. Whenever whoredom is mentioned in Scripture. It is referring to worship of something or someone other than the “One True God”. (2Chr. 15:3), (Jer. 10:10), (John 17:3), (Acts 17:23), (1Thess. 1:9), and (1John 5:20).
“The inhabitants of Earth made drunk with her wine”; the kings lead the people. The people trust the kings, and shut down their own minds. The idolatry sanctioned by the kings placates/soothes the people (drunk), and keeps them in order! For kings, read also governments.
17.4
(a)And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, (b)having a golden cup in her hand (c)full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.
(a) “The woman arrayed in purple and scarlet colours”; purple representing royalty, scarlet representing sin, here clearly showing royal approval (i.e. kings of Earth), of the sinful way! (I.e. idolatry, and harlotry).
(b) “Golden cup”; represents regal source, i.e. see Chp. 15:7.
(c) “Full of abomination etc.”; these the practices and formulations, rituals of idolic and Satanic worship.
Also; The "Ecumenical" movement, which denies Acts 4:12, Jesus Christ, as the only way of Salvation; preaching "many ways to God", is in the same category, although many of its members would be shocked at the realisation! Most of the leaders however are aware of their mission purpose. (See: Ecumenical (The) Movement and the Bible: )
(a)And upon her forehead a name written, (b)Mystery Babylon the Great, The Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.
(a) Dr. Bullinger translates; “and upon her forehead she had a name written a secret symbol, (see 13:18 b), BABYLON THE GREAT, the mother of harlots, (see notes (a) V.1) and of the abominations of the Earth", (Comp.). The name of the woman is therefore a secret sign or symbol of “that great city” which she personifies (see V.18).
(b) The word "Mystery" is disputed by different translations. Youngs literal has "secret". NIV notes that the word should possibly be excluded, but offers "this mysterious title written". Interlinear has "mystery". Darby has "mystery", NKJV "mystery". RSV has "a name of mystery". Moffatt, "by way of symbol". What is very clear, is that Satan has successfully tricked the world's population into believing the opposite of the truth! As the physical Babylon was destroyed and never revived, (Jer. 51), so here, the dealing is with its spiritual equivalent; which here is beginning its defeat at the hands of God; and the "stone not cut by human hand", (Dan. 2:34 and 45).
The spiritual Babylon, equivalent and much greater than the Ancient physical Babylon, has/is having the effect worldwide that Ancient Babylon had under its founder Nimrod, and his mother. They succeeded in turning people from the True God (Elohim) to many and varied pagan gods and practices, which have spread worldwide.
Their main enemy and object is the God of the Hebrews Jehovah; (and His Chosen People); and Jerusalem His chosen Dwelling Place!
Their assault continued throughout the O.T.; and since Acts 28:28, is now also focused on all Christ-ones (Christians true) worldwide.
The warfare with Satan and his spirits (demons) is spiritual as well as physical, and is confirmed in the following references, and many in Scripture: Eph. 6:10-18, 1John 4:1 to 5:8 and John 4:24! See: Mystery Babylon: and Babylon.
17.6
(a)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 (b)wonder.
(a) The “woman”, here shown to have drunk to excess the deaths of all who have, and will die for their Lord. See early Chapters of Revelation.
(b) This word wrongly translated “admiration”, by A.D. 1611 C. of E. translators; which greatly misleads the understanding! The NKJV translates “amazement”.
17.18
(a)"And the woman you saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the Earth".
(a) This “woman and city”; are popularly equated to Rome and the Roman Church, as in V. 9 seven mountains are mentioned in her context, and the “7 hills of Rome” are assumed by many commentators to be the meaning. Amazingly most commentators agree on that interpretation.
However, the writers agree with Dr. Bullinger that “the whore”, and her principle were active many thousands; may be millions / billions of years prior to Rome's existence. Rome and the Roman Church, is only an example, and a good one, of pernicious falsehood.
As is well known they have placed a “priest”, in-between Christ and the individual, who must take “confession”, interpret Scripture, and deal with any and all human troubles, instead of Christ alone with the individual. In addition, they have added a layer of intercession i.e. “Mary,” whom they say must intercede for the individual with Christ.
(2010): (The Mary factor has been bolstered by numerous so called sightings by people worldwide which have been interpreted as Mary. It is the opinion of the writers that these are of the Enemy, to give credence to the Roman Catholic Church and their many non-Biblical teachings). They ignore conveniently Scripture’s, statement (1Tim. 2:5) “For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus”.
(b)For true and righteous are His judgements: for He had judged the great whore, which did corrupt the Earth with her fornications, and has avenged the blood of His servants on her.
19.3
And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up to the Ages of the Ages.
(a) The text implies many in a “crowd”; the Interlinear (Str. No. 3793) “a throng”, “a class of people”, "a multitude”. The cause of their great praise and jubilation is the destruction of the whore, which had wreaked such havoc in humankind on Earth. The prophecy of this joy, praise and jubilation in Heaven, (Psm. 104:35), here in this Chapter is the beginning of the fulfilment.
(b) The praises of these people is joy that the Salvation, the glory, the honour and the power of Almighty God is now to be manifest over Earthly Creation, (see Chp. 12:4 (c)) & (Chp. 12:12 (a)).
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