This chapter contains another representation of those things
that had been revealed before concerning the wickedness and ruin of antichrist.
This antichrist had been before represented as a beast, and is now described as
a great whore. And here, I. The apostle is invited to see this vile woman (v. 1,
2). II. He tells us what an appearance she made (v. 3-6). III. The mystery of it
is explained to him (v. 7-12). And, IV. Her ruin foretold (v. 13, etc.).
Here we have a new vision, not as to the matter of it, for that
is contemporary with what came under the three last vials; but as to the manner
of description, etc. Observe, 1. The invitation given to the apostle to take a
view of what was here to be represented: Come hither, and I will show thee
the judgment of the great whore, etc., v. 1. This is a name of great infamy.
A whore [in this passage] is one that is married, and has been false to her
husband's bed, has forsaken the guide of her youth, and broken the covenant of
God. She had been a prostitute to the kings of the earth, whom she had
intoxicated with the wine of her fornication. 2. The appearance she made:
it was gay and gaudy, like such sort of creatures: She was arrayed in purple,
and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls,
v. 4. Here were all the allurements of worldly honour and riches, pomp and
pride, suited to sensual and worldly minds. 3. Her principal seat and residence—upon
the beast that had seven heads and ten horns; that is to say, Rome, the city
on seven hills, infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and blasphemy. 4. Her name,
which was written on her forehead. It was the custom of impudent harlots
to hang out signs, with their names, that all might know what they were. Now in
this observe, (1.) She is named from her place of residence—Babylon the
great. But, that we might not take it for the old Babylon literally so
called, we are told there is a mystery in the name; it is some other great city
resembling the old Babylon. (2.) She is named from her infamous way and
practice; not only a harlot, but a mother of harlots, breeding up harlots, and
nursing and training them up to idolatry, and all sorts of lewdness and
wickedness—the parent and nurse of all false religion and filthy conversation.
5. Her diet: she satiated herself with the blood of the saints and martyrs of
Jesus. She drank their blood with such greediness that she intoxicated
herself with it; it was so pleasant to her that she could not tell when she had
had enough of it: she was satiated, but never satisfied.
Here we have the mystery of this vision explained. The apostle
wonders at the sight of this woman: the angel undertakes to open this vision to
him, it being the key of the former visions; and he tells the apostle what was
meant by the beast on which the woman sat; but it is so explained as still to
need further explanation. 1. This beast was, and is not, and yet is; that
is, it was a seat of idolatry and persecution; and is not, that
is, not in the ancient form, which was pagan; and yet it is, it is truly
the seat of idolatry and tyranny, though of another sort and form. It ascends
out of the bottomless pit (idolatry and cruelty are the issue and product of
hell), and it shall return thither and go into perdition. 2. This beast has
seven heads, which have a double signification. (1.) Seven mountains—the
seven hills on which Rome stands; and (2.) Seven kings—seven sorts of
government. Rome was governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, decemviri, dictators,
emperors who were pagan, and emperors who were Christian. Five of these were
extinct when this prophecy was written; one was then in being, that is, the
pagan emperor; and the other, that is, the Christian emperor, was yet to come,
v. 10. This beast, the papacy, makes an eighth governor, and sets up idolatry
again. 3. This beast had ten horns; which are said to be ten kings which have
as yet received no kingdoms; as yet, that is, as some, shall not rise up
till the Roman empire be broken in pieces; or, as others, shall not rise up till
near the end of antichrist's reign, and so shall reign but as it were one
hour with her, but shall for that time be very unanimous and very zealous in
that interest, and entirely devoted to it, divesting themselves of their
prerogatives and revenues (things so dear to princes), out of an unaccountable
fondness for the papacy.
Here we have some account of the downfall of Babylon, to be more
fully described in the following chapter.
I. Here is a war begun between the beast and his followers, and
the Lamb and his followers. The beast and his army, to an eye of sense, appear
much stronger than the Lamb and his army: one would think an army with a lamb at
the head of them could not stand before the great red dragon. But,
II. Here is a victory gained by the Lamb: The Lamb shall
overcome. Christ must reign till all enemies be put under his feet;
he will be sure to meet with many enemies, and much opposition, but he will also
be sure to gain the victory.
III. Here is the ground or reason of the victory assigned; and
this is taken, 1. From the character of the Lamb: He is King of kings and
Lord of lords. He has, both by nature and by office, supreme dominion and
power over all things; all the powers of earth and hell are subject to his check
and control. 2. From the character of his followers: They are called, and
chosen, and faithful. They are called out by commission to this warfare;
they are chosen and fitted for it, and they will be faithful in it. Such an
army, under such a commander, will at length carry all the world before them.
IV. The victory is justly aggrandized. 1. By the vast multitude
who paid obedience and subjection to the beast and to the whore. She sat upon
(that is, presided over) many waters; and these waters were so many multitudes
of people, and nations, of all languages; yea, she reigned not only over
kingdoms, but over the kings, and they were her tributaries and vassals, v. 15,
18. 2. By the powerful influence which God hereby showed he had over the minds
of great men. Their hearts were in his hand, and he turned them as he pleased;
for, (1.) It was of God, and to fulfil his will, that these kings agreed to
give their kingdom unto the beast; they were judicially blinded and hardened
to do so. And, (2.) It was of God that afterwards their hearts were turned
against the whore, to hate her, and to make her desolate and naked, and to
eat her flesh, and burn her with fire; they shall at length see their folly,
and how they have been bewitched and enslaved by the papacy, and, out of a just
resentment, shall not only fall off from Rome, but shall be made the instruments
of God's providence in her destruction.
Revelation 17 Bible Commentary
Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete)
This chapter contains another representation of those things that had been revealed before concerning the wickedness and ruin of antichrist. This antichrist had been before represented as a beast, and is now described as a great whore. And here, I. The apostle is invited to see this vile woman (v. 1, 2). II. He tells us what an appearance she made (v. 3-6). III. The mystery of it is explained to him (v. 7-12). And, IV. Her ruin foretold (v. 13, etc.).
Verses 1-6
Here we have a new vision, not as to the matter of it, for that is contemporary with what came under the three last vials; but as to the manner of description, etc. Observe, 1. The invitation given to the apostle to take a view of what was here to be represented: Come hither, and I will show thee the judgment of the great whore, etc., v. 1. This is a name of great infamy. A whore [in this passage] is one that is married, and has been false to her husband's bed, has forsaken the guide of her youth, and broken the covenant of God. She had been a prostitute to the kings of the earth, whom she had intoxicated with the wine of her fornication. 2. The appearance she made: it was gay and gaudy, like such sort of creatures: She was arrayed in purple, and scarlet colour, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls, v. 4. Here were all the allurements of worldly honour and riches, pomp and pride, suited to sensual and worldly minds. 3. Her principal seat and residence—upon the beast that had seven heads and ten horns; that is to say, Rome, the city on seven hills, infamous for idolatry, tyranny, and blasphemy. 4. Her name, which was written on her forehead. It was the custom of impudent harlots to hang out signs, with their names, that all might know what they were. Now in this observe, (1.) She is named from her place of residence—Babylon the great. But, that we might not take it for the old Babylon literally so called, we are told there is a mystery in the name; it is some other great city resembling the old Babylon. (2.) She is named from her infamous way and practice; not only a harlot, but a mother of harlots, breeding up harlots, and nursing and training them up to idolatry, and all sorts of lewdness and wickedness—the parent and nurse of all false religion and filthy conversation. 5. Her diet: she satiated herself with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus. She drank their blood with such greediness that she intoxicated herself with it; it was so pleasant to her that she could not tell when she had had enough of it: she was satiated, but never satisfied.
Verses 7-13
Here we have the mystery of this vision explained. The apostle wonders at the sight of this woman: the angel undertakes to open this vision to him, it being the key of the former visions; and he tells the apostle what was meant by the beast on which the woman sat; but it is so explained as still to need further explanation. 1. This beast was, and is not, and yet is; that is, it was a seat of idolatry and persecution; and is not, that is, not in the ancient form, which was pagan; and yet it is, it is truly the seat of idolatry and tyranny, though of another sort and form. It ascends out of the bottomless pit (idolatry and cruelty are the issue and product of hell), and it shall return thither and go into perdition. 2. This beast has seven heads, which have a double signification. (1.) Seven mountains—the seven hills on which Rome stands; and (2.) Seven kings—seven sorts of government. Rome was governed by kings, consuls, tribunes, decemviri, dictators, emperors who were pagan, and emperors who were Christian. Five of these were extinct when this prophecy was written; one was then in being, that is, the pagan emperor; and the other, that is, the Christian emperor, was yet to come, v. 10. This beast, the papacy, makes an eighth governor, and sets up idolatry again. 3. This beast had ten horns; which are said to be ten kings which have as yet received no kingdoms; as yet, that is, as some, shall not rise up till the Roman empire be broken in pieces; or, as others, shall not rise up till near the end of antichrist's reign, and so shall reign but as it were one hour with her, but shall for that time be very unanimous and very zealous in that interest, and entirely devoted to it, divesting themselves of their prerogatives and revenues (things so dear to princes), out of an unaccountable fondness for the papacy.
Verses 14-18
Here we have some account of the downfall of Babylon, to be more fully described in the following chapter.
I. Here is a war begun between the beast and his followers, and the Lamb and his followers. The beast and his army, to an eye of sense, appear much stronger than the Lamb and his army: one would think an army with a lamb at the head of them could not stand before the great red dragon. But,
II. Here is a victory gained by the Lamb: The Lamb shall overcome. Christ must reign till all enemies be put under his feet; he will be sure to meet with many enemies, and much opposition, but he will also be sure to gain the victory.
III. Here is the ground or reason of the victory assigned; and this is taken, 1. From the character of the Lamb: He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He has, both by nature and by office, supreme dominion and power over all things; all the powers of earth and hell are subject to his check and control. 2. From the character of his followers: They are called, and chosen, and faithful. They are called out by commission to this warfare; they are chosen and fitted for it, and they will be faithful in it. Such an army, under such a commander, will at length carry all the world before them.
IV. The victory is justly aggrandized. 1. By the vast multitude who paid obedience and subjection to the beast and to the whore. She sat upon (that is, presided over) many waters; and these waters were so many multitudes of people, and nations, of all languages; yea, she reigned not only over kingdoms, but over the kings, and they were her tributaries and vassals, v. 15, 18. 2. By the powerful influence which God hereby showed he had over the minds of great men. Their hearts were in his hand, and he turned them as he pleased; for, (1.) It was of God, and to fulfil his will, that these kings agreed to give their kingdom unto the beast; they were judicially blinded and hardened to do so. And, (2.) It was of God that afterwards their hearts were turned against the whore, to hate her, and to make her desolate and naked, and to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire; they shall at length see their folly, and how they have been bewitched and enslaved by the papacy, and, out of a just resentment, shall not only fall off from Rome, but shall be made the instruments of God's providence in her destruction.