Then one of the seven angels pouring out the seven ceremonial bowls came out and was talking with me, saying, “Here, I will reveal to you the judgment of the great idolator/prostitute sitting upon the many waters.”
In association with the rulers of the earth have practiced idolatry/indulged in unlawful sexual acts, and the ones dwelling on the earth who became intoxicated with the wine of her idolatry/unlawful sexual acts.
Then he carried me away into solitude in Spirit, and I saw a woman sitting upon a dangerous, crimson-colored creature, which was full of names of blasphemies, having seven heads and ten horns.
And the woman had wrapped herself all round with purple and crimson, and had been being gilded with gold and precious stone, and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand being filled with abominations and the moral foulness of her idolatry, pornographic acts.
And upon her forehead a name was written, a mystery, “Babylon the Great, the Mother of the Idolaters/Prostitutes and the Abominations of the Earth.”
Then I saw the woman being intoxicated from the blood of the holy ones from the blood of the martyred witnesses of Jesus. And I marveled, beholding her, a great wonder.
Revelation 17:1-6
Futurist
Rather than see a linear progression of events, interpreters understand this chapter as circling back to take a better look at Babylon, a view that precedes the pouring out of the seven ceremonial bowls. Since the seventh bowl includes the second coming of Christ, and since this portrayal of Babylon is of its glory days, this scene must describe a time no later than early in the Great Tribulation.
Babylon itself characterizes Rome, either the city or a revived empire.
World Religion
Scripture applies the concept of harlotry to spiritual straying, most notably in the history of Israel. So-called heathen nations do not worship God, nor even know God. But the one nation historically to pledge allegiance to the one true and living God also regularly engaged in idolatry, worshiping and serving other gods.
Some see this as the location of a consolidated false world religion headed by some form of the Roman church whose cup, like the harlot’s, overflows with the blood of Christian martyrs. Like historicists, futurist commentators equate all the rich and royal trappings described in John’s vision as the ornate and ostentatiously opulent cathedrals of the Roman church as well as the lavish Orthodox churches to the east. Both ancient iterations of the church also adorn their leaders in copious amounts of gold, silver, and gems, red and purple garments, brocades, embroideries, and the like.
Additionally, the practices of other archaic religions were adapted into rites, festivals, rituals, and liturgy for both the Roman and Orthodox churches. Whatever this false world religion will be, it will involve the leadership of these two as well as the cooperative inclusion of other related religious entities.
Political Entity
Others read Babylon as representative of human-made systems—the cultures of earth, political paradigms, economic structures, trade, all the ways humankind interacts apart from God’s word and way. Perhaps Babylon is a description of human civilization, the way of Cain, and the way of Canaan’s progeny, the great ancient empires of Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria now translated into a rejuvenated worldwide civilization that rejects God in favor of celebrating the accomplishments of humanity.
Just as Wall Street is both a place and an icon of capitalist trade, just as Fifth Avenue is both a place and also a symbol of wealth and commerce, so Babylon will be both a place and also a picture of godless power and wealth.
Babylon will be the dominant society among people, operating on deceit and seduction, the elevation of the rich and influential, and the subjugation of minorities and the marginalized. Desire for personal gain will override any call to personal righteousness. Eternity will be traded for the ever-present gratification available “now,”
Spirit of Babylon
In a broader sense, wherever those who are in authority or have power in some way, prostitute themselves for personal gain, revive the spirit of Babylon. Politicians come to mind, who are willing to sell their vote, their influence, and even the crafting of laws to the highest bidder. Laws are themselves only as effective as the people willing to abide by them and the people willing to hold others to account. When lawlessness is accepted, the Harlot of Babylon arises.
By the same token, religious authorities who abandon God’s word, God’s character and principles, and God’s ways as revealed in Scripture, for personal gain also raise up the spirit of Babylon. Religious nationalism comes to mind, as do those empires and movements driven ostensibly by a call of God, but more pointedly by a lust for power, territory, and treasure.
Some expositors see the spirit of a religious Babylon in Revelation 17 and the spirit of a political Babylon Revelation 18. Both spirits will be raised in the last days.
The Scarlet Beast
In agreement with historicist and preterist scholars, futurists interpret the dangerous creature of crimson hue as the same entity the dragon called up out of the sea. The harlot/idolator and the beast are not the same thing. The woman is seated upon the creature, riding it.
- The harlot/idolator is supported by the beast, be it political power or religious clout. She has the dominant position and presumably holds the reins. She can guide, even control, the beast, or so it appears.
- If the beast is “the person of lawlessness” (ὁ ἄνθρωπος τῆς ἀνομίας | ho anthrōpos tēs anomias) described by Paul, then John’s vision seems to depict this person (presumed to be a man) as held in the power of Babylon, whoever or whatever Babylon is.
Let no one deceive you in any way, for that day will not come unless the rebellion comes first and the lawless one is revealed, the one destined for destruction. He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.
Do you not remember that I told you these things when I was still with you? And you know what is now restraining him, so that he may be revealed when his time comes.
For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, but only until the one who now restrains it is removed. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will destroy with the breath of his mouth, annihilating him by the manifestation of his coming.
The coming of the lawless one is apparent in the working of Satan, who uses all power, signs, lying wonders, and every kind of wicked deception for those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 (NRSVUE, emphases added)
Spiritual
Ancient Babylon did sit upon mighty rivers, so the description is historically accurate, though it is a depiction of Roman Empire.
The place of solitude John is transported to represents the Christian’s natural distancing from the world and its affairs, observing but not engaging in.
Babylon’s red garb and the beast’s red color associate them both with the dragon, Satan, God’s enemy, and the enemy of God’s people. Her headband and title is very like that of actual prostitutes in first-century Rome, who wore similar headbands announcing their name and profession. Babylon, then, is a picture of Rome which is itself a picture of the godless world with all its base lusts—power, debauchery, greed, perversion, as the apostle John described, “all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches.”
The four perspectives taken from Revelation: Four Views A Parallel Commentary, edited by Steve Gregg
